Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / Aug. 28, 1930, edition 1 / Page 1
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I--,. , ►W THE,TRUTH. AND THE TRUTH GUST 28, 1930. VOL. UL '•*< LABOR DAY MESSAGE FOR 1930 j 1" ... By Rev. John McDoweL D. D.. Secretary of the Board of Na tional Missions of the Presby terian Church in the U. S. A. New York* August 26.— A message for Labor Day was made public today by Dr. John McDowell, Secretary of tkmal Missions, 156 Fifth Ave nue, New York City, author of the Social Service Creed of the Presbyterian Church. Secretary McDowell has been issuing such Labor Day Messages to the Presbyterian constituency for the past ten years, and is to produce a book, ‘The Fellow ship of Toil,” based on these an nual messages, in the Fall, His message for 1930, he says, is written out of the following con victions: • “First: That it is of the ut most importance that the churches of America should de termine whether they will cap ture the wage-earners, and thus regain their hold on them, or whether they will allow them to organize their religion in their own way without the aid of the churches. ‘This is a serious question for the churches as well as the wage-earners. In answering it the churches should remember that religion in the past grew out of social and economic ideals, so it may again in the* future. “Second: If the churches are tb capture the wage-earners, they must define their relation to the economic questions of to day, and When defined maintain it in toms of action as well as attitude, work as well as wor ship, service as well as verbal statemehts; and thus prove , to m men ta&rt they art con cerned with disembodied spirits, but with the vital needs of men, women and children. The wage earners of our day are critical and challenging and not to be deceived in their examination. No theological or social or even an economic creed can satisfy them; they need Christ, and down deep irf their hearts they want Him, for they believe that the hope of the world is still in His keeping and the cause of the wage-earners is still in His heart. “Third: That the churches always do just about what they understand they ought to do in any age. Get the churches clear ly to understand their duty and in the long run they will be found doing it. The trouble has always come, not from any fail ure of performance of their duty as they understood it, but from ignorance and misunder standing of their duty. “Fourth: “That, for better or for worse, the churches depend upon their ministers for an un derstanding of what their duty is at any given time. The col lective ideals and practices of the ministers determine wheth er the churches as a whole will be successful or otherwise in their relation to the wage-earn era of the worn ana tne ptod lems of industry. The attitude of the churches toward the wage-earners and the problems of industry is a fair index of the character and quality of their ministers. Unfortunately, many ministers, when called upon to guide their churches to a clear understanding of their duty in relation to social and industrial problems, consult their feelings rather than facts; prejudices, rather than principles;. fear, rather than faith; and thus us ually fail to give the churches a dear understanding of their duty. “Fifth: That the character and quality of the ministers is largely determined by their the ological education. The insist ent need of the churches of our day is for ministers who are capable of giving not only sound theological teaching to the peo pie, but also sound and effective, economic and sociological judg ments. This does not mean that ministers should read their eco nomics and sociology into theiir religion, but that they should read their religion into their ec onomics and sociology. To meet this demand, the ministers of today need something mure than ethieal passion and rhetor ical genius. Without discount ing the value of Hebrew and Aramaic to the minister, I am convinced that a knowledge of sociology and economics is vast ly more important for him in his actpal service; that the. vital concerns of Europeans * and Americans today are much bet ter worth his knowing than the habits of the Egyptians and Ba bylonians. Important as it is, and it is important, that every Presbyterian minister should know the ‘Five Points of Cal vinism,’ from the standpoint of usefulness and service it is more important that he should know the ‘Five Points’ of New York City, especially if he lives, .and works in that city. “If the churches are to meet the need and demand of the in dustrial workers of our day, they must have ministers who will give them nourishment, as well as stimulants; principles, as* well as programs; motives, as well as methods; ministers who will deal with .industrial problems in terms 6f inspira tion and education, as well as organization and legislation; ministers who will approach the men of industry through-actual living contacts, as well as through - of See - conferences; through personality, as well as the printed page.” Secretary McDowell’s Labor Day Message for 1930 is in part as follows: “CHRIST, THE LIGHT OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD” Among the many and notable contributions of my friend and fellow-worker, Dr. Charles Stelzle, to the industrial work ers of America, none is more vital and valuable than Labor Day Sunday. This day is an opportunity and a challenge to the churches of America. It offers the church es a specific opportunity again to assure all men, especially those who engage in manual toil, that their supreme desire and purpose is to present the Gospel of Jesus unnst in an oi its fulness and the service of Jesus Christ in all of it implica tions to every man, woman and child in this and other lands, regardless of creed, color or condition. | Labor Day Sunday offers the churches a suitable occasion to declare that the Gospel they proclaim and v incarnate is a Gospel as wide as human life and as deep as human need; the privilege of proving the all-em bracing character of their mis sion 'by a readiness, not only to participate in a fellowship of faith; but to share in a fellow ship of toil. The present indus trial situation, instead of being one of desrair, is one of oppor tunity. wiheartily agree with the late)/Dr. George Gordon when he says; “We are con fronted by our greatest oppor tunity. In the stern days that are before us in the terrible epoch of the trial of strength between capital and labor, there is an immeasurable opportunity for the church that appeals to man as man, that is no respect er of persons, that claims Laza rus, the beggar, as a son of God, that reminds Dives that he is ho more, and seeks by the Gospel of the Divine Man to lift human society mto the* mood and pow er of br<ffhe*hqd!:* '. !r .ksbor Pay Sunday. not only offers an opportunity, it alsb offers,; gin, inescapable challenge to tjie churches to affirm again in ringing .and unmistakable terms that J.esus Christ is the L|ght of the : World. Christ made this claim , for lEimself and meant precisely what He said. It follows, therefore, that if Ha be the Light of the World, He is or ought to be the light of eyeyy sphere of human rela tionship and interest. He is, con sequently, the light of the in dustrial world,-,and the chal lenge of Labpr Pay Sunday to e very church. Rearing the name of Jesus Chris| ;in, our la\d is a demand that Shall carry this Light, into the realnf Of Industry and make it effective in the life of the employer, the employee, and the cohsCuher. * “Efficiency in religious lead ership,” says W. H. Alien, “means that the working and living conditions be fit to work (Continued on page 2) ..... LIBERTY (Review of “Liberty” by Ev erett Dean Martin, published by W. W. Norton & Co., New York, f8:) By Ernest F, Cherrington, LL. D., Litt. D., General Secre tary* World League Against Alcoholism If all.;, men wei$V virtuous there would.be no need of re straining law. It is because in every community as well as in every nation there is a ipinorh ty-' ^idiiter§nt ^ the rights of others, some of them criminally inefcjjfiii; *my of vateds by gfeed or lust, that we are compelled to adopt and to attempt to. enforce prohibitory legislation of many kinds. Ev erett'Doaft Martin appears to ignore this fundamental fact in bis “Liberty” (published by W. W. Norton & Co., New York, $3.) a delightful presentation of the attitude of those who love to call themselves “liber als” while denying that same title to. any who may disagree with them. Mr. Martin appears to believe that the world is filled with gentlpm£ri like" himself and forgets the gangster, the reck less autoist that would see no difference in driving when in toxicated and driving when so ber, as well as the worker whose safety of whose very life may depend on the sobriety of his fellow-worker, and scores of others who', in the close rela tion to modern society, must trust all they are and all they have to groups who are in need of the restraints of law. Ill spite of his presumption of a liberty which would take on the color of anarchy—a phil osophic anarchy, it’s true—Mr. Martin hints at his realization of the. cause of some of these limitations placed upon liberty when he writes: “Your in stincts will guide you to the gobd life once they are no long er surrupted by the vices of civilization. Unfortunately the vices and slaveries of civiliza tion have become the vested in terest of„ the master classes.” After all, the liberty which he proclaims is not one which even he suggests .could be shared with the multitude, as he makes clear when'he writes: “our having changed from the old liberalism to the new, to the idea of the sanctified and glori fied liberty not of individuals, but of the mass.” Jnst as "one star differeth from another star in glory,” so one kind of liberty differs from anbther kind, as Mr. Martin ad mits when he writes: "In the abstract the term liberty has ;no generally4recognized content, another ir pecti is always the right specific condiifoh, ething to. which it somebody else pb e the struggle for lfb always resistance" to want to interfere of our enjoyments follows that the y must include which any one would or deprive us of. It some say, that all liberty, but they different things by man’s freedom is an ayery and a third ction. People wifi the meaning of lib in so far as they can what shall be con t and wrong, what t methods of en the one and encour other, what objects of behaviour give action, what are civilization. In ofh hat people and one gely on theii mid philosophy or life. The meaning of liberty va ries with the different mean ings and rvalues men assign to their existence. Behind every view of .freedom in general there ia a nUlnonnliv or nrft. vailing prohibi may b men wj mean It that other’s man’s igree ai erty onl; agree sidered are the couragin] aging and fo greatestj the aim -mm themsel depends liar cull Justus an indication of Mr. Martin’s conception of prohibi tion one might quote this: “One frequently hears complaints of the ‘tyranny of prohibition.’ It is not tyranny, but it is, I think, the most Unmistakable of many eyidenceslsome of them per haps eyea more pregnant with menacer—fiat a sinister psycho logical disturbance, like a kind of. madness, is taking possession of the American spirit. Cer tainly We cannot proceed far in ^fedteimJ&.which we are now gomgT 1 doubt if we "Can remain in our present situation without persecution.” This does not include any very clear cdii ception of the alcohol problem which is being faced by all civ ilized nations today. The new industrial age is, of course, responsible for many altered conceptions of personal rights and liberty in general Mr. Martin sees this in part, viewing it only from the stand point of one who resents regu lation of his conduct even if "it might be in the interest of the general welfare. That is why he makes such statements as this: “Finally, it is precisely because it seems to be necessary to give up so many social liberties in modern industrial society that mankind must guard its stub born rights with stubborn vigi lance. Our race has an adoles cent tendency to act on the all-or-none principle, especially when under the sway of emo tion. If it moves at all it is al ways likely to go too far. Ne cessary regulation of traffic on the highway, or if interstate commerce, should not among people of mature minds be made precedent for the regulation of conscience by the Treasury De partment of the United States.” I The millenium will come some ,day and all men will observe the jGolden Rule but until that hap jpy time arrives it is questiona ble whether Mr. Martin’s kind of liberty will ever be known anywhere upon this earth. lie seeks only a liberty for a chos en few, a liberty for the intelli gentsia, a liberty for a new aristocracy and a liberty which would involve a more drastic enslavement of the multitudes of humanity whom Mr. Martin somewhat contemptuously dis misses as hopelessly inferior. Not even the charm of the book nor the persuasive style in which it is Written will convince those who are social minded that the general welfare and the freedom of the greaf majority should be scrapped that a handful, of men might do that which is well pleasing in their own sight. 1 | . •• v Wrv =V" session of the * Sunday * Sbfcoel Gonventioh^ieifltrict No. 2, Pape Fear'" Presbytery, cop vened'infcEbenfesfer Pftfcbyteffon church^ of tUf# *Behf,w'N.!lC4 kt 3:16 P. ». ‘Afigiidt'T, 1930. The meeting wa# called’to'or der by the President and opened with a sohg settl&i Ted bjr the Rocky Mount d$ldgate,i Miss Arrington. The Scripture le&km was also read b/,Mtifc1A#irik toh, which ^s tfie STth iPSttiii. Prayer ^y Rw.' W1.1DvBui^bss, it Rocky Mouftt.' The delegates from all. over fcjhe to^siat home >^ J^e ?Slli Tiven ^Miss ‘Wil liams, The.re the President made his ,aripuiil address by historizing .the Con vention oV^ir a peru^T <S{ hitbeh years," sfcowlrisj#' that ” he' 'had 3^3808^ nnce hia^nfl^tidd^th it. ., • Thrfoffifoi&ttfi^'tiie XJoit Ventibn ^snoWea, 'the'* 'foHbwihk ■ t [ r~: ■* Rocky7 Mohnt,u Miss lA^ririgr con. Wilacm Battik 1 Hask: Fremont, M Goldsboro*,11 liams. Wilmington, Misses McRae and Beldenr •*-u. • Dudley, Mis^Dorothy Wynn. •r.&m , Kinston, Miss, Helen Kotnef nr. 77 *7 .' Tjf** &rw>\\ Ne# Bern; Miss Cfehi B. Wfl ^su^&teudebt mr B^xL Mr. J. L; Peatsdn. Ministers'!:*7' 'J '* "1~u Rev. W. D. Burgess, Rocky Mourit7/*“ ' “i;£tl : ReV. M. S. Branch, ‘ New Bern. Revs. J. H. S&hpson and R. N.- Cowan, Kinston;-- ’ Rev. J. T Douglass,.«Wilson. ‘ Refv. Pi'**. Bryan, Goldsboro. Rev. J. C. Williams, of New Bern, was introduced to the Convention and* he made a few Remarks. The collection wao4ak eiri^ by Mr. R. D. Moore which amounted • to ’f5.05. After a se lection by the Choir the session was dismissed with hfehedietion by Rev. J. H. Sampson; of Kins ton. : • • ” ■ • • — Friday 9:15 A. M., Aug. 8 ; According, to the program the meeting was opened withj& song ^ervice' aud sentence prayers. • The next orderi of .the,'proi ^ram, ,fThe < Vacation , Church School/’ was tabled until later in the day -in order that , materi al could-be gathered for. demon stration 'Worici . . 'Discussion of- the- problems of • the -church »school was.ea tered into : heartily. by several delegates. Miss Arrington, vpf Rocky Mount,. discussed wTh<,j Curriculum*” . *The> three out standing phases-. were: Faith, Hope? and Love*' • Discussion of ‘♦The Attend ance Of the * -Church School’’ was orrttttedbecUuse the dele gate of Smtthheid was-not pres etted 1 ‘MISS Jessie WiiliamS^tJie del egate'froin' Goldsboro, discussed "The TeaihittirForceA "Metti be*%hip,r*'wiirf discttseed by Miss Lutile Wilmington. Miss gatte somevery good' >^l^.vyhfcK*;ifcd~fe«e» worked outrift he* ‘ ‘-church school: The plans %erewelKfcak~ eft afid TO^rt: M;the tMle8«tefiMekH presfcedu a'’-wilK«gi»eS# * to•> try >- ituXir^'.-K .**1-* •. *: • '* Reo. Burgees, of Roeky-^Mt., Rfevi ^t T? •‘Bottglass/^of WH* miirnwr. cusfitefr W^yi&leinr confront mg' the-iscKooTs throughout the fields of lafobrr /i$ei*e ^points discussed—were conferences among teachers' as to being on for the opening of the eh school arid loVe. of the Jpr foi^the child. ^v4;* _ feevi. * Sampson^ ■ Brarich, Sryan, Burgess Irid Mr: Geb. R. Marsh, the Sunday-School Missionary, alljbined heartily in the'ibohd table discussKm^ifind fevdry; oittr’ ghined much ffthn the !dfec«88ien ^ *Revs; - Breach arid Burgess stressed the polrit of the » t|osei t relationship- that should exist; ^between thp.pas and Sunday-School and said such relation meansv a bigger and better Sunday s school and church. “The: Fojjkr j byterian , Dy Key. .!. .* Sampson, were outlined as fQl lows: SSst .$• 'sfisC** to do , with , matters pertaining to ihe local churcliT'Sdeond, the j¥esb;H&erfr, to which matter arF 'appealed' from the several churches of a district. Third, ihe (Synod, lYhich reviews mat ter! which are not adjusted sat isfactorily in the Presbytery. Fourth, the General Assembly which reviews v all matters which are appealed from’the Synod and adjusts them. The General Assembly is also th|e highest court of;the Presbyteri an Church and this body; has the power to make changes An the church laws. “Goals for the Rural and City Sunday Schools,” by Mr. G. R. Marsh, our Sunday School Mis a ternary, consisted of -three points of excellence as laid down by the Board. After a selection by the choir the session was dismissed until 2 s PM: i Friday Afternoon * . In' the absence < of- the • Elift CSty delegate, Rev. W* D^Bur gess, pastor of that church and Rocky Mount, conducted the song service and deyotionals. • • Msr iwowr Wilson, conducted • thd D.-Y5. Church School. Miss FiNetemdh ikplained th working- of the D. B. S. ahli the division of; the groups, also how such A; school aid be coftducted. - •**' '• tiie Workers’ Conference svas conducted by Mt*. i'Sltran, the Sunday School lifis^ibtthlr^. The Conference WAS * clearly demonstrated in a verf1 hfeedfuf, detailed and helpful way/ Much information was gained b^sR present. " \ '7]"‘• the. Young People’s' Lea^hO was disicUssed by Mr. Joseph Haskins, of Wilson, who iS uftlll informed alOpg alltihfesabdUt the working of the L“eaj|h'e. Mrs. J. H. Sampson" our $5 President.of the Convention a Yeter&n worker, w,ag, ad to the Convention end in, her interesting way gave; ;worqs- °f greeting and encouragement .$>, the delegation... A rising YOtepf thanks was extended to h?rr »y the Convention. : 4,: Rev. F. F. Bryan,, of, CkjUJfl boro, urged more FrOsbytej^ans to read Presbyterian papers and magazines. Rev. Sn*np®°P • missed us with a prayer.., .t ■ Friday ..Nightie *&&■*.< The popular program /waartbe 'Ttin with music by thechoir. Miss Naomi Freeman, ^Golds boro, was hi charge of I the . pro gram aS fOMoWfli ' Player, Mr. 0. N. Fre«ta, .... .i*iiiow u"im* Reading. Mr. H; Newaofcie. Paper, Miss Cooper.’ : ^J ; Infetaieintal Solo, Miss Jes sie Williams. . 'a a' i a Li _ T* Recitation, Little Gwendolyn Smith. ^ Sol& Miss Afliegrey Sutton. ' At iMh point on the projpram the imain feature waik jjtveri. A ‘Wilson. Rev. Douglas was “at hfe beSt, dfid those,lyhft heard 4i ^(Continued on»pggein4)t ... J^Uu KUOUi ill sermon wasdeliv iv. 3. T. Douglass; l6f
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Aug. 28, 1930, edition 1
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