Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / June 18, 1931, edition 1 / Page 1
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-• ' fa -' L’iiiri Hb v4W M& •WASHINGTON A C^OO CHMMAN ' ml_-v* —- ■ *' • Attended With Equal Bern ence,-Dutch, Catholic, Quaker, Presbyterian, Uongrtgattonat and E|>iscoi»alian Services With the Churches of tAmer ica of every denomination pre paring to take a * leading part in the George Washington Bi centennial Celebration in 1932; i it is recalled that George Washington attended ae^viees j :n at least thirty-four-dffferent churches of various denomina : tions, according to a research I just completed >by the United States ’ Bicentennial > Commtst [ sion. He was exceptionally f broadminded as to ^sectarian I views, attending ’•with «. equal I reverence the services <in the Dutch, Catholic, <Quaker, Pres byterian and Congregational faiths as Well1 asJihis^own, this Episcopalian. 'tr Every crisis 'in Washington’s life found him turning, to Di vine Providence for’^bfelp <and guidance, and ! in thankfulness for the benefits he-had received. He expressed on numerous occasions in ’ his 'diary ' his thankfulness for success in his military exploits, and for pre servation from disaster; He at tended church < services * wher ever he happened to be,?unless he was prevented from doing,, so by the press of* official •du ties or by bad weather - and worse roads. 0 Was Vestryman As vestryman, church war den and trustee, ! he rendered V many practical services to the four churches‘inMthelpftrtslr of Truro. These were Pohick, Falls Church, Payne’s1 Church and Christ Church/- Alexandria, all In Virginia. His dut$es°aii vestryman * were faithfully, and conscientiously discharged,; He wiwdir»iMnmyiif ilrriiii plank in terested himself 'in "building estimates and costs/ inichurch design, location> ‘and < equip ment. He attended twenty three vestry meetings in eleven years and missed eight due to illness or absence from the vi cinity. Beginning in 1785 he was a worshipper at Christ Church, Alexandria, where "he * bought a large family pew^the-day the church was turned over’to the vestrv. During his sixteen years- as a member of -the ^House • of! Burgesses, he attended -divine services with Mrs. ’• Washing ton and the family, at Pohtek Churchy and Christ Churchy Alexandria. Whew in Williams burg, Va., during the sessions of the \Burgesses he attended Bruton: Church, and sometimes went'to St. Peter*s^-at New Kent' with Mrs. Washington. When visiting his fmother, and his sister, Mrs. Fielding Lewis1 at Fredericksburg, Va., he attended St.. George's Churfch principally, as it-was a church ot r ri tender memories through childhood. His father had been vestryman . and-his parents and family had always been regular atendants. His v/ife’s father and, later on, other of his ralativeS” were bu ried In the churchyard. • At RidHiimid, Va. Among other churches of Vir ginia attended by ‘Gen. Wash ington at variouS ^riods1 dur ing bdthhis public and private life were: St. John's at’Rich mond, where he also went to listen to the fiery <#atfo*i of Patrick Henry; > Yoooormco Church, the home church of his mother and known to her from childhood; Lamb’s Creek Church and St! Paul’s, of Ring George County; and Nwnini of Westmoreland pounty;j in ad dition to the four in Truro Par lish. During, the frequent visits to Annapolis. Md, he- attended the services conducted bjr the Reverend Jonathan! Boucher, who was a tutor for a rime to Jacky Custis, and at times also worshipped at St; John’s. Broad Creek, Maryland. While President of the. Unit ed States, during the time-he lived in New York, he and the family^ seemed to divide their timd between -St. Paul’s Church and l Trinity, /both Episcopal During his travels throng?* New| Eogland which i no start ed on October 15, 1789, he not onlyi attended church when ever) possible but he not&Mn his diary.'thee churches irt the towns/ he visited. ?SV>r example, of Stamford, Connecticut, he wrote: “In this town are an Episco pal church * and a meeting house. At ' Norwalk, which is ten imiles fiather, we made a halt> to feedour horses. To the lower end of this, town sea ves sels icome. and at the other end are (mills, stores, and an Epis copal and a Presbyterian, church.” JHe also recorded of Fairfield: “Two decent looking Churches in this, place, though snvell, viz.,- an' Episcopal and a Presbyterian orCongregation itlist as1 they* Call themselves.” 1 While-iit NewHaven he at tended,a:0fetbbeii> 18, 1789; two churches,1 Trinity, ^Episcopal, In th£;ferenoon ahd in the af ternoon 'pne-'bf’the Congrega t*oal h^ebtijngXhoteses. During this; visit ^afi^his'previous stay in this^sectron^durng the Revo lutionary j War, “he attended Queeh’jj Tlhahel bf St.’tfbhnVat Portsrnoiith js Trinity church and ’’Christ church, ® Boston; Christ .church, Cambridge; Trinity ehuith, Newport, and St. i Michaels church, Litch field. Dm* Kecndfor CkureK ; General ; WMhtogton^ deep matter hewbumbie; #as"shown during the war when passing -through Litchfield, he' repri-. manded-some soldiers: Who had thrown stonesatthe Old Litch rVeld church, >by saying: “I km a churchman and-wish not to st-e the church diShonored and desolated in this manner.” Durthg hisr,Predidency while 4ivir g h Phladelphiar he attend ed Christ church and Sc. Pet er’s, and also attended St. John’s in York," Pa. While on his' famous South prntout he noted the churches, ay well as the factories, all in dustries, schools and Other con tributing elements in the com munities through 'which he passed or where he stopped. The principal' churches which have found definite mention in his1 own record of attending 'divine service on" this remark table journey of 1;I87C miles were Sf. Philip's and St. Mich ael’s church in Charleston, S. C., land Christ church in Sa vannah. ’'Frequent references are made by him in-his correspond ence as having gone to* church without the designation of the spebific--church being made. Thus* while research has dis closed his presence at service on Sundays in thirty-four dif ferent churehes, it ;js .believed that-the-interest aroused in all of CeneraT -Washington’s move ments--by the United ■ States George Washington Bicenten nial Commission inJ its plans for* the ^coming celebration m 1932 will brkng- toclight authen tic'proof of other-churches m which he worshipped at1‘differ ent periods «■ during -his busy life. During <-the -Revolutionary Wdr Falls church was a recruit ing place tfor the company of Captain Charles Broadwater. In the Civil War Union Soldiers used the church first as a hos pital and then as a sthble, and partially -dismantled it; In re cent years the church has beep so restored by ladies of the guild that it is said to be al most exactly te same as it was during 4he ^lifetime Wash ington. The plot of ground, on Which WASHINGTON BICENTEfffllAL WMATm Every -State* City and Town to Participate These points should /beem phasized wrthrespject to thO Celebration ibf "the Two ^Hun dredth Anniversary - of the Birth- ,of George s Washington next year: 1-hit is 'sponsored ' by the United •• States Government: Congress created ,Jthe United States George11 Washington Bi centennial Commission and the President of' the United States is its chairman. 2- hit will not be a worid**. fair i or exposition, and. it wiH rot ibe held in any one place. 3- hit will , be a nation-wide, even a world-.Wide - series of celebrations 1 in - which every State, Pity and town—every, or ganization and institution, every hotne and individual—in this country, together .with Americans and others in many foreign countries, will partici pate. Every community is ex pected to plan and carry out its own, program of events,, in Co-operation with the Un&ted| States Commission and the State Commissions. 4- It will, last from Washing ton’s birthday, February 22, 1932, wiih special local and na tional celebrations everywhere on ill holidays, anniversaries, or 6t;her days which can be connected with ; the Hfe of George1 Washington.. 5- hWhBe the ceremonies on j February 22 should be wspeci . .. . ,te and impressive, Hundredth Annivei , _ Seojrge Washington’s Birth, ) rringements- also should be nade , for public gatherings, Dagearits, . plays, processions, nus'cal festivals, tableaux and ither events at various times luring the entire period of hore than nine months. Every nrogram should relate to the great life and work of the First President and Founder of the Republic On Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and other national and local holidays or anniversaries there should be special programs; but the cel ebration should"not be confined to these days. 6— It will take time to pre arrange for the local celebra tions/ The United States Com mission urges 1 j mayors o and other officials of every city; and town in the country tot appoint United States George .« Wash ington Bicentennial f Ocamnis- - sions or Committees, in order to prepare for the events*'of the: Bicentennial Year. 7— All organizations and'^in stitutions of whatever charac ter—civic, business, labors ed i ucational,' religious, fraterhal,, literary, social and others-—are urged to plan for l a “George Washington Year” in 4932 g—The United States George Washington Bieentenriial: Com mission, Washington1 Building, Washington, D. 0., will send literature and suggestions for local programs to any commit tee, organization or group that will write .for them. . t 'i < 1 j*’ --^ the church r stands whaaalao served as a cemetery. The old faded markings on the tomb stones show-that persons were buried there as long ago as 1750, Men who . Will ipse when-a* woman- a enters' the. roonjL go about their work heedless of the millions, of men hr this country- >who> ’are unemployed. Rev. Frederick“ B. NeWell,1 D. D. • Mr. Coolidge’s great follow ing was built by not talking and not by 'saying something every day.—Will Rogers. Wyi in S recent article* entitled: ^faiir<k4h” The city pCKnoxxille, .most ^unique known, a* rtkeF It is non-denominational scope ? as a ' matter of> large -munberof its are i not members < of churcti.'TheorgtHiisation every^ Sabbath-evening to ' Tbi^-hour members to attend < vicesr^eprdgram lows: ¥.Pi*3^er and vice, reading-ofminutes, Fach Sabbath - promptly at 6:30 a offered1 ffer* the unsaved* cityJ Usually a visifcim er is^ihrjtbd. -ICiis^i that he is not <to< speak 4i minutes.-’ Promptly at 7 the {meeting closes. This ization renders -service one i in need, « it has i physician to attend are isick and are employ a physician. 1 pays ^hsfihyirfciari bi pay! ftm the medicine provided for -those however jq the d _ not 1 dfre any one *j money. 1Alloaisee.i gated* by committee help 4s rendered —In ar tentatious way' thiauai tion has done a-mosti piece~!of' Work5 in ratheoi Knoxville. ,fThei‘mei oyer 600 with an avei tendances of over ftlffjfc weekly *lue& are teusi member.iUbofrtbis i to chanty . exeepifttbai rpaid vfor rent.^ooott head expenses. who romp and play Uthrpugh the i streets, spend their time-on Sunday idly, as they desecrate 4hei Sabbath and engage inwall kinds of mischief, abound 4nf such large numbers that inter-, ested -observes are inclined to believe that 4he vast, majority! of the race youths are abso lutely void of, proper training. A different .vi<»w presents it* self, however, when one looks; ’n on the tine group- of: little; folk who assemble - -each Sab bath afternoon under the-di rection of Mrs..A. H. George, Mrs. J.: H. Dailey and Mrs. J. 0. Davis, workers in the Shi loh! Presbyterian church. It is remarkably surprising to note .the manner in which these lit tle tots offer up words of pray er, i relate clearly and accurate ly, the wonderful stories of the [ Bible and engage in singing re i Ugious songs. - Such excellent training as directed - by these earnest church workers is cer tain to bring forth good results and the conduct of the future generation will be better - be cause of the unselfish and ef fective service being rendered bv i these women.” The Shiloh church puts forth every- possible-effort .to make a larger number of people'Shi Johi minded. Recently the annu al sermon to the graduates of the Austin ^ High School was preached in this church. . Al though its auditorium is one c* the * largest -among ,.the •churches inthecity, standing : <>m was at premium, and more than "250 u people were turned back. /It is estimated that a total of more than 1,-500 people r attended the -services, of the church'during that day. On the<$tfr*SiBiday; iaMay the Women’s Conferences, conduct*** ed by the Presbyterian Church, IL S.,. had-their evening * ser vice in Shiloh. The message was'brought-by Mr. E. G. Grants a ^member of the For eign Board. 'Thisalsowas the means /of bringingrr a, large number - of j peopleto > the church. . i Shiloh had ten- young people ;fco finish high school nod' col toge; this year. Those who achieved special __ recognition aye i Miss Mary Gillespie, a prise at Knoxville College for ^he jlgne«test advancement itf Voice Cuture during £he year; ifis.4 Pattie Turner at Austin High School, a prize for the highest average in Biology; Mr. i Homer- Saunders, for win ning the- singles*-championship in tennis at- Knoxville College. The chiireh vacation school in v3hiloh{ church opened f Mon day | morning with a large num ber jot eager children ready to grow into the more abundant life i through- worship, instruc tion, and i play. Gn aoeoimt of ithejlack rffj i playground \ space end jin the interest of efficien cy- tjhe number is ; limited to AND Hadjio Address over 1 Station ; ntWEVD, May 24, 1931, rhy Dr.^Wm. Lloyd lutes -/ St fames Church, New York ..T^ere are some themes which raTe [always'timely:/ Here *3 one .of special i timeliness and it hever loses its interest, except 'lor i the , nega&titable instances where^parrot-lilce platitudes or .mere- 'sentimental, sophistry is used-.to .take'the.place of sin cere -practice .jof. brotherhood, justice land [goodwill. V The Church today is facing critics--of aa great severity as possibly -have ever -been known. II is no longer taken for grant ed, that the Church is leader in ^ "* iic ithiPWng and -action; bhfe always •idvienturous •.ehd^avor.' for.. Hu man welfare, but; not a leader. Harsher*britic9 have even said that the ChUrch -is - even an impediment and hindrance to Ihei cause, of progress along ajl lines. There are not a few who listen to this church-baiting talk; it is specious, popular, and apparently brave. There is just enough of excuse for it in 3ome. of the regrettable weak nesses and backwardnesses of the Church {because of its hu man administration) to give the anti-church vogue thegarb cf respectability. But,; happily, the would-be Critics .are tarred with the same stick of human f?.ultiness ' that - they . f glibly ascribed to ^church people and rhurch matters,! and even more so. All of which does not make their argument , impressive. Since "they can not be si lenced, however, I propose to use their weapons on their own vulnerable points. They haVe charged; the Church with being unprogressive, unresponsive to human needs, and unwilling to separate* from nthe ^imperfect social-order; with» which it, is surrounded .•;'■} , I ycharge u the. )V anti-church forces with, precisely their ,own indictments, (1),- lack of pro gress; (2>aalDofness0frQm> hu man- need; r(3b inseparableness from-the existing social order, confessedly! imperfects To .substantiate - my • counter charges, I would first of all say that material progress (which is | doubtless-*'all--that : the Chutch’s hostile critiqs mean by i that Iword “progress”) is not ithe truest^ progress. r We have more1-things in-our mod ern world,r bui we are not- the happier people foe those things, For all of his luxury the very wealthy personoannotbe sure of contentments Heo has mate rial progress, but in human and spiritual* values he is poverty stricken, ifiu he i stops i with his mere -possessionsij He does nut possess* hisiOirich.es, ,>they pos sess him! Next, I should say that.one would findj the- -greatest uncon cern for hwhanMfe today in those areas* *#hich ‘ are least -touched by'the1 church. « The uf: il j t-'i i . : . ?reat factories and V> if modern industry. ,the ipfiws md public utility corporators, with thhir millions of workers *ho are dealt with impersonat y. r s cogsr in a vast- machine, important only in the aggre gate to thei managerial power )f industry,. and not at all val table for .other reasons than ■ver-increasing production and profit. We of the church .are instantly reminded thatnbais iness is business” and ,J?e should stay within pur sphere, •vhieh I suppose is meant tube I’eligion, but the more we, study religion, the more we are sure it has a vital and definite .mes sage! for human relationsJp the ?reat struggle, to get a living, rhe i church, despite ita many shortcomings, is one of the . r-reat amices .<challenging the degradation of personality by', the impersonal and mechanical emphasis of industry. Again, who can tell the {existing order is today eat sept; in terms of .those tilings imtsjide the Church? wk*t would you include, otherwise? If you say, “TherCbupsdLis a part of its age, andjcsnnot es cape so being considered,’^ the reply is, “Yes, to such^extfnt as the outsideworid.bas pap* tured nominal adherents. tqdMte Church."” There, are, rJtQw*y«r, multitudes who, are end^Sfp^ ing to hold their own idepl clearly , above the insufficiency and {futility of thewcpd^Pift from a power which;makes for righteousness far greater than any; humanpower. And .these multitudes have, founds despite it? many human failures, ithat the Church is .the only .institu tion which-.m&kea possible and permanent such an .ideal. What does this do for our social gospel? It makes it .dear ,(«i there is no othe^Jtmd.tpf of he anti-churdh* yi*fety„) tacks the Church ..as the Cfth seryor of the status quo, which is certainly far fimm Justj,t&nd righteous, I. reply ,that hut .for thei idealism which - the Church creates, even the£ agitator^him self; would, not be able, .to.make bis (very speech, of protest. ,The very bitterestcritics opf,,the Church) stand on , a platform made possible by the. sacrifice and, heroism of many .people with'n the Church. Thus,.the Church which is the real Chprch (not the ,-outward-ec clesiastical structure ,, which men confuse with the Church, but; that body of ,people who hold to the ifhperishable s ideal of righteousness yi through faith in a Higher Rower that cares and controls) is its sown severest critic, and by. sacrifice, self-criticism, self-denial,> and the path of service, is. forever identified with a Gospel.that means social redemption, social progress, and social , upbuild ing. That the Church in.hvunan hands often fails to live, up to Its ideal is not denied ;Jmt> that the Church should ever .aban don its ideal is unthinkable. THE NATIONAL NEOJRO BUSINESS LEAGUE Thirty«Seeond .Annual Conten tion in .New, Y*wfc CWy, June 21st-24th The theme of the convention t.his year is “Interracial Co-op eration ini Business/’ i and \the program is so ^arranged as,, to lay; the foundation for impor tant interracial contacts in business and to offero definite and specific j information to specific’ groups i who, are en gaged in-business. The convention wilLbe the occasion for the Openings of the New York office - of the National- Business League,; and to formally iceiebrate the, in corporation of the National C. M. A. Stores. The feppVention will close with a bartquet. on Wednesday evening, June 24th, at a down town hotel at- which time bus iness men of both races will (Continued on page 3) ! 1
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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June 18, 1931, edition 1
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