The Africo - American
Presbyterian
CONSOLIDATED WITH
THE 8QUTHEBN EVANGELIST
Bov. H. L. McCBOBEY, B. D.f LL. B„
Editor
W. E. HILL, Associate Editor
Rev. C. P. PITGHFOBD,
Business Manager.
Devoted to the Educational, Mato
rial, Moral and BoUgiens intereste
of our people in the South, and pub
lished at Charlotte, N. C., every
Thursday.
All questions arising under the
various subjects abqre indicated are
discussed from a Christian point of
view. Each number contains the
freshest and best news from the
Southern field and from the Church
at large.; There is carefully selected
raeding matter suited to aU classes
of our pjrnpfe—the farmer, the me
chanic, the artisan and the profes
sional man.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:
Single copy one year-$1.60
Six months _ .76
Three months_J60
Send all money by P. O. Money
Order, Registered Letter or Bank
Check, otherwise it might ha leal
and the sender alone wS be reopen
Bible.
Entered at the Pestoffice at Char
lotte, N. C., as second class matter.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6,l93T
THE DEPRESSION AND NE
GRO BUSINESS
As everybody knows, the
years 1930 and 1931 have been
bad years for business gener
ally, and Negro enterprises
have suffered along with other
businesses. Supposedly strong
colored banks, notably in Chi
cago and in New York, have
had to close their doors, and
one of the largest insurance
companies has been forced to
change its management. In
this connection we are pleased
to print a statement by the
officials of the North Carolina
Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany to the effect that this
craft is weathering the finan
cial storm in fine shape. The
conservative yet progressive
policy that has characterized
the management of this organ
ization since it was founded
has enabled it to carry on dur
ing a long period of years with
out loss or embarrassment.
PRESIDENT NELSON
The election of Dr. William
Stuart Nelson as President of
Shaw Univresity in place of
Dr. J. L. Peacock, whose resig
nation was announced at the
commencement jin June, jindi
cates a change of policy on the
part of the Trustees of Shaw.
From the founding of the in
stitution just after the Civil
War until now all of the Pres
idents have been white men.
The change to a colored man
at this time is in keeping with
the trend in Negro education.
The Columbian News Service
has gathered the following in
formation about the new Pres
ident:
“Prof. Nelson has had a wide
and varied experience in edu
cational fields both as a teach
er and an administrator. Since
1929 he has been Assistant to
the President of Howard Uni
versity as well as Associate
Professor in the field of Philos
ophy. He was born in Paris,
Ky., in 1895, and graduated
from the elementary and sec
ondary schools of Paducah in
1914. He matriculated at How
ard University and was gradu
ated from that institution with
an A. B. degree cum laude. Dur
ing his undergraduate days he
took an active part in debating
and literary societies and was
editor of the University news
paper. After leaving Howard
he spent one year at Union
Theological Seminary in New
York and later waft graduated
from the Divinity School at
Yale University the de
gree of bachelor bf divinity in
1924.
“Meanwhile he had spent a
year studying at the Univer
stiy of Paris and the Protest
ant Theological Seminary of
Paris. Subsequent to this study
in Paris he spent two years in
the graduate schools of the
German Universities of Berlin
and Merburg. A year of this
study was made possible
through a fellowship from the
National Council of Religion in
Higher Education. While study
ing in Paris, he published in
French a treatise on the Negro
race under the title, “Le Race
Noire dans la Democratic Amer
icanae,” which was published
under the auspices of the re
search group for international
understanding. He was appoint
ed instructor at Howard Uni
versity in 1924.
“During the World War Pro
fessor Nelson served two years
in the army as a first lieutenant
of infantry and saw eight
months active service with the
American Expeditionary forc
es overseas. In 1926 he was
married to Miss Blanche Louise
Wright, of Memphis, Tennes
see. There are no children of
this union."
POSSIBILITIES UNLIMITED
In an article, “Negro Busi
ness and Its Possibilities/’ in a
recent number of Opportunity,
Dr. Julius Klein, Assistant Sec
retary of Commerce, says:
“Negro business is just bus
iness, and its possibilities are
as unlimited as is the degree
of efficiency with which it may
be guided. I know of few fields
of commercial activity so filled
with potentialities as the Ne
gro market It is capable of
great development as the
mounting intelligence and ris
ing standards of the group cre
ate demads for a wide variety
of commodities. The scope of
such business progress is
being constantly enlarged as
education, the increase of
skilled and professionally
trained labor, and the growth
of a dividend earning class
combine to augment the wealth
of this particular market."
PATRIOTIC SERMONS
AVAILABLE
The churches of Amercia will
take a conspicuous part in the
George WSshingotn Bicenten
nial Celebration in 1932, ac
cording to plans being complet
ed by the Bicentennial Commis
sioh.
' There are approximately
232,000 churches in the United
States, and arrangements are
being made with the various
church organizations of every
faith and denomination relative
to commemorative services and
other activities in celebrating
the two hundredth anniversary
of the birth of the First Pres
ident.
A number of specially pre
pared setrmons, dealing with
the greatness and the charac
ter of Washington, have been
written for the commission by
some of the country’s leading
rminiht|rs, and these sermons
are now availale to anyone de
siring them. Copies may be ob
tained without charge, upon
request to the United States
Georgia Washington Bicenten
nial Commission, Washington
Building, Washington, D. C.
It is planned that on Satur
day and Sunday preceding Feb
ruary 22 there will be commem
orative services in churches
throughout the United States,
and that on the afternoon of
Sunday, February 21, there
wiR be, in addition to church
services, special meetings in
cities and towns, where one or
more addresses on the “Father
of His Country" will be deliv
ered.
TO THE MINISTERS OF CA
TAWBA PRESBYTERY
You are hereby reminded that
Catawba Presbytery will cele
brate its 65th Anniversary at
the Fall meeting of Presbytery,
September 10th and 11th, at
the Johnson C. Smith Univer
sity church.
It will take every minister
and every church to make the
Celebration a success. You are,
therefore, earnestly urged to
sent at once, one dollar for
yourself-and two cents (2c) per
member for each church you
serve, to Mr. W. H. Stinson,
Treasurer, 407 Beattie's Ford
Road, Charlotte, N. C.
The Committee on Arrange
ments is ready to go ahead to
wards making the Anniversary
a success, but is anxiously wait
ing for your immediate re
pponse. WE MUST NOT FAIL.
Yours for the success of the
Celebration,
The Committee,
H. WILSON, Chairman.
DEATH OF THESE FINE
CHARACTERS
Miss Mamie Fisher
It was on Friday, July 2, that
a telegram came to me here
summoning me to Greenville
to assist at the funeral of Miss
Mamie Fisher, who died on the
1st of July. I had just returned
from the North where I had
been since the 23rd of May. I
left for Greenville to be with
the bereaved and assist in what
ever way I could at this very
sad occasion.
Miss Fisher will be remem
bered by many of the old Sco
tia graduates and former Bid
dle graduates as of the popular
class of '93 of Scotia Seminary.
After being graduated from
Scotia she returned to her home
and birth place, Greenville, S.
0., and engaged in teaching
in one of the schools of this
progressive mountain- city, and
so continued until her health
began to decline over three
years ago. She was one of the
city’s most outstanding teach
ers; more than this, she was
one of the little girls who were
among the charter members of
Mattoon church under $ie ven
erable Dr. B. F. McDowell. Her
efforts and love for' Mattoon
church were so outstanding
that Mattoon does not seem to
be Mattoon church in the ab
sence of her personality. She
was one of the most faithful
workers in her church or that
could be found in any church
in the Synod of Atlantic.
Her survivors are her moth
er, two sisters and one broth
er, who were faithful and most
patient with the daughter and
sister to the end.
The Fishers have lived in
Greenville for over sixty years
and are among the most out
standing colored citizens of
Greenville. I have known this
family for many years; and it
is one of those families whoge
friendship is valued and whose
behaviour is without guile.
Mrs. Mattie Betk Miller
As I am about to close this
bit of news to the Africo-Amer
ican Presbyterian, the sad in
telligence of the death of Mrs.
Mattie Belk Miller, who was
living in Charleston, comes to
me. Her remains were carried
to Aiken to be buried by her
first husband, the Rev. Walter
C. Coles, the sen of the late
Rev. W. R. Coles, D. D.,
who was among our first col
ored Presbyterian ministers
after Lincoln began to send
cut her graduates.
Mrs. Miller was the niece of
the Rev. B F. McDowell, D. D.,
of Greenville, being a daughter
of his sister. Mrs. Miller in her
second marriage was the wife
of Dr.-Miller, who is a prac
ticing physician in Charleston.
She was a graduate of Scotia
Seminary, having been gradu
ated from this school in the
early nineties.
Mrs. Miner was a merauer ui
Zion Presbyterian < church,
Charleston.
While only forty-five miles
from the scene of the funeral,
1 am sorry to say, I was not
present, because—while I knew
that she was critically or
hopelessly ill,—I did hot hear
of her death until the funeral
party was enroute to Aiken
with Mrs. Miller “in the bag
gage car ahead/'
Dr. J. M. Johnson
It was much to my regret
that I was not able to attend
the funeral of my old friend
and college-mate, Rev. J. M.
Johnson, D. D. The telegram
came while I was away in New
Haven, Conn., and could not be
reached at the time. I was tel
egraphed to come and officiate
at the funeral.
T shall not say more about
my friend and brother, John
son. Limited time and space
will not permit. Brother B. P.
Russell, his former pastor and
teacher in the little parochial
school, where many colored
Presbyterian preachers first
saw the light, has spoken.
W. L. METZ.
Edisto Island, S. C.
Dr. Charles Satchell Morris,
Sr., of Virginia, noted Baptist
minister and lecturer, is dead.
In going over our subscrip
tion list, we find many sub
scriptions past due. Please re
new at once.
AN OPEN LETTER TO
THE PUBU£=A MES
SAGE OF HOPE
In this period of internation
al depression when so many or
ganizations are finding them
selves in difficult situations,
the North Carolina Mutual Life
Insurance Company is happy to
be in a position to bring a mes
sage of hope to the Negroes of
America.
The North Carolina Mutual
was conceived in faith, nur
tureded in a womb of integri
yt, protected by a spirit of
sacrifice and loyalty, and is as
sured of a continued existence
by the confidence of an insur
ing public and its experienced
and. trained management, con
sisting of men of character and
good business judgment. The
North Carolina Mutual Life In
surance Company started with
a sound business system thir
ty-two years ago and has never
departed from it. All of its di
rectors and officers are well
acquainted with the manage
ment of every detail of the bus
iness and no investment is
made nor money spent unless
passed upon by its Finance
Committee.
We have never sought to be
clever, but rather to be diligent
and prudent in the manage
ment of our affairs. We have
never organized any syndicates
in order to divert the funds of
the company for any illegal
purposes; nor have we engaged
in any speculative schemes;
been called into question about
any irregularities during our
existence; nor have any of our
officials ever drawn a dime ex
cept in straight salaries ap
proved by the Insurance De
partment. The Insurance De
partment of North Carolina,
which has made a regular au
dit of our business ever since
we began, can testify to this
statement. We realize that we
are only trustees or custodians
of public funds and our 250,000
policy-holders and 1,000 repre
sentatives can testify to this
fact.
One of the greatest factors
in the success 'of the North
Carolina Mutual is that it has
always held its expenses down
year by year in proportion to the
growth of the business. It pays
its claims promptly upon prop
er presentation of proof, and
owes no money on its splendid
Home Office Building, located
in the heart of the city of Dur
ham, nor on any of its other
assets.
Our company can boast of
one of the finest groups of em
ployees to be found anywhere,
trained and thoroughly imbued
with the spirit of co-operation
and integrity.
Notwithstanding the great
international depression, we
are facing but very little toss
on any of our investments, for
safety has been one of the first
considerations in the manage
ment of our company. Our com
pany has had more rapid pro
gress during the first six
months of 1931 than in any
previous year since 1925.
We consider the good will
and confidence of our policy
holders, agents and the public
one of our greatest assets; and
with thirty-two years of expe
rience in dealing with the pub
lic and in handling our own
personal affairs, we are better
fitted for building a larger and
more serviceable company. The
North Carolina Mutual Life
Insurance Company will live on
and continue to be operated in
the interest of its policy-hold
ers.
U. (J. SrAUL.miNii, rresment.
W. J. KENNEDY, Jr., Secre
tary.
E. R. MERRICK, Treasurer.
CPYDE DONNELL, Medical
Director.
R. L, McDOUGALD, Vice
President.
NOTICE
The Young People’s League
of the Western District of
Yadkin Presbytery will hold its
third quarterly meeting with
the young people of Oakland
church, Bear Poplar, N. C.,
Friday, August 21. We are
planning to observe fijeld day
at this time, and are hoping to
have a large number present.
J. A. WOODS,
Vice-President.
THE JUNIOR SCHOOL OP
METHODS OF MCCLELLAND
PRESBYTERY
By Mrs. J. H. Tocdey
The Junior Schoo^of Meth
ods, which was entertained by
the Irmo Firsts Presbyterian
church, met July 22-25 with
Rev. J. H. Toatley presiding.
The opening sermon was de
livered by the Rev. L. E. Ginn,
of Aiken, S. C. The theme was
“Love,” and proved interesting
and beneficial
Welcome address on behalf
of the church was delivered by
Prof. R. W. Boulware, of Har
oison Institute. The response
was made by Prof. M. H.
Thompson, Greer, S. C.
The registration of delegates,
announcements, offering and
benediction closed the eve
ning’s session.
Thursday’s and Friday morn
ing's sessions were in accord
with the regular School of
Methods program. Devotions
for Thursday were conducted
by Supt. J. E. Hall, of Irmo
First church. Devotions for
Friday were led by Supt. T. M.
Jenkins, of the Bowers
church.
Faculty and Program
Bible Study—Revs. J. G. Por
ter and J. H. Toatley.
Primary and Beginners’
Methods—Prof. R. W. Boul
ware and Miss lone Elston.
Junior Methods—Mrs. A. M.
Jenkins and Mrs. J. G. Porter.
Young People’s organiza
tions—Mrs. A. P. Butler and
Miss Otto Allen.
Round Talble discussion, fed
by Rev. C. W. Francis, Presi
dent of the Convention.
Music Period—Mrs. M. V.
Marion.
Recreation—Prof. E. L. Cun
diff and Rev. P. A. Hack^f
Intermission.
Thursday evening’s session
was an outstanding event
The following program was
presented with the Rev. J. G.
Porter, President of Harbison|
Institute, presiding.
Song service.
Solo—Miss Jennie Young.
President’s address —iRev.
C. W. Francis. !
Address—Dr. A. B. McCoy;
Offertory.
Benediction.
Dr. G. T. Dillard, of Colum
bia, S. C., had charge of the
Devotional Period on Friday
morning and his words wifi
long linger favorably with all
who heard his ringing appeal
for minister and teachers
called of God to carry on.
Friday evening’s program
with Mrs. Mtfcia V. Marion, of
Anderson, presiding, follows:
Selection— Harbison Quar
tette.
Invocation—President J. G.
Porter.
Selection — Harbison Quar
tette.
Instrumental solo — Little
Miss Jonetta Toatley.
Reading — Miss Magnolia
Smith.
Instrumental solo—Mr. OHie
Pratt.
Solo—Mr. Ralph Boulware.
Address—Rev. B. H. McFad
den.
Selection — Harbison Quar
tette.
All of the sessions were held
at Harbison Institute. The spa
cious and cheery class rooms
gave ample space for the pre
sentation of the various sub
The Round Table discussion
proved especially interesting
aid the young people entered
heartily and enthusiastically
into the discussions.
Our enrollment exceeded it-]
self by far in that 54 were en*
rolled. Harbison College is our
meeting place for the present.
McClelland Sunday School
Convention feels justly proud
in that she set the pace and
ether Conventions have en
larged perhaps her program
and all together are working
for bigger, better and nobler
things.
The following are the offi
cers:
President, Rev. C. W. Fran
cis, Anderson, S. C.
Vice-President, Rev. B. H.
McFadden, Spartanburg, S. C.
Secretary, Mrs. J. H. Toatley,
Due West, S. C.
Treasurer, Miss Lucinda
White, Abbeville, S. C.
Dean, Prof. E. L. Cundiff,
Laurens, S, C, .
Music Director, Mrs. Marcia
f .... ■■■■■ m:
Marion, Anderson, 8. C.. #
Chairman Program Commit
tee, Rev. J. H. Toatley, Due
West, S. a
GRACE PRESE t TEK1 AN
CHURCH NEWS, WINSTON
SALEM, N. C.
“Then was Jesus led up by
the Spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted of the devil.” St.
Matthew 4:1.
Rev. Fortune impressed his
hearers Sunday morning that
just as Jesus was tested every
person today must be tested.
Are you able to stand the test?
Truly everyone was spiritually
uplifted and encouraged to
fight the temptations of the
world.
12:45 found the “peppy” Jun
ior choir in their places lead
ing in the songs for Sunday
school. Supt. Lanier announced
August 10th as the annual pic
nic day. The little folks as well
as grown ups anticipate a great
day.
The children are faithful in
attendance at the six o’clock
hour of worship.
At 7 o’clock the Young Peo
ple’s Forum met with the us
ual lively discussions.
The ladies sponsored a mu
sical tea recently at the resi
dence of Dr. and Mrs. Eaton
from 5:30 to 7:00. A most en
joyable as well as profitable
evening was spent. The follow
ing persons participated on the
program: Mesdames Woodland,
Foote, Virginia Turner, For
tune, Messrs. Messrs. Hemp
hill and J- W. Paisley and Miss
Nannie Paisley.
The regular evening worship
Sunday was conducted at 8:00
o’clock, the pastor preaching
from the text Matt. 13:2, “Be
hold a sower went forth to
sow.”
The visitors for the day
were Dr. H. H. Hall and sons,
Miss Alice Humphrey, Mr.
Chinn Cunningham and Mr. T.
C. Mitchell.
Members on the sick list are:
Mrs. Edna Heath Jordan and
Mrs. Ida McFadderi Davis.
The Daily Vacation Bible
School went over the top with
an overwhelming success. Due
to the fact that a large dele
gation attended the League
meeting in Durham, Friday,
the closing exercises were post
poned until Mondaty. After a
short rehearsal Monday morn
ing the children assembled on
the side of the church and
pictures were taken of the en
tire group, after which [lem
onade and cake were served to
the children by the finance
committee
Promptly at 8:00 o’clock 100
little smiling faces on their
test behavior greeted their
teachers, parents and friends,
and earnestly performed the
huge but pleasant tasks thrust
upon them. The interest was
keen throughout and one could
easily visualize ministers and
missionaries spreading the good
news, and artists of great re
nown. A pleasing program was
rendered.
At tne conclusion oi me pro
gram the offering was taken
by M. Hunter Jones and Lee
Vaughan.
There were pep songs by the
school. All of the music was
under the competent supervis
ion of Mrs. Fortune and Miss
Mooney.
The number in attendance
reached 170. Prizes were
awarded the following children
for bringing in the greatest
number of children: Landers
Mooney, Frances Turner and
Erline Lee.
The teachers were:
Beginners’ Diept.—Miss Ma
vis Osborne and Mesdames Ea
ton and Carter.
Primalry Dept.—Misses Moo
ney and Vaughan.
Junior Dept.—Misses Black
and Turner.
Physical Education Dept.
Misses Hazel Eaton and Mavis
Bsborne.
NOTICE
The Western District Sun
day School Convention of the
Presbytery of Yadikn will meet
with the Logjan Presbyterian
church, Scotts, N. C., Wednes
day, August 12th to Friday,
August 14th, 1931. All schools
are expected to send delegates
and all superintendents are re
quested to be present.
JNO. H. SMITH,
Cor. Sec.