pal .'Win*'
via. 82.
“AND YE SHALL' KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL
VOL. LIH
CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 13,1931
"W Ha!'T
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A UNITED NEGRO dK»
By Dr. Carter 6. Woodson
In 1932 the Quadrennial Con
ferences of the African Meth
odist Episcopal Church and the
African Methodist Episcopal
Zion Church wiU consider a
proposal to unite as one
Church. Why not do the much
needed thing of broadening this
proposal so as to bring together
all .Negro religious bodies as
the United Negro Church? The
merger of merely these two
bodies, it will be said, can be
effected much more easily than
that of a larger number because
they agree in doctrine and their
uniting will be merely a matter
of administration.
As a matter of ract, nowev
er, practically all Negroes
agree on Church doctrine ex
cept where they have taken up
the religious disputes of the
whites, which have worked
havoc with the program of uni
fying the thought and action of
the Negro. The whites, howev
er, are forgetting their reli
gious differences, especially
since they have begun to repu
diate the principles taught by
Jesus. The whites are rapidly
breaking down denominational'
lines to acquire by such union
greater power which they often
use against the Negro to make
his condition more intolerable;
and if the Negroes of this
country do not meet this effort
with the same sort of united
action the race will not be able
to take care of itself in the
struggle of tomorrow.
Practically all Negroes are
Protestants, and the large ma
jority of them are Baptists and
Methodists. These two Negro
jpYinpn i)«yrpay,, much atten
one emphasizes immersion and
close communion and the other
sprinkling and open commun
ion. With the exception of these
points there are very few Ne
groes untrained in theology
who can distinguish between a
Methodist and a Baptist. These
two large groups of Negro
Christians are very much alike,
and they should forget the mis
chievous doctrinal differences
taught them by ignorant white
men and come together with
one Lord, one faith, and say
nothing at all about the bap
tism.
Now many a Negro preacher
on reading this will fret; ^ana
snort like a horse. He will think
of what he read in some white
man’s book or what he heard
some white man say ; and then
his mind will run back to the
doctrinal sermons which he
has heard or delivered himself;
but if he will just think a min
Iute he will have to conclude
that alt such disputes are non
sense m that they are merely
intended to force upon some
one else another’s personal
opinions. No two persons are
alike, and no two persons can
have the same ideas about God
and man’s relation to Him ,
and if you carry such a fool
hardy effort to its logical con
clusion working out a faith to
suit everybody the world would
have as many religions as there
are men.
Negroes must learn to re
spect the religious beliefs of
those who do not agree ex
actly with them, for the main
thing is not what you believe
but what you do to help your
fellowman. This is the only
[principle of religion which
Tesus of Nazareth emphasized,
fhe quarrels about doctrine,
he conflict about faiths, and
vars to uproot one religion
,nd establish another are all
he work of the Devil. The
principles of righteousness
iave never been advanced
leneby. These movements
ye merely redounded to the
lefit of the princes and lords
have embraced and es
ised religion as a means to
end. In fact, the most reli
peopie of America are the
enemies of righteousness
and truth. That the Negroes
have followed them so long in
assisting in carrying out their
thoroughly worked-out plans
for racial extermination is elo
quent evidence that Negroes
do not think.
If is really Shameful to reflect
how the Negro in chameleon
like fashion r has taken up
everything which has come
alohg instead of carving out
his! own future. The English
split off from the Catholics be
cause Henry VIlI had difficulty
in getting sanction from the
Church to satisfy his lust for
ambroUs women, and Negroes
went with this ilk, singing,
“God Save the King.” The
white man said the thing ne
cessary is baptism by immer
sion and the Negroes joined
them as Baptists. The white
mail said again we must have
a new method of doing things
and we shall call ourselves
Methodists; and the Ne^oes,
then, became Methodists. The
white Methodists and Baptists
spilt up further on account
of tiie right to hold slaves ; and
the | Negroes arrayed them
selvles on the respective sides.
Thd Whites divided still more
on questions beyond human
poWer to Understand; and the
Negjroes started out in similar
fashion to imitate them. And
thus it goes with the Negro
Church, for it has not yet giv
en the Vrorld a new idea.
The recent split of the Ne:
gro I Baptists into the Boyd
and IMorris factions is peculiar
ly Neg^o, butt it t§: a disgrace
theniselves Christians should
ihusi divide because of a dis
pute about property. It seems
now, too, that this. mania for
dividing an already weak peo
ple is soon to result in the
split of the Morris Baptists
into Williams and Austin Bap
tists. The Boyd Baptists are
also fighting among them
selves, but their line of cleav
age is not yet so distinctly
marked out as in the case of
the other body. For the time
and Energy lost in this unprofi
table labor, and the expense
involved in maintaining so
many camps of ambitious mis
lea'ders of the race the masses
of the Negroes must pay. The
hand1 is writing on the wall,
however, and the combatants,
had better soon learn that the
people some day may begin to
think; and they are not going
to pay the cost ot duplication
in their' religious administra
tion. [They are not going to
support two or three different
bishops and two or three dif
ferent schools in the same
town merely because some one
cbtaiiied from a book written
by a misguided person centu
ries ago certain thoughts which
he believed set up an ideal.
This ige is going to set up its
own Ideals in the light of world
progress. It has really out
grown sectarian bias, and the
sooner the Negro learns this
the better prepared he will be
to keep up with the procession.
There is v no reason why any
intelligent man who is trying
to imitate Christ can not close
ly co-operate in an organized
body with any other person
thus disposed. The United Ne
gro Church, therefore, is in
evitable. >
I object to the further divis
ion of the Negro Church be
cause it is the only institution
the Negroes control. Every
thing else in America and Eu
rope is controlled by the tra
ducers of the Negro race. If
+he Negroes pdrmit their
church to be further weakened
ty strife, they will make a fa
tal mistake. If they can bluster
enough wisdom to unite these
factions they will have for lift
ing them in their struggle up
ward the greatest leverage
which has figured in the eleva
tion of the race. Without doubt
the Negroes could then go
forth to conquer their enemies
and remove the obstacles from
their path. They would then
haye something behind them
as the Catholics in this country
haVe. Hospitals would be erect
ed to take care of the health
of the Negroes. Industries
could be established and sup
ported by a united people. The
education of the Negro from
within could be effected to give
the race a chance to contribute
to culture. The impetus from
this would make the Negro a
constituent part of the body
politic instead of a political
pawn for about a half dozen
Negro politicians.
I am interested in the Ne
gro church because I believe in
it. I am a member of a church
and usually I attend every
Sunday. I go to church not be
cause I believe that I have
more religion than many others
who do not, but because I find
there better people than I do
on the outside fighting the in
stitution ; and because if I at*
tend church I am a much bet
ter man than I would be if I
did not. I attend church, too,
because I find my people there,
and I cannot help them unless
I remain among them. Wher
ever they go I want to go, and
when they suffer and die let file
share my part of the burden
arid go down to the end with
them.
I realize that the Negro
Church is corrupt, but it is not
beyond the point of redemp
tion. Most of the curruption,
moreover, has developed from
the unusual opportunity which
the institution offers for doing
great things; and too,many
politicians . aire going into the
church to use this opportunity
for self-aggrandizement. They
promote the division of the
people into factions to make it
easier to exploit them. This is
the reason for trying to crush
the church. It is rather a rea
son for going into it to reform
it and to use it for the good
of the people. We should not be
so foolish as to burn down the
barn to get the rats which are
destroying some of the grain.
YOUNG PEOPLE’S LEAGUE
MEETING
The third quarterly meeting
of the Young People’s League
rf Catawlba Presbytery was
held on Saturday, August 1,
with Matthews chapel church.
The enrollment of delegates
was the first thing in order.
This was followed by the bus
iness of the day.
Our President, Mr. W. S.
Brinkley, in the opening re
marks of the day, spoke of the
League’s delight in meeting
with Matthews chapel >^nd of
the prosperous condition of the
church.
The minutes of the last meet
ing were read and approved.
This was followed by the ap
pointing of a committee by the
President to draw up resolu
tions for the League. Those
who served on this committee
were Misses Idell Rhyne, L.
Jenkins and Mr. R. P. Wyche,
,Jr.
On the account of the ab
sence of Mr. Emory Rann a
report from the Treasurer was
not given.
The statistical committee, of
which Mr. A. T. James is
chairman, gave its report at
this time. From this report
one could readily see the stand
ing of each young people’s or
ganization This report further
showed that in various church
es of Catawba Presbytery a
larger per cent of girls attend
ed the meetings of the young
people of their churches than
did boys. Copies of this report
wdre given to representatives
of each organization present.
The statistical committee is to
make a deeper study along
(Continued on page 3)
m
or dk|_
COUBBIOg OF CA
TAWBA PRESBYTERY
By Mrs. pIHe Q. Mayberry
The 3&ti| annual session of
the ,^Sab!^p School Convention
•f Cataw®f|>resbytery met in
the Bell
church,
on Ati
through
Mr. X
and the
friends o
ihte Presbyterian
Harrisburg, N. C.,
s6th, and continued
igust 7th.,
- Spears, the Supt.,
her members and
--- ~^ the church were un
stinted in their efforts to make
our entertainment all that
heart cod# wish.. This section
of the country is beautiful, the
people are of very industry
ibufi' habits, and the, fcplendid
atmosphere inducive to happi
ness /and - enjoyment, furnished
by these H?ood people to this
gathering! of Christian work-.
ers w»L long Joe remembered.
One hundred nine (109) su
perintendents, ministers and
delegates^ were registered and
received -file convention’s badg
es, the personnel composed of
the best,
outstan
convent^
named
ganists
id most intelligent
worker^ from the local church
es in' buiff Presbytery,
Worship and Sbng Servlce
Efwjh lession began with a
hyelyVand inspiring song ser
vice; 'conducted by Mr. T. J.
:ham, musical direc
convention, and the
choir. The music
always one of the
g attractions of the
The following
tons served as or
bing the session:
mdiers. Miss. Helen
Youngt -i
The opening worship service
was conducted by Rev. F. M.
BeaVer. The study Thursday
morning Was taken from Matt.
14:44-50. His subject was:
“The Kingdom of God.” On
Friday morning Rev. Beaver
spoke from the subject, “Are
We Denying the Kingdom iof
God?” These services were in
deed uplifting and every one
was impressed with the beauty
and deep religious fueling of
the worship service.
Welcome Address
Mr. S. L. Harrison extended
us a very cordial welcome on
behalf of the Sunday school,
and Miss. Catheline Spears, in
a very delightful manner, wel
comed us on behalf of the
Young People’s Society. .
After listening to these in
spiring addresses and seeing
the loving, generous and hospi
table spirit existing, we felt at
home, for every one seemed to
have our interest at heart.
Rev. E. E. Gregg, in a very
pleasing manner, expressed the
convention’s appreciation and
gratitude for the beautiful
words of welcome.
Conference
A Superintendents’ Confer
ence was conducted by Rev. F.
C. Shirley, Director of Young
People’s Work of Catawba Syn
rd. This was a very interesting
and instructive discussion and
oach' superintendent, officer,
minister and delegate present
should have gotten a broader
view' of the tasks and the re
sponsibilities of the superinten
dents to their Sunday schools.
Rev. Shirley and the superin
tendents discussed the three
fold task of the superintendent
as an organizer, an administra
tor and as a superviser.
Rev. Shirley Recommended
that each superintendent sub
scribe for the Westminster
Leader, a Sunday school mag
azine; that the superintendents
go on record this year’ in the
matter of submitting a quarter
ly and yearly report to the
sessions of their churches;
that they submit a plan for the
year’s work before the session
of the' church for approval.
The subject created so much
interest that the superinten
dents present pledged them*
selves by vote to accept these
recommendations and Tput this
information in practice* upon
their various fields.
Reports of Local Sunday
Schools
Qut of forty-eight churches
enrolled, forty made reports.
They were encouraging and
shewed progress financially and
spiritually but a falling off of
memlbers. Many of the schools
are.trying to perfect the stand
ard of Educational Efficiency.
Th0 President complimented
fhe delegates upon the splen
didj and distinct manner in
which the reports were read. •
Dr. J. D. Martin, of Chester,
S. C., and Rev. M. A. Sanders,
of James Island, S. C., were
introduced and accorded seats
as ieorresponing memlbers of
the: convention.
Inspirational Addresses
T*he President’s annual, ad
dregs was a gem. It is always
inspiring ito listen to the mes
sage he brings to us. It makes
us feel-that as a convention we
should be ’ more loyal to the
command of Christ, that we
should catch a new vision of
the increasing opportunities
for service and grow in power
to do. In his interesting and
thoughtful adless he made
mention of the progress the
convention has ' made during
the past 13 years, which is so
necessary for the intellectual
and I spiritual growth of. the
Sunday schools in its bounds.
He made special mention of the
steps taken last year by the
convention in awarding a
scholarship in Barber-Scotia
College to some-young woman
in tlje bounds of this Presbyte
ry. v. He i. also expressed the de*
sire' ‘ofseemg-^ thef-cenwwatfon
take upon itself the responsi
bility of a Junior School of
Methods.: He dosed1 hy urging
the young people to: be active
in- their Sabbath schools, “for
the strength,” said "he, “is in
the hands of the young peo
ple.”
An address, “I)ae^, Youth
Understand the Churcji?” was
very albly and forcibly deliv
ered by Dr. F. Anderson. Dr.
Anderson answered the ques
tion in the .negative. The
church’s program is one of
worship, instruction, service
and recreation. It is adapted to
the interest and needs and
characteristics of the young
people. “The youth are living
in a new world; they meet new
religious, social and industrial
problems,” Said Dr. Anderson.
The two essentials in the pro
gram of the young people are
interest and organization and
this must he brought about
through adult leadership.
Dr. J. D. Martin, President
of Brainerd Institute, Chester,
S. C., delivered an excellent ad
dress from the subject, “Man
ufactured. Gods — the Remedy,
the Cure.” Every one oresent
enjoyed this address. He also
spoke of the work at Brainerd
Institute that he is engaged
in. ' . . . . . r
Election of Officers
The following named persons
were elected to serve as offi
cers of the convention for the
year 1931-1932:
President. Prof. W. H. Stin
son. ...
.1st Vice-President, Rev. j.
H. Gamble
2nd Vice-President, Prof. E.
A. Chisholm.,
Secretary. Dr. L. J. Melton,
(Permanent.)
Assistant Secretary, Mrs.
Hallie Q Mayberry.
Treasurer, Dr. Geo.- S. Leep
er. * ~
The officers were installed
by .Rev.;A. P. Corley.
Mrs. Haffie Q. Mayberry and
.Mr, Edward Brown .were elect
ed delegates r to f .the School of
Methods at Albion Academy,
Franklin ton, N,- C. Miss Janie
Mae ttobinson and Georgia
Kiser were elected alternates.
m 1 =====nra*
! Dulatown, N. O.y Was decid
ed’ upon as the next place of
meeting. -
The, resolutions of thanks
were read by Miss Thelma
Drye.
The minutes of the conven
tion were read by Mrs. HaUie
Q. Mayberry and approved by
the convention.
After singing “God Be With
You Till We Meet Again,*’ we
closed with the benediction by
DrJ F. J. Anderson.
Thus, came to a close a con
vention which it is hardly pos
sible that any delegate could
evei1 forget.
NEW 1foRK IS BIGGEST
negro city; Chicago
SECOND, PHILADELPHIA
THIRD
Washington, July—(By The
Associated Negro Press.) More
Negroes live in New York City
thah^in any other city in the
world, according to figures re
leased by the United States
Census Bureau Tuesday. These
figures show that the Negro
population of New York in
April, i930f was 327,706, an in
crease of 114.9 per cent over
the ! 1920 population of 152,“
467.1 ' ’ .
The statement also shows
ihat wife hunters should find
New York’s colored quarter a
happy ground for operations,
there being 170,738 females to
156,968 males. There are 230,
069 Negroes in New York City .
21 years of age and over. The
Negro population which in 1920
constituted only 2.7 per cent of
the population is now 4.7 per
cent. < * • .
Interesting comparisons may
.be. made between the Negro
qSopujlation of a number of oth
*br "important cities: The Negro '•
^opuRPttPh-^ 6f ~~New"*-¥ork~hi
greater than the total popula
tion of any one of the follow
ing qjities: Birmingham, Ala.,
Atlanta, Ga., Richmond, Va.,
Louisville, Ky., or any city in
the South except New Orleans;
than that of Toledo, Ohio; Co
lumbus, Ohio; Omaha, Nebras
ka, or any cities in the west
except Los Angeles and San
Francisco.
'There are also more Negroes
in the New York community
than there are people of all
races and colors in either the
State of Delaware or Wyo
ming! Negro New York lacks
only 30,000 of the population
of the State of Vermont.
Wit:h the New York popula
tion known, it can be shown
•that there are five cities in the
North with a combined Negro
population of more than a mil
lion. These cities are: New -
York, 32?;0'00 ; /Chicago, 234,
000: Philadelphia, 219,000; De
troit, 120,000; and St. Louis,
93.000. These figures are of
April,; 1930. They would be
much , larger now.
Excluding Los Angeles, for
which the figures are not yet
available, the American cities
with the largest Negro popula
tions are: New York, 327,0Q0;
Chicago, 234,000; Philadelphia,
219,000; Baltimore, . 142,000;
New Orleans, 129,000; Wash
ington; 127,000; Detroit, 120,1
000; i Birmingham, 100,000;
Memphis, 96,000; St. Louis,
93,000 ;°' Atlanta, - 90,000;
Cleveland, 71,000; Pittsburgh,
54.000, and Richmond, 52,000.
* New York’s huge colored
population is divided between
the five boroughs which make
up that city as follows: Man
hattan, 224,670; - Brooklyn,
68,921; Queens, 18,609; Bronx,
12,930, and Richmond, 2,576.
This vast number of Negroes,
representing the highest
achievement of . Negroes in
brains and cn|i§|f in the Unit
ed Stated does hot, however,
own and operate a single bank,
insurance.company, or even a
?hoe store .For its economic
existence, it . depends almost r
entirely uppn the other races .
Irving in, the city. Throughout
(Continued on page 2)