Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / Jan. 28, 1932, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOL. LUL CHARLOTTE, N. “The highest crime rates among both Negroes and whites usually occur at the lowest economic levels,” said James D- Burton, Presbyterian ruling elder, of Oakdale, Tenn., in his annual report as Inter state Secretary to the State Interracial Commission at Nashville, Tuesday, January 19. Dr James E. Clarke, edi tor of The Presbyterian Ad vance, presided. “Some reasons for the crime rate among Ne groes,” said Dr. Burton, “are the meager allocation of public funds for Negro education and institutional care, general eco nomic conditions and inade quate police protection provid ed in Negro communities. Courts deal lightly with Negro criminals accused of crime against members of their own rajte, but the court penalty is invariably heavy when a Ne gro kills a white man. Southern leaders, both white and Negro, feel strongly that the inade quate police protection provid ed Negro communities breeds crime- Negroes are allowed, without interference, to com mit crimes on one another, which, when committed against white people, result ip severe court sentences, if not in death at the hands of the mob. “The fine records of Negro graduates of training schools, colleges and universities make it plain that the educated Negro is no menace. Recent mob victims had but little for mal education. Not one of them had high school training, and only one had gone beyond the .fifth grade; three were illiter ate, ftnd eight nearly so. Many lynchers belong to that type of person who reads but little, is identified with*, but few or no, organizations, and is outside the reach of modern agencies affecting group morals and pub lic opinion. Negro education is a factor in crime prevention. “Practical programs for less ening crime should be worked out through co-operation be tween white and Negro lead ers. Much Negro crime centers about white criminals. During unemployment there is a great deal of visiting, loafing, gam bling and general carousing which inevitably leads to a large amount of crime. More lynchings occur in the summer than at any other time in the year and a relation is dis cerned between the weather and crimes against the person, and a consequent relation be tween the weather and resort to lynch-law. With the coming of warm weather, the majority of farm folks work out of doors. After cultivation is done and before harvesting begins, there is little to occu py the time of white and col ored workers- While no popula tion element is without obli gation, the primary responsi bility for the lessening of crime and the eradication of lynching rests upon that por tion of the population which controls political, social and ec onionuc conditions. “However, Negro leaders are not without responsibility to ward the lessening of crime and the eradication of lynching. Negro leaders of ability and character, who have proved their worth and won respect for their race, can appeal to lo cal officers or influential white citizens and prevent threatened outbreaks. They will have to span the gap between the lev el of their own lives and that of the lawless element with a view of extending their influ ence over it. This will assure white people that the Negro does not condone crime or shield criminals. The church, the lodge, the school and the press can make large contribu tions toward the reduction of crime. “The Southern States gen erally have made inadequate in stitutional provision for Negro dependents, juvenile delin quents, feeble-minded and men tally deranged. As a result, many dangerous Negroes have been at large who should have been placed in such institu tions. It is held that the con finement of two hopelessly de fective (mentafl types would have prevented the occurrence of at least two crimes which resulted in Negroes being lynched in 1930. Proper care of hopelessly defective Negroes is an essential part of any practi cal program for lessening ! crime Tennessee does not as yet have an institution for the colored feeble-minded. Provis ions should be made for them. “Studies of juvenile delin aunecy show that the opening of supervised parks and play-' grounds leads to an immediate reduction of delinquency. We feel that there should be a probation officer in every coun ty. The State Interracial Com mission is not striving for spe cial privileges for the Negro, but is working simply for even handed justice and a fair chance in the struggle for ex istence. The color of the skin should not militate against jany one in the administration of the law. Every man should be ac corded legal protection of his life and property and educa tional opportunities | for his children. This is a progress of human relations in which both races are the beneficiaries.” ST. JAMES CHURCH GREENSBORO Sunday morning, January 25th, the service took the form of a symphony. The theme .was “The Supremacy of Jesus’ based on Eccle, 17:17; John 15: 13. The Junior choir, under the leadership of Mrs. Geo. P. Dud ley, Jr., rendered the music for the symphony. The rendering of I.argo from Xerxes fur nished an excellent introduc tion. In fact, from Prelude to Recessional and Fourfold Amen, the choir entered into the spirit of the theme, while the congregation immediately caught the inspiration. Misses C- R. Miller and Annie Carter, soprano and alto, closed the symphony with “In the Secret of His Presence.” The service was said to have been the most impressive in many years. Many were the tear-stained faces and happy hearts. Mrs G. P. Dudley was re ceived into full membership at the close of the morning ser vice. The Christmas pageant, “The Three Wise Men,” was the central attraction at St. James during the holdiays Mrs. H. C. Miller, assisted by Mrs. G. A. Bridges, G- P. Dud ley, S- W. Carter and R. E. Mc Nair, sponsored the pageant. Supt. G- A- Bridges gave a social for the Sabbath school m the basement of the church as the closing feature of the hol iday activities. The Sabbath school has taken on new life under the leadership of Supt. Bridges and his associates, Messrs. Frank Caldwell and W. L. McNair. All eyes are centered upon the Men’s Bible class, named the Joseph Jones Bible class, in honor of Elder Jacob Jones, the oldest member of St. James church. Prof. T- B. Jones is teacher and Mr. N. L. Gregg is President. Both of these men are Smith graduates. This class has had a wonderful growth during the past two months. It now seems that all the men of the church will enroll therein. The Junior choir received loudest praise for their rendi tion of Sanctus Sunday before Christmas. The choir also ap peared in a program in the Cherry Street Presbyterian church. High Point, recently. They made -a 1 fine impression. THE DPS AMD DOWN&Of PROHIBITION _& beef, thief. I’m dreaming about that anci*it tjme, before the invention of moo&^a^ crime^ When there were no la\ys, and,no repression, And consequently no transgreS&oh. Then, a man might do whatever fie wanted. Ana not be hne-ana-prison hff^*^ Me captured a colt or he. but Unconscious of such a thing. Should a likely pullet park n< Me fed his family chicken pie.. He took his girl joy riding x And. drove right by the trafi And when he parked his gig, in tne middle of the street if anybody made him sore; He uidn t do it any more. : He wooed all the women b£ the side. to marry, And drank all the com he wanted to carry. Then, there wasn’t any need m a crime commission, because there wasn’t any pfbhlbitfttti. But there arose a new regime, a rigid prohibition schejmefci|f Inventing law, and, in 4C originating its offense judge Moses first exhibited * A list of things prohibited. • 4 . . He told the people plain and flit, •Thou shalt not do this}, andpfcod shalt not do that." Of ail the gods, unknown and known, , He prohibited homage to all flat one With this commandment "Was another, “itevere thy father and thy \ Then, there was a Sabbatn. And a man couldn’t swipe Or demonstrate his skill U But that he was jailed oj^ He who had homicide bn; Was halted with “Thou Misuse of facts made one And subject to a bath ©£ So unromantic, indeed, Was Ufe> That a man couldn’t borrdf his neighbors wife. Why, one could neither g©fc nor haw, Without his running a-f oul of a law. i jpV*i ay to keep, jhoat or a sheep leafing, for stealing. m not kill." re. The modern use of fine ^id fetter Has gotten worse instead jpf better. New statutes go on codif^^& # And new cnmes^go. mHpipJying, Thus, all down through the centuries, Rock piles and penitentiaries Have thronged with prisoners pulling time For being caught committing crime. And hence, in spite of fines and jails, The prohibition flatly fails. The disobediently inclined Don’t give the thing a minute’s mind, But treat the laws of God and man With all the disrespect they can. The sanest rules inaugurated Are insolently violated. They have persistently adored All sorts of gods except the Lord And parents seem to be select For their especial disrespect. Also, the Sabbath’s destination Is universal desecration. They lie, and rob, and maim and kill, And steal another’s ewe lamb still. . Since Noah’s neighbors razzed the ram, They’ve had rebellion on the brain. They’ve claimed the freedom to select What laws to honor, or reject. Till, finally, they balk, and stall, And give regard to none at all. The upshot is that soon or late, Rebelliousness will terminate In junking all the laws in vogue, Together with the Decalogue. J. RILEY DUNGEE I. Norfolk, Va., Jan. 1, 1932. Elder C. K. Brown is again attending regular services, af ter being indisposed for the past year. Mrs. Virginia Eskridge, who has been confined <to the St. I Leo Hospital will be out this week- Her many friends are de lighted at her recovery. Mrs. Edna Hunter is sick at this writing. We hope to see her out shortly. Mrs. A. D. Waugh continues indoors. She keeps very cheerful and sunny. During the holidays the la dies of the two missionary cir cles stormed the manse Wednesday night after the midweek service. From the wreckage the pastor and his family gathered a pile of gro ceries and other useful things. 0- K., ladies. Come again. Mr. Ed Williams, of Wash ington, D. C., is visiting in the home of his sister, Mrs. Esther Wood. Both branches of the Mis sionary Society are very busy. trying to round out a credita ble year. The society is study ing “The Land of the Dawn,” while the Lucy Laney Circle is studying “God and the Cen sus.” Among the number of visit ors in the church during the holidays were Messrs. Geo. Meares, Kermit McNair and John Sandifer, of Johnson C. Smith University; Mr. Gaston Meares, of Northwestern Uni versity; Mr. Harold Morrow, of Washington, D. C., and Misses McConnell, of Oklahoma, and Carpenter, of Boston, Mass. CORRESPONDENT. The whole course of history since the advnet of Christ goes to prove that wherever the light of the gospel shines, the blessings of civilization abound also-—Dr. James Stalker. Even if you are too deaf to hear the preacher, the church is still a good place for listen ing to God.—John a Holnws. By C. A. Wright After the meeting of Presby tery at Russell Grove, Amelia, V?., the church thought and talked about the same for quite a while. But talk alone would not fill the bill. So many got down to bus iness. Were I to say the church in every way is doing as well this year as last I would hardly be believed, because the major ity of the churches and other public institutions, as well as cities and towns, are affected detrimentally to some extent. I am glad to say, however, while there is not a great deal of public work here to do, the Lord in His all-wise providence has provided nearly every one with a plenty to subsist on, having given us a bounteous harvest. : Our preaching services as a rule are well attended and prayer meetings are regularly held Wednesday nights with a fair attendance. The Sunday ' school is well attended and ac tive, also the Christian En deavor- We are glad to see the same And to know that while every (one may not be able to contribute to the financial part as he would like, he, at least, is willing to further the spir itual side. A Short Vacation Our pastor, Rev. R. L. Hyde, and his wife, decided to visit their old homes somewhere in Tennessee. So some time in the latter part of June, 1931, ac companied by Master Clemons Jeffrey, a member of the Rus sell Grove church, son of Mr and Mrs. James Jeffrey, they took their departure in their own private car, with Mrs. Hyde at the wheel- After sev eral days o:T pleasant and un eventful travel they reached* their destination and for the space of several weeks enjoyed the companionship of relatives and friends. A Serious Accident Their stay being ended the :arty started home about the ast part of July. With Mrs. tyde at the wheel they reached vithin six miles of home with out incident worthy of com ment, when, driving just after light fall, they were run into by a truck which was sprink ?ng the road. All the. occupants were injured, Rev. Hyde the most seriously. They were car ried to the hospital in Rich mond; Va-, where they re mained several days, and have long since recovered and been on the job. Lo, I Am With You The above words may be m the mind of Miss Mamie L. Taylor, as she goes from place to place visiting Sunday school after Sunday school, also day schools, all in the in terest of the growth .of the youth in Christian training. She has been in our town since early September, 1931. a he is out in the interest of Sunday school work and will likely be in our county yet a little while. We trust the Sun day schools will take on new life and profit by the informa tion and inspiration she has given. I am sure she will great ly appreciate the co-operation of ministers and superinten dents, also any one who has a desire to lend a helping hand. Her present address is: Miss Mamie L. Taylor, Amelia C. H- Va. “Suffer the little Children to come unto me.” The third Sunday in October, 1931, the doors of the Russell Crove church were thrown open and saints and sinners were invited in to a very inter esting series of meetings being carried on, lasting one week. 'There were several conversions Two small (children joined the qhurch and three larger ones tvilj likely join elsewhere. ” . V ’ ‘' - ' * • • “Joy to the Wotid” Just a couple of weeks ago that time-honored song was sung. It is old and yet ever so new, because every year it comes to us reminding us of ♦he Saviour’s birth. Our Sun day school and day school had a joint celebration—a abort Christmas exercise and a Christmas tree. The Amelia County Emanci pation Association held its an nual celebration January 1,. Al though it was a very disa greeable day quite a number listened to a very interesting talk by Prof. A. P. Watson, of Union University, Richmond, Va. He is a native of Tennes see. Prof. Daniels, also of Un ion, made a few interesting re marks. A few other interesting features were: a recitation by Mr. Robert Johnson, of Ame lia, now a student of Mary Pot ter School, Oxford, N. C. His subject was: “The Sunday School and the Negro Youth.” Miss Gladys Swann, of Ame lia, now a teacher in Arm strong High School, Richmond, Va, next favored us with a paper on “The Negro Songs.” Other short speeches conclud ed the celebration of the day. Prof. Irving Brown, of Amelia, liow a teacher in Warren, Va., presided at the instrument. Been Here and Gone We were glad to welcome relatives and friends, high school girls and boys, teachers and others, who spent the holi days with us. But now they have gone: the teachers to their scholars, the scholars to their studies. May _ they all have success in their various lines of duty. Bro. Watson Robinson, the oldest member of Russell Grove church, still keeps abed Mrs. Lucinda Booker, a mem ber of Russell Grove church, also took bed Thursday of last '■vrfc'ek. We hope for them .. UP early recovery. OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT PRESIDENTIAL POLL Opportunity, Journal of Ne gro Life, announces that it will conduct a presidenital poll in order to ascertain the politi cal trend of the Negro vote in the 1932 presidential election. The poll which is announced in the February issue will at tempt to determine whether there is an appreciable drift to the left among intelligent Ne groes of the country. A statement from the edito rial offices of Opportunity, 1133.. Broadway, New York City, follows: “The 1932 Presidential elec tion will probably see more Ne groes exercising the right of franchise than any previous election since the Negro be came a citizen. Opportunity will endeavor to find out how the ,intelligent, 'serious think ing Negro feels about the po litical parties which will offer Presidential candidates next November. The readers of Op portunty represent a cross sec tion of Negro life and will pro vide the nucleus of our poll. In addition, the 43 Urban League branches situated in strategical industrial centers and in those pivotal States in which the Ne gro vote is of paramount impor tance will co-operate, which will enable the poll to reach far be yond the number who can be reached directly through Op portunity” MAPS FOR SHOOL TKACH ERS Any school teacher in North Carolina who wishes a map of the State to hang in the school room may secure one by ad dressing “Agricultural Re view,” care the State Depart ment of Agriculture, Raleigh. If you wish such a map, kindly send the request direct and not through a second party, and give the name of your school and the grade you teach.
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Jan. 28, 1932, edition 1
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