Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / July 27, 1933, edition 1 / Page 1
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YOU FREE.**—John viii. 32. CHARLOTTE, N. C„THURS»AY, JULY 27, 1333. VOL. LIV. NO. 29. BY THE WAY By Uncle Billie The medical physician prac tices in his profession because he is not sure of his position; and the layman sends for a phy sician because he has a degree of faith in the physician's the ories leading up to his position. A Struggle to Hold Zion Zion Presbyterian church, Charleston, was organized about 1859 by Flinn Presbyterian church, of this city, for the Ne groes of Charleston regardless as to whose slaves they were; and the great man, Rev. John Ti. Girardeau, D. D., LL. D., of Charleston, was the fathful pas ter. But space forbids us to say more than to mention the name of Dr. Girardeau; suf fice it to say that before the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., waa divided Dr. Girardeau ranked with Alexander, Hodges and Thornwell and other giants of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. In his day Dr. Girardeau ranked as one of the great preachers of the country. But the citizens of Charleston, being suspicious of his attitude to ward colored folk, brought in fluence to bear upon him to get him away from a Negro congre gation and out of Charleston Columbia Theological Semina ry, where he spent bis last days. Want a Swimming Pool Take a look at the map of South Carolina and you will see at once that Charleston is a peninsula; it is not hard up for swimming pools or swimming places of amus^mont; arid yet swimming pool for white. Charleston; and to secure such ah envied place of value, it de cided unanimously to condemn Zion Presbyterian church as an unsafe place of worship, feeling doubly sure that the congrega tion, at such a time as this,> could not make safe the unsafe in Zion’s edifice. Spurred by this assumed as surance, the city at once pro ceeded without any notice what ever to the officers of Zion or even to the sexton, to dig a ditch through Zion’s yard; and hav ing ^completed the\ long, deep! ditch, they laid the pipes as an aqueduct to the spot for the swimming pool that was to in clude Zien. Zion woke up and notified the attorney for Atlantic Presbyte ry—this attorney has served this Presbytery for over twenty years—whose father was an offi cer in Zion in the days of slav ery and afterwards, and was one of the most outstanding cit izens of Charleston in wealth, education and character. This attorney, after elaborat ing to the congregation how much he loves this sacred spot on account of the family rela tions and pleasant memories that cluster around Zion, con cluded with a desire for this congregation to let the city of Charleston have this church. The congregation was offered a few dollars over nine thousand dollars for this property. But even in these no-money days this valuable piece of property is worth any man’s $75,000, at the least. And Elder A. J. Clenv ont says nobody shall ever sell a church to which he belongs. May God help him. Not Out the Hole Zion is not yet out of the hole, for she still owes the city of Charleston about two thousand dollars for street improvement before Zion's door. And this same lawyer rang Rev. Mr. Hen derson up lasf week on this mat ter of payment; but the church has one year and a day to settle this amount. This same lawyer wanted to know of Rev. Mr. Henderson, “Where are you go ing to get the money?” Rev. Henderson replied “I do not know.” That is and was a fine answer. Why tell the world that your powder is out or where the source of supply is, when strong men determined on your undo ing are hot on your track? Where Is Zion Located? Zion is only one block from the comer of King and Calhoun Streets, going East; a stone’s throw from Charleston’s old Cit adel; about five hundred feet from Citadel Square; in speak ing distance of the largest Baptist (white) congregation iii the State of South Carolina; and the ancient, Christian city of Charleston wants it. It is now Naboth’s Vineyaf'U; and the city wants it at the expense of the Negroes’ ignorance; and if this method fails, these Christian citizens of influence and out standing reputation for making Negroes pay for what they do not possess, and dispos sessing them of what they do possess, hope to win by default, when the congregation neglects or acknowledges its inability to pay the two thousand dollars street tax one year and a day from now. Our next article will contain what the Negro Presbyterians of Edisto Island carried in emp ty pockets to tax collectors be fore and some years after I came here, February 15, 1916. A VOICE FROM NEBRASKA To the Africo-American Pres byterian : Permit us to break the si lence of the “Golden West” and broadcast a note of cheer from Lincoln, Nebraska, a city named in honor of the Great Emancipator, whose monument of the finest and most costly State Capital building in the world. This great Univerbity center has also given to the world such characters as Hon. William Jennings Bryan and General John J. Pershing, who formerly lived and served here. But it is the bright outlook for Negro Presbyterianism in. this mid-west of which I espe cially write at this time. Your correspondent was bom into a Presbyterian atmosphere and schooled under Dr. Feaster in the Arkadelphia Presbyterian Academy. I can be nothing else. The other denominations can not qualify to my satisfaction. My husband works at the Cap itol. We own our home and are rearing a large family. We have a fine group of Presbyterian people here, but they are not officially orga/nizedt and repre sented. The white Presbytery here does not want a Negro church. • Four years ago Rev. W. W. Mayle, a man of experience, noted evangelistic gifts and scholarly attainments, settled here to found “The Lincoln Bi ble Institute and Training School for Christian Workers.” The work opened with a Daily Vacation Bible School, the first in this city for our rac§. We have just closed the fourth year’s ef fort (held in two sections of the city to facilitate transportation) with crowning success. Our “Lincoln Bible Institute and Training School” has an af filiated program with the Uni versity here, and includes the “Bible Institute Church” for all who wish to worship with us. Dr. Mayle broadcasts a Bible study program every Fridav at 4 P.M. over Radio Station W. C. A. J.—the voice of Nebraska— Wesleyan University. In many ways our Presbyte rian grouD leads in Lincoln, Ne braska. The spacious studio was crowded at the commencement of our D. V. B. S. It was the first radio closing exercise presented in this section and consisted of a drama. “The Woman from Missouri Visits Her First D. V. B. S,” The characters were; Faithful, Mrs. Myrtle. Deane; (Continued on page 8) A HUMAN DOCUMENT ty Dr. Kelly Miller Mr. Kelly Miller, Dear Sir : This is a letter from one of whom you’ve never heard. I am one of those unfortunates whom life has deceived, a member of the younger generation who tried to know everything. Just one of those kids that the older folks couldn’t tell anything. . They took care of me through my childhood, sent me to school, tried to make me a clever, intel ligent and decent living young man. But I failed that confi dence. Bad company was my downfall. Warnings, (fid me no good. The crowd finally were into the meshes of the law, 1 with them. They all seemed to have alibis. I was left holding the bag. The result was a pris on term. Upon my release from prison I went to work for a Negro min ister who owned a printshop. The shop hardily paid the ex penses. Because the chances of a Negro printer around New York are very bad. I was paid $6 a week, my room rent and board were $9. I made out for a few weeks with the money I re ceived from prison. Then I went broke. I started sleeping in the print shop. I quit the print shop and went to work nights in a cork factory at $28 per week. I worked two weeks and was laid off. Not enough work. Walking the streets looking for a job li was picked up by the police. It wasn’t any trouble at pin^a^crime j)n good plea I was found guilty, altho I pleaded not, guilty. I re ceived three years. The man that was robbed was an aider man, so the police department was exceedingly eager to ap pease. So they needed a goat, and it seems I was elected to fill that position. I have just reached the age of 21 and I’m tired of being a fool. I want a chance to make good. I have a second year high school education, and I am very eager to improve it. I know the printing trade and shoe repair work, and I have been studying music and can play the cornet. I do not smoke or. drink. I have been here in the institu tion practically half of my time and am now eligible to go before the Honorable Court of Pardons. When I present myself before that august body I must prove to them without a possible doubt that I intend to make good. That I will work and stay out of trouble, that I will be an honest and law-abiding citizen. Therefore, Mr. .Miller, I write to you knowing you are a man of national fame, one who is in terested in the progress of the youths of the race, and I am sure you will give your advice and lend a helping hand to one who is earnestly trying to make good. I need advice and help badly and will appreciate any you give me. Hoping and praying you will answer my letter, I am Respectfully yours, My dear Sir: Your interesting letter is i human document of great signif icance. Your case fully illus trates the temptations anc vicissitudes which beset «ui adolescent youth who are crowd ing our high schools. The gang Bter spirit is playing havoc with youth as well as adults. I an making public your letter be cause it portrays a general sit uation which your particula] case exemplifies. I trust that i1 might result in furnishing a sa lutary warning to thousands. I regard your case, as fortu nate in that, like the prodiga son, you came to yourself before it was too fate. You have plenty time ahead of you to make a good and useful citizen out of yourself^ But should you have lost an eye or a limb, it would have embarrassed, though it need not defeat your worthy ob jective. £$0 let it be with this un fortunate "experience. Though retarded you need not be de feated. I advise you to select some trade or jursuit where your un fortunat&record will not destroy your chapces for success; were it to becdme known. Do not seek a profession or any public sta tion in which your record might easily embarrass or defeat you. Choose rather some private pur suit where individual effort alone cobhts for success. I would change my location and get as far away - from my early embar rassments as possible. You might consider the advisability of changing your name. But whatever you do, if you decide to get niarried, take your part ner for life fully into, your con fidence. From now on play the game according to Hoyle. ,1 Yours truly, I KELLY MILLER. SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVEN TION And woman’s home MISSIONS OF RENDALL k PRESBYTERY By Helen G. Cousins ift-.. . Hello, Friends; Wejbeugfrt you might be in terartlt. ip-a. hit ..of - news, from the West. We have just attend ed the twenty-fourth annual meeting of the Sunday School Convention and Woman’s Home Mission Society of Kendall Pres bytery, held at Mt. Moriah church in Oklahoma City, July 21-22. Th$s meeting prtbved to be the most successful, most in spiring and best attended that Rendall Presbytery has ever had. Watch out, Mr. Depres sion! On Friday morning, July 21, after the consecration service and enrollment of delegates, the Convention listened to the fol lowing program: President’s annual address by Mr. J. H. Crowell, in which he asailed the Sunday school for its failure to successfully compete with the various amusement places in our towns for the interest and attendance of our youths. Then came a series of talks: “The Cradle Roll Department of the Small Sunday School,” by Mrs B. L. Glenn; “Grading the Sun day School” by Rev. H. C. Cous ins; “The Work and Possibili ties of the Young People’s Class.” Rev. M. M. Gibsonr “l eadership Training,” Rev. W J. Starks. After the noon recess the fol loving subjects were discussed “The Adult Bible Class,” Dr. A P. Bethel; and “The How art Why of the Sunday School In stitute,” Rev. S. J. Onque. Yoi can see from the nature of th< subjects stated the wealth of in formation and inspiration tha could have been brought out And the discussion by the lead ers and the forum discussion! which followed did not fail b bring out all of these possibili ’ ties. For the twenty-fourth tim [ Mr. J. H. Crowell was electe< . President of the Convention an Rendall Presbytery is proud o him. Friday night was given ove to a popular meeting by the Wc . man’s Home Missionary Sock ty. After the program the dele . gates and visitors witnesse . the ordination of Rev. M. TA ' Gibson, pastor of Bethany Prei bvterjia^i church, of Oklahom; cfty- ...... (Continued on page 3) GOODWILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, FT. PIERCE, FLA. By Miss MemoUa L. Turner Out of the noise-and clamor in the air comes a still small voice from Goodwill Presbyterian church* Fort Pierce, Fla. Good will brings good news to you. Just listen! May the 5th brought to Good will a newpastor, no other than Rev. S. D„ Thom, D. D., and his good wife. Just how overjoyed Goodwill was to have them you will see when you read further, and not only the church but outside friends. Rev. Mr. Camp bell, the pastor of the white Presbyterian church, was the minister to greet them and wel come them to the city and offer any assistance needed. A few days after We arrive^ one afternoon some of the mem bers were seen from, the window setting out trees rather close together. Dr. Thom said; “Oh, we’ll have some shade abound here after a while.” Mrs. *Thom thought to go out and offer some suggestions as to‘how* the trees should be set out. Dr. Thom offered to bring them some wa ter to put-in the holes they were digging to set the trees in. “Oh, no,” was the reply, “we are only making a garden for the garden party we are going to give for the children tomor row afternoon.’” The next eve ning about six o'clock two es corts came to take us for a walk to see the city. As we were all tired out from the drive from Atlanta, here and the unpacking, Pi*. Thom suggested that we should ride instead of walking. On and on we drove .under the dfrgdaonof Mr.- George Mul uiuwnnHiiHjf Dick stopped at the home of Mr. Muldrow. We noticed very much rushing. As quick as the batting of your eyeis Mrs. H. Toney stepped in with a lovely bud for each. Dr. Thom pulled out his watch and said: “It is time for pray er meeting; we must be going,” not thinking anything yet and being a minute man. So we were soon homeward bound with oui two escorts, Mr. George Mul drow and Mrs. H. Toney. Brighl lights greeted us on the lawn, and tables here a$id there wert elaborately decorated. In th( house again, guests began t< arrive, Rev. and Mrs. Campbell and daughters in the number. vVe wondered why so mucl company. In a few minutes w< were escorted on the lawn. Ant what was on the table and whai came after this was eaten ant that was eaten. I will not tell yoi what it was for fear your moutl will water so that you will no1 be able to read further. After the surprise reception and speeches were over and we were once more in the house, ! five cakes were brought in and presented and there was no end to the fruit. A surprise! I say it was. Every night with the excep tion of Saturday night Good j will’s doors are open wide for some meeting or service and the ' doors are not just opened and [ no one comes in; every one is in * his or her place and for the most ' nart on time. There is no plead ' ing to come to prayer meeting, * choir practice, etc. Each one ' knows his and her duty and is 5 right at the post. On Wednes * day nights for prayermeeting it ‘ is nothing to see forty or fifty i present and ready and willing tc ; take a part. I The pastor Has started a com P munity Bible class and it is pro f grossing nicely. He began build ing by going out and soliciting r members. The men of this clast are lending their support to th< ’’ church as well as the Snndaj ’ school by being constant visit “ ors and helping in the offering L* Under Mrs. Thom’s guidanci " the Woman’s Missionary Societ: 1 is making long strides. For th< . first time we are using the mis sion study books and each on is vitally interested in improve ment. Both the Senior and Junior choirs are doing their parts. The Junior choir has every fourth Sunday to show what it is do ing. The Senior choir will have to sing up, or the Junior choir will leave them. There was once only one Christian Endeavor but now they are divided into two groups. Miss Memolia L. Turner has charge of the Y. P’s group and Mrs. L. Muldrow the younger group. Mrs. Muldftow is doing a fine piece of work with her group. She once had both groups. The your^g people are proud of the change and to show »t they are all right on the min ute and sometimes earlier. Goodwill has good and willing workers. The first District School of Methods in Knox Presbytery was held in Fessenden, Fla. Goodwill was represe^ed' and did its part to make it a suc cess. The pastor, Dr. Thom, is preaching such wonderful ser mons that those who usually stay at home on Sunday nights on account of rheumatism, etc., come out and bring others and say, “I just can’t stay at home; I am afraid I am missing some thing good. Why, Dr. Thom, you just preached me back this morning.” As a result Sunday night finds the church almost crowded. Friday night, July 21, marked the close of a very successful Vacation Church School which ran two weeks. It was not the first Vacation Church School held here but the first held on such a broad scale. The church AflfcJbeing .largeenough xo. ac somplish what the pastor had in view he secured the use of the public school building of the city from the Superintendent of Education who was only too glad to turn over the building, ?nd the Principal, Prof. Peter son, was there to help in any way he could each day. We had an enrollment of 200. The fac ulty consisted of ten members: Dr. S. D. Thom, Advisor; Mrs. S. D. Thom, Director; Miss Me molia Turner, Supt.; Mrs. Paul ine Muldrow, Registrar; Mrs. ! Wright, Treasurer; Mrs. H. To ney, Secretary; Mrs. Carolyn ' Kirby, Pianist; Mrs. E. Mul drow, Mrs. S. Cooper and Mrs. L. Ricks. Each day we had an | outside speaker: Dr. Rhodes, [ dentist; Dr. Benton, physician; ; Rev. Campbell, Prof. Peterson, and athefr mirpsterls gave ad dresses. Each one was amazed at how broad the Presbyterian pro gram is and said he had never before known that it was so in I elusive. A special class was conducted oy the pastor for the adults. The subject of study was: “How Jesus Met Life Problems.” This class was enjoyed so much that they wanted it to run two weeks longer. j The exhibition was admired :ly all who attended the closing. [On Monday, July 24, a picnic was given for the Vacation Bi ble School students. In spite of the rain the children had a fine time. We \ did not forget those who are not fortunate enough to have a Bible School so We put aside a part of our money for that purpose. We are only sending you a little ocean breeze from away down South to let you know that Goodwill will not rest till its good will is its better will, and its better will its best. The divine wisdom has given us prayer not as a means where by to obtain the good things of earth, but as a means whereby we may learn to do without , them; not as a means whereby - to escape evil, but as means s vhereby We may become strong enough to meet it. —R. W. Rob * srtson.
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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July 27, 1933, edition 1
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