Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / April 18, 1935, edition 1 / Page 1
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' 3 -T ^SSSi. • > 11.1"it ,■.'jail LagBgaae-BggBB CHARLOTTE, N. C, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1935. VOL. LVI. LEADERSHIP TRAINING By Rev. D. Ta'magc Murray (Paper read at Sunday School Missionaries' (Jonlerence at Albany, Ga.) * The church is the molder of human progress. Its mam ob jective is to reform the lives oi men and women and to inspire them to lead a life of Christian service. As we study the Church pro gram today we see that, it is endeavoring through all of its departments to develop person alities in which Christian char acter will express itself in un selfish service. Therefore, the « Christian Church, in extending its influence and perpetuating its own life, has used various means to produce in its mem bers a vital experience of the meaning of life. / The Church School, a dynam ic force in the local church, is the foundation upon which the church is built; and is the teaching agency, injecting into one's/life the principles pertain ing to life situations. As we are now passing thrbugh this period of recon struction, are notice that insti tutions of learning are modi fying their educational pro grams in order* to meet the va rying needs of today. Likewise, the Church in all of its depart ments must, put on an adequate program of religious education for the needs of life, believing that ifbgfc are to rebuild a bet ter world in which to live, the Church with well trained lead ers must lead the way with strong faith into a new day. Hence, the Church School, realizing the magnitude of this in theiittfot ot this changing world, calls tor trained leaders in order to guide safely and with security the destiny of the present genera tion. 'The Presbyterian Church, ministering unto human needs, has designated a definite type of work to be administered through the various Hoards ot the' Church. The Hoard of Christian Education is the foun tain of knowledge supplied with rich sources of Christian sub ject-matter, sending out these streams in new form into local churches, reviving and refresh ing the life of the church by unfolding those'innate virtues and developing personality like that of Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Light The present program of the Board of Christian Education in its wide scope, of leadership training does not primarily un dertake to prepare professional workers, but it does seek direct ly and very definitely to give a system or a prescribed course ot study to those who are to carry on the burden of teaching religion in the local church and to help them do a more con structive piece of/work. So the approach in teaching religion should be child ^centered and not material centered, with de finite objectives in training in order to produce the most ef tective leadership. The Board of Christian Ed ucation, in reviewing its work m religious education, says that our Jcurriculum slTould be experimental in character by finding out what questions, what difficulties, what prob lems the students are facing, so that one will be able to teach them to think and to, acquire ways of meeting life’s situations rather than to fill them with knowledge. It is not. so much to teach them something about re ligion, but to direct them in ways where they can experi ence religion in every day life as a way to life eternal. The teacher, however, in di recting these ways must be well versed in child psychology, and, especially, have a clear eoncep tion of the contents of the Bi ble and the literature of the Christian religion, tie is to have a general background of his pu pils so that the original nature of the child may be approached n a most fruitful way, bring ing such pressure to bear upon the child's life that he will be able to master his experiences in a most Christian-like man ner. The Board of Christian Edu cation, in its endeavor to pro mote the basic principles and purposes in leadership training in our great Church, no longer believes in the old proverb that the church school of today is the church of tomorrow, but with its advanced ideas of lead ership training, experimental in character building, with trained leaders and .* progres sive program of re'i^ious in struction, serving in- all depart ments of theybhurch, adminis tering unto /human needs,~ rreans not, the church oi l mor row, but the church of today serving the purpose for which it was established. This type of leadership train ing is d-vdoped not only in our •oca! cnurch schools, but. m a more extensive way in our sum mer conferences where young people gather to study the mis sion of the church and their personal responsibility to it The following points are empha sized at these conferences: 1. Objectives in leadership. ,, g. Methods and materials. 3. Lead ership. 4. Organization and ad mimtswifcron.^rhese traits of leadership training have been wen directed by JJrs. John M. Somemdike, William Kalpn Hall, Albert B. McCoy, and Mrs. Agnes B. Snively. Along with these directors, ministers and other workers have given their moral support, in building up a convention where the young people in our Church can be trained in service. And to day as we look into our local churches we see the conference spirit, in action where youth have openly expressed them selves by assuming such re sponsibility in the church as could only be shouldered with courage; and have taken the lead in the great, march of im parting religious instruction, contributing, by clear thinking, solutions to many old church problems. The ¥ oung People's Confer ence held at Wooster, Ohio, each summer, is, perhaps, the leading spirit in our Church. We are hoping the day will soon come when our Conference will be patterned after the Wooster Conference where we may be able to improve our present leadership. Promoting leadership training in our< mission schools, to my; mind, is the budren of our task.* February 11, 1903, a committee met in Chicago, 111., for the ex press purpose of forming a re ligious council in order to study and plan the religious educa tional program of the Church. In that first meeting the fol lowing points were discussed: k irst, how to promote some •special leadership training in the Sabbath school. Second, the development of more trained workers. Third, interdenomina tional cooperation. Fourth, the development of special institu tions to meet the hew needs in this field. This program of reli gious instruction was laid as a platform for all Protestant churches: Following this - pro gram up and making such changes and improvements each year as would be in keeping with modern and progressive methods, today we have almost a complete system of religious instruction permeating all. Fro festant Churches. . Our next problem comes in the attempt to promote leader ship' training in our schools. In the first place, the words, lead ership training should be viewed in the widest sense. Too olteh when we think of lead ership training we coniine our thinknig to some one class in the church school conforming to ? prescribed course as out Imed by the -Board, with a trained teacher standing be fore personalities trying to inject into them some ster eotyped rule by which they are to proceed through life. While this is generally true, leadership training has yet a greater mission to perform than 'to coniine itself to some one place ih the church school. It starts/with the child in the home/ because, after all, church schools exist, because homes ex ist, and homes exist because children exist. For this reason in these homes there should be consecrated, trained leaders. But; today, consecrated leader ship in the home is neglected to a very large extent because of the economic demands upon file home life; hence, the dqu Die responsibility rests upon the church school to impart that, type of training which is so vital in the rebuilding of a better world. : Dr. Covert, Moderator of our General Assembly, in address ing the General Council and in discussing the home life, said, “the perils threatening the home life of our day are too painfully well known to need any sort, of description; only a sincere religious life in tne home, giving a sacred purpose ;o its program will save to the Church and State the most ^^amfiriftorkl unit in human life.’’ If this be true, and it is true, this program should in elude the spiritual development oi home life, it should no simply mean the dashing of a few pamphlets here and there n homes, but I believe that week day instruction should be given to parents in the com munity two or three hours out of each week; that, the pastor should be the executive leader, because,* after all, he is respon sible for the religious life in the community; that he should plan his work with the week day idea and should bear in mind tnis tnought: It is my task to train and develop per sonalities in the Christ.-way.' This can only be done when we as pastors and missionaries catch the vastness of our mis sion— “Go 'leach,” knowing "hat the only way by which souls are to be brought into a deep consciousness of the need of salvation is through the proper understanding as the re sult of teaching, and that reli gious instruction based upon the idea and ideals of the Christ is the one unfailing remedy for every ill to which man is sub ject. Courses in leadership train ing should be given in our in stitutions of learning, and espe cially in our theological semina ries where our young men are preparing for the gospel minis try. They should be well ac quainted with the system of re ligious education and familiar with materials and authors so they will be able to carry on the work of the church in a pro gressive way. Let us note briefly the re quired courses offered in lead ership training. The curriculum calls for the completion of 12 units to receive a standard leadership diploma: six general, three special units, three elec tive units. A credit slip is given upon the completion of each unit. A certificate with one seal is given upon the completion of four units of work. A second seal is given upon the comple tion of the second group of four units, and the standard leader t—r~—:—v-. ship diploma upon tile comple tion of the twelve required units of study,, Some of the required subjects |are as follows: “The T*nneiple* of Teaching ;”“Teach mg Keligion/’ by Myers; “Is raels Eeugious development/ by Oxtoby; "The New Testa ment,” by Miller; ‘The Message and Program of the Christian Church,by McAfee, etc. Sup plementary reading from other outstanding authors should oe earned On with these courses. The folding texts should prove very netpiui: "What is Uhns tian Education?’ by coe; ■iiare the School to Build a New Social Orden,’’ by Counts; “The Modern Sunday School in rnncipie ana Practice,' by Cope;“objectives in Religion* Education, ’ by vieth; “The Church, and Adult Education, oy Winchester; and “The School in Town and Country * by m-r own Or. Somerndike. Most of these books may be rented from our Fuoilcacion Board, uther books on religious work may bi had from the Alexander Henry' Circulating Library without charge to missionaries for a period of one month. Leadership training, my friends, depends largely upon (Continued on page 4) INGLES1DE-FEE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE, BURKE V1LLE, VA. Commencement—May 26*29. Sundayy May 26, 11:00 A. M., Annual sermon, itev. Sam uel (x. Stevens, pastor hirst. Fredfeyterian church, Richmond, va. 6:00 F. M.—cnnstion mn Jeavor Program by a group 01 students. Monday, May 27, 6:00 P. M. —Citizens’ Night. Tuesday, May 27, 11:30, a. M.—Alumnae meeting and uncheon. 6:00 F. m.—Class lMgnt. (Senior Flay.) Wednesday, May 29, 10:30 A M.—Graduating Exercises. Rev. Graham F. Campbell, Pres ident Mary Holmes seminary, wild give the annual '^uidr£ps. This is to be one of the great est commencements the school has had for several years. Wc have been promised the pres ence of the largest number oi graduates and former student over to gather on the campus during a, commencement sea son. We are asking that an graduates and former students who hope to be present during the commencement season wiii please let us know immediate ly, as we desire to have ample accommodations for all. Our local friends have promised to assist us in caring tor cur guests. Let all chapters rally as never before and come with the hope of assisting us in launch ing the greatest drive m the history of our growing institu tion. Kemember, during the occa sion, Dr. Graham F. Campbell, son of the late Dr. G. C. Camp bell, will not only deliver the annual address, but will present enlarged photos ot his sainted father and mother. From all indications we shall start our building for boys ere the summer is ended. Never before has a local community rallied to the cause of an insti tution as the local citizens are rallying to lUgleside-Fee Me morial Institute. They are rais ing money for the boys’ build ing and at commencement we shall tell you what.‘ has been done locally, to say ilothing of friends living at a distance. We take this opportunity of thanking the Presbytery of Southern Virginia for donating to our fund fifty dollars cash. We thank every member of Presbytery for supporting tne movement. ' H. W. McNAIR. I was invited by Dr. R. R. < Moton to deliver the F.mnderT Day address at Tuskegee lnsti- 5 tute on Apatei itn. itus is ( considered a gala occasion, Tnt \ most distingiisiied statesmen, ] scholars and , philanthropists, among them two Presidents o. 1 the Imited States, had hifcherh been invited to comroemorai.v the character and achievements ( of Booker T. Washington on rounder’s Day. I was the firs , colored man selected . for tlu. high honor. I am not amoni chose who aeem it a superlative distinction to be the first, coloret man or the only colored man to function in any particular cate gory, but, the signal honor it worth mentioning as part 01 the record. Mrs. Miller accompanied me on this occasion, it being ner first trip South. She greatly en joyqd the trip and the occasion andj returned convinced that it is possible to visit in the South without incurring any inciviii ty or discomfiture. It was most interesting tc re-visit the *<great institution, the surviving monument oi Booker Washington’s charactei and achievements, it is by all cdds, the greatest concrete em bodiment of a Negro's achieve ments, under his own captain cy, since or before emancipa tion. The institutions develope< by Negroes too often lack per manency. The Negro churche. are the only social institutions which stand out from genera tion to generation. Private en terprises too frequently perish with their oHginatorsi.lt is hard to find a business establish ment of any type which has been handed down from father to son, and from son to grand son. Tuskegee was founded by Booker T. Washington, who committed his friends and sup porters to the proposition that this institution must be cap tained, manned and managed by Negroes in all of its depart ments and operations. Philanthropists were perfectly willing to encourage this idea ana nave put oenind Tuskegee an endowment of seven million dollars to vindicate it. looker Washington dedicated thirty five years of his life to this proposition and was sueceedec. by Dr. R. R. Moton who built on the same foundation and who is now in turn to be succeedec by Frederick Douglass Patter son who takes up the worl where he lays it down. The unit ed prayers and good wishes g< with jDr. Moton after twenfty years of faithful and efficient service. The same hopes and prayers are extended Frederick Douglas Patterson, now com mitted to the sjime task in the same spirit. Thus we have the succession of three men who or ganized, developed and carried on this great educational enter prise successfully fifty-five years. This is a concrete refu tation of the reproach so often hurled into our teeth mat the Negrb is unable to manage his own affairs when they assume large proportions. But I must not indulge in general considerations so far as to neglect the more delicate du ty of expressing appreciation and gratitude for the gracious hospitality of Dr. and Mrs. Mo ton extended t,o Mrs. Miller and myself. I might as Well take this occasion to state that. Tus kegee is not merely an indus trial school based upon crude ideas carried out by crude peo ple. There is not to be found anywhere in the country a group of colored men and wo men of higher talent, finer cul tural tastes than the group cen tered about this great institu tion. The social life is not with >ut charm and allurement. The location of the Vete an’s Hospital on an adjacent :ampus served td fulfill the idea ;hat Tuskegee is looked upon >y the nation not only as a na aonfl laboratory of race rela ions, but in many respects as he capital of the Negro race. My address, in which I un lertook to analyze the charac :er and achievements of the rreat founder, seems to have net with appreciation and ap proval of the vast audience who istened to it. ■' I left Mrs. Miller at Tuskegee as the house guest of Dr. and Mrs; Moton while I made a lit tle journey to Selma University at Selma, Ala., as guest of Dr. Jenkins, acting President of that institution. I may later on write a release of my observa tions and impressions of this interesting city and its sur roundings. I visited all the Bchools in the city and the county high school in the heart of the county and made seven addresses in one day. As • he same committee followed me from place to place, i was estopped from making the same speech seven times as the per ambulating orator is wont to do. Selma University is the only'in stitution in Alabama devoted to the training of Baptist preach ers. This denomination compris es the bulk of the Negro pop ulation of that State and the need of trained ministers is as urgent as any need now press ing upon Die Negro race. The teachers are struggling manful ly under heavy trial and sacri fice to *pcrpetuate and carry oh 4 his great work. But I must, re turn to Tuskegee and rejoin Mrs. Miller on our homeward way. In going from Tuskegee to Washington we must needs go through Atlanta, Ga., and, of course, must stop over and vis it Atlanta University and the group of schools to be found in this great center. President and Mrs. John Hope became our gracious hosts in Atlanta as ut and Mrs. Moton nad Deen at Tuskegee. We visited and ob served some of the activities of, Atlanta University, winding up with the Founder’s Day address at Spellman Seminary delivered by Miss Woolly, President of Mt. Holyoke College. I made a hasty trip to Clark Unive^itv, Gammon Theological Seminary and Morris Brown College. While at Atlanta University 1 was glad to shake hands and chat a while with my old friend. Dr. DuBois, and with Stanley Braithwaife, now Professor of Creative Literature at__Atlanta University. We left Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, just one week after, leaving for i’uske gee. We were delighted with the trip and the observations and experiences gained Hero-, from BRAINERD INSTITUTE COMMENCEMENT Sunday, May 19, 4 P. M.— Annual Sermon, Rev. J. R. Dun gee. Monday, May 20, 8 P. M— Grammar Grades Exercises. Tuesday, May 21, 8 P. M — Junior Prize Oratorical Contest. Wednesday, May 22, 10 A. M. -Class Day Exercises. Wednesday, May 22, 3 P. M. —Alumni Business Meeting. Wednesday, May 22, 8 P. M. —Alumni Banquet. Thursday, May 23, 10 A. M. —-Commencement Piphls. (a) Two addresses by repre sentatives of the Graduating Class. (b) Annual Address to Class and School, Rev. D. C. Crosby, Chester, S. C.
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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April 18, 1935, edition 1
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