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VOL. LVL CHARLOTTE, N. C., 'AY, AUGUST 8,1935. mLi__ -.. , „ UJ NO. 31. LABOR DAY MESSAGE, 1935 (Issued by the Executive Committee of the Federal Coun cil of Churches of Christ in America, through the Depart ment of Church and Social Service. Requested to be read in the Churches on Labor Sunday, September 1, 1935, or on the first available Sunday thereafter.) — For five years the people of this land have suffered untold hardship. Millions have vainly sought work. Some 20,000,000 men, women and children have been thrown upon public relief. Other millions have lived in con stant fear of the same fate. In city, town and country, many American families have oeen re duced {to living .standards un precedented in our history. All this has produced strife and bit terness. Both in our great cities and in rural areas labor unrest, strikes and lockouts have grown in number and severity. In many areas troops have been called out. Armed bands have sought to intimidate^those who would protest aganist their con ditions of labor. Scores have been killed and hundreds have been injured in these conflicts. But this crisis is not confined to our own land. In nearly all coun tries the outlook is similar. Governments have seemed pow erless to solve the problems cre ated by modem ■ civilization. And over all there hangs the constant threat of war fought with the devastating weapons, created by science. The Churches of America have not been and can not be indifferent to this situation. They can not pass by on the other side and say it is not their concern. The Founder of their faith declared that He came that men might have life ana have it abundantly. The condt 'tioafl under-which men.live and secure their food, clothing and shelter in no small measure af fect their spiritual as well as their physical well-being. Men may justly ask today for some word of hope and counsel in this fearful time. Especially may those who toil look to the disci ples of the Carpenter of Naza reth who said: “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy (laden. The organized opposition .to the Christian Church today jis in no small measure due to its failure adequately to meet a justified expectation. Abundance For All But in the midst of our suf fering a glorious truth shines clear. For the first time in hu (man history, man has the tech nical knowledge to solve his ec onomic problem. He can at last provide sufficient material goods for an abundant life. Since the depression tne researcn oi sci entists and engineers, the find ings of private and government al commissions, have been reit Hyrating this same basic fact. natural resources of the Jifited States of America and th<^ industrial and agricultural equipment are sufficient to give every man, woman and child the material basis for the good life. Recent governmental esti mates and other authoritative studies have indicated that had our plan been used to capacity in 1929 ov.ii* $4,000 in giods and services could have been supplied to every American family. Nevertheless, 16,000,000 American families, or nearly two-thirds of our people, actu ally received in that year less than $2,000. That was six years ago. Since then inventions and improvements in terminological processes have marched stead ily on. The clear truth is that from a purely physical engi neering point of view we could now produce enough fully and completely to banish poverty. Yet, in spite of this potential plenty, restricted production in both industry and agriculture is the rule, while devastating pov erty and unemployment contin ue. We have the natural resourc es; we have the machinery; we can produce enough for all. This good news must be pro claimed to every worker with hand or brain. Effective means must be found to eradicate sins of self ishness and to make this abun dance available for all. The so lution of the deplorable malad justment in distribution is ade quate income for the masses and security of employment. Only by a more equalized ability to purchase can the anomaly of want in the midst of abundance be salved. To achieve such an end new forms of social control must be designed. New ways must be found. Freedom of Discussion and Or ganization But these new ways can not be found unless men are free to discuss frankly and openly the problems before them. We re joice in the great American principle of free speech and press which is enthroned in our federal and State constitutions.’ This principle has its roots in the Christian faith. We would solemnly point out that the changes which must come in our economic set-up can come peaceably only if the chanhels of communication are kept of>en. True Americans and true Christians must be ever alert to repel any attempt to deprive them of these civil rights so im portant in a democracy. More over, they must champion these rights for the weakest among us, for if one group b6" sup pressed, it will only be a ques tion of time until such suppres sion is extended to all wh&i&are voice opposition to those tem porarily in power. Again, it is important on this Labor Sunday, as we extend our greetings to the toilers of the nation, to point out the basic importance of organization. Em ployers have found it decidedly to their benefit to band them selves together for mutual aid and counsel. It is equally impor tant that the men who labor should band themselves togeth er that they, too, may bargain collectively through their own freely chosen representatives. We rejoice that the churches have gone on record for their Social Ideals for “The right of employees and employers alike for collective bargaining and social action; protection of both in the exer cise of this right; the obligation of both to work for the /public good; encouragement of .coop eratives and other organizations among farmers and other irrouns.” Such organization of those who labor with hand or brain is essential if justice for all is to be achieved. It is good to recall that the American labor leader, Samuel Gompers, declared: “I have been jealous that the American labor movement should never lose its character of a great crusade for’ human justice.” Finally, the churches must ceaselessly proclaim that but of the heart are the issues of life. True religion must stand al ways not only against exploita tion but against the very desire to exploit. The Christian reli gion demands now and must al ways demand that both human hearts and human institutions be controlled and judged ' by that mind which was in Christ Jesus. . — If we will only trust and love our Saviour He Will always be with us and in us. Then, tve' will surely find that life will always be full of joy and holiness and peace.—Sel. , In 1535, on October 4, the first printed Bible, translated by Miles Coverdale, came from the press.—-Sel. POWER Of THE PRESS By Dr. Mr Mill*r During the past decade prac tically every ■ phase of Negro life, comprehensively consid-i ered, has been stationary or re trograde. The Negro Church has fallen from its high state of promise and prestige and is threatened with financial and spiritual bankruptcy. The sev eral denominations have reached a new low level beyond which they can hardly decline further and must needs move forward or lose their hold upon the sup port of the people. Of all the misfortunes which have befall en the race, this is the greatest. The Medical Fraternity, which at one time represented the elite among the professions because it enjoyed an income beyond the rest, is now struggling for ex istence under the heavy weight of the depression. Our banks, insurance compa nies and - business enterprises have for the most part came to grief, ,not less because of the nation-wide depression than by reason of the inefficiency or downright rascality of their promoters. Politically, the race has wholly lost out in tli 2 South where the bulk resides, which; was offset somewhat by inci-i dental gains in the North. But! the effective political power of the race is best exhibited in the South where they are, and not In the North where they aye not. / I i Our schools are rapidly pass ing from under Negro influence and control to that of the white manipulators. They are not of the philanthropic disposition of the founders of Negro educa tion and t|ieir interest in the racers ratber of the ^nieggtffff than of the positive character. Their function is to see that the funds are wisely applied ' and that the system is efficiently op erated rather than to develop character, power and purpose on the part of the ' Negro. Schools and colleges under Ne gro support, inspiration and management have all but fallen out of the equation for the want of adequate nurture. Of course there is enlargement of machin ery and. apparatus and height ened efficiency in technical in struction, but no increase in power or inspiration. I might go on through the entire catalogue of racial enter prises and find the same depres sing note running through them all but this might be interpret ed as pessimism. There has been encouraging upsurgence of the literary spir it among the younger writers, musicians and . actors. This, however, takes the form of pic torial and mimic art rather than the disposition to grasp and grapple with the actualities of racial life. But there is one flourishing oasis amidst the desert. Of all the agencies that work among Negroes the press alone has made and is making substantial progress. The press falls wholly under Negro ownership and en terprise. It is the <Uly indepen dent voice of the people. Our ecclesiastical leaders have lost their former prestige as spokes men for the masses. School teachers are controlled by those who contribute to their suste nance and dare not call their voice their own. Only the press is left to speak boldly for the people as it ought to speak. In; the early years of its life, the Negro Press was regarded as a discredit, all but a disgrace to the pretended intelligence and advancement of the race. The mechanical make-up was impos sible, the typography was bad, the language was oftentimes grammatically inaccurate, to say nothing of being rhetorical ly inelegant. Advertisements of skin bleachers and hair straight eners seemed to furnish their chief means of existence. It was on the whole, with a few shin inf exceptions, sordid and venal. Their policy, opinion and judg ment were bought and paid for bf political bosses. On the ap-> preach of each campaign the po litical managers and manipula tois allotted a few, hundred dollars to each publication which considered sufficient to con both the news service and rial opinion in Tavor of the blican party bidding for o support. Negro thinkers, hose who thought they were :ers, scholars, writers and hors of literary pretension, ce disdained to have their actions appear in the Ne PTess. But all of these conditions have been greatly improved. The mechanical make-up, the typog ra >hy, literary quality, the dig n| y and tone of the editorial utterances have approached much nearer the journalistic standard. Th* editorial discus sion is conducted with engaging thought and pleasing style Leading Negro writers and scholars are glad to have their contributions appear in the Ne gro journals. White people who wish to keep in touch with what is going on in the Negro world do so through this means. Ev ery Negro who professes to be informed must keep ■ in touch with the Negro press. There are about fifty Negro papers throughout the country which rank in the better classification. All of these seem to be financial ly successful. Several of these papers have a certified circula tion of over fifty thousand and pport a staff of half-hundred These represent perhaps the most successful business enterprises the race is now con ducting. The best of these jour nals have filed their “declara tion of independence” and their editorials are no longer open to the control of the politician. Ad vertisements are being placed on a dignified basis. The Negro press is steadily growing in effi ciency and power. The advertis er may buy space according to a fixed schedule of rates and must not intrude upon the edi torial page. If the race wishes to gain its rightful place in the political, industrial, economic scheme of things it will be large ly through the instrumentality of the Negro press. MATTHEWS CHAPEL NOTES Sunday (morning, > August 7, our pastor, Rev. J. H. Gamble, brought to us an “Inspiring ser mon from St. John 6:68, “Will ye also go away?” As he spoke to us our thoughts were cen tered on the countless thous ands of people who are “going away” from Jesus. Among the visitors at the morning service rwere: Mrs. Geneva Smith, of New York City, who spent the week-end with her sisters, Mrs. Ollie Pat terson and Mrs. Florence Burke; Mrs. Leola Harry, of Charlotte, who is also a sister to the above named, and Mrs. DelKa Stitt Griffin, of Wash ington, D. C., who has been vis iting her mother, Mrs. Nellie Tillitt. We were glad to have; these visitors with us and hope they can be with us again soon. On August 5th the Mission ary Ladies had a “Calendar Wedding” at the church. This proved to be one of the greatest events of the year. A neat sum of $12 was realized from the effort. Sunday evening at 7:30 o’clock the Young People’s So ciety had its annual program. The program consisted of se lected poems, readings, papers, choir and quartet selections, a duet, and an oration. Mr. D. G. Burke was master of ceremo nies. Every one seemed to have enjoyed himself very much. D. G. BURKE. CAPE FEAR PRESBYTERIAL SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVEN TION; DISTRICT NO. 1. The 27th annual the Presbyterial Si Convention of District Nor was held at Davie Street Pres-1 byterian church, Raleigh, N. C., July 25th- 28th. The first meeting was held on Thursday evening. Rev. J. W. Smith, of Davie Street church, conducted a short song and praise service, after which the President was presented to the convention. At this time he gave the annual message which was very helpful and inspiring to all present. The President’s subject was: “My Church and I.” ^ A very warm welcome was given by Miss V. Irving, of the local Sunday school, and a brief response was given by Miss Cornelia Green, of Oxford. Next in order was the enroll ment of delegates, appointment >pf committees, announcements, collection, closing hymn and benediction. Friday Morning, July 26 “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” was used an an opening selection: At this period, Rev. W. G. Anderson, of Oxford, con ducted a Bibfte Study class. Hav ing only two days for the class es Reiv. {Anderson was forced to present his subject matter in a very brief way, yet it was done with much interest and intelli gence. The first ten chapters of the Book of Acts were used as a general course of study. Dur ing this time the group was able to exchange ideas, ask questions and to secure a clearer knowl edge of the organization and work of the early church and to compare the same with the church oi toaay. Rev. W. S.Brinkley, of New Bent, conducted a class-the next period. His study was along the bne of Sunday school work. During these two periods Rev. Brinkley tried earnestly to fix in the minds of the groiy?: “How to Conduct a Model Sun day School.” In an interesting manner he outlined the histor ical setting of the Sunday school and gave the objectives.1 of a model Sunday school. In his last remarks he showed how Young People’s work and Sunday school work are closely related. Intermission The assembly period was in charge of Rev. J. W. Smith. The general theme was: “The Work of the Presbyterian Church Among the Youth.” Rev. Smith presented a diagram which gave a bird’s eye view of how the young people’s work is linked with the church work. The Gen eral Assembly was used as the central point. Rev. Mr. Smith also gave to the young people the proper type of material that should be used and the correct place for securing it. A short devotion al service closed this session. On Friday afternoon a por tion of the business was taken up. The reports as a whole were very good. Rev. W. S. Brinkley, Director of Religious Educa tion, and Rev. H. S. Davis, chairman of the Committee On the Board of Education, gave members of the convention some helpful information in re gard to the Pension Plan. Friday Evening This was called the popular meeting of the1' convention. Special, music was rendered by* the Convention choir. Two in spirational addresses were giv en. Rev. W. S. Brinkley arid Mr. Charles G. Irving were the speakers of the evening. Strange to say, the speakers being from different places, and not.know ing each other, prepared ad dresses which hinged around the same subject of the “Prod igal Son.” Both were very inter esting and seemed to have been at their best. They also held the interest to the end because their addresses were presented from different angles. Saturday Morning, July 27 “Fling Out the Banner” was used as the opening hymn. Then assembled as on ntinued the dis cts. At the close of this period Rev. Brinkley continued the discussion, “How to Conduct a Model Sunday School.” A short intermission was given and Rev. Smith com pleted the explanation of his di agram which dealt with the program for young people. Af ter a brief devotional period tihe convention was dismissed for dinner. Saturday Afternoon The remaining business of the convention w$s finished at this session. The convention or dered the annual picnic discon tinued on account of infantile paralysis. The next place of meeting will be Timothy Darling church, Oxford, N. C. A new constitution was pre sented and adopted. When the meeting was over cars were all ready in front of the church to take members of the convention and friends over to Pullen’s Park for sever al hours of fun and amusement. Instead of playing the games Saturday on the church ground as on Friday they were conduct ed while at the park. Miss An nie 0. Ridley and Mr. Jno. 0. Woods conducted all games durnig the convention. During the outing a great watermelon feast was enjoyed. The melons were so plentiful people felt that they were in a field of mel ons. Everyone .expressed him self as having spentT pleasant afternoon. Sunday Morning The Model Sunday School was conducted for a period of one hour. In. the .absence..of. Rev. Brifiklejr the President act ad as Supt. Although children ,are kept from public places on account of paralysis threats, yet a sufficient number of children were present to form the vari ous classes. The delegates were urged to take special notice of ■he Sunday school work and Endeavor to take new ideas to heir fields. 11 o’clock Church Services Rev. Herman S. Davis, of Oxford, preached the 1 annual convention sermon. As we know, Rev. Davis always brings an in teresting message to his hear ers. > The text was Romans 1:14-15. Some of the important "oints were: (1) Paul’s Frank ness. (2) Paul’s Indebtedness to :ndividuals and our indebtedness to parents. (3) Importance of realizing life’s responsibilities is Paul did. (4) Individuals may nay indebtedness by tendering service. (5) The reward, which is everlasting joy. Sunday Afternoon For a few minutes a song ser- . vice was conducted, after which the time was given for the va rious superintendents to pre sent their problems of the local Sunday schools. The discussion was led by Mr. A. L. Young, of Wake Forest. Some of the prob ’ems presented were: (1) Dif ficulty in getting co-workers to cooperate with the superinten dent. (2) Difficulty in finding willing substitutes. (3) How to get the grown-ups interested in the Sunday school. (4) Difficul ty in keeping proper records. Many hints and ' suggestions were given in answer to solving these problems. Next came the installation of officers. This was done by Lawyer Carnage, of Raleigh. The collection was taken, after which the resolutions of thanks to the local church and com munity were read and adopted. Just “before the benediction the convention j'oirtfed heartily in singing: “God Be With You Till We Meet. Again.” All members of the local church, and friends as well, seemingly did all in their power to make the convention a suc cess. But just here, we would (Continued on page 3)
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Aug. 8, 1935, edition 1
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