Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / July 7, 1938, edition 1 / Page 2
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Hie Africo - American Presbyterian •.' —^'-Vi ■, ■.'-- 111 "U'j .' ■■■•■ UV. H. L. MeCBOREY, DJ>„ LUD., Editor W. E. HILL, Associate Editor WILLIAM 8. ANDERSON. > Business Manager Devoted to the Educational, Mate rial, Mbral and Religions interests of oar people in the Sooth, and pub lished at Charlotte, N. C., every Thursday. • TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION Single copy, one year .$1.50 Six months . .75 Three months ...-..50 Entered at the Post Office at Char lotte, N. C., as second-class matter. THURSDAY, JULY 7, 1938 JAMES WELDON JOHNSON “Death loves a shining mark,” says the familiar adage. The tragic taking-off of James Weldon Johnson, June 26, seems to bear out this state ment. He was perhaps our most versatile literary figure. He was distinguished as a teacher, journalist, lawyer, poet, diplo mat, author. Although his lit erary output includes notable books of verse and prose, the Negro National Anthem alone, which was written by him and set to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson, will give him enduring fame. “Weep for Adonis.” THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT (J. W. Ham, in “Good News For • All Men.”) Rambling along the rock bound coast of Maine I have observed, when the tide was out, little pools of water in the crevices of the rocks. These pools were filled with small fish. So long as the tide was out, the little groups of fish were separated from one an other, with no possibility of fellowship. But when the tide came in, it overran the pools, liberating the fish and lifting them up into, an expanse of water where tnere were no bar riers. The pools inevitably meant stagnation and death. Our churches to-day need the' inflowing tide of the Holy Spirit*'. ONE HUNDRED WORDS We do not like to have our faults pointed out or our judg ment questioned, whether by a friend or a foe. The following paragraph by S. F. C., in the North Carolina Employment Service News, suggests how we may discover our own faults and thus escape the shock which comes to us from having them noted, and perhaps exag gerated, by others: “It often displeases one to have others discover his faults. Some conceit is present and pardonable in all; hut if the pangs of resentment are to be avoided, one should, by self-an alysis, be the first to discover his own faults. Then he will neither be embarrassed nor re sentful when his self-criticism is confirmed by the opinion of others. Moreover', such unani mity of judgment may furnish him the urge for self-improve ment, the need for which he perhaps would not otherwise see. If this be true, he will ac quire a relish for criticism—a desirable trait for everyone.” > On recommendation of the Alabama Board of Pardons, Governor Bibb Graves has commuted the death sentence of Clarence Norris, one of the ac cused in the famous “Scotts boro case,” to imprisonment for life. As hard as life incarce ration is, it is a victory for those who have all along con tended that the boys involved could not have been guilty as charged. Last Sunday, July 3, Presi dent Roosevelt made an address and dedicated to “peace eter nal” a monument at Gettysburg, Pa., where one of the decisive battles of the Civil War was fought in July, 1863—75 years ago. Survivors of the union and Confederates armies who had part in that famous battle met together Sunday in reun ion, and participated in the ex ercises. More than 400 deaths are re ported for the whole country as a result of the 4th of July celebration. A NEGRO LIBRARY (From The Chattanooga, Tenn., Times, June 30) The Negro community in Chattanooga, with roughly one fourth of the city's population, has a minute fraction1 of the city’s library facilities. The principal Negro public library is a branch of the Chattanooga Public Library in a small room in the basement of Howard High School, In no regard ex cept name can it be considered a functioning public library. Both'its almost hidden location and the fact that it is primari ly for Howard pupils discourage use of it by adults. The inade quacy of the library facilities for Negroes is no reflection upon the Chattanooga Public Library. This City-County in stitution is doing all it can With what it has. Howard has a good book stock, and branches or book services are provided for others of the Negro schools. All of which is good as far as it goes, but it does not go far enough. unaer tne nne ieaaersnip oi the Rev. J. B. Barber, pastor of the Leonard Street Presby terian church, the Negro com munity is reaching out for a public library of its own, cen trally located, and so housed as to furnish also the community gathering place which is sadly lacking. The hope of these thoughtful Negroes, and of their white friends in the Inter racial Committee who are 'as sisting them, is that such a plan can become a cultural focus for their race. There they would provide the means for Negroes to read good books, to hear in formative lectures, to play games, to learn handicrafts, to do Little Theater work—serv ices which the white communi ty finds in the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Christian Associations and the Frye Insti tute. The Negro citizenship of Chattanooga has at the top men and women of culture, character and talent who are a credit to it and to the city. If they were white persons work ing .for the. upbuilding of a white community, they would constitute a driving force that could not be prevented from carrying the community for ward with them. As Negroes who are part of a larger white community, they can do little without the assistance of their white fellow-citizens. White Chattanooga has been eager and needful in the past few years to develop white leaders. It does not need to develop Ne gro leaders. All it needs to do is to recognize them and to give them elbow room to work. Rather tragically, the excel lent type of citizenship that is to be found among those of the Chattanooga Negro community exists largely in an environ ment whose emphasis is on such things as gambling and drinking. The numbers racket nounsnes—one ot the most cruel and evil rackets extant, preying upon poverty and igno rance and taking a huge toll of money from those who have al ready too little money to live decently. There are plenty of places where Negroes can gath er to drink and carouse. Why has not the influence of the better class of Negroes taken hold more firmly and shaped this environment to its own higher order? One answer is that it has not had enough as sistance from the white popu lation. Another is that the Ne gro community lacks institu tionalism. It has its churches and its schools, but these are not enough. Their purposes are special and their reach is limited to groups of the popula tion. There is no one place serving the function of a cen tral meeting place for all the people. One thing certain is that the Negro community will express itself. If it cannot express it self in terms of the nature of its best people, it will express itself in some other ways. What Dr. Barber and those associated with him are appealing for is simply an instrument with which they can make the use ful life at least partly as at tractive and accessible as the useless life now is being made. Dr. Thomas A. Long left the lity this week i for Summer session at Columbia University, New York. i MISS VIVIAN 8. SHUTE WEDS L BARNWELL WASHINGTON By MRS. F. C. SHIRLEY The Biddleville Presbyterian church was the scene of a beau tiful wedding Thursday evening, June 30, at eight o'clock, when Miss Vivian Beatrice Shute be came the bride of the Reverend L. Barnwell Washington. The ceremony was perform ed by the Reverend F. C. Shir ley, D. D., pastor, assisted by the Reverend L. B. West, D. D., Field Representative of the Board of National Missions. The vows were spoken be fore a background of palms and Southern smilax before which were floor baskets filled with Easter lilies and pastel shaded gladioli. On either side were pedestal seven-branched candelabra holding lighted white cathedral tapers. Bows of bridal tulle and narrow satin ribbon marked the pews for the family and special guests. As the guests assembled.^ program of nuptial music was rendered by Mrs. Z. Alexander, Jr., pianist. She played “Dawn” by Ethelbert Nevin and “The Fauns” by Chamades. Two vocal selections were sung by Miss Minnie Jackson, “If God Left Only You” by John S. Densmore and “For You Alone” by Henry Geehl. A violin solo, “At Dawning” by Charles Wakefield Cadman, was render ed by Mrs. Frederic Alexander. The bridal party entered the church to the strains of Men delssohn’s Wedding March. During the ceremony the “Ro sary” and “The Bridal Chorus” from Wagner’s Opera “Lohen grin” were played. Mendels sohn’s Wedding March was also played for the recessional. Prior to th4 ceremony G. E. McKeithen and H. D. Johnson lighted the tapers. The bride entered the church on the arm of her father, Dr. Charles H. Shute. She wore a wedding gown of lustrous Span7 ish white silk lace, fashioned on princess lines with tight-fitted poaice ana tignt sleeves ending in points at the wrist. Her em broidered net veil was held in place with a coronet of orange blossoms and extended to the end of her train. She carried a bouquet of bridal roses and lilies of the valley tied with bridal ribbon showered with lilies of the valley. The maid of honor, Miss lone L. Shute, sister of the bride, wore a gown of peach silk marquisette over satin, with blue satin ribbon. A halo of matching flowers was worn on her head. She carried an arm bouquet of talisman roses, delphinium and gypsophilas tied in a shade to match the ribbon on her costume. The bridesmaids, Miss Mary Shute, sister of the bride and Mrs. Ruth Jordan Plair, cousin, wore blue chiffon gowns over satin with ruffled boleros. Their flowers were arm bouquets of pastel roses tied with blue rib bon. The two little maids, Annette Johnson and Carlyn Stewart, were dressed in floor length gowns of pink organza. They each carried a white bask ets tied with pink tulle and filled with rose petals. As they walked along the aisle they scattered the petals. The ring-bearer, Marshall F. At kins, dressed in a white satin suit, carried the ring in the heart of a lily. Mrs. C. H. Shute, mother of the bride, wore a gown of aquamarine silk lace over satin, with a jacket of peach silk lace. Her shoulder bouquet was of talisman roses. The bridegroom had as his best man, his brother, A. L. Washington. The ushers were Marlowe F. Shute, Matthew Shute, brothers of the bride; G. E. McKeithen and H. T). Johnson. Immediately after the cere mony a reception was given at the home of the bride’s parents. Mrs. Hallie Q. Mayberry intro duced the guests to the receiv ing line. Mesdames Julian Stinson, Frederic Alexander, W. R. Coleman, A. R. Dawson, Miss Irene Sanders and Miss Willette Byers assisted in serv ing. The home was very at tractively decorated with beau tiful white phlox, roses, gladio li and other summer flowers, and lighted tapers. The dining room table, covered with an imported lace cloth, was graced with a beautiful wedding cake. Later in the evening the bride changed to a traveling costume of navy crepe with white embroidery. Her acces sories were navy and white and her shoulder bouquet was of gardenias. The couple left for a wedding trip and upon their return will live in Charlotte. Mrs. Washington is the old est daughter of Dr. and Mrs. C. H. Shute, and is a teacher in the city school system. She is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University, a very at tractive and charming young woman and has a wide circle of friends. This was clearly shown by the honors extended her and the beautiful and use ful gifts received. The Reverend Mr. Washing ton is also an alumnus of1 John son C. Smith University, being a member of this year’s semi nary class. He is now supply ing two Presbyterian church es: Edward Webb Memorial at Mt. Airy, N. C., and Booneville Second at Booneville, N. C. Out-of-town guests attend ing the wedding were: Mr. A. L. Washington, of New York City; Miss Catherine Washing ton, Charleston, S. C.; Prof, and Mrs. Lucius Brown, Mrs. Maggie Adair, Chester, S. C.; Prof. Marlowe F. Shute, Croc kett, Texas; Prof, and Mrs. C. B. Stewart, Bessemer City, N. C.; Mr. and Mrs. I. B. Plair, Rock Hill, S. C.; Mrs. C. L. Moore, Asheville, N. C.; Miss Irene Sanders, Hampton, Va.; Mrs. A. R. Dawson, Cleveland, Ohio; Dr. and Mrs. H. Wilson and Miss Helen Wilson of Con cord, N. C. DEMOCRACY MUST RECOG NIZE MINORITY RIGHTS Columbus, Ohio, July 1.— No democracy can long survive which “does not accept as fundamental to its very exist ence the recognition of the rights of its minorities,” Pres ident Roosevelt asserted in a message of greeting to the 29th Annual Conference of the Na tional Association for the Ad vancement of Colored People which opened here June 28. The President’s message in full reads: I am happy to extend to the Twenty-ninth Annual Confer ence of the National Associa tion for the Advancement of Colored People cordial greetings and best wishes for the success of their efforts in advancing the best interests of the Negro race and bringing about that cooperation and understanding between the races so essential to the maintenance of a vital democracy. I have watched with interest the constructive efforts of your organization, not only in be half of the Negro people in our nation, but also in behalf of the democratic ideals and prin ciples so dear to our entire na tion. For it is evident that no democracy can long survive which does not accept as fun damental to its very existence the recognition of the rights of its minorities. I wish you a most successful meeting. Very sincerely yours, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT TO APPLICANTS FOR POSI TIONS WITH N. C. EM PLOYMENT SERVICE Raleigh, June 29—Personal interviews will begin in Raleigh on July 6 for applicants for po sitions with the North Carolina State Employment Service who passed the recent written ex aminations administered by the United States Employment Service. Of the 3,500 persons who ap plied for admission to the ex aminations, 28 per cent or 980 were admitted to the written examination given in May. 810 of these passed and will be giv en the personal interview. Board A, which will inter view the 134 applicants for the position of field supervisor,. dis trict manager and branch man ager, is composed of John Mc Cune, Jr., United States Em ployment Service, Paul Jessen, Tennessee State Employment Service, and Joseph M. Saun ders, local representative. Marian S. Pedraza, United (Contmuad on Pago 3) By Mrs. Derm Johnson It is not often that items of news of the Central church ap pear in these worthy columns; but seldom news does not in our case indicate inactivity. We are happy to say that the work here is moving forward to cer tain success under the leader ship of our beloved pastor and his faithful wife. After due announcements from the pulpit, by order of the session, the congregation of the Central church assem bled in a meeting called for that purpose, and extended a call to Rev. Thos. A. Robinson as our pastor on the first'Sabbath in April, (This year). By invita tion of the session, the Rev. H. W. McNair, D.^ D., President of Ingleside-Fee Junior College of Burkeville, Va., presided over the meeting. The call was properly drawn up and signed by the presiding minister and certain elders and deacons elected by the congre gation to sign for them and sent to the Presbytery, which ap proved it and elected a special commission of elders and minis ters with orders to come to the Central church and conduct the installation as follows: Rev. W. B. Stitt, S. T. B., Chairman; Rev. R. L. Hyde, A. M.; Rev. H. E. James, B. D.; Rev. Walter G. Anderson, D. D.; and Rev. D. A. Henry, S. T. B. Elders: J. M. Johnston and E. B. Har ris, M. D. After due arrangement with the Chairman, and previous an nouncement to the congrega tion, a very inspiring week of pre-installation' services was conducted in the Central church, participated in by several pas tors and churches of the city as follows: Sunday, June 12th, 4 P. M., Sermon by Rev. J. Edwin Hemphill, D. D., pastor of the Tabb Street Presbyterian chui'ch in the U. S. (white); Monday, June 13th, 8 P. M., Sermon by Rev. H. L. James, pastor of First Baptist church, Waverly, Va.,; Tuesday, June 14th, 8 P. M., Serrhon by Rev. Rufus T. Hawkins, B. D., pas tor of Oak Street A. M. E. Zion church; Wednesday, June 15th, 8 P. M., Sermon by Rev. W. E. Kidd, S. T. B., rector of St. Stephen’s P. E. church; Thurs day, June 16th, 8 P. M., Ser mon by Rev. J. B. Brown, D. D., pastor of Zion Baptist church; Friday, June 17th, 8 P. M., Ser mon by Rev. S. A. Brown, D. D., pastor of Gillfield Baptist church. The above named ministers brought inspiring messages ap propriate for the occasion, and were accompanied by their choirs, except Revs. James and Hemphill. The. week’s serv ices prepared the hearts of the members for the very solemn and sacred service of installa tion to be held the following Sabbath. On Sunday morning, Jpne 19th, at eleven o’clock, the Rev. W. B. Stitt, S. T. B., minister of Bethesda Presbyterian church, Nottoway, Va., deliver ed a great message before a large and appreciative audience from the subject: “The Way of Righteousness and the Way of Sin.” We felt the moving power of the Holy Spirit as the man of God lifted our hearts heavenward. Our souls were richly fed. Four o’clock in the after noon was the hour set for the finals of the series. Soon after the morning worship some members of the installation committee began to arrive, and by the hour set the entire del egation was present, from Mannboro, Amelia C.' H., Notto way, and Danville, Va., a hun dred and fifty miles away. Long before the hour, elders of Cen tral, members and friends of Central and the sister churr.h es of Petersburg and away, had come so as to be present and witness something very unusual: “The Installation of a Pastor of Central Presbyte rian Church,” an incident that had happened in the Central church only once in more than fifty-two years of its history! Preparatory to the official in stallation service, a brief in formal meeting was held by the session and members of the Presbytery’s committee, during which the order of the service was explained by the chairman. Rev. W. B. Stitt. The mem bers of the commission, led by the chairman, marched to the main church edifice where the targe audience of members and friends, sprinkled with visit ing ministers of the city, wait ed in silence for the final drama in the play. Rev. Stitt, the chairman of the committee; Rev. Walter G. Anderson, D. D., who preached the installation sermon, and Rev. H. W. McNair, D. D., Mod erator of the Presbytery, were seated in the pulpit. The signal was given and the vested choir with Mrs. Robinson at the pi ano sang the long meter Dox ology. Invocation was offered by Rev: Stitt, followed by sing ing “The Church’s One Founda tion.” Scripture was read and prayer was offered by Dr. Mc Nair. The second hymn, “Go Preach My Gospel, Saith the Lord,” was lined by the chairman. The ■ choir was joined by the con gregation. At the close of this hymn Dr. Anderson was intro duced to preach the installation sermon. The speaker used these or like words as a subject; “The Obligation and Duty of the Gospel Minister.” From start to finish, the preacher held the audience spell-bound as he treated his subject in an inspir ing and masterly way. At the conclusion of the ser mon and prayer, Rev. Stitt stated the design of the meet ing, and recited the proceedings of the Presbytery relative to it. He then addressed the pastor elect, propounding to him the constitutional questions. Rev. D. A. Henry gave the charge to the pastor-elect, and Rev. R. L. Hyde gave the charge to the congregation. Prayer was offered by the chairman, who then declared the pastor-elect now duly installed as the pas tor of the Central Presbyterian church. The newly installed pastor was then invited to the pulpit, from which he pronounced the benediction after the last hymn was sung by the choir and con gregation; and another page of history was written in the Cen tral church. At the Conclusion of the service the newly installed pastor was swamped with handshakes and congratulations by the elders, members and friends. After the services were over the women of the Central church, with their friends, spread a bountiful table laden with choice and delicious food which the members of the com mittee and their friends were invited to feast upon. The record shows that the following named ministers supplied and pastored the Cen tral church during its fifty-two years of history: Rev. Yorke Jones, D. D., who started the mission from which the church grew, helped to organize it and served as its first minister; Rev. H. C. Ma bry, D. D.; Rev. Thos. H, Lee; Rev. J. G. Harris, (deceased) who served here longer than any other minister, and raised the first thousand dollars as a nucleus for building purposes; the Rev. John E. Tice, under whose administration, a beau inui cnurcn eamce was built, and the first manse ever to be owned by the Central church was secured through the aid of the Board of National Missions; and our present pastor, Rev. Thos. A. Robinson. From an authentic source the following is a brief outline of services rendered by Rev. and Mrs. Robinson previous to their coming to Petersburg, and the Central church: 1916: Co-organizers of the Presbyterian mission Sabbath school, Bamberg, S. C.; 1917, founded the Frazier Excelsior Academy, Bamberg, S. C.; 1922, assisted in organizing the Zion Hill Presbyterian church, Bamberg, S. C., where both Rev. and Mrs. Robinson work ed in church and school for more than 12 years. While at Bamberg, S. C., the work there grew by leaps and bounds. The day school grew from an enrollment the first day of 25 to the larger number of 385; and from a small one-room building to a modern school plant more than I i^optwuM on Paco 8)
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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July 7, 1938, edition 1
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