church
Dunn Chapel
Recognizes
Black Roots
BY EVA M. MENTOR
Contributing Writer
With the theme, “African Roots:
Explore New Worlds, Pre-Colum
bus to the Space Age,” the Senior
Choir of Dunn Chapel Freewill
Baptist Church sponsored a Black
History Month celebration Feb. 16.
The affair was held in the church
fellowship hall.
The group sang “13wing Low,
Sweet Chariot.”
, Deacon Herbert Langston of New
Jerusalem offered prayer.
Ms. Mary Bell Brooker, Senior
Choir president, extended words of
welcome. Ms. Blanche Moore por
trayed facts about the institution of
slavery. Ms. Cleo McKoy portrayed
Harriett Tubman and the Under
ground Railroad.
Ms. Bryant, a student at Fay
etteville State University, spoke on
the life and work of Mary McLeod
Qethune.
Ms. Geraldine Cameron briefed
the members on the life of Alex
Haley, writer of the epic Roots, who
died recently. She also spoke of the
life and work of Shirley A Chis
holm, the first woman, white or
black, to make a serious bid for the
presidency.
Chris Ray, a student at the Dunn
Middle School, introduced the
speaker of the hour, Elder Ron
Spears of Dunn. Chris labeled the
speaker as a “home-grown boy.”
Eiiaer a pears aeuverea a dynamic
and powerful address from the
topic, “Seeking and Finding a New
Freedom.” He asked his listeners to
continue supporting the black
church, for it caused us to make
progress above all others. He asked
his listeners to go back to the basics,
love, sharing, discipline in the
home, church and community.
Ms. Eva Mae McGuire, lay leader
of the Cape Fear A Conference,
made a fitting reponse. Remarks
were made by Bishop MJi.MeLean,
pastor; Ms. Mary Johnson, and
Evangelist Lettie Bryant. Ms.
Pauline Graham served as chief
marshal.
The Hospitality Committee, un
der the direction of Ms. Mary Grady
and her helpers, served dinner.
Baptist Women
Present Mid
Winter Session
The General Women’s Depart
ment of the United American Free
will Baptist Church held its mid
winter session recently at the Head
quarters Building, located an Uni
versity Street in Kinston.
Ms. Mattie Thompson of La
Grange is president of the organisa
tion. She began with a prayer.
Elder Shirley Williams had
charge of the morning worship.
The sermon was delivered by
Elder Helena A Rouse. Music was
presented by the North East B Divi
sion Choir with Bro. C.C. Thomas at
the organ.
The presidents of various conven
tions solicited the offering.
Bishop J.E. Reddick addressed
the body with a message, urging his
constituents to move forward in
these times. He said that he pro
posed to operate the church on the
truth, which is the Word of God. He
said he deplores "tricks'* and
"gangs’* in the church.
He declared March as Bible Col
lege Day in the denomination and
asked his members to adhere to the
cause. He also said. "In this age,
there is still hope.”
In the afternoon, a special work
shop, "Healthy Youths for the 2ast
Century," under the direction ofMs.
Ellen Berry and Ms. Re be Wilkes,
was held.
Several young people partici
pated. Ms. Dorothy Williams, nurs
ing instructor in the East Carolina
University School of Medicine,
Greenville, was the clinician,
She called on the church to rise up
and help combat problems of health,
school dropouts, teenage preg
nancy, drugs, poverty and others.
She called for positive role models.
Bishop Reddick and Ms. Thompson
responded.
The next meeting will be the
annual homecoming, to be held in
July in Kinston.
Ms. Eva M. Minter is genera]
recorder for the Women’s Depart
As a dog retumeth
to his vomit, so a
foot retumeth to
his folly.
Proverttt ih:! I
DR. E. EDWARD JONES
Baptist Group Launches
National Voter Project
SHREVEPORT, La.—A massive
effort to increase African-American
voter registration nationally in time
for the 1992 presidential election
has been launched by Dr. E. Edward
Jones, president of the 4.5 million
member National Baptist Conven
tion of America, Inc.
Dr. Jones, who joined state relig
ious leaders in a united effort to
defeat David Duke in the recent
Louisiana gubernatorial race, said
the plan to increase voter registra
tion is part of a New South Coalition
blueprint initiated, in part, when
the Rev. Jesse Jackson appeared in
Shreveport at a December summit
of African-American leaders.
Die church will be the focal point
of this unique voter drive effort. Dr.
Jones said he believes the plan will
work best through clergymen and
through the church because both,
traditionally, have been bastions of
unity in the African-American com-.
m unity.
Supporting this effort are distin
guished church heads and clergy
men from various denominations
nationally, including Rev. Jackson
and other high-profile African
American leaders.
Dr. Jones expressed confidence
that the National Baptist Conven
tion USA, Inc.; National Missionary
Baptist Convention of America;
Progressive National Baptist Con
vention, Inc.; African Methodist
Episcopal Church; Christian Meth
odist Episcopal Church; Church of
God in Christ and the Congress of
National Blade Churches will be
come partners in the crusade.
“Communication is taking place
between partners and constitu
ents,” Jones said.
Registering to vote must become a
commitment, a movement in every
church, a rallying cry and a mission,
he stated in outlining his plans.
"Our goal is to have all eligible
African-American church member*
in the country, representing all de
nominations, registered to vote in
time for the 1992 general election.
Upward of five million new names
can be added to voter rolls.*
To get the movement started, he
issued a directive from his office to
all NBCA churches to initiate regis
tration drives, immediately, to se
cure 100 percent compliance.
Dn Jones said there are millions
of persons of color who have not
registered to vote. ‘Splintered ef
forts to. increase voter registration
have not met with the desired suc
cess," he said. The NBCA president
feels that registration efforts stem
ming from the various churches,
with their great membership, will
be tremendously successful, an
endeavor whose benefits will en
dure for years to come.
While the initial focus is on
church members, a similar effort
will be launched on African-Ameri
can college campuses and with busi
nesses, clubs and organizations.
The objective is registration of all
eligible college students, plus mas
sive registration of other groups.
"It is the best way to cure many of
the social and political ills that have
plagued the nation’s African-Ameri
can communities for years."
Unless we vote en masse in No
vember, we face the prospect of
continuous erosion and a rollback of
civil rights gains, he lamented.
“Further," he added, “we must reg
ister massive numbers of new voters
to stem the tide of racial polariza
tion and the entry of David Duke
into national politics.
"Religious leaders have a spiri
tual and moral obligation to con
tinue the fight for equal opportunity
and to help the disenfranchised and
the downtrodden to gain a full meas
ure of opportunity in this country,"
he concluded.
NAACP Recalls
83rd Birthday
In Celebration
GREENSBORO—Mary L. Peel
er, executive director of the North
Carolina NAACP, announced that
the NAACP celebrated its 83rd
birthday on Feb. 12. In celebration
of this milestone and to highlight
the important role the NAACP has
played in the history of this country
and in the improvement of the social
and economic conditions of African
Americans, a national celebration
was kicked off on Feb. 11 and will
continue through May 17 (the 38th
anniversary of the famous Brown
Supreme Court decision).
In honor of this birthday celebra
tion, James G. Martin, governor of
the State ofNorth Carolina, issued a
proclamation on Feb. 12, proclaim
ing Feb. 12-May 17 as “The NAACP
Official Birthday Celebration Pe
nisethe many achievements of this
gnat organization. The proclama
tion states in part:
The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People was
founded on Feb. 12,1909. This year
we are celebrating the organization’s
83rd birthday, commemorating 83
yean of dedication, druggie and
achievement to further the eauee of
fair play,Juetlee, and equal opportu
nity for minoritiee... The significant
gains achieved for minoritiee in
quality education, equal employ
ment and equal housing are largely
due to the pereletence and deter
mined efftrt* of the NAACP'e leader
ship tend membership.
Peeler noted that the history of
the NAAGPs founding in 1909 was
vividly recorded by Mary White
Ovington and should be emphasized
during this national birthday cele
bration neriod.
The North Carolina NAACP will
culminate its 83rd birthday celebra
tion with special activities during
the North Carolina NAACPs an
nual Mothsr of the Year and Youth
of the Year programs on May 16 at
the Raleigh Civic and Convention
Center in Raleigh.
1.
BY RUTH HEINER
“Forgive? Will I forgive, you cry.
■ But what ie the gift, the favor? You
would lift me from my poor place tc
stand beside the Savior. You would
have me see with His eyes, smile,
and with Him reach out to salve a
sorrowing heart—for one small
moment to share in Christ’s great
act, Will I forgive, you cry. Oh, may
I... May I?"
—Carol Lynn Pearson
One cannot hold grudges and
unkind feelingB without harming
himself. He becomes bitter, his vi
sion is distorted, and his soul be
comes cankered.
Harsh and sharp words can leave
a sting behind, a pang of unhappi
ness and regret in the heart and
conscience of the offender.
A person who holds grudges hurts
himself more than he does his en
emy. Little vicious minds abound
with hate and revenge and are inca
pable of feeling the pleasure of for
giving their enemies.
“Let not the sun go down on your
wrath,* Ephesians 4:26. To forgive a
person once or twice may not be too
difficult, but to continue to forgive
many times when one has been
wronged may become a real test of
character. *
One of the most vital qualities of
. the principle of repentance is for
giveness. Unless each of us can
learn to forgive others for the real or
imagined trespasses against us, we
cannot properly repent.
Someone has said, “Humanity is
never so beautiful as when praying
for forgiveness, or else forgiving
another.”
The Savior always taught that we
should be ready and “willing” to
forgive. Can you imagine how hard
it is to repent if we are not willing?
When the Savior was teaching men
how to pray, and specifically His
disciples, He instructed them to
petition the Father "Forgive ua our
debts, as we forgive our debtors."
What He gave to>Hi> disciples then,
He also means for us in our day and
time.
A person holding grudges hurts
himself more than he does his en
emy. On one occasion when Jesus
was teaching His disciples, Peter
approached Him and posed this
question: “Lord how oft shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive
him? Till seven times?" The Savior’s
answer was, “I say not until seven
times, but until seventy times
seven” (Matthew 18:21-22).
Thus we know that the Sfvior
meant that we should forgive with
out number.
Members of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints are
taught that we must forgive to be
forgiven of our own trespasses. We
have to overcome our faults to Re
turn back to our Heavenly Father.
We have to make an offense right if
we are to be forgiven our faults.
Repentance is not a one-time
thing, it’s a way of life. We are coun
seled to bear one another’s burdens
and not add to them.
If God forgives us our trespasses,
and often daily, we have to forgive
our fellow men theirs. "Revenge is
about the most expensive luxury
known to man.”
"A sharp tongue severs a good
many friendships in this world.”
One man has said that a sharp
tongue and a dull mind are often
found in the same head.
“When tempted to answer and
3peak your mind, smile and forget it
and just be kind. When angry and
weary mistakes you can find, O
remember we’re human and just be
kind.”
As we seek forgiveness of others,
we need to remember that Christ
forgave without number or limit,
and so must we!
Gospel Music Workshop Strives To
Maintain Excellence, Commitment
BY AIXEAVKXJ8 H1I4
The Raleigh/Triangle Area Chap
ter has been conducting gospel
music workshops sines 1987. In
March 1991, its membership joined
the Gospel Music Workshop of
America, Inc., founded by the late
Rev. James Cleveland. With mem
bership over 90,000, headquarters
is in Detroit, Mich.
Phyllis McLeod, Phillip Lang
ston, and Ron Gilliam serve as chap
ter representative and assistant
chapter representatives, respec
tively. Twenty-two area church co
ordinators assist in fulfilling the
chapter’s mission.
In ensuring that Rev. Cleveland’s
vision becomes a reality, chapters
r amuy reunions Help strengtnen
Ancestral Ties In Black Community
BY EMMA J. WISDOM
8p*eU To Tfca CAROLINIAN
Betty* family ia having a reuni on.
If* going to be the first one for her.
She decided to attend merely days
•go, succumbing to the constant
cajoling of her cousin Trudy. Since it
was to be only a one-day picnic af
fair, she’d thought she could toler
ate being there for a few hours
among a group of people, many of
whom she'd never met and a few
she’d remember only vaguely from
her childhood.
The family reunion was going to
ba held at the old homestead place
where her unde Otis lived and
which had been in the family more
than 200 years. Thinking back,
Betty recalls one wonderful summer
(at age 10) spent there with Trudy
and several other city-dwelling rela
tives about her age. Betty hadn’t
hud any yearnings to return since
her adulthood, however. That sum
mer had happened more than 20
years ago. She decides, reluctantly,
to go to the reunion anyway.
Betty arrives to find hordes of
strange people already spread
acroas the lawn—close to 100 was
her guess—young andold. She stops
to take in the scene about her, as
that summer of many years ago
begins to rise to her conscious
awareness. Trudy and two others
are at Betty’s side within moment»
after she steps out of her car She
later learns that the three were ii
part ofthe reunion welcoming vnm
“I’m so glad you could come,”
Trudy says, all buiibly and full of
hugs and kisses. “You remember
Cathy and Michael, don’t you?"
“Of course,” she responds, but she
hadn’t until Trudy related that
they, too, had spent the same sum
mer with the two of them on their
uncle Otis’ farm. Betty cordially
greets them as they lead her toward
the rest of the family where activi
ties are already in progress.
Then, in a few brief hours, all too
soon, the day was over, and it had
been wonderful beyond her imagi
nation. She’d been kissed, hugged,
returned aij equal number of her
own, and had eaten far too much,
but with no regrets at the time.
Betty had heard stories about the
family—their antics, their bad and
good times, but was especially
touched to hear the love in their
voices when relatives spoke about
her deceased mother.
Her uncle Otis had revealed in the
course of reminiscing that when he
saw how much Betty reminded him
of his sister and Betty’s mother,
Mqlly, “I would have picked you out
. in a crowd anywhere. You look so
much like your sweet mother. 1 re
ally miy her. And her letters were
just the best. Why, when we re
ceived one, we’d share it with the
entire family. She kept us in touch
with her life and family wherever
she lived. She loved this place as
much as I do."
< hhers also sm<1 a« orirh ■**
Hetty mtnglro . • irmly memln-r*
throughout ’K- i.«y. playing horse
shoes with a couple of senior mem
tiers, wading in the brook w it I
young cousins, riding horseback,
and foaling free from the woes of
what was usually a part of hor day
bock homo in the city.
Yes, she thinks after she waves
her goodbyes and promises to keep
in touch, it has been a wonderful
day. Betty vows to herself, os the old
homestead disappears in her rear
view mirror, to attend next year’s
reunion.
Betty’s story could very well be
your own. So this year, catch the
family reunion wave, like Betty’s
reunion, yours could be just as en
joyable and memorable.
Westminster Choir
To Perform At
Edenton St. UMC
On Friday, March 6, at 8 p.m. in
the sanctuary of Edenton Street
United Methodist Church, 228 W.
Edenton 8k, Raleigh, the Westmin
ster Singers from Westminster
Choir College, Princeton, NJ., con
ducted fay Allen Crowell, will pres
ent a concert of soared choral music.
The concert is open to the public.
The program will include a cap
pel la os well as accompanied works.
The Westminster Singers ore made
up of students in the sophomore,
junior and senior years os well as
some graduate students.
I am the way
around the country strive to main
tain high standards of gospel music
excellence. It is with this directive
that from March 1-8, the chapter
presents to Wake County its work
shop, titled “Music Ministry: Our
Unconditional Commitment to
God.” Wake Chapel Baptist Church
is workshop location. Walk-in regis
tration and fee acceptance begins
March 2.
Many speakers will share their
expertise. Dr. Charles Fold, na
tional director of chapter represen
tatives, will speak at the Musicians
and Directors Guild. Dr. Fold is
recognized for singing, This Too
Win Pass.”
David Allen, composer/writer
from Winston-Salem, will speak at
seminars. Allen is recognized for
writing "No Greater Love." Ms.
Becky White of Gospel Music Learn
ing Center, Fayetteville, and Walter
Jones ofWaljo Productions, Greens
boro will be present as directors.
Finale free concerts will be held >
March 7-8. A youth concert will be
presented at the church and the
mass and chapter choirs will per
form at Daniels Middle School.
LIFE
Living is determined not so much
by what life brings to you, as by the
attitude you bring to life, not so
much as to what happens to you as
by the way your mind looks at what
happens.
John H. Miller
RALEIGH NATIVE HONORED-Cengratulatlons to Ulysses Jones. Jr., on total
elected to serve as the Mustrious Potentate of Pyramid Temple No. 1
(PMtadelpMa, Pa.)) during 1992. 8orn and reared in Raleigh. N.C.. the now
Potentate Is o Korean War veteran. He credits Ms success in achieving this honor
to hard work; the support of Ms “brothers” in Pyramid Temple No. 1; the
encouragement of Ms farnHy; and the inspiration provided by hometown Mends to
Kahato Temple No. 177 (Raleigh, N.C.)), particularly J.B. Allen, Basil Butler, the
lote J.C. Colins (ail Past Potentates), and Noble James E. Norris.