Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 1920)
T"'m TThe Monitor i A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS _ _* _ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor $3.00 a Year. 10c a Copy_ OMAHA, NEBRASKA, NOVEMBER 25, 1920 Vol. VI. No. 22 (Whole No. 282) TO DEFENDS HER HONOR MILLIi dollar negro congregation passes century mark CHURCH CELEBRATES ITS CEHTENNIAL New York Episcopalians Commemorate the Incorporation of St. Philip’s Parish With Elaborate Exercises and Impressive Ceremonies of Week’s Duration—Prominent Bishops and Clergy Participate WEALTHIEST COLORED CONGREGATION IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE Began in a School Room in 1809 in Lower Manhattan With Mere Handful of Members—Now Owns Property Valued at Millions in Harlem—Has Membership of 2,000 Communicants—Rev. Hutchens Chew Bishop Rector for Thirty-four Years (Special to The Monitor) jVTEW YORK, Nov. 25.—An event of , f ' more than local importance is the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of St. Philip’s Episcopal church, West. 134th , street, this city, which began Sunday, November 14, and closed last Sunday night with impressive services and an eloquent sermon by the Ven. Henry L. Phillips, archdeacon of Philadelphia, and the nestor of the 150 or more col ored priests serving in the American Episcopal church. The fact that there are Episcopalian parishes which have been in existence for a hundred years among colored Americans will be news to thousands of our people and will be a cause of wonderment to the people of the domi nant group who profess to know so much and yet are so lamentably ignor ant of our group activities. St. Philip’s of New York is outranked in age by St. Thomas Episcopal church, Phila delphia, which was founded by Ab salom Jones, the first American Negro to be ordained to the priesthood, in 1794, and celebrated its centenary in 1894 or twenty-six years ago. The nation-wide importance of St. Philip's centenary lies not only in the f-ct of if,«s age. but of its wealth and membership. It is the wealthiest con gregation of colored people in the United States, if not in the world, its property holdings running well be yond the million mark and its com municants number more than 2,000 which means a constituency of fully 5,000 people, more in fact than the | membership of some entire dioceses and missionary districts of the Amer ican Emscona! church. Another rather unique fact about this historic parish is the length of the pastorate of its present rector, the Rev. Hutchens <~'Yirv ns 'mm who is rounding out his thirty-fifth year. Its first pastor, the Rev. Peter Williams, served for twen ty years after his ordination and for five years preceding his ordination as lay reader. The services of these two men, Williams and Rishop, span sixty years of the life of the congregation. The centennial services began with the early Eucharist Sunday morning, November 14, one hundred years to the day, of the incorporation of the parish, which was November 14, 1820. At 11 the spacious edifice was crowd ed to the limit for a magnificent serv ice of thanksgiving, the music being rendered by St. Philip’s famous choir. -c-oun<ed one of the best in New York, and a sermon by the Rt. Rev. Charles Sumner Rurch, D.D., bishop of New York Sunday night for Even song the edifice was again crowded, when the Rt Rev. Henry Heard De lanev, D.D., suffragan bishop of North Carolina, and one of the two Negro bishops of the American church, / was the preacher. The exercises con tinued throughout the week. Monday night there was a striking historical pageant. Tuesday night there was was a general public meeting partici pated in by representatives of other religious bodies at which felicitations were extended by the pastors of St. Mark’s Methodist, Mt. Olivet Raptist. Mother A. M. E. Zion and St. Cy \ prian’s. Other speakers were George Foster Peabody and James Weldon Johnson. Following this a parish re ception and dinner was served in the parish rooms in the basement of the church. Wednesday night there were special services held in the church at which the speakers were the Rev. Dr. Manning, rector of Trinity church; Rev. Dr Percy S. Grant, rector of the Church of the Ascension; the Rev. Dr. Krnest M. Stire«, rector of St. Thomas’ church, all of this city, and the Rev. Dr. George Freeman Bragg, jr., rector of St. James’, Baltimore. Thursday and Friday were devoted to the serv ices and program of the newly organ ized provincial conference of Church Workers Among the Colored People, at which the special speakers at Fri day night’s session were Dr. Harry F. Ward of Union Theological Seminary and author of “A New Social Order,” and Dr. Robert Russa Moton, princi pal of Tuskegee Institute. Sunday marked the closing services of the cen tennial. At 11 o’clock the Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Gailor, D.D., preached the sermon and at evensong the preacher was the Ven. Henry L. Phillips, D.D. Hrief History of St. Philip’s In 1809 the colored Kpiscopalians of New York City, under the leadership of Mr. McCoombs, as lay reader, opened a mission in a school room on the corner of Frankfort and William streets. After his death in 1812 the congregation removed to a room in Cliff street, with Peter Williams, jr., as lay reader. Here they remained for two years. In 1819 three lots were obtained for a lease of sixty years, after which they were to be held in fee simple as a gift. These lots were on the west side of Collect now Centre street beween Anthony and Leonard streets. Upon this a wooden building was erected at a cost of $6,000. It was consecrated by Bisbop John Henry Hobart on July 19, 1819, and wa/ named St. Philip’s church. Church Incorporated On November 14, 1820, the church was incorporated according to the statutes of the state of New York and Mr. Williams, who had been or dained to the diaconate ir) October, was appointed as minister in charge. On December 24, 1821, the building was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt of brick in the following year at a cost of $8,000. Mr. Williams was advanced to the priesthood in 1827 and became the first rector of the church. He held this office until his death in 1840. The parish was received into union with the convention of the Diocese of New York In 1853. The Rev. William Morris, rector of Trinity school, was then the officiating minister. The church at; this time was located at 305 Mulberry street. The parish was without a rector from 1840 to 1872, a period of thirtv +»'0 vears, when the Rev. William J. Alston, who was trained at Kenvnn college, Gambier, O., was called to tie rectorship. He was the second colored priest to sprve as rector here. He served until 1874, and there was n vacancy until 1875 when the Rev. Jo seph J. Atwell, a native of Barbadoes, B. W. I., was elected rector His death in 1882 again left the office vacant until 1886 when the present incum bent, the Rev. Hutchens C. Bishop, was elected. During Mr. Atwell’s in cumbency, the Parish Home for Aged Women was founded. Growth Was Retarded Two long years of vacancy ’ could not help but retard the grow'th of the parish. This arrested development was plainly seen in the number of com municants, two hundred and eighty four reported in 1885 after a group existence of seventy-six years. In 1886 the congregation made anothei journey, locating at 161 West Twenty fifth street, where it remained until 1910; when, following the migration northward, it settled in Harlem. Lots running through from 134th to 133d treets were secured and a commo dious church and parish house costing $500,000 was erected. Since locating in Harlem the growth has been phe nomenal. A plant which was thought to be adequate for another century has been found wholly inadequate to meet the demands of the constantly growing congregation, and of the nu merous parish societies which must be maintained if the parish is to be kept in intimate and helpful contact with the community. This historic parish with its able rectors has been a dominant factor in the religious and civic life of the race in New York. DARTIGUENAVE APPEALS TO AMERICAN PEOPLE President of Haiti Desires Congres sional Investigation of Action of Government Officials in Island (By The Associated Negro Press) PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Nov. 25. —President Sudre Dartiguenave has made a direct and emphatic appeal to the people of the United States for congressional investigation of “mal administration, high handedness and misrepresentation” by the American minister and those civil functionaries who are intrusted with the execution of solemn treaty agreements between the United States and Haiti. President Dartiguenave says; “My regret at this juncture is not that the treaty is being violated but that it is not being carried out. The reason it is not being carried out is because the Haitian government is under the op pression of the American minister and the American financial adviser. “If the American government and people wish the Haitian people to con sider the treaty as the starting point of their true independence,'it is nec essary that a congressional commis sion come to investigate the American treaty functionaries, and there must also be a wise and enlightened Amer ican minister here. “That is emphatically the first step toward clearing up the present situa tion. “From 1915 to this day the Haitian government has had cause for bitter complaint against the American treaty officials. Often when I protest against a decision relative to our relations with the United State, the American minister and financial adviser sent to the state department at Washington declarations they declare to have come from me personally, but of which I have not uttered a word. “This is done for no other reason (han to prejudice the state department and to confirm Washington in their error that my government does not wish to keep its engagement. “On similar occasions these two of ficials have caused much distress to my government.” “And you believe a congressional investigation would clear the air?” was asked. President Dartiguenave answered emphatically: “I believe so. There has been a lack of co-operation. You are a great peo ple. I beg you to be kind to a little people.” _ tRONTON, O., Nov. 25.—Dr. Wood fin, a prominent Negro physician of Ibis city, was elected coroner of Law rence cdunty on the republican ticket. SPECIFIC CHARGE LODGED AGAINST AMERICAN MARINE Investigation of Accusations of In discriminate Killings Are Being Pressed. (By The Associated Negro Press) PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Nov. 25. —A direct charge has been lodged with the United States authorities at Washington that one Freeman Lang. fl' -<v a marine corporal, killed ti. aitian prisoners at Hinche ;n 1911 This was brought out before the coart investigating the activities of American marines in Haiti by Adolph Bourgot, a former native act ing corporal who testified as a wit ness of the alleged killings. Bourgot testified that the killing took place at the end of an attack of insurgents. The men killed by Lang were prison ers and were shot by him in revenge for the attack which had been re pulsed with considerable loss of life on the part of the American marines. Lieut. Col. Hooker told the investi gators of the January attack on Port Au Prince when sixty-six insurgents were killed. He declared the attack had been to bolster the bandit cause. Col. Louis Little testified that the only complaint he had received, as field officer, from President Darti guenave he had found to be incorrect. The president charged that beside the unwarranted killing that a drunken marine had assaulted a judge. Harris I.ifschitz, a Russian, testi fied to seeing two killings hy the oc cupational force, but was indefinite as to dates, places and names. The in ••virtlga.tion wbl be continued for sev eral weeks. SUCCESSFI’L BANK HAS WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT (Bv The Associated Negro Press) RICHMOND, Va„ Nov. 25.—The St. Luke Penny Savings bank has just wound up the seventeenth year of its i-xistence. At the end of its first year it had resources amounting to $19,000. Curing its existence the bank paid its stockholders $20,000 in dividends and $51,000 in interest to depositors. It has now resources amounting to a half million dollars and undivided profits and surplus totaling $15,000. The institution is located in modern nuarters at First and Marshall streets. Mrs. Maggie L. Walker is the presi dent. WOM.- ...)TEST AGAINST CARICATURING BABIES (By The Associated Negro Press) ATLANTA, Ga., Nov. 25.—Protest against using funny pictures of Negro babies for advertising purposes and comical postcards has been entered by Mrs. Alice Cary, president of the Federation of Negro Women’s Clubs in Georgia. The protest was read before the convention of the Federated Clubs of Georgia ami a resolution offering the co-operation of the State Federation to the Negro Federation was adopted. HOME-OWNING ASSOCIATION NEW ORGANIZATION (Ry The Associated Negro Press) CHICAGO, 111., Nov. 25.—An “own 'our home” association has been or ganized and is planning the upbuild ing of a forty-acre subdivision In what is to he known as the Alberta Park addition, which will front South Kedzie avenue south of Marquette park. William Fetzer, former manu facturer of Springfield, 111., is head of the association. GIRL W INS SECOND PRIZE (By the Associated Negro Press) RICHMOND, Ind., Nov. 25.—A 12 ycar-old colored girl student of the Garfield High school, Virginia Smith, , won the second price given In the Kurlhani essay contest which was held In Wayne at the time of the endow ment campaign. SCHOFIELD SINGS AT RECITAL (By the Associated Negro Press) WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.—Edgar Schofield, baritone, Hang with telling effect Burleigh’s “Swing Low, Sweet ('harlot,’* at a celebrated artist recital In Poll’s theatre. SENSATIONAL COURT ACTION STARTED BY EDITOR’S WIFE Mrs. Florence M. Varner, of a Socially Prominent Southern Family, Defendant in Divorce Suit Instituted by Her Husband, Who Charged Her With Infidelity, Naming Wealthy Colored Man as Co-Respondent—Files Counter Charges and Flatly Denies Allegations BELIEVED STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS MAY SHOW CLEVER CONSPIRACY Varner Filed Suit for $1 Oft,000 Against Baxter McCrary, Leading Lexington Citizen of Color for Alleged Alienation of His Wife’s Affection—Believed to be Concocted Scheme to Mulct McCrary of Money—Rumored That Editor Had Received Favors From Him (Special to The Monitor) □tEENSBORO, N. C., Nov. 25.— Under date of August 19 The Monitor published a special article from Lexington, this state, on the sen sation caused by the filing of an un usual suit against Baxter McCrary, wealthy and prominent Mason, busi ness man and educator, by H. B. Var ner, editor of the Lexington Dispatch and head of the North CT:u >-,r.a prison board, for $100,000 on the complaint that McCrarv had “ruined his domes tic life” and alienated his wife’s affec tion. At the same time Varner en tered suit for divorce from his wife. It was then believed and stated by your correspondent that court action in McCrary’s case was based upon a well-devised plan to extract from him much of his coveted wealth. A counter action in this case which promises startling developments has been iled by Mrs. Florence M. Varner by her attorneys in the federal court here against her husband, H. B. Vai ner. The complaint alleges that he “abandoned this plaintiff, and wilfully and maliciously turned her out of doors, and by cruel and barbarous treatment endangered her life and of fered her such indignities as to ren der her condition intolerable and her life burdensome.” The court is there fore prayed to allot to her, under the laws of North Carolina, “a reasonable subsistence” from the estate of the de fendant; and claim is laid to the prop erty in Lexington known as the Var ner building, estimated to be worth $50,000. This suit is Mrs. Varner’s reply to the sensational proceedings ati Lex ington last August, when H. B. Varner instituted divorce proceedings agains* his wie, and at the same time started suit for $100,000 against Baxter Mc Crary, colored, for alienation of her affections. Mrs. Varner brings suit in the federal court as a citizen of the state of Utah, where she declares in the complaint she was sent by her husband, or his friends. The complaint is hardly less sensa tional than the charges filed at Lex ington. It declares that the plaintiff was prostrated by the shock of the charges brought against her; that she was denied the opportunity of seeing her husband to repudiate the alleged slanders against her reputation; that she was fraudulently induced to leave Lexington by being told that if she would go to Salisbury she might have an interview with the defendant, and that she rose from her sick bed to go, but that upon arrival there she was handed a ticket to Salt Lake City, Utah, and told that her husband would not see her, but that she must leave the state and go to her mother; that upon her arrival in Salt Lake Citv she >was desperately ill for two weeks, sruthat her life was despaired of. Varner’s Charges Flatly Denied As for the charges in the divorce suit, they are all flatly denied. It is alleged that on the night of August 9 the plaintiff went to the moving pic ture show owned by her husband, ac cording to her custom when he was away, that she returned with the re ceipts from the box office at about 10 o’clock, and was admitted by her col ored servant, Anna Miller; that with in a few minutes she answered a knock at the door, where she found Fred O. Sink, who said to her, “Mrs. Varner, you are in all kinds of trou ble," which she took to mean that her husband had met with some serious accident; that Sink then asked if Mc Crary was at the house, and that she replied that he was not, so far as she knew; that Sink’s suggestion that she allow the house to be searched was her first intimation of the true situa tion; “that said house was thoroughly locked, and that said Baxter McCrary was not, nor had been in or about the house, so far as this plaintiff knew." Furthermore, it is alleged that Mc Crary had been in the habit of visiting the house to see the servant, Anna Miller, “and the defendant, all of which was well known to the defend ant;” that he was a friend of the de fendant; that the defendant, her hus band, had “frequently 'phoned him; that the said McCrary would at differ ent times send game, fruit and vege tables to the defendant and that the defendant would call him over the ’phone and thank him." The plaintiff denies that she ever held a private conversation with Bax ter McCrary in her life; alleges that she has never been in his presence alone, and that she has “never, for one moment in her life, treated him as a friend or her social equal;” that the intimately friendly relation existing between her husband and McCrary was obnoxious to her; “that the de fendant himself knew of and was re sponsible to a great extent for the visits of the said McCrary to the plain tiff’s house; that the plaintiff realized j when it first dawned upon her from | the conversation with the said Sink and others with him that thev be lieved that the said McCrary had been coming to her home to see her, that the whole situation could be explained by the defendant;” that she could not conceive that he would desert her, and that she attempted immediately to get ; into communication with him, but failed. Conspiracy Charged A significant passage in the com plaint is the allegation that before the defendant reached Lexington, and ] therefore before she had a chance to communicate with him, he had "as , this plaintiff is informed and believes been in communication with certain slanderers and conspirators against | her character; that immediately he i went to the hotel and gathered about I him the same slanderers and cn”. | spirators and refused to commnnleate i with the plaintiff, and cruellv aban doned her; that on August IT, as aforesaid the defendant, as she was (Continued on Pago Eight)