Nebraska Newspapers

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The Monitor
NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor.
GROWING —
THANK YOU
$2.0° a Year—S 1 at CopyOmaha, Nebraska, Friday, January 13, 1928 Vol. XIII—Number 28 Whole Number 650
Quarter Million Slaves Freed in Africa
South Side Social Settlement^
Submits Its Annual Report
The Social Settlement Association,
which conducts centers at Thirty
first and Q streets and Twenty-ninth
and R streets, South Side, has just
issued its twentieth annual report,
which discloses many interesting facts
and reveals a vast deal of character
building work.
The Social Settlement seeks to
serve its neighborhood through two
centers in an elastic and constantly;
varied program of organized activi
ties, co-operation with others, and
neighborliness. It seeks to bring peo
ple of different backgrounds into full
er understanding by offering oppor- ;
tunities for association and the dis
covery of new and common interests. ,
The report discloses that within
one-half mile radius of the settlement
are four packing plants, employing a i
minimum of 6,000 people; stock1
yards, second largest in the United !
States; 29 soft drink parlors and pool
rooms; one public school; three pa
rochial schools; five white churches;
eight Negro churches; one small ball
park; no public playground or gym
nasium; one night school, financed
by women’s organizations; one citi
zenship class at Armour's packing
plant, conducted by Y. M. C. A.; 21
foreign nationalities, and 2,000 Ne
roes.
Organized activities, including toy
making, cabinet-making, carving, oth
er handicrafts, mechanical drawing,
sewing, dressmaking, cooking, folk
dancing, music, dramatics and others
too numerous to mention here, are
carried on by both paid and volun
teer workers, both at the Settlement
House, for whites and foreigners, and
at the Colored Cultural Center.
It would be interesting to quote
full statistics of work done at both
centers, did space permit, but all that
can be done is to give a few from the
Cultural Center, where 675 organized
sessions have been held with an at
tendance of more than 9,000, and an
attendance of over 6,000 on the play
ground.
The head worker of the Settlement
is Miss Helen W. Gauss, who has as |
her director of activities at the Set
tlement House, Miss Helen Musste,
and of the Cultural Center, Mrs. M.
L. Rhone.
The following, taken in full from
Miss Gauss’ report, tells of the work
at the Cultural Center:
“Turning to the work of this Cen
ter (the Cultural) we find it hard to
believe that only 16 months ago was
the house opened—so great has been
the record of growth and achieve
ment since that time. The Center’s
activities have fully justified the
hopes of the Colored Parent-Teachers
Association and their president, Mrs.
Busch, who first asked for it, and
whose long, untiring efforts in co
operation with the Settlement, the
city commissioners and others, finally
achieved it. From the beginning it
was a community enterprise and it
continues to be so. At first it was
only the few who saw its possibilities
—who saw that such an opportunity
for Ne^ro initiative along lines of
race progress, was to be desired.
Many stood off and criticized.
“But steadily the work has moved
on, growing stronger month by month
—steadily drawing into fuller sense
of their common interests and needs
a large part of South Omaha’s col
ored group. This is a group rich in
religious spirit. There are eight
churches active, of several denomina
tions. The great lack heretofore has
been some binding force, some non
denominational, practical program
for community welfare on which all
groups could unite.
"Since the Center has been organ
ized, it is supplying this program,
as far as four small club rooms and
two small playgrounds will permit.
Following the lead of the churches,
working with them at every point
possible, its workers are striving to
build up a spirit of active commun
ity service among both old and
young, and succeeding to a surpris
ing degree. This spirit of good-will
was notably manifest last month on
two separate occasions when large
number of adults came together.
“The first meeting was one which
all eight churches ol South Omaha
helped to assemble, some dismissing
early that evening in order to permit
their nembers to attend. It was a
meeting of 106 mothers and married
women to discuss the “Responsibility
,of Mothers and Daughters.’’ The spe
cial significance of the subject was
I given it Tjy a juvenile delinquency
situation, which had lately shocked
i the community, and in remedying
which the Center was able to help in
many ways. Representatives of all
I eight churches were on the program,
j Of the 106 women present, 28 were
j without any church connection.
Within so large a group, the strong
spirit of good will and sympathy and
! understanding which showed itself,
i was taken by all as an omen of good
i for the future.
“The other occasion to be men
tioned was the recent Christmas Bene
| fit, sponsored by the Parent-Teach
ers Association. This benefit was
inspired by the need of two invalids
in the neighborhood for wheel chairs.
The Parent-Teacher Association at a
meeting in the fall had set itself the
task of supplying these chairs and
later gladly accepted the offer of
Mrs. Rhone to let the children of the
Center share the effort by giving a
program at a Christmas Benefit par
ty. The consummation of the plans
was a large gathering a few days be
fore Christmas in Swift’s Employees’
Cafeteria, most generously loaned by
Mr. Cushman on this as well as other
occasions. The audience again rep
resented every church in South Oma
ha, and money enough was taken in
to buy one chair and contribute to
wards the other. Boys and girls as
well as grown-ups were present when
the chair was presented and no eye'
was dry.
Again, at the Improvement Club s
Christmas Eve party for children, it
was a boy who made the presentation
| speech when $5.00 was taken from
j the tree as a surprise for old Mr.
I Clark. It was this boy who explained
how 18 months ago when the Center
was being made ready for occupancy
I it was Mr. Clark—then in better
health than he is now—who labored
day after day, volunteering his skill
in the laying of the long stone walk
which stretches from street to alley.
Such enterprises are doing things to
the community!
“As for the rest of the program— I
the definite activities along special1
lines can only be briefly suggested. i
“Our director in charge, Mrs. j
Rhone, brings a quality of spirit, a [
spiritual and mental poise, as well as ]
a high degree of executive ability
and social vision such as we must be
profoundly grateful for. Three and
one-half years' experience in Y. W.
work lay behind her when she came
to us last March at the time when
Miss Patrick, our previous director, j
had been called home by illness.
“Mrs. Busch, the original inspira
tion for the Center, and now its home
visitor, is a kindred spirit and works
in closest sympathy with Mrs. Rhone.
Through her visiting in the homes,
she shares a multitude of the neigh
borhood’s problems and needs, needs
both material and spiritual. Some of
these problems the Center can help
to solve; many it can refer to other
agencies. One case conference held
at the Center enlisted the co-opera
tion of six different groups.
“The Center’s Home Improvement
Club is also reaching the homes. As
one result of last summer’s contest,
an alley—long an eyesore in the
neighborhood—drew two out of ten
prizes awarded for improvement of
premises. The first prize went to a
yard which had been transformed
from a bare patch of ground to a
lovely mass of blossoming flowers.
“The boys’ work at the Center haB
drawn in several workers during the
year. Since last spring, however, Mr.
Stewart has been with us, at first as
a volunteer interested in a particular
baseball team, and since September
as the regular evening assistant, in
terested in ALL the boys. His nat
ural interest in athletics and club
work draws a quick response from
the boys, and his ready co-operation
with the other workers, means the
(Continued on Page Four)
EDITORIAL
We feel sure that our readers will be interested in learning
of the activities of the Cultural Center on the South Side as
revealed by the report published in this issue. It must be
admitted that the Center is faithfully and earnestly striving
to render a much needed service in the community. There is
far too little constructive social service work conducted for
and by our group. Character building agencies are needed
in every community and we should lend our encouragement
to all such worthy and deserving efforts to better conditions.
This is particularly true of institutions which justify their ex
istence by the work they are doing and by rendering a strict
account of the funds placed at their disposal. The work being
accomplished by the Cultural Renter is most commendable.
Our people should visit the Center, learn what is being done
there and heartily co-operate with it in any way they can.
A STRIKING CARTOON
The Monitor whose policy is to give credit where due and
to encourage our people to their best endeavors in any line of
praiseworthy work, desires to compliment Mr. R. A. Ashford,
for his excellent cartoon, “Sowing the Wind and Reaping the
Whirlwind,” which appeared in last week’s issue of The Omaha
Guide. The cartoon graphically represents one of those atro
cities which mars our American civilzation—the burning of a
Negro at the stake with a jeering mog looking gleefully on.
Below this swept by a whirl of wind is depicted, a white youth,
evidently intended for Hickman, kneeling beside a bathtub,
holding a dismembered arm in his hand, while fragments of
a human body rest on a towel on a chair near by. The cartoon
is. must suggestive and shows the cartoonist to have talent of a
high order which should be cultivated. We compliment our
contemporary upon publishing the cartoon.
CAN IT BE DONE?
We are wondering if the year 1928 might not see the suc
cessful launching of a building and loan association or home
such financial enterprise among our people in this city. It
takes knowledge and experience for such institutions and we
have been wondering if their might not be found here some
person or persons who could successfully manage such an in
stitution. We wonder if it can be done.
Looking Over An Old Copy of
“The Mission Monitor”
Last week we spoke of the fact
that The Monitor was developed into
a general race paper out of our little
parish paper, The Mission Monitor,
which was published monthly for the
! instruction of St. Philip’s congrega
tion. We acceded to the felt and ex
pressed demand for a local weekly
race organ and so begon the publica
tion of The Monitor in this larger ca
pacity on July 2, 1915.
In looking over some of the old
copies of The Mission Monitor pub
lished more than a quarter of a cen
; tury ago, we found it rather inter
lesting. We believe that our readers
I will enjoy taking a glance with us
I over some of those old copies.
Twenty-Eight Year* Ago!
i Well, here’s the issue of March
11900. Notice that it is Number 3
of Volume V, showing that the little
monthly is in its sixth year of publi
cation. It is an eight-page “mag
azine,” 11 by eight, three columns to
the page, neatly printed and well
gotten up. On page one is a beauti
i ful poem, “Though the Shadows Be
jDark,” by Emma E. Haanel, in the
Home Circle. Then follows a ser
mon on “The Annunciation of the j
Blesed Virgin Mary,” preached at St. |
Philip’s and published by request.
This occupies six columns. Two brief
and interesting articles captioned,
“Frankly Conceded” and “T h e
Church Idea,” by the Rev. George
Betts, follow and bring us to page
four, the editorial page, where thf
masthead proudly proclaims:
THE MISSION MONITOR
A Church Magazine. Published Month
ly Primarily in the Interests of the
Church of St. Philip the Deacon
And Devoted Chiefly
1. To instructing the congregation
in the Doctrine, Discipline, Wor
snip and History of the Church
to the end that they may become
devout and well-informed Church
men.
2. To disseminating general Church
information and especially intelli
gence as to work of the “Protes
tant Episcopal Church” among
Afro-Americans with the hope of
awakening and sustaining inter
est therein.
3. To discussing such matters of
general interest as may seem to
us wise and expedient.
Editor and Publisher
The Rev. John Albert Williams
1124 North 20th Street,
Omaha, Nebraska
Business Manager
George W. Parker
Subscription Canvassers
Guy Singleton
Fred D. Gamble
Subscription Price, 50 Cents a Year.
* * * *
Editorials, parish notes, a cut of
the church building, giving a direct
ory of services, officers of various
organizations, etc., and advertise
ments fill out the rest of the paper.
Among the advertisers are Thomas
Kilpatrick & Co., Thompson-Belden
& Co., Kuhn & Co., M. H. Bliss, Hen
ry Schnauber, C. J. Carlson, Cudahy
Packing Co., and Dr. J. H. Hutten.
The firm of Thompson-Belden &
Co., was then at Sixteenth and Doug
las streets in the Y. M. C. A. building.
Kuhn & Co., was a popular drugstore
at Fifteenth and Douglas, where the
World theater now stands. Thomas
Kilpatrick & Co., was at the present
location.
Speaking of Kuhn’s reminds us of
a rather amusing incident. We were
in the store one day during an en
gagement here of the famous Wil
liams & Walker Company. Mr. N. A.
[Kuhn, the genial proprietor, address
ed us as “Mr. Williams.” Some gen
Itleman, a customer in the store, came
] up to us quite cordially, and address
ing us said, “Mr. Williams, I enjoyed
your show last night, it’s a fine show.
I was very much pleased with it and
Pm delighted with this opportunity
of telling you so.”
I replied, “I am glad you enjoyed
it ,most people do.”
Mr. Kuhn, back of the counter was
chuckling, as I added, “But, MY show
doesn’t draw quite so well. The the
ater beats us when it comes to draw
ing crowds.”
The geniol stranger, evidently for
the first time noticing our clerical
garb, showing much confusion, said,
“Oh, I beg your pardon, sir, I-I-I
didn’t notice you were a minister and
I hope you won’t take offense at my
mistake.”
“Upon the contrary, sir, I feel com
plimented to be taken for such a
handsome and talented man, as my
friend, Bert Williams.”
Thereafter, Mr. Kuhn would fre
quently say banteringly, “Well, Mr.
Williams, how is Mr. Walker today,
and how is your show doing?”
But let us get back to our little pa
(Continued on Page Three)
YOKE OF BONDAGE
LIFTED IN AFRICA
British Decree Frees More Than a
Quarter Million
Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa.—
The yoke of bondage fell from the
shoulders of nearly 250,000 natives
recently. The natives were held by
Africans like themselves and served
in the homes. A British decree,
gained principally through the Chris
tianly efforts of a noble woman, Lady
Simon, place them on a basis of poli
tical equality with their former
masters.
DEATH CLOSES CAREER
OF PROMISING YOUNG
BAPTIST MINISTER
Had Made Many Friend* During His
Brief Residence Here as Pastor
of Mount Moriah Baptist
Church
The Rev. C. B. Burton, who came
to Omaha from Minneapolis only a
few months ago to become pastor of
Mount Moriah Baptist church, Twen
ty-fourth and Ohio streets, died last
Friday morning at the Methodist hos
pital, sincerely mourned, not only by
the members of his own congregation,
but by many outside who had come
in contact with this promising young
minister. While he had been a resi
dent of this city for only about six
months, he had made a most favor
able impression. His death at the
early age of 34 years is sincerely re
gretted.
The funeral was held Tuesday af
ternoon at 2 o’clock from Mount
Moriah Baptist church and was large
ly attended. The invocation was
said by Rev. J. R. Young of Zion Bap
tist church. The sermon was preach
ed by the Rev. J. H. Jackson, with
brief addresses by the Rev. Messrs.
John H. Grant, C. H. Trusty, O. J.
Burckhardt, William Storrs and Z. E.
McGee, and Mrs. Hiram Greenfield.
Resolutions from the Ministers’ Al
liance were read by the Rev. J. C.
Brewer; and from the church offi
cers and auxiliaries by Mr. George
W. Hibbler. The Scripture reading
was by the Rev. F. S. Goodlet and the
obituary by Mr. R. S. Simms. Solos
were sung by Mrs. J. P. Mosley and
the Rev. E. L. Hamlet, and other mu
sical numbers by the choir.
The remains, accompanied by the
widow, his mother, Mrs. Priscilla
Jackson; Mrs. I. M. McIntosh, repre
senting the congregation, and the
Rev. Z. E. McGee, were shipped by
Undertaker J. D. Lewis to Wichita,
Kansas, for interment.
MASS MEETING HELD
TO BID FAREWELL TO
DEPARTING PASTOR
Rev. William Frederick Botts Accepts)
Call to California Church, Clos
ing Eighteen Years at
Zion Baptist
Sunday afternoon Zion Baptist
church was filled by an audience who
came to say farewell to the Rev.
W. F. Botts and his wife, who left
Monday night for Los Angeles, Cal.,
where he becomes pastor of St. Paul’s
Baptist church. Dr. Botts had been
pastor of Zion Baptist church for 18
years.
I The mass meeting or farewell re
ception was under the auspices of the
New Era Baptist association of which
the departing pastor was the organiz
er and its moderator for ten years.
An interesting program of speeches
intermingled with music featured the
affair. The Rev. F. S. Goodlet was
master of ceremonies. Among the
speakers were Mr. H. L. Anderson,
Mr. H. J. Ford, Attorney H. J. Pink
ett, Mrs. M;.mie Griffin, of Lincoln,
head of the women’s department of
the association; Rev. E. H. Hilson,
Rev. D. McQueen, Rev. John H.
Grant, pastor of St. John’s A. M. E.
church, and Rev. John Albert Wil-)
liams, rector of St. Philip’s Episcopal
church.
Mrs. Bailey, on behalf of the
Boosters’ club of St. John’s A. M. E.
church, in a most appropriate speech,
presented Dr. Botts a basket of flow
ers; the Rev. J. H. Jackson, pastor
of Bethel Baptist church, South Side,
PLEAD STRONGLY
FOR PROMOTION
OF RACE GOOD WILL
Dr. Mordecai Johnson, Dr. John Mott
and Sherwood Eddy Prominent
Speakers at Students’
Convention
Detroit, Mich.—Dr. Mordecai John
son, president of Howard university,
made a powerful plea against the
austere treatment of some peoples
under the government of the United
States at the Student Volunteer
Movement convention here. Dr. John
R. Mott, pioneer in the student move
ment in the United States and other
countries pictured the gradual blend
ing of Christian ethics into the world
forces that are making for the unity
and solidarity of the human race.
Dr. Johnson criticised the policy of
the United States in its treatment of
the peoples of Haiti, Nicaragua, and
i other Carribean and Latin-American
l countries.
He affirmed that the 40,000,000
Christian people in the United States
participated in what he called a pol
icy of political and racial discrimin
ation.
“The Christian people of America
exploit the Negroes in our midst, de
priving them of their political fran
jchise and segregating them in an un
brotherly fashion not only in cities
and towns but even in churches. The
church in America is falling far short
of influencing in any dominant way
the social and economic life of our
nation.
“We are witnessing today the grad
ual enfeeblement of Christian enter
prise and this condition will continue
until we produce a church that trans
cends all national and racial bound
aries.”
Colden Rule Among Nations
Dr. Sherwood Eddy of New York
followed with an address that stress
ed the spiritual unity of the human
race.
“The unity of the human race im
plies the mutual interchange of the
best within each national culture.
The potential brotherhood of men re
quires for its ultimate fulfillment not
only the preaching, but the practicing
of mutual respect and of internation
al peace.”
ANSWERS FINAL SUMMONS
HENRY W. WILLIAMS
Henry W. Williams, aged 59, died
at his late residence, 2416 Parker
street early Tuesday morning. Al
though he had been in poor health
for several years he only took to his
bed Sunday.
The deceased, who was the fourth
son of the late Henry Williams and
his wife, Adaline D’Or, was born in
London, Ont., August 2, 1868, and
lived for a number of years* in De
troit, Mich., and Chicago, coming to
Omaha 18 years ago where he has
since resided.
, He is survived by his widow, Jen
jnie; a son, Bert E., of Chicago; a
sister, Mrs. Sarah B. Canty; a broth
|er, Rev. John Albert Williams; three
niceses, Mrs. Alice M. Smith, Dor
othy E., and Catherine A. Williams,
and a nephew, Worthington L. Wil
liams. The funeral will be held Fri
day afternoon from St. Philip’s
church with interment at Forest
Lawn.
on behalf of the New Era Baptist
association, in a fitting address, pre
sented the retiring moderator with a
bejewelled gold medal, and Mrs.
Mamie Griffin presented Mrs. Botts
with a silver tea set and orange
spoons. The recipients expressed
their deep appreciation for the to
kens of esteem. Each speaker in
bringing greetings to Zion's depart
ing pastor and his wife, voiced re
gret at their leaving and wished them
God-speed in their new fields. Sev
eral of the speakers, both clerical
and lay, stressed the importance of a
high standard of life upon the part
of the ministry.
The shoemaker should certainly get
there with both feet.