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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1928)
i in ? ff — r* ^ g, = LIF'K s LIF'ps | DO 2 '"rr'" ""'"'to * w •••—«. r ® * The Monitor NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor. GROWING — THANK YOU $2.00 a Year—5 Cents a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Friday, February 10, 1928 Vol. XIII—Number 32 Whole Number 653 'A J__ ' ■- 1,1 1 11 11 -111""* ■ 111 . A 1111 .. . ..■■■ — Omaha Negro Has Long Service Record Clergyman Gives Good Advice to Young People Concerning Marriage The Rev. George B. Kinkead, Rector of Christ Church, Corning, N. Y., Writes Letter to Young People of His Parish Which Should Be Given Wide Circulation and Serious Consideration. There are a great many divorces in this country and back of every di vorce there must of necessity be end less heartaches and much wreckage. Wedding days that were looked for ward to as the beginning of bliss now become days of bitter memories, and joy seems to have fled from life. Cautei Back of Divorce Now there are certain definite causes which lead up to most of these divorces and young men and women should have presented to them thq things which may be at the root of the trouble, so that, if possible, they will not fall blindly into the same costly errors which make a wreck of life and destroy happiness. I am in terested in your happiness and there fore I am calling these things to your attention. You may agree or not, but at least 1 want you to think over these things very carefully They rep resent certain conclusions 1 have come to after nearly 25 years of rr.y priesthood, during which time 1 have been appealed to in innumerable cases of marital disaster. Character li Baric There is a trite old saying that the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton. In the same sense, marriages succeed or fail in great measure according to the characters we have built up in our boyhood and girlhood days, for it is that character that we offer at the altar to our chosen partner. That is our chief gift at the solemn time. Among the many things which go to affect our character, I think that most men are agreed that our re lationship to God has a deeper effect than anything else, if we will let it. Life is not an easy game; it is very difficult and God never intended us to play it alone. Our prayers and our sacraments bring God into our lives and give us an incalculable power for overcoming and mastering our selfish animal natures. Man, living alone without God, is instinctively selfish, and selfishness is a reef more dangerous to marriage than Norman’s woe. When God be comes our partner, little by little self is overcome and we develop a char acter which has regard for the other fellow. We learn to consider his wishes, we learn to give and take, wa learn to assume our proper place in society. Study Family Study carefully the family of the one you think of marrying. You are not just marrying an individual. You are, and you cannot avoid it, marry ing into a family, and while one in dividual in a family may differ from the rest in many ways, basically all members of a family are of one blood and their general traits are a good deal alike. The family habits will most likely creep out in the individ ual who has been brought up in that atmosphere. Family training will very largely persist in each member of a family who has lived a long time at home. In all that I am saying, there arc, of course, exceptions, but exceptions merely prove the rule. Note the phy sical characteristics of the family. It is their blood in part that will enter into the life of your children. It would be the greatest folly for two people to marry if on both sides there was a similar physical weakness. Children might inherit the double weakness of both parents. Many states now go into this matter and re, quire a physical health certificate be fore granting a marriage license, all for the purpose of guaranteeing, so far as is possible, strong bodies to the coming genration. Don’t Marry to Reform Partner Don’t marry to reform or help re form your partner. It sounds very noble and heroic but the chances are 99 to one against success. When two people are approaching or think they I are approaching marriage, they are |doing the best they are capable of, they are putting the best foot for ward. If the faults they are then showing are such as to cause unhap piness afterwards, don’t marry! In the days of courting, each one is ready to do everything for the other. If a man is lazy and lacks ambition to make the most of himself, if a man is shaky in his moral standards, if he is a profane man, if he drinks too much, if he is inconsiderate, there is little likelihood that marriage will im prove them. If a woman is slovenly, extravagant, superficial, unmindful of home, ignores her parents, is quer ulous and complaining, if she con siders not the desires of her fiance.) flee from her as you would from smallpox. Marriage will not likely change these things; they are flaws in the character. Instead of grow ing better, the chances are they will grow worse with the course of time. Love Not Passion Don’t mistake passion for love. This is one of the chiefest causes of future unhappiness. Passion is out to get something it wants; passion will often ask something which is un worthy of the one beloved. On the other hand, love seeks to give all that it has, life itself if need be, to protect and shield and ennoble the object of its love. Love will sacrifice to any extent to raise to greatest heights the object of its adoration. A union founded on passion stands absolute ly no chance for lasting happiness, because passion fades away so quick ly. It is important, therefore that marriages be not hasty, because for a moment a gust of passion may sweep one off his feet, and judgment is quite blinded. Wait a little while till you can take careful note and see whether you are stirred and moved by a passion which asks for mere phy sical satisfaction and is satisfied with the pleasure of the moment, or wheth er it is love which will deny itself much and lay its best at your feet. ChiidleM Families Another thing: childless families are infinitely more likely to end dis astrously than those that bring chil dren. Children tend to compel self forgetfulness on the part of the par ents, and disagreements which other wise would have led to divorce are resolved for the sake of the children. Be sure that your intended partner and you both want children and can have them. Better to know this be fore it is too late. Those who marry and definitely intend never to have children are placing obstacles in the way of a happy marriage which are too great to be overcome by the great majority. Mixed Marriages Then there is religion. Mixed mar riagas offer endless opportunities for trounle, supposing that neither has any religion it is not a mixed mar riage. The spiritual differences be tween individuals go down to the foundation of their lives. Common Tastes People who intend to live together should have very many tastes in com mon. Not all, of course, but the greater number. Otherwise there cannot be much companionship; one will want to do the things the other dislikeB. It is generally most unwise to marry a person whose up-bringing and whose station in life is material ly different from yours. People in different stratas in society are quite fixed in their habits of thought and in their customs and find it very diffi cult to readjust them to suit anoth er’s taste. I hardly need to state that marrying for gain, chiefly money or position, will in most cases lead to the divorce court. Avoid Haate—Secrecy lastly, never be a party to a hasty, a secret, or runaway marriage. Mar riage is not an individual affair un less you are going to live on a deBert island. It is a union in which the community has rightly an important interest. If any marriage cannot stand up under public scrutiny, right there it is admitted that the seeds of discord exist. Parents who have giv en you life, parents who have nur* tured you, brought you up and done everything for you, must not be re warded with the heartbreak wh'fch inevitably comes to them from a marriage to which they are not wel come. No worse way could possibly be chosen for starting a new home than to run away. EDITORIAL Broken families menace the stability of America. With the home endangered no nation is safe, no nation can endure. The American home is endangered, seriously threatened and endangered because of the growing laxity of view concerning marriage which is gaining wider currency than many would believe. Very lax views of marriage are being given not only intellectual hospitality but practical endorsement even by many j who claim to be guided by Christian principles. Proposed “companionate marriages” and like expedients indicate the drift of much of modern thought on this subject. The enormous number of divorces which should appall America shows how lightly marriage is regarded and with what indifference fam ilies are broken asunder and children scattered. It is noteworthy that among those who have recently shock ed the nation with their crimes, one youth charged with mur dering his mother, another his grandmother, another of kid napping and murdering a little girl, and his accused companion in crime in the murder of a druggist were all from broken fam ilies, their fathers and mothers being separated and divorced. This is a serious and significant fact. ' Because marriage is the very foundation upon which rests the social and moral fabric of civilization; the building of a home by one man and one woman, and the rearing of a family within that home, constitutes the beginning and unit of en lightened society, everything possible should be done to make men and women realize the sacredness and importance of this divine institution. Public opinion, apparently lethargic and indifferent, must be aroused to make itself heard in defense of the marriage vow. The evil and menace of divorce must be combated. There is need for right thinking and plain speaking on this very impor tant and vital question. It is because we feel there is need for helping our young people especially to think straight on this vital matter which concerns their happiness that we have published in this issue the letter written by the Rev. George B. Kinkead to the young people of his parish which recently appeared in The Living Church. We urge its thoughtful reading and indulge the hope that it may be helpful to some in avoiding marital pitfalls. CASH AWAITS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS _ j “America’s Tenth Man” Enlists Wide Interest Throughout Country. Still Time to Get in Contest. Atlanta, Ga.—The offer by the Inter-racial commission of a hundred i dollars in prizes to high school stu dents for papers on “America’s Tenth Man” is attracting wide and favorable attention from educators of both races, many of whom have already written the commission that they are introducing the study in their schools. A great many requests for information about the project have been received from individual students, also. The commission has prepared a brief but comprehensive survey of the part Negroes have had in America’s history and the contribution they have made to the country’s development. Iiand hopes to put this pamphlet, entitled “America’s Tenth Man,” into the hands of thousands of white and colored high school students through out the country. The purpose of the project is to give to white students the basis for fuller understanding and apprecia tion of the colored group, and to put before colored pupils a stimulating and inspiring picture of the best their own race has produced. The commis sion, with headquarters at 409 Palm er building, this city, invites corre spondence with any high school prin cipal, teacher, or pupil who may be interested. COLORED GIRL CHOSEN Seattle, Wash. — Miss Mildred Washington, motion picture actress and musical comedy star o? Los An geles has secured a three months’ con tract with Fancho and Marco. She is appearing at all the West Coast theatres on the coast. A band billed as a “Pod of Peppers” supports the Creole beauty. I GOOD WILL GAINING GROUND IN ALABAMA Inter-Racial Leaders Report Progress and Plan Program for Further Improvement of Conditions. Birmingham, Ala.—The best an nual meeting in the history of the inter-racial movement in Alabama has just been held here, with 75 rep resentative leaders of the two races in attendance. Among the evidences of progress reported were increasing attention to inter-racial questions by religious, civic and other groups; a sympathetic press; freedom from lynchings; improvement of education al conditions, with lengthening of terms, increases in salary, and better teacher training and classification; and better prospects for the estab lishment of a hoVne for delinquent girls. in aaaiuon, reports were nearo from a number of counties, indicat ing an encouraging growth of inter racial good will and co-operation. Mo bile, for example, reported that an extensive paving program was being carried out in the Negro areas, that library facilities are soon to be pro vided in connection with the new quarter-million dollar city library now going up, that a fire protection unit has recntly been placed in the Negro section, and that fuller pro vision will be made for Negro pa tients in the tuberculosis sanitarium. From Birmingham came reports of a fine school project and residential subdivision soon to be developed un der the auspices of the Episcopalian Church group, led by Bishop W. G. McDowell. It was stated also that certain irritating situations in Bir mingham had been successfully dealt with. From Montgomery it was reported that efforts are in prog ress for better school facilities, pro, vision of a public park and play ground, and increased accommoda tions in the tuberculosis sanitarium, TUSKEGEE VICE-PRINCIPAL PRAISES N. A. A. C. P. WORK New York, Feb. 3—Enclosing a contribution of $25, the National As sociation for the Advancement of Col ored People has received a letter from R. R. Taylor, vice-principal of Tus kegee Institute, in which he writes of his gift: “The work of your association is so far reaching and important that I do not look on it as an act of generosity but one of duty which every one of us should perform. I am very glad to make this contribution.” FORTY-SEVEN YEARS SPENT IN SERVICE OF OMAHA PIONEER FAMILY | Marshall Jones Holds Unique Record; Has Served Four Generations of the Creighton Family. Marshall Jones, colored house man in the family of the late John D. Creighton, has served in one family during four generations for 47 years. He was first with the Creighton family as an employee of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Creighton and was a figure on the box of the Creighton carriage, driving a beautiful span of ! horses. In 1905, Marshall was taken into the employ of the late Dr. Charles C, ! Allison and Mrs. Allison, the latter | being a daughter of the Creightons. !He served them in their home in win ter and always moved with them to their summer home, Rosemere Lodge, at Calhouti, in summer, and has since remained in Mrs. Allison’s employ. Marshall has looked after the com fort of the various members of the Creighton family and has been the staunch friend of them all as they grew from childhood, and themselves became fathers and mothers and grandfathers and grandmothers. Mr. and Mrs. John D. Creighton had four children, Charles H. Creighton, Mrs.' J. M. Daugherty, Mrs. Allison and Mrs. F. A. Nash. It was Marshall who taught all their children to ride their ponies and who was their play-, mate, and now he is as devoted to the young folks who constitute the fourth generation in the Daugherty, Allison and Creighton families. There are three living generations 'of the Creighton family that he has known and served: Mrs. Daugherty land her five children, John, Fred, Edward, George and Mrs. W. B. Mil lard, jr., and John’s five children; Mrs. Allison and her two children, Charles C. Allison and Mrs. Albert Sibbernsen, both of whom have two children; Mrs. F. A. Nash and her two children, F. A. Nash, jr., and Miss Emma Nash, and Charles C. Creigh ton and his two children, Edward A. Creighton and Miss Ellen Creighton* and the former’s three sons. - 1 BAGNALL FINDS NEGROES GAINING POWER, COURAGE New York, Feb. 3—Returning to this city after a recent tour of Penn sylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin^ Robert W. Bagnall, director of branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peo ple, reports finding increased assur ance among colored people, greater power through their organization, and a determination to make themselves felt as a political voting block. “I talked with many prominent Ne groes and addressed many Negro gatherings,” said Mr. Bagnall. “Everywhere I heard high praise of jthe effectiveness of the N. A. A. C. P. work and program and of its focus ing the power of the Negro group. It is giving colored people courage everywhere to stand for their due. “During the trip I addressed the students of Ohio State university, in the sociology classes of Professor H. A. Miller, where intelligent interest was shown in all phases of race rela tions. “In Milwaukee, I addressed an in ter-racial forum numbering among its attendance, the Episcopal bishop of the diocese, the dean of the cathedral, the health commissioner of Mil waukee and a number of university professors. To these people I point ed out the futility of segregation. I showed that it tended to increase rather than to retard the mixture of races, since it encouraged fair Ne groes to relieve themselves by pass ing into the white race at the rate of 160,000 every ten years.” Juanita, little six -year-old daugh ter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Miller, 2318 North Twenty-second street, who was hit by an automobile while returning to the Lake school last Monday noon, will be able to go back to school Mon day. DISFRANCHISEMENT FIGHT TO BE WAGED IN THIS CONGRESS National Advancement Association Secretary Holds Conference With Massachusetts Congressman TINKHAM PRESS RESOLUTION Negro Citizens Are Urged to Write Their Representatives in Congress in Behalf of Measure New York—James W. Johnson, sec retary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, has conferred with Congressman Geo. Holden Tinkham of Massachusetts on the resolution calling for an investi gation of disfranchisement of the Ne gro in southern states. The resolution is to be vigorously pushed in the present congress and southern legislators given full oppor tunity to explain how the fifteenth amendment of the constitution is be ing nullified at a time when they are demanding more rigorous enforce ment of the eighteenth amendment. On his return from Washington, |Mr. Johnson said: “Colored citizens have the oppor tunity of expressing themselves to their representatives in congress on the resolution which Mr. Tinkham has introduced and will fight for. It is House Resolution No. 34 and pro vides for an investigation by the com mittee on the census of the denial of the vote to Negroes; the report of the committee when made to be used ag a basis for reducing the representa tion of such states as disfranchise [Negroes. “Mr. Tinkham has given me the ; names of the representatives whom it will be well to write to urging fa vorable action on House Resolution No. 34. The names of these men and the states they represent are as fol lows: John Q. Tilson, republican floor leader, New Haven, Conn.; Nicholas Longworth, speaker of the House, Cincinnati, Ohio; republican I steering committee of the house— George P. Darrow, Philadelphia, Pa.; I Edward E. Denison, Marion, 111.; Nicholson J. Sinnott, The Dalles, Ore gon; Allen T. Treadway, Stockbridge, i Mass.; Walter H. Newton, Minneap olis; Homer Hoch, Marion, Kansas; Frederick R. Lehlbach, Newark, N. J.; S. Wallace Dempsey, Lockport, N. Y.; Royal C. Johnson, Aberdeen, S. D. BAPTIST OFFICIAL IS OMAHA VISITOR Secretary Home Mixion Board, The National Baptist Convention, Will Spend Three Weeks in City The Rev. Dr. A. F. Martin of Chi cago, secretary of the Home Mission board of the National Baptist conven-, tion, has arrived in Omaha for a three weeks’ stay. While here he will be the guest of the Rev. E. H. McDon ald. He will conduct a series of meetings next week at Mount Olive Baptist church, Thirtieth and R streets, South Side, Rev. E. H. Me-, Donald, pastor, and will devote thd remainder of his stay here to visiting the various Baptist congregations foij a survey of conditions and in ac quainting them with the work of the Home Mission board. JAMES RANDOLPH PASSES AWAY IN NEW YORK CITY New York City.— (ANP)—James Randolph, younger brother of A. Philip Randolph, died Sunday after noon at his residence, 133rd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. The young er Mr. Randolph had been ill for a short time, his death being unexpect ed. Mr. Randolph was a student at Columbia university and would have graduated in June. Mrs. Emma Welch, Mrs. Lenora Branch and Mrs. L. Siedlinger are three ne wsubscribers to The Moni tor this week. Thanks.