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About The voice. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1946-195? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 1950)
The kt. Rev. D. Ormonde Walker, Presiding Bishop George Jones, President Box 281 OSKALOOSA, KANSAS Herbert L. Dudley, President Connectional Laymen's League Detroit, Michigan Conference Presidents Puget Sound Conference Mrs. Georgia Marshall, V. P. California Conference 4210 Market Street Oakland. Calif C. A. Stafford Southern California 1594 E. 45 Street l^os Angeles 11, Calif. A L. Mitchell Colorado Conference 319 N. 7th Street Albuquerque, N. M. Dr. J. Louis Ransom Kansas Conference 2251 Topeka Blvd. Topeka, Kansas J. J. Parks Nebraska Conf. 2044 N. 7th Street Kansas City, Kas. Joseph T. Anscei North Missouri Conf. 106 South Wintz Macon, Missouri Clarence E. Owens Southwest Missouri Conf 2104 E. 27th Street Kansas City, Mo. A L. Hammons Missouri Conference 409 Lafayette Street Jefferson City, Moj Send all news releases to your conference president by the 20th of each month. Active Leaders in Lay Activities Woods Puget Sound Conference John A. Woods, representative ol the Puget Sound Conference, joined Bet hel A.M.E. church, Yakima, Wash ington in 1927. He was 1 a y delegate to the general c o n ference in Kan sas City. He has been trus tee and is now a steward and district steward in his church. Mr. Woods is serving his 40th year as an employee of the Na tional Bank of Commerce in Ya kima. Phillips California Conference George L. W. Phillips, Redlands, Calif., member of the executive comm ittee of the 5th district lay organiza tion has served 25 years in A.M.E. church es in Boston, Mass., Allen Chapel, Provi dence, R. I., and 10 years in Riverside, Cali fornia. He is a __ .... Mason, Eastern r' 1 ,ps Star, Odd Fellow and past Exalted Ruler of I.B.P.O.E. of W. Joseph T. Ancell, Jr. Joseph T. Ancell, Jr., president of the North Missouri Conference Laymen’s League, was born in Macon, Mo., where he received his elementary schooling. He completed his high school work at West ern College in Macon and graduated from Western Uni versity, Quin daro, Kas., in 1921. Mr. An -> cell is a mem ber of Bethel __ . „ _ A.M.E church Mr. Ancell, Jr. . in Macon where he serves as trustee, stew ard and chairman of Ways and Means Committee. He is a vet eran of World War I and is mar ried to the former Alma Hortense McElroy. A Consecrated Progressive Leader BY COLEY W. STAFFORD PRES. SO. CALIF. CON. L. L. The well thought out and pro gressive legislation program out lined by our beloved leader, has served as a giant generator to in spire the Laymen of the Southern California Conference and the en tire Fifth Episcopal district. Prob ably the one item that appeals to laity and clergy alike more than any other single proposal in the entire history of our great church is, his suggestion that our pension department be put on a actuarial basis' to the end that the purpose of this progressive legislation may ever rebound to the sole benefit of those for whom it was intended. Fifth District Laymen Endorse Plan At the recent meeting of the Fifth district Laymen’s meeting at Kansas City, Kansas, the league passed resolutions recommending ATTORNEY H. L. DUDLEY Connectional President Laymen’s League, A. M. E. Church that the pension department be placed under the Insurance Com missioner of the State in which the department is located. To me no sight is more tragic than that of an indigent citizen who have given his useful life to the ministry of Christ and at the very sun set of life find himself ill clothed, ill fed and ill housed. Such legislation should be en acted at the 1952 General Con ference without a desenting vote. This will encourage large contri butions by the Laymen and many ministers will contribut to the fund thereby increasing their an nual income upon retirement. Leavenworth, Kas. Laymen Report The Laymen’s League of Bethel A.M.E. church met Sunday, July 7 at 3 p. m. Mr. Leonard Me Clanahan, vice president of the local organization presided. The following program was rendered: Solo by Mrs. Louis La Flore, address by Mrs. Georgia Marshall, district vice president of the Fifth Episcopal District, Oakland, Calif. Reports of the Annual Laymen’s conference were given by delegates Mrs. Sadie J. Anderson and Prof. E. M. Lawson. A floral presentation was made by Mrs. Leona Davis to the guest speaker. The following commit tees were appointed by president, Mr. Richard W. Warren: Christian Stewardship, Mrs. Lizette Alexan der; New Eras of Service, Mrs. Alice Hester and Mrs. Leona Da vis; Church and Ministerial Sup port, Mrs. Bertha G. Taylor; Training for Leadership, Prof. E. M. Law'son; Finance Commit tee, Mrs. Sadie J. Anderson; j Laymen’s Friend j BISHOP WALKER The Rt. Rev. D. Ormonde Walker, presiding bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District who opened his first series of annual conferences Wednesday morning, Aug. 9, in Tacoma, Wash., has been affectionately known as the 'laymen’s friend.’ He is credited with introducing more legislation favoring the laymen than any other bishop. A series of articles written by Bishop Walker, of interest to laymen, will appear in The Voice. Valiant Hearted Soldiers Needed How much more is the church’s need for strong men and women than our nation’s need for the same? The Scripture says “many are called, but few are chosen.” When our Bishop Walker called the Laymen of the 5th district to Kansas City, Kansas to organize, some heard and they answered. Where there is a will there is a way. I am grateful to members and friends of 8th and Towne who supported efforts to go. We were so inspired, I do believe our dele gations will be doubled in Denver, Colo., in 1951. The California Con ference was the greatest distance away, and yet had the largest delegation under our able presi dent, Coley W. Stafford. At the close of the meeting, some of us motored to beautiful Wilberforce University to attend their 97th commencement exer cises. I was, and am still, thrilled over the beautiful buildings, es pecially our new $200,000 build ing, Payne Seminary. Dr. J. H. Lewis is the Dean. As I sat in the beautiful auditorium, I learned it was decorated by our matchless President Dr. Charles L. Hill, and a few students after school hours, economizing and sacrificing for the benefit of the school. Beauti ful commencement, it was both solemn and brilliant. Board of Trustees meeting was open to all. The school is located in a very nice residential neighborhood. I visited Bishop and Mrs. Ransom’s beautiful home where refresh ments were served. Bishop and Mrs. Walker entertained the 5th district visitors with a delicious fried chicken and ham dinner. We all certainly enjoyed it and were made to feel at home. I hope others will visit Wilberforce; it re minds me of Beverly Hills, Cali fornia. Pray, w«rrk and talk Wilber force. Mrs. Camilla Leftridge Los Angeles, California Membership, Mrs. Leonard Mc Clanahan and Mr. Staff Johnson; Program, Mrs. Alice Hester and Miss Leona M. Davis. The President Speaks Message Gets Program Under Way This is my first official writing since the reorganization of the district. 1 have quite a few things to talk about. 1 am numbering them by subjects as follows: First—Our Paper. It will play an important part in the organi zation of every church in our dis trict. See that each church is contacted and every member in that church. Co-operation and co-ordination will strengthen the organization. Second—Constitution and By Laws. Please write the secretary, Mr. Henry H. Glass, 2106 E. 27th street, Kansas City, Mo. They are fifteen cents (15c) a copy. Third—Appointments. I have appointed a three member ad visory Board: P. G. Porter, Olathe, Kas., Mrs. M. I. Smith, Denver, Colo., and H. H Petti grew, Los Angeles. Fourth—Executive committee meetings. I would like to have a meeting of the executive com- ! mittee one day prior to the meet ing of the Bishops and Connee tional Council next February, 1951 at Los Angeles, Calif. Filth—Youth. I am interested in getting the youth active and participating more fully. Plans will be released in the near fu ture. Please see that your confer ence is fully informed on every suggestion. If any conference president delays or fails to re spond it will hurt the program. Your Co-worker George Jones, President. Aggressive Leadersh ip IT ill Strengthen Church In praising the recent action of the Bishops Council in the Mor ris Brown situation, Abram L. maillii ICT*—WWFTi i IMlWIPI Tpr igai GEORGE JONES George Jones, president oi the Fifth District Laymen’s League, was born on a farm near Oska loosa, Kas., and attended the schools there. Mr. Jones served as farm extension agent for the Kansas Vocation school at Topeka for two years. He has been Lay delegate to the General Conferences four terms and is active in Lay pro grams. Simpson, Washington, D. C., said in a recent communique that the ! same thing could be done by leg islation with regards to all activi ties in an Episcopal district. Mr. Simpson said that laymen should be considering legislation to be perfected at the next meeting of important facts. Aggressive leadership is needed in this entire fight, he stated. He spoke of the inspiration, new hope and increasing pride which laymen throughout the connection are showing as a result of in creased lay activities. Voice of the Laymen DR. J. LOUIS RANSOM, President Kansas Conference Laymen’s Organization The Lay group of the African Methodist Episcopal church num bering one million strong desire to speak: Hear the Voice of the People! We do not like the escapade shaping up at Morris Brown col lege. Repercussions of church strife in Georgia, a stronghold of African Methodism, is being felt throughout the entire connection and presents an embarrassing pic ture for us in the eyes of the public. The Bishops of the A.M.E. church as Stewards of the “Church of Allen” must place the Cause of the Church before the interest or future of anyone who is in volved in the controversy at Mor ris Brown college. Justice and fair play are the pertinent ques tions to answer. Any compromise with wrong will prove to be a subversive influence in our Church. This issue at Morris Brown college is a challenge to the Clergy and Laity of Georgia. In this case we see the authority of the Bishops’ Council trans cending the authority of the pre siding Bishop of the Episcopal district and the duly elected trus tees of the school. Under the organic laws of Methodism this authority prevails but if such au thority is arbitrarily exercised in the wrong directions, it will de- j stroy the moral and spiritual structure of the A.M.E. church. Morris Brown college as a Church school is linked with the destiny of Wilber force, Paul Quinn, Edward Waters and other A.M.E. church institutions. Any dishonesty in a public trust at any of these institutions is not con fined to that institution alone but the evil influence becomes infil trated in the Church life through out the entire Connection and the Educational areas of Wilber force and other schools will be alert and apprehensive. The Organized groups of the laity of the A.M.E. church ar6 loyal to the Church and its of ficials in office of public trust, but we are not immuned to the spirit of revolt when provoked by un-Christian practices of dishon esty in high places, miscarriage of justice and the abuse of power. The Lay Organization of the Fifth Episcopal District are loyal to Bishop Walker and stand ready to carry out any assignment he gives us as part of his admin istrative policy. Bishop D. Or monde Walker and Bishop John A. Gregg, my Episcopal ideal leader, are two of the most lib eral and fair-minded leaders we have ever had in the Fifth Dis trict. Lay groups in the Fifth District will yet prove to the General Church the value of lay organizations in lay Christian leadership.
