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About The voice. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1946-195? | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1950)
OFFICIAL N*;WS of the Fifth Episcopal District { of the \ AFRICAN METHODIST CHURCH Kubie W . Shakespeare, Managing h.tiitor > Presidents Paragraphs To the Members of the Execu tive Board of the 5th Episcopal District Laymen’s League, Greet ings: In keepipg with our By Laws and Constitution which says the Board shall meet prior to the an nual lay session, I am calling a meeting of the Board, February 19, 1951 at Los Angeles, California. The annual meeting of the Dis trict Laymen’s League will meet in Denver July 31 and August 1. Plans are already under way. It is not too early for you to place these notes on your agenda. Also in Denver the Connectional lay meeting will follow the Dis trict meeting. The dates are Au gust 2-3-4. These are all impor tant meetings and we shall expect a large delegation. You will re ceive additional information from Henry Glass, secretary and my self from time to time. Let us review the Object and Purpose of the Laymen’s League: To promote the spread of per sonal evangelism. To provide the training in Christian stewardship. To open new areas of service. To increase the circulation of church papers. To provide better support for the churches and the ministers. To provide for the orderly training of Laymen for effective service and to promote the fellow ship of Laymen throughout the Connection. To foster a systematic and reg ular study of the discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to the end that greater knowledge and information may be disseminated among the entire Laity, and with the further pur pose of encouraging Laymen to participate more largely in the general functioning and supervi sion of the A. M. E. Church. Your President, GEORGE JONES. Colorado Conf. An Appeal To Laymen The laymen of the church have had a difficult problem for the past twenty years or more in seeking equal representation. Down thru the years and on they have-been and are the main sup port of the church both financial and spiritual. Since they occupy such a unique position in the welfare of the church, I see no reason why laws and regulations protecting their interest should not be en acted for the good of all con cerned. As our discipline now stands most of the laws governing the church stands greatly in favor of the ministers; and to date not many of them are in favor of a change. Many of the laymen of the local churches are not aware of these laws; and until they are aroused we will be unable to g et any change. To our meeting of the Electoral College thruout the dis trict it is important that we send our best prepared representatives %o as to elect strong men and women as delegates to our gen eral conference in ’52. Each conference sending its best and every district the same will bring together a wonderful Lay Executive Board Meeting Spurred by the interest mani fested at our recent annual con ference, President Stafford lost no time in calling a board meeting to plan the years work. Commit tees were appointed to make preparation for the winter session of the connectional lay ccuncil. Mr. John R. Wright, of Pasadena, was appointed to head the Lay educational staff. Brother Wright is an able, conscientious chairman, possessed of high ideals, his selec tion was an ideal one. We were honored with the presence of Mr. Henry Glass, of Kansas City, Dis trict Secretary, who was called to our city on the passing of his only uncle. Mr. Glass brought greetings from the South-west Missouri conference and promised a more co-ordinated dissemination of suggestions fi’om the district office. Mr. Lawrence V. Clem, of 2nd church, took his seat as a member of the executive board and made some very fine and helpful remarks. 8th & Towne Church L. A. It was a good arousing Meth odist Conference, but like all other good Methodists we are getting adjusted at 1st A.M.E., 8th and Towne Church with our newly appointed minister and wife, Rev. and Mrs. Alvio Shaw, who succeeded Rev. and Mrs. Frederick Jordan who pastored 10 years. Rev. Shaw is a native son of Durate, California. At the beginning of his ministry he was left with the responsibility of car ing for a sister and brother while working nights and going to school days. We saw him grow as he made his way through the wilder ness. The conference sent him to Bishop William School of religion in Kansas and he came back and went to U.S.C. He was also trained by that master teacher, J. B. St. Felix Isaacs, and yet when Bishop Walker presented him to us as our new Pastor, we questioned the Bishop because he wasn’t from afar off and was con cerned as the people were about Jesus, a Nazarine. Every sermon seems to hit the mark. Last Sunday wras “I can’t do Nothing Without him W'ho sent me.” Now you know what happens when the gospel is preached with power unto salvation. It proves it self to be the fixer. Amen. Is there any good thing that could come out of Durate? Yes, come and hear! Camilla Leftfldice, Conference reporler. group of Christian workers whose hearts and minds are keyed up for the best interest of the church, will go a long way in eradicating the existing evils. Until we can get down to real Christian action and dealing, di vesting ourselves of these hin drances, our going will be hap hazard and difficult. Waste will be at the top of our action. In this great era of power and advancement in the secular and religious world, can not the AME church seize the proper forces that will inaugurate a new church that will take its former stand oi Christian integrity, fair play and leadership? This is the laymen’s hope and objective. A. L. MITCHELL, Pres. Colo Conference League. So. Calif. Conf. Laymen’s League Has A nniversa ry The Laymen’s League of Sec ond Church, Los Angeles, Cali fornia observed its 1st anniver sary November 19, 1950. The League was re-organized in the home of our pastor, Rev. Jessie L. Glover one year ago, with Brother M. E. Webb as president and 14 members. The League has moved steadily on ward and new members have been added. The pastor gave us the whole day for our anniver sary, and outstanding speakers from the Southern California area were secured. Music was fur nished by the City Laymen’s League. The anniversary was led off to aid the church as a whole in Re ligious Education, especially the youth as the Youth of today will be our Leaders of Tomorrow. Committees were set up for the following subjects; Evangelism, Praise Service, Polity, Steward ship, and Vital Life. We hope to build a Stalwart and Progressive league of which Second Church will be proud. Brother M. E. Webb, president. Mrs. Virginia Alexander, re porter. I _ So. Calif. Conf. At the close of the Saturday afternoon session Bishop Walker called District Vice-President, Mrs. Georgia Marshall pf Oakland and Conference President Mr. Coley W. Stafford of Los Angeles, to the platform to conduct the Laymen’s Conference. President Stafford with a short statement regarding the historic significance of the occasion, called on Mrs. Lucy Minor, Lay Chaplain of the Fifth District, and Mrs. Pinkie Wilson, Lay Chaplain of the Con ference to conduct devotional. Mrs. Mabel Norman, lay con ference secretary called the roll. It was a thrill to watch the large number of league presidents mak ing reports. Probably the highlight of the lay session was the dramatic de scription of the struggle and sac rifice made by President Staf ford and assistants painted by that lay preacher, Mr. Benjamin W. Inghram, of San Bernardino. He told of trips requiring all night and all day driving carrying the torch of Jesus to the little mission charges of the desert, during which $234 was raised and turned to the congregation to help with their conference claim. All con ference officers were re-elected. The Laymen’s Voice, a news paper carrying church news of particular interest to laymen, was well received at the conference. We urge all laymen to the voice. I trust as we closed our first Lay Annual Conference we have been made aware of the larger oj3por tunity accorded us to render a greater service to God and man. Let us ever remember the lines “A charge to keep I have a God to glorify.” —By Camilla Leftridge, Los Angeles, Calif. District Raises $150,000 St. Louis, Missouri MR. J. E. BELL Missouri Conference The layman’s league was re organized Sunday morning of April 16th, 1950 after an an nouncement was made by Rev. M. R. Dixon Jr., our beloved pastor. The meeting was called to order by Mr. J. B. Bell who stated its objects and purpose. We embraced, adopted and heartily approved the objectives as set out in the 1948 edition of the A.M.E. discipline under the | title “Laymen’s League.” The following officers were elected: Mr. | J. E. Bell, president; Mr*. Evelyn Wilson, vice pres dent; Mrs. Vi\ian L. Allen, *ee retary; Mrs. Dorothy Walker, assistant secretary; Mr. J. D. Rodgers, treasurer; Mr. Joseph Clifford, chaplin; Mrs. Beatrice Atkins, chairman of ways and means com mittee and Mr. Johnnie Smith, chairman j of program committee. Mr. J. E. Bell, a busy layman, | joined St. Paul AME church in I 1923 during the pastorage of Rev. C. A. Williams. He was ap pointed class leader in 1925 by the Rt. Rev. Noah W. Williams who'was then the pastor. In 1933 he was elected president of the Usher Board under Rev. Joseph Gomez, who in 1948 was elected one of the Bishops of the AME j church. Mr. Bell is serving his 25th., consecutive year as a class leader and he is also a steward and a teacher in the Sunday School, Young People’s Depart ment. He was a delegate to the last General Conference. Mr. Bell is Past Master of Trinity Lodge No. 10 F. and A.M. Prince Hall Affiliation and Thirty-second Degree mason. He | is also a member of A.E.A. order Nobels Mystic Shrine affiliation. Nebraska Conference Elects Officers In an annual meeting held at Leavenworth, Kansas all officers of the Nebraska Laymen’s organ ization were returned to office as follows: Mr. J. J. Parks, president, Kansas City, Kansas; Mr. Cor nelius Morgan, vice president, Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Edna Bell, secretary, Fairview, Kansas; Mr. George Camper, treasurer, Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Gladys Jackson, assistant secretary, Atchinson, Kansas; Mrg. Mabel Banks, chap lain, Olathe, Kansas; Mrs. Rubie Shakespeare, publicity director, Lincoln, Nebraska. In the Southern Recorder watch for President Dudley’s answer to Dr. Townsend’s criticism of the lay movement. Bishop Walker Leads To Unexcelled Goals Too much praise cannot be given to the accomplishments of Bishop D. Ormonde Walker as he seems to extend the borders of African Methodism in the 5th Episcopal District. More than fifteen churches have been bought during the quadrennial. Douglas Hospital, located in Kansas City, Kansas, ranks with the best in the nation and receives a contri bution from the District of $16, 000 annually. Forty thousand dol lars is sent annually to Wilber force University from the 5th Dis trict, and $15,000 is sent to Payne Seminary. Beginning this year mission preachers will be paid stipends quarterly, and Presiding Elders who are under pqid have received yearly increases. When the 96th Annual session of the Missouri Conference closed at Wayman AME Church, St. Louis, Oct., 29th with the Rev. L. A. Hayes host-pastor, it marked the close of the 1950 annual con ference sessions for the 5th Dis* trict. The wholehearted support of the ministers and laymen who had set new landmarks in the progress of the church was evident. The conferences were largely attended by visitors, including connectional officers and out standing aspirants for Episcopal honors at the next General Con ference. N. M. Conf. A mi uul Meeting The Layman’s League of the North Missouri Conference met at Moberly, Mo., Saturday October 14th with the district president Joseph T. Ancell, presiding. The meeting was opened by singing Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross after which the Lord’s Prayer was recited in unison. Song “What A Friend we have In Jesus” lead by the Rev. J. H. Ward, Miss Carolyn January at the piano. President Joseph T. Ancell opened the meeting with some very timely remarks giving en couragement to the members, j Fifth District President, Mr. j George Jones was presented and he gave some interesting remarks stating that all of the Conference Presidents of the District will meet at Denver, Colorado, July 31 through August 1st 1951. The Connectional meeting will also meet at that time. Brief remarks were made by the follow ing persons; The Rev. L. S. Goolsby, Mrs. Rosa Ramsey, Mrs. Nettle Aldridge, The Rev. H. W. Bletson, Mrs. Emma Kstlll, Mrs. Ada Bell, The Rev. T. J. Solis Mrs. Leila Allen. The ministers or their wives present were given Constitution and By-Laws of the Laymen’s League as a gift from the presi dent. District President Mr. George Jones held the election of officers and Presiding Elder J. L. Owens of the Columbia-Hannibal Dis trict installed the following of . ficers: Joseph T. Ancell, Macon, Mo., presi dent; Oscar L. Smith, St. Joseph, Mo., 1st vice president; Eugene Washington, St. Joseph, Mo., 2nd vice president; Virgil Burgess, Moberly, Mo,, secretary; Ada Bell, St. Joseph, Mo., ass’t. secretary; Mrs. Mabel Holt, Mexico, Mo., chaplain, and Howard Hoffman, Mexico, Mo., treas urer. v 1 -- ■ ■ 1 The goal this year is to have a Laymen’s League in each church 1 throughout the district. An Active Lay Organization In Every Church
