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