the LAYMEN’S voice
VOL. 1. NO. 1 ~ JULY. 1951 ~ FKICE 10c
. .
CONFERENCE EDITION
/
Address Theme
Church Papers
Dr. Alfred Farrell, associate
professor of English at Lincoln
University, will be one of the
principal speakers at the Second
Annual Laymen’s Convention of
the Fifth Episcopal District of the
A. M. E. Church in St. Louis July
31 through August 4. At the meet
ing last year Dr. Farrell substi
tuted for Dr. Charles Hill, presi
dent of Wilberforce University,
and on the strength of the im
pression that he made, he was
invited this year to speak in his
own right. He will speak on the
_PR. FARRELL_
importance of church papers in
the spread of African Methodism.
Dr. Farrell is president of the
Laymen’s League of Quinn Chapel
A. M. E. Church of Jefferson City,
Missouri, one of the most active
of the lay groups in the Missouri
Conference. He is also active in
other church activities, particu
larly the Men’s Club and the
Building Committee, and in com
munity affairs. He is president
of the Jefferson City branch of
the N.A.A.C.P. and first vice pres
ident of the Missouri State Con
ference of Branches.
An honor graduate of Lincoln
University, Pennsylvania, Dr.
Farrell holds the M.A. and Ph.D.
degrees from Ohio State Univer
sity, and has been a member of
the Lincoln (Mo.) faculty since
1948.
Report on Operation
Of AME Pension Board
NEW YORK—Over two thou
sand ministers, widows, and or
phans receive regular stipends
from the Pension Department of
the African Methodist Episcopal
Church. For the year 1950-51 the
total amount paid out for such
grants was $191,490. All funds
were disbursed through the of
fice of the Pension Department.
Bishop D. Ward Nichols of New
York is president of the board of
governors. The Rev. Jesse L.
Beard of Nashville, Tenn., is sec
retary-treasurer.
Established in 1946, the Pen
sion Department of the A.M.E.
Church is subsidized through col
lections from the sixteen Episco
pay Districts of the church with
3lVz per cent of all-dollar monies
collected at annual conferences
earmarked for pensions. Income
for this fiscal period of $215,
431.94, representing an increase
of over $3,000 over the previous
period.
A.M.E. .Laymen Meet in St. Louis July 30-August 4
ATTY. DUDLEY
GEORGE JONE8
BISHOP WALKER
Notice Extraordinary!!!
The Connectional Laymen’s Or
ganization of the African Method
ist Episcopal Church will hold its
biennial meeting in St. Louis, Mis
souri, on August 2nd, 3rd and
4th, 1941 at St. Paul A. M. E.
Church Leffingwell Avenue and
Lawton Boulevard, St. Louis 3,
[ Missouri.
All Episcopal Districts, Confer
ences and local Lay Organizations
are specially urged to send as
many delegates as possible to at
tend this important and epochal
meeting which will convene on the
dates and place aforementioned.
All A. M. E. Laymen represent
ing local churches and societies
are urged to send as many repre
sentatives as possible. Outstanding;
speakers, panel discussion and j
formative workshops will be somej
South American
Film Shown
The ’51 session of the Women’s
Missionary Society beheld the
South American film which was
taken by Dr. H. Thomas Primm,
host Pastor of the First Quadren
nial Convention, while attending
the series of annual conferences
of the Sixteenth Episcopal Dis
trict. Dr. Primm, it seems, will be
sailing for Oxford, London, around
July 28th to attend the Ecumeni
cal conference where he is a 1951
Delegate.
New Day for Youth
In Mrs, Alma Polk’s second
Quadrennial report which was
given in Clabom Temple on July
10, 1951, it was brought out that
young people the connection over
from recent statistical reports are
progressing spiritually, mentally,
and morally. According to Mrs.
Polk’s report, a New Day is being
realized in African Methodism as
it regards the Y.P.D. Young peo
ple, says Mrs. Polk, “are visual
aids.” To the senior society we
are sending new blood. Mrs. Polk
was lauded by a ^congenial audi
ence.
, « t > ^________
Feeling does not become strong
er in the religious life by waiting,
but by using it.—H. W. Beecher.
Feeling hearts, touch them but
rightly, pour a thousand melodies
unheard before.—Rogers.
of the chief features of this meet
ing.
The official meeting will begin'
promptly on Thursday morning,'
August 2, 1951, Consequently, all1
those who are planning attending
are urged and advised to arrive
in St. Louis in time to register
and receive their credentials prior
to this time. Registration fees will
be $1.00 per delegate or represen
tative. Episcopal District Lay Or
ganizations are expected to report
'their full assessment. Those plan
ning to attend should contact At
torney Freeman L. Martin, Chair
man of Arrangements, 5245 Cates
Avenue, St. Louis 8, Missouri.
It is urgently hoped that the
Laymen throughout the connec
tion will avail themselves of the,
opportunity to attend this last,
meeting of our Connectional Lay(
Organization prior to the General
Conference in 1952. Please ad
dress all communications to At
torney Freeman L. Martin or to
me.
Herbert L. Dudley,
Connectional President.
Laymen s
1 Task I
g It’s the Church’s special g
g function 3
B To uphold the finer things |y
ffl To teach the way of living g!
K From which all that’s noble 3
re springs.
Rj “But the minister can’t do it re
g Single-handed and alone
re For the laymen of the pi;
3 country Dj|
g Are the church’s corner- Rj'
re stones. B j
Rj “When you see a church g
B that’s empty re
re Though its doors are open B
re wide Rj
3 It’s not the church that’s K
g dying ^ B
re It’s the laymen who have g
B died. K
g “For it’s not by song or ser- re
g mon
B That the church’s work is Dj
re done re
g It’s ^the laymen of the 3
Rj country g
3 Who, for God must carry K
on.**
Highlights of
Women’s Meet
l
Mrs. Anne E. Health, president,
and Mrs. Alma A. Polk, director
of Young People’s activities, were
re-elected by acclamation follow -
jing their reports presented to the
[second quadrennial sessions of the
!AME Women’s Missionary society
I held in Memphis, Tenn., July
7-12.
Many inspiring sermons and ad
dresses were delivered during the
meeting by leading church men
and women of the nation.
Dr. Martha Keyes, chaplain of
the organization did a magnificant
job in conducting a series of wor
ship programs of great inspiration
to the delegates.
The highlight of the session was
the Sunday services that filled
Clayborn Temple to its capacity.
Governor Gordon W. Browning
thrilled the audience with his;
words of welcome on Tuesday ■
evening.
Young people’s activities were
religious, yet included active
phases that included a humani
tarian touch to their work.
They visited hospitals, went on'
sightseeing trips, conducted pag
eants and fashion shows and pub-1
lished Flash, a daily news journal
of the session’s activities.
The pageant presented by the^
conference branches under the di
rection of Mrs. Ann Davis was
most unique.
OFFICERS ELECTED
Mrs. Anne E. Health, president;
Mrs. Hazel Gomez, Tenth Dis
trict, first vice president; Mrs.
Flossie K. Bailey, Fourth District,
second vice; Mrs. C. E. Bennett,
Sixth District, third vice; Mrs.
A. B. Bemem, Thirteenth District,
fourth vice; Mrs. Minnie L. Mc
Eaddy, Second District, fifth vice;
Mrs. Cora Black, Seventh Dis
trict, sixth vice; Mrs. Cleo Love,
Fifth District, seventh vice; Mrs.
Romayne A. Portlock, First Dis
trict, eighth vice; Mrs. Bessie R.
Walker, Ninth District, ninth
vice; Mrs. Irene Shumpert,
Twelfth District, tenth vice; Mrs.
L. C. Jefferson, Eighth District,
eleventh vice; Mrs. Emma John
son, Third District, twelfth vice;
Mrs. Jane Epperson, Eleventh
District, thirteenth vice; Mrs.
F. R. Trouth, Sixteenth District,
fourteenth vice; Mrs. Nora W.
(Continued on P. 4, Col. 2)
Arrangements are nearing com
pletion for the 5th A.M.E. Dis
trict Laymen meeting which will
open Monday, July 30* and con
tinue through Saturday, August 4.
The sessions will be opened Mon
day with a dinner to be given at
St. Paul A.M.E. church by George
“Farmer” Jones of Oskaloosa,
Kas. president of 5th district lay
organization.
District officers and elected lay
delegates to the A.M.E. general
conference in Chicago, 111., in 1952
will be guests.
The meetings will be officially
opened on Tuesday, July 31, at 10
a.m. by Bishop D. Ormonde
Walker of the 5th district after
which district laymen will take
over the meetings.
I This will be the last assembling
! of laymen in this area before the
general conference next year.
President Jones stated last week
that he hoped for great accom
plishments from the meetings.
He cited the work done by lay
men in other districts and added
it would be a spur to those of
his own area.
The prominent churchman
pointed out that the 5th district
lay organization would take Doug
lass hospital as its project since
it was within the boundaries.
I “In my report my main recom
mendation will be that laymen
turn their attention to the strug
1 gling Douglass hospital and help
it in the name of the laymen of
the 5th district,” stated Mr. Jones
j in an interview, “and in addi
I tion we are stressing race busi
ness in order to have a more se
, cure layman, thus a more secure
j church. I have asked several suc
cessful business firms to be pres
ent on Wednesday, August 1, and
give a history of their beginnings.
I feel it will inspire others to
think of a business career.”
Attorney Freeman L. Martin,
president of the Missouri Confer
ence of Laymen, has informed
President Jones that a welcome
program has been arranged for
Tuesday night, July 31, and will
have some of the best talent from
the Missouri laymen’s group. The
youth program will be held on
Wednesday, August 1.
The district gathering will close
Wednesday night. On Thursday
morning the connectional lay
(Continued on P. 3, Col 2)
Wilberforce Uni
Has an ROTC Unit
BY CHARLES L. HILL
President
Willberforce university is bne of
the few church-related colleges
that has an ROTC unit. We take
pride in the fact that our unit is
the oldest among Negro colleges
in America and is staffed by
highly efficient military personnel.
I wish that you would make a
special appeal to the young men
in your community and in your
parish to the effect that enroll
ment in our ROTC unit is tanta
mount to deferment for some
time. Young men who elect to
come to Wilberforce university
will have an opportunity to pur
sue their college work uninter
rupted and will be commissioned
as Second Lieutenants in the Re
serve Corps.
