The voice. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1946-195?, January 31, 1952, THE LAYMEN'S VOICE, Page 5, Image 5

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    The President Speaks
To the Fifth Episcopal District
Conference Presidents, Officers,
Members and Lay Friends: Greet
ings.
Let us this new year rejoice in
the fact that our friend Bishop D.
Ormonde Walker has once more
found favor with that physical
hidden power he ofttimes speaks
about and we will have him at
Chicago, strong in body and mind
and strong for our cause. Let us
continue to pray.
My lay co-workers, I want to
thank all who in any way have co
operated with this office this past
year and beg for helpful consider
ation in the present year for a
bigger lay-conscious service for
God and the church. I want to
list a few things I think we should
accomplish this year.
1. Dress Up on Laymanship.
That is, to be more layman con
scious.
2. Laymen’s Day. I hope the
conference presidents insist on
several laymen’s days throughout
their conferences.
3. Cooperating Laymen. We are
ttife church. Let us this year estab
lish lay cooperation with the
bench, pulpit, and ourselves so as
td ever preserve the church.
4. Our Publication, The Lay
men’s Voice. It is our number one
project. Mrs Rubie Shakespeare,
our efficient editor, has given us
a plan as follows: one hundred
subscribers for each conference.
This plan is workable, plain and
easy to perform. I hope this year
we will put our paper in a class
with other organizations’ publica
tions (with less membership than
ours) that have proved so helpful
to their cause that every house
hold member is an essential sub
scriber. Please think on this.
•V District Support. We are far
apart on this side of the lay pro
gram. I am sure many were em
barrassed, along with myself, at
our St. Louis meeting when we
had just about one-half enough
funds to finance our first annual
get together I hope to get from
the Bishop helpful advice, and
send it on to you, in this small
matter. I cal] it small because I
have faith in you.
6. Questions for My Informa
tion. Shall we have a meeting in
1952? Shall we call an executive
board together in 1952? Shall we
appoint a treasurer or use our
secretary as financial secretary?
7. Douglass Hospital. I am sure
we all can feel a little disap
pointed in our effort, but as it was
immediately before the holidays,
we can feel we accomplished
something and it was worth the
effort. I hope we can find the rea
son to make this an annual affair
with the laymen of the district.
In conclusion, I say for myself,
as president of the district, I ex
pect to be more alert and give
more time to the office work this
year. May 1 expect a better year’s
work from my conference presi
dents who are the only persons
responsible for much of our suc
cess. I call your attention to this
stubborn fact: everything I have
listed to do this year depends on
your activity. You can depend on
immediate cooperation from my
office. I will be glad to have a
letter from any layman of the
district who has some suggestion
to make for the good of the or
ganization.
Yours for the church,
George Jones,
District Lay President
So. Calif. Laymen Ready For Action
To the Lay Delegates elect in
the 5th Episcopal Dist.
To the President, Laymen’s
League 5th Episcopal Dist.
To the Conference Presidents of
the 5th Dist.
To the Local Lay League Presi
dents, 5th Dist.
Greetings: The day of the Laity
has come. Greed, politics and
apostacy in the church of the
rankest sort have ushered in the
day. Today, unlike any other time
In history of the A.M E. Church,
calls united laymen to join with
a few stalwart, unafraid ministers
in the wholesale church-cleaning
needed to save our zion. Prayer
ful, thoughtful, painstaking action
is needed to do the job, which, by
no means, can be accomplished
over night. True, far-seeing mem
bers will sense the crying need
for support and join the ranks of
the few who have thus far so
nobly advanced.
Educatirn—yes, religious edu
cation, coupled with a liberal un
derstanding of the laws of God
and of our church, is the weapon
necessary to spur us to action.
This is the task that lies before
us, and, to the accomplishment of
which the SOUTHERN CALI
FORNIA CONFERENCE LAY
MEN ELECT pledge themselves.
It seems to us that the first act
is to organize, and then to streng
then every unit ir our organiza
tion so that the league in each
church may be a potential bul
wark in the maintenance of self
respect, courage and zeal, to carry
on the great battle in which we
shall be engaged. When our forces
shall have been organized fully
and our league strengthened and
schooled, then, under God, we
shall be invincible against wrong.
It matters not whether the ugly
image of demagoguery shows it
self, or whether corrupt politics
creeps into the workings of our
most worthy sanctuaries, or
whether greed and avarice ven
ture forth in all their hideousness,
lour organized forces will be a
mighty fortress, and, with God’s
help and the strength of our own
might we shall crush evil wher
ever it may be found.
Then, shall not we get busy,1
today? Communicate throughout
the district freely; know what
your neighbor in Washington
State is thinking, as well as the
one next door, or vice versa. Be
sure that our policies and aims1
are the same. Agree upon issues,
candidates and laws. These are a
few of our objectives. What are
yours?
We shall be glad to hear from
you soon.
Sincerely,
Phillip M. Robinson, 4256 Hoo
per Ave., Los Angeles, California.
Henry H. Pettigrew, 5612 For
tuna Street, Los Angeles, Cali
fornia.
Moses E. Webb, 115 East Adams
Blvd., Los Angeles, California.
Arthur E. Prince, 717 South
Fourth Street, El Centro, Cali-J
fornia.
Ralph Jones, 1331 W. Third
Street, Santa Ana, California.
Benjamin Wesley Inghram, 982*
Sixth Street, San Bernadino, Cali
fornia.
Annual Laymen’s Day
At California 1st AME
The Laymen of First A.M.E.
church in Los Angeles, California,1
observed their third annual Lay
men’s day Sunday, January 20th,
with Mr. R. R. Wright III, as
guest speaker. The program com
mittee was composed of Joseph
Ellis, chairman; Mr. Phillip Rob-1
inson, Miss Barbara Bradley, Mr. I
James Deny, Mr. A. A. Thomas J
Mr. Paul Greenway and Mrs.
Mary Person.
Persons participation on the
days program were: Benjamin W.
Inghram, M. E. Webb, Arthur
Prince, Henry H. Pettigrew, Alfred
BY JESSE L. GLOVER, D. D.
Straight From
The Shoulder
The Laymen’s Rightful Place In
The A.M.E. Church. The Lay- j
men’s place is everywhere, but in
the pulpit of the A.M.E. Church.
They raise the money, they pay
the bills. Certainly the Minister
must lead the way. He is called]
of God to lead the way. The true]
T^aymen appreciates his own min-j
-'ster being A strong leader. The'
Laymen do not appreciate, pussy
foot cowards, jelly fish ministers,!
yes, yes, leaders. You cannot i
blame the Laymen for the fight]
they are advancing in our great
church. They have found the min
ister in many respects too weak,
and fearful to stand for the rights
of his people.
We Musi Save the. Church
The Laity must continue their
united movement for protection of
the church. It is always wise for
both the Minister and Layman to
walk hand in hand, but in many
cases the minister will dodge out
because of economic reasons, he
fears his bread and meat, Yet he
preaches to the Laity each Sunday
I to stand fast, fear no one but
!God, and keep the Faith. The
| Laity is tired of such false preach
jing when they know their pastor
is the biggest coward in the con
ference.
What of This Gen. Conf? j
What will we do at the forth-!
coming General conference? Noti
just go there political minded. Of
course we have the full right to
be concerned about the type of
men and women the church elects.
Of course your concern dies, when
you accept large cash gifts for
payment of your political actions.
Such Layman, as well as minis-j
ters are injurious to Christian ad-,
vancement.
We must see that we elect men who will j
immediately reduce these heavy assessments
upon the people, relieve the Pastor and laymen
of over burden local assessments upon their
churches? so they can render a greater com
munity service. The Salvation Army, The V Si
and other Christian movements, are sweeping;
in our local communities, while we iust raise
money and send it away to make a big con
nectional name for ourselves; the Laymen
can make this adjustment, they can lead out
in rc-vamping the church. Protect the mission
preacher, he is your best servant, when he
has courage enough to be a man, see thatj
th general church pays him at least $50.001
a month to serve the small churches.
Demand a Laymen’s and Min-|
ister’s Council at each conference,
with the presiding bishop. Fix the1
law to make them hold a two hour i
conference private, with the above
named persons, and hear all facts
concerning the complete need of
the people, and demand a favor
able vote before the bishop can
thrust some minister upon the;
people unsatisfactory.
Read my latest article on If ij
Were A Bishop. I mean what I
have said. I would not sell out.
[I would not attack my ministers
and laymen and expect them to
be loyal.
Jesse L. Glover j
Smith, Ronald Brunner and Mar-!
j land Bunner.
Special guests included all the
lay delegates from Southern Cali-'
fornia conference to the General
Conference at Chicago, in May.
You up; People
Make Ail van ee
KANSAS CITY, Kans.—For the
past two years under the leader
ship of the Rev. B. J. Martin, the
Junior departmeni at Grant
Chapel A.M.E. church, Kansas
City, Kansas has been making
rapid progress with their choir
work and general young people’s
department.
The fifteen members meet the
second and fourth Saturdays in
each month at 6 p.m.
The following officers were
elected for the year' Marie Wil
liams, president; Edward Hogans,
vice president; Betty St. Clair,
secretary; Harry Reynolds, assist
ant secretary; Roj Gene Johnson,'
treasurer; Thur; an Reynolds,
chaplain; Marlene Williams, ser
gent-of-arms, and Roy Gene
Johnson, reporter.
Sentence Sermons
By Rev. Frank Clarence Lowry
for ANP
1. Animals and men are quite
different in form and habitation,
but made by God from the be
ginning of creation.
2. Animals remain true to the
order of their species, while man
of high intelligence continues to
show varied deficiencies.
3. He has had nearly 2,000 years
since the Christ Child came, but
he still delights in the things that
tine of ill-fame.
4. Corruption in high places is
meeting with approval, while jus
tice soft-soaped by bribes, at
.tempts no removal.
5. But here and there some real
men and women, though they be
few, rise to fight this mad on
slaught, and vow to carry their
fight through.
6. Think of it—instead of spend
ing considerable sums to lift th<
fallen and raise the morale of th(
slums; inscrupulous men whc
■ spend billions to kill their brother
'are worse than those who beat the
Jtom toms.
7. Unlike animals, he is not true
to his kind, or in his intellect he
would be trying to lift his fellow
man to heights sublime.
8. But instead, some are so vi
cious for the love of a dollar, they
will stick a dope needle into a
Sunday School scholar.
9. The Adamic propensities of
an unregenerated mar* can hardly
be compared in meanness even
with creatures of the animal;
plane; for with normal sense, some
seem to act insane.
10 Man, without God, is too;
weak and feeble . . . slow toward
righteousness, but split - second
quick in things evil.
11. The only hope for each of
us and the world as one great
nation, is implicit faith in the Cru
cified Christ and the God of our
Salvation.
12. Until then, men lower than
animals will always be, and for
self satisfaction and a mess of
pottage, will hang a brother to a
tree.
Mother Church Burns
Quinn Chapel, our Mother
Church of African Methodism in
the city of Chicago,, recently suf
fered a loss by fire. Worship was
not interrupted, however, and was'
held in the Sunday School assem
bly room. The entire auditorium
is being repaired and redecorated
and stain glass windows that were
damaged are being replaced. The
Rev. Archibald James Carey, Jr.;1
who is the minister there, will
have a beautiful church for the
General Conference.
Christian living pleases GotlJ
blesses our fellowmen and we;
ourselves grow in grace and our
lives are very much enriched.
* * *
Christian living will bring about
the peace that the world craves
today. I
REV. F. M. MASON
Rev. F. M. Mason
Presiding Elder of Columbus
District of the Ohio A.M.E. con
ference, 51 Jefferson Avenue, Co
lumbus 15, Ohio.
Candidate for Bishopric in 1952
Pulpiteer and loyal churchman.
Pastor 27 years. Presiding Elder
14 years.
A special friend to rising min
isters.
| Believe in financing Colleges.
I Universities, Theological Semina
ries and Church expansion.
Feels that every mission church
should pay, or be helped to pay
their pastor not less than $25 per
week.
He has a program which he feels
will benefit the great A.M.E.
church. He craves your support
in 1952.
Who Is
My Neighbor?
By Mrs. J. E. Anderson
Kansas City, Kansas
Not one who does me great
amount of harm;
Not one who leans for Sucor
on my arm;
1 But one that all the time will do
me good;
Clothe me when bare; when
hungry give me food;
That’s my neighbor
One who when I’m in trouble
Comfort brings and helps;
tc smooth life’s road for traveling
One who will come and tell
me
When I’m wrong and when my
spirit is low
Will sing a song!
That’s my neighbor.
He who will cheer me when
affliction come
will visit me help cheer my #
home
Who helps to make lifes heavy
burden light
and bring the day when dl
before was night;
That’s my neighbor.
One who do me good his life will
spend
and consolate me to my
journeys end
Who magnifies to me Gods love
and power
and helps to cheer me in my
dying hour.
That’s my neighbor.
Circuit Supplied
By Rev. S. Davis
The Rev. Stephen Davis was
selected to supply the Hiawatha
Circuit in the 5th district recently
which makes his churches total
five. Following is a listing of his
Sunday services. HORTON, KAN
SAS—Sunday School, 10:00 a.m.;
morning service, li:30 a.m. HIA
WATHA, KANSAS — Sunday
School, 10:00 a.m.j'aftemoon serv
ice, 2:30 p.m. FALLS CITY,
NEBRASKA—E vening service,
6:30 p.m. SABATHA, KANSAS—
Sunday school, 10:00 a.m.; Mom
jing service, 11:00 a.m. FAIRV1EW,
KANSAS—Sunday School, 1«:00
a.m.; afternoon service, 3:30 pm
i Meeting are held monthly.