Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-20

spirit of Christ to the least of His chill
dren.
I'VE are panied beyond expression that
the local cOmmittee-made up as it is OF
white Christians who belong to the same
religious bodies as OurSelveS-shOuld ig-
more the commands and example of their
Lord and Master. and ours, and have re-
Spect to persons, and ill-treat their breth-
rem in the Lord on account of their race
and color
The letter is signed by J. Milton Wal
drOn. +. j. Grimke, ID. +. Wiseman, +.
S. Williams and \. c. Garner.
Pastor Waldron's Declaration.
AS chairman of the committee Of
negro clergymen, Pastor Waldron of
the Shiloh Baptist Church. representing
one of the largest negro congregations in
the District OF Columbia, gave out the fol-
lowing interview this morning:
The charge is made we do not be-
long to the Sunday School Association"
he said. II his is not SO.
THE colOred Sunday schools of the
District do belong to the Worlds Sun
day School Association. and have be-
longcd to it ever since the worlds con-
ventions have been in existence. Rev.
W. J. Howard, pastor of the Zion Bap-
fist Church. was the local colored del
egate to the convention neld in Rome
three years ago.
presume inc OlI1cully Is tHat we uO
not belong to the District Sunday School
Association. composed of the churches
with white congregations. We have
never been asked to join it and instead
have an association Of our own.
THE colored churches elected eleven
delegates to the convention, the same
number as those selected by the white
congregations. We are in good standing
in the worlds association.
Il can see no reason for this action eX-
cept local race prejudice
The attitude OF the local committee
has been no secret for the past two
months. Up to the very last moment we
hoped they would change their attitude
toward US.
"Persistently Ignored"
From the middle of last March we
have offered upon numerous occasions to
cooperate with them in working out the
local details for the convention, but have
been steadily and pcrsistently ignored.
Letters from colored ministers to 1ncm-
bers of the committee nave gone unan-
swered, and apparently everything was
done to indicate we were 'undesirahlcs.
I'VE have been completely ignored ever
since the local committee began it's work.
II understand several members OF the
local committee protested against de-
be ring the colOrcd Sunday schools from
the parade and were overruled.
This information. WAS conveyed TO
me by ono of our members, in let
ter from member Of the local COM
mittcc.
The action of the local committee
has aroused great deal of opposition
among fair minded people. Chief among
the Professionals arc Rev. DR.. w. r.
rhirkicid, president of the Howard
Parks, of the Howard University fac
ulty. a teacher of Bible class in
Hamline Church. Both DR.. Thirkield
or pr, Parks have declined ia take
part in the parade. this evening.
We have been treated most unJustly
and in an urchristian-l:ke spirit. 1t is
humliating hut tiust our position will
be fairly understood and appreciated"
Attitude of Local Committee.
Members of the local committee have
declared that colOred Sunday school of
Washington have no right in the parade
and should not expect to take part in IL.
They STAN absurd the accusation that
race prejudice entered into the uucs-
ton of barring them out
They have no semblance OF n right
to be in the parade" said Carlton b.
Ball. chairman of the local publicity
committee why should they be, Zen
they are not members of the Distrirt
Association!
They have hadeopportunity after op-
portuRlty TO join, but have never shown
disposition to take advantage of il.
Speakers have been assigned to their
different churches. 1t seems TO me that
should be sufficient.
THE charge that they are victims of
race prejudice is utterly without fOunda- :
ton.
Rev. DR. Donald G.. Mcleod, chairman
OF the local entertainment committee
declares the negro Sunday schools have
no right to take par. in the parade and
neither have thceir delegates u right to
seats In the convention. being in the
same position other ministers who
are not delegates.
THE local negro Sunday schools do not
belong to the District Sunday School AS
ISOLATION" he said. Because Of that fact
they are not entitled to seats in the con-
vention or a place in the parade.
There are other negro delegates here
for the convention. They have been reg
ularly elected and. in consequence. have
a standing.
This is a regrettabe incident 1t should
never have been aa!tated. as it is bound
to create feeling.
There IL no justice to the claims OF
the Washington colOred ministe tiers. 1t is
difficult to see on what they base them
The program as originally arranged
will be carried out to the letter.
Other members of the loca. committee
expressed themselves In accord with DR..
Mcleod and Mr.. Ball.