Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-05
WORKING HARD TO
WIPE OUT DEBT
Congregation Of Wayman Mis-
sion Chapel Is Deserving
of Popular Support.
MAYOR Is IN SYMPATHY
Expresses Wish That Oolored Folks
VIII Be Successful In Their
Endeavors.

The colored people who are work
Ing energetically to raise enough
money TO clear the debt OF the Way
man Mission chapel. are enthusiastic
about their chances of successfully
wiping out the obligation at one
stroke, but they are laboring against
great difficulties due to the fact that
the public generally is incredulous
and apt TO believe that they are be
ing victimized. Solicitors of funds
regardless Of their purpose, rarely
find the welcome" sign hung out
in their honor and this is especially
true in the case Of those who are
working for the good Of the colored
people OF the city. Many have gain
ed the impression that they are be-
ing worked"
MAYOR GIVES APPROVAL.
Foreseeing that this might be
true, Mrs. Lavigne Garnett of CHI
cago, who is in charge of the cam
paign. has seen At to call upon May
or Harry NJ. Schriver in company
with members OF the congregation
Of the Wayman Mission chapel and
have explained to him Just what
they are trying to do. The mayor
expressed his hearty sympathy in the
movement and gave Mrs. Garrett a
letter over his own signature in
which he expressed his confidence
in the colored workers and their
undertaking. Armed with this and
with the support OF many of the
city's best people. the colored mem
bers OF the congregation feel safe
in coming before the public with
their appeal for aid in saving their
chapel
BUILDING NEEDS REPAIR
Mrs. Garrett and her workers de-
serve assistance, II for no other rea-
eon, because OF the courage they
have shown in assuming the task
which Ia before them. Faced with
the almost certainty of losing their
chapel and cognizant OF the fate that
befell the Mckinley Baptist colored
congregation which has lost its
place OF worship through failure to
pay its debt. the congregation Of the
Wayman Mission became desperate
and called upon Mrs. Garnett to aid
them. Mrs. Garnett found that the
church is in the rut financially and
that for seven years past, not even
the interest has been paid on the
mortgage which amounts to $1,000
and which is held by the Robinson
estate. What is more the building
has been condemned and once the
congregation really owns II, repairs
must be made Immediately.
HAVE LENIENT LANDLORD.
Despite the failure to pay any
thing on the mortgage, the congre
cation has been allowed to retain
the church property all this time and
now that the effort is being made
Il is understood that the owners Of
the mortgage will cut down the
amount by several hundreds OF dol
lars 80 that IL can be obliterated the
more easily.
With aid such as this, Mrs. Gar
nett expressed the hope today thai
not only the debt might be cleared
but that there would be a balanc,
left over with which to repair tn,
church. This is not at all beyond
the realm of possibility II the PEG
pie OF the city can be brought t
see the good that would come from
II.
TELLS OF NEED.
In conversing today about he
mission here, Mrs. Garrett said
I'VE colored people do not want {,
lose our church for without II W,
would be in terrible condition. I'm
less we are upheld by religion, ou
race is prone to fall to temptation
and there are plenty of temptation
rampant now. Why scarcely a da,
passes but what some young CIR
gets into trouble. There are blacl
sheep in every race of course blu
many OF the colored girls who leat
immoral lives would not be wher,
they are were there better facilities
for teaching and practiclng religion
The whites of this city can do
wonderful work in uplifting the col
ored people here II they are so mind
ed and we believe that they are. /