Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-04-06
Higher Honors Sought For the
Rev. DE. Frank Jesse Peck
STANDS IN The FRONT RANK.
Friends Of the Former President of
Urging His Elevation by the General
Conference Of the A. M. e. Church.
Man Of Achievements.
BY CHARLES S. HUNTER.

st. Louis.-We have reached the
period in our racial life when we ap-
preciate the potency of brains; when
we recognize the fact that education
training and special adaptability are
items to be taken into account when
summing up the fitness of men for
place or station. We have long de
manded that men be so qualified in
the mechanic arts. in commercial life
and in the professions, but it is only
during the last decade that we. as
laymen, have been insistent for this
type of leadership i'll the men who are
to pastor our churches and have the
supervision of our UNCONVENTIONAL life.
The coming general conference of
the African Methodist Episcopal church
in Kansas City, Mo-, next May will
mark an epoch in our racial as
well as religious life. Questions Of
vital import will present themselves
for our considera ton. Men and meas
ures will demand our prayerful thought
if our decisions are TO be in the line
of wisdom. The past ninety-six years
have been rich in achievement. Won
drous in obstacles surmounied and diff
ficulties overcome. stupendous in nu-
merical growth in material and edu-
cational acquisition and still more
marvellous in the type of men who
have been the builders in the church
of Allen.
But the past is behind us: the future
looms big on the horizon of the future
New conditions. graver responsible
ties, problems of greater magnitude
await us. The laity, becoming conscious
of its power. its growing importance,
is demanding that men whose sym
pathies have touched and quickened
their lives. whose piety and eloquence
and earnestness have won them and
whose actual knowledge of their needs
has held them be selected for Episco
pal honors-no mere political church
man. but one whose work for hu-
manity is the measure of the man.
Such a one is DR.. Frank Jesse Peck
of Los Angeles. Cal, son of promi'
nent minister of the church, the iats
DIR. Frank Jesse Peck, Sr., of Balti-
more, and a graduate of Storer col
IeSe, SUCCESSFUL pdStOE anu ChuIch
builder, man who has given almost
twenty years of his life to church de-
velopment and expansion here in the
west, and this section. rich in future
possibilities for the church of Allen,
offers him as its candidate for the
highest oyiice in the gift of the church
"a bishop-and feel that the east, his
birthplace; the south, the field of his
earliest labors, together with the west.
should unite and work for his success
to the end that we many have resi-
dent bishop in this section of the
country.
The modern church demands men of
action. men who have done things
and who can do things. DR.. Peck has
served twenty years is n pastor in this
western country; was formerly presi-
dent Of Western university. at Quin-
daro, Kan: built the churches at St
Joseph and Kansas City, Mo-; Installed
the mammoth pipe organ at Denver.
and he has doubled the congrega-
tion at his present pastorate. AS a
pulpiteer. tinancier and constructive
churchman he stands in the front
ranks This is our candidate and we
feel that the church will honor itself
by his elevation.