The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1912-07-06

forcorui Leader among Young PeoPtO.
While in the young peoples Christian
snd educational congress he sought to
anite all the churches into one impres.
bive organization that at least would
serve to emphasize the. readiness of
our young people to respond to capable
and forceful leadership. The move
ment has its reflection In the many,
Sunday school and missionary organi.
cations which the different denomina-
lions have since taken up Of their own
accord.
1t is therefore peculiarly appropriate
Stat he should be continued by the
bishops Of the church upon the COM
mission on federation Of all the color
ed Methodist churches throughout the
world, upon which he is the ranking
lay member. In the matter Of organi-
cations DR.. Penn has notable career.
He has to his credit the Epworth
League In his own church, which In
the past sixteen years he has built up
until 1t occupies the position of the
best and most widely organized Chris
tian society among the young colored
people, yielding by far the largest re-
suits. ~.
He engineered the first, and most
successful Negro exposition movement.
during which time he also called to-
gether the Negro physicians, giving
birth to the idea which has since re-
suited In the forceful National Med
ical association.
Through the national Negro young
peoples congress DR.. Penn offered for
the first time In all history a move
ment whereby Negroes of all denomi-
nations could come together in one
great Christian movement for the race.
The last movement which he pushed
to successful conclusion was that of
quadruple conventions among the COL
ored conferences in the Methodist
Episcopal church whereby several be-
nevolent causes among the colored peo-
pie could be placed In the way Of self
support. ..,
Fathered Fiftisth Anniversary Idea.
Out Of these conventions came the
decision to observe the fiftieth ami.
versary Of the emancipation Of the
Negro by the M. e. church on behalf
of the Freedman Aid society to raise
$50O,000 for the endowment Of schools.
DR.. Penn, the originator Of the eonven-
tion movement, could not foresee at
the time Of putting forward -thssa oon--
ventions that in less than two years he
would be called to the Office Of one of
the corresponding secretaries Of the
Freedman Aid societies and given the
task Of pushing forward the great
jubilee movement, which was the out
growth Of these conventions.
Again. DR.. Penn twenty-five years
ago. when he lived in Lynchburg, Va,
undertook to take the lead with others
in having the local church, Of which
he was a member, give $1,000 in one
sum for the establishment of the vir-
ginia Collegiate and Industrial insti-
tute in that city, now one Of the Freed
man Aid schools.
His church gave this sum Of money.
Perhaps the most effective argument
which he will have to use in securing
funds throughout the church for edu-
cation will be that one church through
his own efforts contributed such a sum
Of money for the education of Negro
children, emphasizing at this early
time self help upon their part.
His success in these and other ef-
forts leads the people of the country to
feel that DR.. Penn will bring to the
Freedman Aid society, in addition to
his energetic and forceful manner, the
ripe experience he has gained in all
these activities, and thus be the means
Of bringing about larger results for the
work Of the schools in the south that
depend almost entirely upon the Freed
man Aid society for their maintenance.