The Denver star., 1916-08-05

ers who could deal with the problems
of his race For some time he worked
in Chicago. doing general uplitt and
Young Mems Christian association
work. In this he met with success.
Hearing of n congregation of Baptists
in Joliet, this state. discouraged and
| ready to disband. he decided to go
down and see IL he could encourage
them and lend helping hand. He felt
that II was there God would use him
Reaching Joliet. he found a very small
number of the members engaged in
prayer meeting. He did not hesitate,
but at once took hold This caused the
people 10 open their eyes, and they de
ci,!ed at once that he was a God sent
man. They saw in him a leader OF rare
ability the man just needed at that
time in Joliet.
1t was in May. 1911, that he took
charge Of the church. He studied the
work in all OF its phases. and. finding
a large Indebtedness. he decided that
the first thing to do was to get rid of
debt. because he considered 1t hard to
serve God when laden with debt. The
building could almost be classed with
the ancient ruins. 1t was but short
time when the Indebtedness of S412
was paid. and then the pastor filed the
members with enthusiasm when he
suggested a new building.
Having the confidence of the people
and having outlined to the bankers of
the town and other professional and
business white men his plans and what
hn {ntn 70 40 r., h,
was told by them to go ahead. and
they got behind him. He believed not
alone in preparing people for eternity.
but to live down here on earth. Teach
men how to live and they will have al!
eternity to find out about heaven" was
one OF his declarations.
The Rev. Mr.. Curtwright accepted
the call to the pastorate Of the Mount
Zion Baptist church, Peoria, ILL.,. against
the protest of his Joliet people, white
and colored, because It was a larger
field Of usefulness for NinN and his
faithful wife. He began hi' pastorate
at Peoria In August, 1915. and so far
the usual success that is common to
the fidelity and integrity of jealous
pastor is evideRt. Already many new
members have been added to the con
gregatioh, and, according to the report
Of the Mount Zion church at the Sun
day school convention Mt Decatur, ILL.,.
held recently, they averaged more than
200 month for the last quarter.
The Rev. Mr.. Cartwright is a man
Of vision and untiring energy. His
pMn now il to raise $500 this fall.
cancel the debt against the church
property and make necessary improve
ments to meet the demand of the times.
He is also planning to put in opera.
ton the Booker T. Washington social
center, which. he has succeeded in or.
ganizing since he has been at Peoria.
He is n successful pastor, social work.
er and financier. His social center rep.
resents the best VIII Q people Of the
community. His vn board repre-.
sents the best colored people Of the
community. His idea Is to form
common basis upon which tho two
races can work together for the com,
mon good OF the community. With his
patience, experience and the assistance
Of his accomplished wife he Is bound to
succeed. lie Is broad enough to work
with all denominations. He is presi.
dent OF branch Of the National Asso-
citation For the Advancement Of Col
ored 7eople.