The Denver star., 1917-07-07

10 nold convention AZ Wuek00SSS
Okla, In September.
As q result of the meeting Of the ex.
ecutive committee Of the National Bap-
list convention, held the early part OF
June in Atlanta, Ga. . vigorous cam
paign Of enlightenment has been launch
ed among the Negro Baptists OF the
country. A national campaign commit
tee, with DR.. L. Z. Williams Of Chica-
go as chairman, is to have one member
from each state, . local executive com
mittee, with headquarters in Chicago,
and an advisory committee Of q hun
dred or more Baptist laymen, and q
general representative of the National
Baptist convention for each state has
also been designated.
The object Of the campaign Is to make
the coming session Of the Natio0al Bap-
tist convention to be held in Muskogee.
Okla, during the second week Of Sep
tember next the largest and most sue
cessful session ever held by that body.
Efforts will be made to get before the
people the real issues that have arisen
between the National Baptist conven-
ton and one Of its former secretaries,
the Rev. R. H. Boyd. 1t is the claim
of the National Baptist convention that
it founded the National Baptist Pub
fishing Board, located at Nashville.
Tenn, and intrusted 1t to the manage
ment Of the Rev. r. II. Boyd and eight
associates, who acknowledged this fact
for nineteen years. They base their
claim on the wording Of the chapter,
which reads:
BE It known that we, r. II. Boyd.
e. c. Morris. C. H. Clark. J. P. Robin
son, G. NJ. Moore, E. j. Fisher, ]. E.
Knox. G. W. D. Gaines and their sue
cessors. chosen under the rules and reg
ulations OF the National Baptist con-
vention OF the United States and hold
ing office under the rules. usages and
regulations of said convention, are
hereby constituted a body polite and
corporate by the name and style of the
National Baptist Publishing Board of
said convention of the Baptist church
or denomination
The Rev II. H. Boyd claims that the
National Baptist Publishing Board ia
independent OF all conventions and Is
In the sole charge of himself and nine
other men, subject only to the laws Of
the state of Tennessee, which granted
the charter, as 1t is alleged. He makes
the claim Of personal and individual
creation Of the National Baptist Pub
fishing Board, while admitting the au-
thorshir of articles describing the
launching and growth of the enterprise.
In which he says:
ITO my great surprise and much to
my regret, the convention said to me In
unmistakable tones. Thou art the man.
For twenty-five years 1 had been at
tempting to answer every call made
by the Baptists. endeavoring to obey
every command given by them, and
now that 1t said to me and four others
associated with me. Go from this con-
vention and publish for the Sunday
schools periodicals by Jan. 1. 1917 my
only answer was that the Baptists that
have called the National convention had
commanded the die cast, and the Rubi-
con Is crossed
The issue has been Joined in court.
Rev. r. II. Boyd has organized his fol
lowing to help him maintain his con-
vention. The National Baptist conven-
ton desires to maintain the unity Of
the Negro Baptist family and is seeking
to put facts before the people that will
cause them to abide in full force by
the parent organization founded by the
late distinguished William ]. Simmons,
LII D., of Kentucky and presided over
by DIR. f. c. Morris. Helena, Ark, for
the past twenty years or more. Many
side issues have been injected into the
controversy. but the National Baptist
convention will endeavor to focus the
attention of Its constituency on what II
regards as the real issue-nnmely.
whether it or an independent group of
nine men shall control the publishing
interests of its following of more than
2,5OO.OOO people.
A document covering the main issue
and all Of the known side issues raised
has been prepared by Rev. Sutton f.
Griggs. and it is the plan of this COM
mittee to issue and distribute 100000
copies OF the document The officials OF
the National Baptist convention feel
that they can rest their cause fully
upon their statement of the case. Per
sons desiring copies Of the statement,
which Is entitled stubborn Facts
can secure copies free Of charge by In
closing postage for mailing the same
to Rev. l.. X. Williams, Twenty seventh
and Dearborn streets Chicago.
If there are churches that feel that
they need light on this subject or II
there are those that think that certa in
churches need information they are ask.
ed to communicate with DIR. Williams
II there are associations or convention,
to meet In my state within the next
three months where National Baptist
convention issues nrc likely to arise o,
where TIE question should I've raised FOR