The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-30
COlORED CHURCHES IN
CENTENARY CAMPAIGN

TWO years ago church in Jackson
vule, Florida, owed $500 on which it
could not even pay interest
Now 1t owes nothing and has a
weekly income of $3.50
1t is a Methodist church and gives
Sl00 a week 10 that denomination's
Centenary campaign for world recon
struction. 1t devotes s per cent of
it's entire income to community well
fare work. which includes serving hot
lunches 10 workers in nearby factory
at the nominal cost of ten cents.
If every church Methodism gave as
freely az this one. the Centenary drive
for sl05, 100000 would get $500 000,-
600 instead.
Lastly IL Is q negro church It's
rapid progress is due to the gospel of
tlthing which the pastor. w. r.
stevens, has preached since the begin
ming of the Centenary campaign, and
is indicative of the development OF
the protestant church with the colored
race.
Little fs known OF the strides the
| negro churches of the South have
made In recent years hut their work
is slowly coming to light in the Centc-
nary drive. Keeping strictly separate
organizations from their white breth-
ern, they are carrying the gospel OF
Christ with vigor unexceeded any
where
The colored race is being uplifted
IN many ways by the type of leader
which Pastor w. r. stevens represents.
Never III his ministerial career has
he harangued his congregation with
the tale of the colored race being
down-trodden and mot having a
chance for he doesn't believe in it,
One OF the main reasons for this is
that he has been TOO busy preaching
the gospel OF opportunity.
At the present time Bolsh eviki
propaganda is being distributed in
Jacksonville. where Stevens church is
located. The disturbers are bringing
especial pressure to bear on the
negroes, whom they would incite to
immediate revolt, If possible. This has
been borne ont by the writer's own
observations.
The agitation has reached such
proportions that special. detectives
have been employed by the mayor to
run it down, but it is difficult task,
due 20 the secrecy with which the
Agitators conduct their operations and
tho reluctance Of the negroes to dis !
cuSs IL with white men.
Can anyone say the Ebenezer
church, which has taken service" as
us motto ana which goes to the (
hearthstone of 800 of Jacksonville's (
most respectable negroes is not the
citys greatest bulwark against the I
propaganda OF Bolshevism or any other ,
insldtous. destructive influence?
At the recent, white, Centenary con-
vention in Jacksonville. r. c. Wilson, !
representative TO the South
ern division OF the Methodist Episco- |
pal church. declared. The protestant 7
church, be it Methodist Presbyterian /
or BAPTIST. is the most vital negro in
in the world the one which .
is really OF the colored mans life.
1t Is a positive, constructive force /
and can ouly make for higher negro |
ideals and better negro citizens"
For work among the negroes in the I
South, the world survey made in
preparation for the Methodist Cente-
nary proposes that s2.5S8675 be
spent. The program calls for
4 better trained leadership among
the ministry.
:sodern church buildings adapted to
service.
Typical community centers in agri-
cultural districts
Model parsonages in selected places
as demonstrations of home life
Organized movements for educating
pastors and church officials in modern
church work.
Cooperation with other denomina-
lions in surveys and plans of work
Continued study OF conditions In
al negro communities as to indus
trial, social, moral and religious
needs
program to make the, church a
leader in improving every phase OF
Iifa