The broad ax., 1923-04-28
CHARLES E. STUMP, THE REGULAR
TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT
FOR THE BROAD AK, is STILL IN
THE LAND OF THE LIVING AND
HE is STILL HAVING A HIGH OLD
TIME IN ALL PARTS OF THE
EAST.

lea will be delighted to know that Or.
B. F. Watson, secretary of the Church
Extension Society of the African
Methodist Episcopal church has great
" improved in health, and that he is
now about his work, or in other
words, the work under his supervision
has greatly increased, and the past
fiscal year closed March 3lst, has been
one Of the most prosperous and most
active in the history Of the depart
ment, and the Board which met last
week was loud in its praise OF the
work Of DR.. B. F. Watson, and drop
ped a flower Where Miss Marie
Thomas, the efficient clerk, could get
a Whit while she is yet living and ac-
tive and rendering efficient service.
| was at the Board meeting last
week, and they were there represent
ing each episcopal district, and l tell
you them men did do some real work.
You see, the auditing committee met
in advance Of the regular Board, be-
cause they had much to do, and they
went into every detail of the work.
They were able to locate every mill,
saying nothing about the dollars and
cents, and all had been used according
to law, and in keeping OF the orders
made by the Board one year ago. This
brought about their words Of praise
Of the secretary, who was placed in
charge Of the work by the general
conference held in Columbus, Ohio,
1900, which DR.. c. T. Shaffer was
elevated to the episcopacy, and he has
since gone in to come out no more.
When DR.. Watson took hold, he
found the Office we'll organizedS strict
ly business methods were carried out
by the previous secretary, and he just
took up where he found the work and
pushed it on up higher and higher,
until it reached the present standard,
and it doth not yet appear what it
will be before 1924, when the general
conference meets. Believe me when
/ tell you that it viii be the greatest
report ever made to the General con-
ference, and if it is the desire OF DIR.
Watson, he will be unanimously
elected, but it is his desire to retire,
having served his church in so many
capacities, in this one position for "a
years, and this is longer than a posi-
ton held by any general officers.
Efficiency has been the cause, although
there have been many aspiI ants and
this was within their rights, but the
general conference recognized service.
All the members of the Board were
present at the meeting, and took &C
tive part, of course. Bishop John
Hurst, the wizard from Baltimore,
the man who has done so much to
put Florida on the map, presided.
Strange to say, there were three
members Of the Board who are can
didates to succeed DR.. Watson,
were present. But it seems that at
tention is directed to DR.. S. J. John
son, who is not a member of the
Board, but worker.
There were many important ques-
tons up for discussion, but nothing
attracted more attention than the re-
port Of DR.. B. F. Watson. The report
covered in detail every cent that had
|been taken into the Office, from whence
it came, from what conference, what
city, what town, or village, what dis
trict, what church board, what pastor,
then where it had been disbursed to
the buying Of box Of matches. There
was to start with cash balance of
$49, 1920, then added to this the re-
ceipts of $3o,331.23, made total Of
$87, 7o4.22, in the hands Of our people,
Of the African Methodist Episcopal
church to help itself This is certain
ly self-help, and is worth knowing.
Of this amount during the fiscal year
they disbursed $31,O5o.8O, and there
was left credit balance of $56.73442,
with preferred liabilities of SCI, 55439,
leaving a cash net balance of $751;
1908. Now they have loans and in
terest outstanding to the extent of
1926, 1888, the interest on this
amount is $17O,7oO-So, total $4o7,-
553.42. This is the business that the
African Methodist Episcopal church is
doing with itself, and keeping within
the race and its own church. This in
terest would have gone to the white
man, if il were not for the Church
Extension Society. We thank God
for this.
] have been moving just a little
since I wrote you that letter from
Richmond, Va, last weeh where !
met one Of our business geniuses,
John Mitchell. Jr., editor Of the Rich
mond Planet and man who has
worked his way up He has done
much for the race and for his people.
He has been an independent thinker,
and not fellow with string for a
a backbone Such man will have
to fight the world. But you will be-
lieve me when I tell you IL Is hard to
keep good man down. John Mitchell