Phoenix tribune., 1924-09-20
DR.. R. R. MOTION TELLS
NEED OF COOPERATION
AMONG ALL CHURCHES

program for churches were empha-
sized by DR.. Robert R. Motion, prin-
cipal of the Tuskegee Normal and
Industrial Institute and president of
the National Negro Business League,
in addressing the National Baptist
convention, which was in session here
at the Ryman auditorium, Friday eve
ming.
DR.. Motion pointed out to the large
and appreciative audience which pack
ed the auditorium, that in order for
any church or denomination to do
effective work it must cooperate with
other churches and denominations.
Jesus Christ, HIMSELF" declared DIR.
Motion, put the supreme emphasis
upon this point of unity of those who
believe in His name. In His last
prayer, He used over and over this
petition: That they may be as one as
we are and He gave this reason for
desiring fundamental unity among
His believers, that the world might
believe that the Father sent Him"
"As long" said Dr. Motion, "as the
believers in Jesus are divided into
opposing forces; as long as they find
themselves unable to get together for
practical purposes; as long as they
look on one another with hostility and
suspicion; as long as they are en-
vious of each other and fighting and
struggling against the success of one
another; so long will the world be un-
convinced that the kind of Christian
ity that they teach is good for the
rest of the world"
In referring to the influence which
the Baptist church had exerted on the
progress of the Negro race, the
speaker said: '+The fact remains that
the Baptist church has been a great
tower of strength and opportunity to
the Negro race. 1t is the Baptist
church that gave to the race it's first
opportunity for self-direction. The
freedom and democracy of the Bap-
tist church have been the great train
ing school for Negro leadership. For
nearly one hundred and fifty years
Negroes have had in the Baptist
church their greatest opportunity to
direct their own affairs; to manage
their own business; to organize for
cooperative effort; to prove their
own capabilities. Some of the strong
est men and women of our race found
their earliest training in leadership
through their activities as ministers,
as deacons or as laymen in the church.
These lessons they have carried into
other fields and established a close
connection between the church and the
life of our people.
"Now this connection is thing that
the church itself should be anxious to
keep up. To maintain this hold, how
ever, it must direct its energies to-
ward certain definite goals of achieve
ment. In the first place the church
must supply the people with strong
efficient, upright leadership. All of
the other professions are today COM
peting with the ministry for influence
as leaders and it is good to have it
so. Every side of the life of our
people must be developed and 1t will
take competent leaders to bring this
about. There is little danger that our
preachers will cease to be the lead
ers among our people, but the import
ant question is the type of leader
ship which they represent. In all the
other fields the influence of definite
practical training is being felt. Teach
ers, doctors, lawyers, business men
are today the product of careful train.
ing and preparation. The church must
set up and maintain the same ideals
for its ministry if its influence for
good is to remain.
Again, if the church would hold
Its influence among our people it
must enlarge its program for service
to the race. l am not here to say
what this program must be. 1t will
depend upon the circumstances sur
rounding the individual church: can
say, however, that that church is rem
dering the best service to the king
dom of God which finds way in
which to put every one Of its men,
bers at some definite constructive
task of making this world better
place in which to live"
DR.. Motion further paid a glowing
tribute to the progress which the Ma
tional Baptist convention had made
under the leadership of DR.. L. X. Will
iams Of Chicago, and pointed out as
one Of the indications Of this contin-
uAd advancement