The broad ax., 1926-05-22
DIR. HAYNES EMPHASIZES
POSITION OF THE CHURCH
IN THE COMMUNITY
preston News Service}

Kansas City, Mo-, May 20.-Speak.
ing before the General Conference of
the Colored Methodist Episcopal
Church in Kansas City last Friday
night, DR. George Z. Haynes, Secretary
Commissioner on the Church and
Race Relations, Federal Council Of
Churches, said in part:
"The Negro group must meet the
conditions of the times through organ
ization. What organization has the
Negro comparable to the Negro
Church? First, in the matter of num-
bers there are more Negroes actually
enrolled in Negro church denomina-
tons than in alf the other organizations
put together except the secret So
cieties.
Look at the matter Of the strength
of age and survival The Negro
Church is more than one hundred
years old and has survived and grown
each decade. What is the evidence
when we turn to the matter of financial
power and support? Today there is
probably more money invested in Ne
gro church property than any other
one phase Of Negro economic life, and
probably Negro churches today raise
more money for general and specific
purposes than all Of Negro business
organizations.
"Turn, if you will, to the personnel.
With all the criticism of its ministry,
from local preachers to bishops and
general officers, presidents and moder-
ators, there is probably more brain and
character within the ranks of the lead
ership of the church than in any other
Of our professional groups except prob
ably the teaching profession. But after
all, wherein lies the organized power
Of the church? The church is the most
unique Of our institutions and agencies.
No other could survive on the basis
it does. Could the theatres last six
months by giving everybody the priv
ilege who came to make a voluntary
collection for its support?
"The Protestant Negro Churches
have grown rapidly the past sixty
years. With their bishops, their pres
idents Of conventions. moderators,
district superintendent, and other gen
eral officers and their local ministers
they have made great Roadway in or
ganiziRg and serving the people in
many ways.
What is the call, now, that comes
as the great challenge of this our day
to this giant organized power in the
Negro church? There are two types
of things that the Negro church must
confront if it is to justify its place Of
power and responsibility. ID 1t must
realize its opportunity and begin to
function in that opportunity as the
great agent for dealing with the social
and community conditions in the in
ternal life Of the Negro people. Let
me be concrete. In every one Of the
great centers of population now num-
bering more than 20 cities where
Negroes are congregated in great
numbers the problem of their place
in industry is no longer and can no
longer be the question Of the indi-
yidual. The only way this situation
can Be met is by organized power.
Long ago the white labor unions
would have taken a different attitude
toward the Negro worker if the organ
lied power in the Negro Church had
been functioning factor in dealing
with the wage and work conditions Of
the great masses. know you will say
that these are not questions for the
church; but, my friends. these are
questions of life and labor, and can
the problems Of life and labor be sep
arate from religionf Is not the great
function Of religion to solve the prob
lens Of life and Iabor7 If, then, the
church is to Be the agency Of religion,