The Enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930, 1927-07-08

perhaps Fellowship" is about to
disrupt another great organization.
With the announcement that j.
Finley Wilson will take the Elks'
Convention to Cleveland followed
by the announcement of the New
York contingent that they would
stay in New York, it will be hard
to avert a serious split in this or
ganization.
Although this reproduction of new
organizations by fission may have
been wise a decade ago, in this day
of consolidation it will be bad bust
ness.
In trying to dodge the jetties Of
defeat the Grand Exalted Ruler is
desperately running his craft into
the vicinity of the more dangerous
rocks of organic destruction.
Suppose there is some slight dan
ger of worn out blue law inter-
fering with the meeting of Elks in
New York City, it would certainly
have been the best policy to meet
the issue and settle the status OF
Elkdom there forever.
But what is more apprehensive to
most observers is the apparent fear
of j. Finley Wilson to meet his oppo-
sition in any section of Elkdom and
conquer it.
Can it be true that the majority
of the order of Elks are blind to the
shortcomings of their leader? Are
they deaf to an appeal for justice
and common sense and dumb when
the times comes to cast their vote
according to their consciences?
Any fool can break up an organ
ization, but it requires real states
manship to hold it together and abb
solute genius to reunite the parts
when it has split.
Wise craftsmanship requires that
the leaders of the minority and ma
iority factions meet and affect a
compromise. There is still time. No
issue at stake is more important than
union among Elks.
IL the leaders see this, disaster
may be averted, if they do not, the
order deserves the fate which awaits
it.
Union of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church and the African
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Is
closer today than even before fol-
lowing the meeting of the uniflca-
ton commission in Pittsburg last
week.
Nevertheless, if the membership
of both groups is as enthusiastic as
the leaders were last week, consum-
nation of the union is still five
years away.
This is the procedure. The tenta-
tive plan of unification accepted last
week must be perfected and adopted
by the Bishops Councils of the two
churches in their February 1925
meeting. This final draft must be
then adopted by the General Con
ference of the two churches meeting
in 1928, and referred to the annua
conferences and churches of the de
nomination for a referendum vote.
The results of this referendum
will be made known at the 1881
General Conference of the churches
The unification brings together
million members, half million sun
day school children, 10000 church
es, 5000 pastors and $25,OOO,O0O II
church property in one admlnistra
tive body not including score o
schools and colleges.
Such a union is worth working
and planning for. Its worth waitini
five years for.
A Chicago youth of our race ha
been recommended to West Pom
by Congressman Martin b. Madden
He will be qualified to take the ex
aminations for entrance but we mol
serious doubts of his success. w
do not believe that he will be per
mitted to pass the exams and W
predict this belief on past history
IL is well known that it is not tn
policy of West Point and Annapoli
to admit black men. This policy J
based on color prejudice alone.
is hoped that the Chicago boy IS sue
cessful and il is also hoped that tn
Army and Navy of this nation 10
which we have fought so svaiiantl
will undergo change of heart bu
we have serious doubts. 1t is a par
of the curse Of American prelude
that causes US to entertain sue
doubts but they exist and we Shout
be Wiling to face them as facts.
the Chicago youth is successful
barrier will be surmounted that ha
long confronted and COMPOUNDED u