The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1932-12-22
DR.. Jekyl and MIR. Hyde
Among the Pioneers

m. Sunday, Dec. l / at First A. NJ. E.
Church. The program was arranged
by the church committee and was
not the first of its kind to be held in
/ the church.
A splendid talk was made by the
ehorister who told why he believed
the observance of Pioneer Day was
/ timely and profitable. He told of the
inspiration for future generations.
The principal speaker eplogized
George Washington, Abraham Lin
coin, Theodore Roosevelt and Booker
T. Washington and cited them as
examples of national worth in
achievement The speaker Landed the
work of the pioneers who started the
First A. NJ. Z. Church, beginning the
work in an old, dilapidated dwelling
with partitions removed, and later
moving to the basement of the new
church, where they worshiped until
! the building was erected. Thus the
/ first colored church in Seattle was
/ begun and erected-a monument to
African 'Methodism. Neither of the
speakers were pioneers nor did they
offer any apologies. but said they
were glad to give credit and honor
where it was due.
/ don't hear anyone clamoring to
be pioneer. 1t was good job of
hard work and sacrifice. / don't
blame those who were here if they
had no sympathy with the early
movement, the erecting of a church
for the Negroes of the community,
especially those who were not in
terested in the Negro life of the
community of that day. / don't be-
lieve they even were called upon.
| never heard of any worthwhile
contribution by them. Therefore /
think they need have little to say
about a subject that did not concern
them in those early days. Now, |
have no grievance against them, as
| it is not worthwhile.
The name Bush means naught to
the Negro life of Washington nor
the name of any other Negro who in
those early days played the role f
DR.. Jekyl and Mr.. Hyde.
The program last Sunday was
given in honor of the pioneer Ne
groes of Seattle, those who were in
terested in church life and those who
played their part as Negroes openly
and unashamed of their race. To
these the program was dedicated.
! call attention to the names of
these inscribed on the glass windows
of First A. M. E. Church. Many of
them are living and they are not all
70 years in age who saw the First
A. M +. Church erected. Many of
them worked by day and at night
by lantern light wendell their way
through the forest and mud and
cleaned the church for services. They
lui hioiSd iNPN anu oiis Rtiiu fitClCol
on borrowed money at the expense
of delaying payments on their own
homes. They had entertainments to
purchase an organ and music. They
served as officers of the church, as
superintendent of the Sunday school
and enrolled their children on the
cradle roll and trained them to take
part in the programs.
This work was Stunned by some
who now wish to be known as pio-
: neers. They are pioneers in that
: they summed all work in helping to
build First A. M. Z. Church.
1t makes no difference to those
: who disregarded that work whether
the church was on Jones St. or John
) ST., but this fact is certain: Bishop
] Lee, the first bishop, established il
so well that God permitted him after
n he reached the age of 80-odd year:
t to again come to Seattle and wor
S ship on the very spot where the
$ church began.
Bishop Grant, grand old patri
arch, stood up in all his majest,
a and refused an invitation of hi
p brother, with larger portion of thi
{ worlds goods, to come to him an,
: said II prefer to worship under m.
:. own vine and fig tree, with my owl
people, for this is their work"
II This writer and several other
# were invited guests for the program
last Sunday and we were very sorr
indeed that the program should hav
= been spoiled by the unlimited an
- untimely remarks of Mr.. H. r. Cay
:, ton, a disinterested pioneer.
This little poem, Gust Folks" b
Edgar Guest, l dedicate to the pic
neer members of the First A. NJ. 1
Church:
'e But when the skies above were blac
ID And trouble came to pay a call,
u The family rose, united then,
To share the cares of one and al
ne Small differences were forgot;
r Face front unto their cause the
Of stood,