The Omaha guide., 1935-06-01
Most Beautiful Negro
Church in America
St Marks Once Thoughts Lost
Fcrges Ahead; Congregation
Carries $3.50, 900 Edifice
Through
BY Ferol Vincent Smoot
BY Ferol Vincent Smoot
For the A N. p.

America, 81. Marks Methodist
Episcopal, has just returned to it
for the fifth year as pastor, the
Reverend Lorenzo HI. King, d. d.
When the depression which began
in 1929 has become a matter Of in
terest only to historians, and
stories r told Of great victories
through faith, the story of this
church in New York City will
serve as an endless source Of in
spiration of the youth of coming
generations.
At the intersection Of three
greai avenues, facing Dorrence
Brooks Square in one Of the most
picturesque spots in Harlem, built
OF rough gray and brown stone
III a combination Of mediavel and
modern architecture, S.. Marks
stands as the pride Of Negro
Methodists and of Negro church
life in America. The congrega-
ton is ga years old, but the STATE
ly and imposing edifice which is
the st. Marks Of today S Of re-
cent construction, having hardly
been erec,ed before the present
depression struck in all Of its de-
vastating fury to mar its peace
and security. The story Of how
this church in all of i.s dignity
and beauty has been preserved for
Negroes IS an interesting one and
well worth repeating.
Call Rev. King.
st. Mark new edifice was COM
pleted in 1927. The property is
valued at $850,000. In 1881,
when the New York conference
deemed a pastoral chance neces-
sary and the membership found
itself so overloaded with debt
that the most opmistic could
not see their way out, Bishop
Francis j. Mcconnell of the New
York area appointed the Rever-
end DR.. Lorenzo King to preside
over the destiny Of the distressed
church. Reverend King received
his early training at Clark Uni
yersity where he won an A. b. de-
gree. He later studied at Gam
mon Theological Seminary B. D.,
Union Theological Seminary B. d.!
and D. d. from Wiley University.
For two years, Reverend King
was professor of English at Clark
University and he served eight
years as the successful pastor OF
Central M. E. Church, Atlanta.
In 1920, he was elected editor Of
the Southwestern Christian AdvO-
cate, official organ Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church for its
$4,000 Negro members. After
serving in this position for eleven
years, he was called to New York
from New Orleans. And the
story Of st. Marks from 1881 is
the story of a church whose mem
bership and development have
been built around the powerful
and compelling personality Of its
new pastor, the Reverend Lorenzo
II. King.
Although DR.. King was well
known nationally, few residents
of New York City knew him. As
editor, he had sat for three quad
renniums in the law making body
of the General Church, and trav-
elled in every section of Method
ism preaching and addressing
Methodist Mems Councils and en-
joyed wide experience as pastor,
educator and administrator. The
rank and file Of Harlem accepted
him as just another preacher and
perhaps felt a little sorry for him
for accpeting to do the impossible.
But it was not long before he be-
gan to mingle with the citizenry
in their community activities and
admiration for his unusual ability
and engaging personality began
to reflect itself in the growing
membership and increased com
munity support of the church.
Add 1000 Membership
In four years, more than 1000
persons have been added to the
membership Of the church. On
we find the auditorium
seats 1900 filled to capa-
city at morning service. Follow
ing the trend Of the times, a youth
movement has been inaugurated
in st. Marks in which the young
er members share more largely in
the life Of the church. Pastor and
officials inspire this by putting
into practice a workable program
and Interpretation Of religious
truth adapted to the requirements
Of modern living and thinking.
st. Marks is no longer regarded
as merely a fashionable church.
it is a community church
whose worship and social service
activities are enjoyed by thous-
ands Of non-mmebers as well as
members. 1t is interesting to note
hat the 1885, 900 organ serves as