The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-08-06
BISHOP LAWSON
Continued from page one J

and travelling over the country, de-
libe ately made up his mind to enter
the ministry. He developed fine
congregation at Columbus, Ohio, but
did not feel satisfied. He felt impel
led To come to Harlem, although he
was doing we'll in the Mid West.
In HARLEM Sium- Area
Having magnetic personality, the
Bishop set to work and used every
modern device in his campaign to
create a garden spot in the heart Of
the Harlem slum-area, He not only
appeals to the religious fervor OF
the older church goers, but has way
Of charming the younger folk, and
terrifying the hard-hearted sinners.
On the other hand, he IS as modern
as they come. He broadcasts twice
week over Station WBNX, and has
been on the air for several years
with his spiritual singers. He uses
photophone to catch his sermons,
and now has on records, which he
and others can hear at their leisure,
large number Of his sermons which
are played In the same manner as
popular songs. In other words, he
lets the folks hear something about
the word Of God on phonagraph--
an instrument most IL ople tHp4k Of
as being iazz purseyot. + also
uses the dictaphone.
More than thirteen churches in
New York, and one hundred through,
out the country, are now affiliated
with Bishop Lawson's sect They are
holding their annual convention here
on August 1923, which dovetails
with the anniversary celebration of
| the local church, running from July
l8 to August %. People from many
parts of the country, Central Ameri
ca and the West Indian Islands will
be or hand. Such d large crowd il
expected that Bishop Lawson, asking
a local church what would it charge
for the use Of its more spacious audi
torium for the period, was told $6G
o night-$600 for ten days. The
Bishop said he thought right then thai
he had better begin enlarging hi.
own church.
Promotes Education
Education is not overlooked in ths
program Of Bishop Lawson. Sever
lyears ago he founded the Industria
I Union Training School at Southern
| Pines, NC, the school having sever
buildings, on a plot including twe
city blocks, and there being 100 chill
dren enrolled. They operate from
| SO to 100 acres of farm land, ship
ping farm products to New York AM
receiving groceries and clothing il
return, making employment for ;
number of peoplea cardinal prln
ciple in Bishop Lawson's program
giving employment. During tn,
summer some Of the children come Il
| New York as members of the schoo
choir
/ Bishop Lawson has, in late years
I
| begun to take some time off from tht
constant grind Of pushing his pro
gram. He has a country place a
Scrub Oak, NY, near Peekskill, ant
spends three and four days a weel
there during the summer months.
When the history Of Harlem j
written finally, the story Of this MAJ
who went into one of the worst area
Of the colored center of population
and established an institution which
promoted social and economic wel
/ fare as we'll as spiritual growth, vii
| be told. He rides d Lincoln, Eyes,
says Bishop Lawson, But | also hav,
a Lincoln institution-not For,
church and a Lincoln car. Th'
qeople don't mind your living il
comfort if you show that you hav'
their interests at heart. What the,
don't like is for you to live Off then
and not help them to grow
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