The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-12-17
Ry S. "A. LEE


the head of the Macon, Ca, confer
ence, one Of the foremost churches
in the state, and the church that has
set more pastors feet on the road
TO high church places than possibly
any other church in the connection,
less than two months ago, we were
left flat without pastor. At the
evening service, Of the FIRST Sunday
in September, Bishop w. A. Fountain
worshiped with us but did not preach.
At the conclusion of the service,
after some preliminary statements
he read to the congregation a tele-
gram from our then pastor, who in
the same message asked for trans
fer to another Episcopal District.
Bishop Fountain stated that he tried
never to stand in the way of young
man who was ambitious to better his
condition Therefore, he then and
there gave the minister in charge his
transfer, stating at the same time
that this turn Of affairs was as much
of surprise to him (the Bishop
as it was to the congregation.
Where to look for pastor for
Steward, with the conference about
two months away, Bishop Fountain
stated frankly, that he had not the
slightest idea; but taking the con-
gregation and officers into his con-
fidence he promised to 'Find a Man
for the place.
Death Takes Hand
When the Bishop went to Phila-
delphia to attend Bishop Heard's
funeral, he told Bishop D. H. Sims
of his troubles at Macon, Ga. The
result was the the Rev. Douglass 4,
IT. Robinson was plucked up root and
branch from New Haven, Conn, and
transplanted at Steward Chapel,
What of his stewardship during
this very, very, brief period, with
conference just over the hill, with
only SI17.26 Of the church's dollar
money and noe Of her other educa--
tional conference obligations in
hand? How has the membership
reacted to this desperate move on the
Bishops part,
Before touching upon answers TO
the above queries, let US give just
bit of Stewards background and
status. When the Rev. Mr.. Robin
son came to us. The secretary Of the
church, Water S. Rogers is authority
for the statement that the average
number communinu on the first sun
fsav for the last several months was
around l25 persons. Last first Sun
dav we communed 12a, despite an
all day down pour OF raiii--and on
the first Sunday in November, 2Os.
Collections have picked up accord
ingly. Most any Sunday faces OF
members can be seen who maven {
been here i'm months, and months.
The writer has missed not single
evening nor morning service since
this pastor has been with us, and
not single person--fnan, woman
nor child has he seen asleep at any
of these services, believe It or not. 8
some Definite Accomplishments
All the conference he was enabled
to report 95 per cent OF all confer
ence claims for the church. Ihe
SUNDAY School, choir, and all clubs
have taken on new life tone club
outftted two rooms In the parson-
ape) another completed q donation
Of Atty A.M.E. Hymn land Tune
books to the church, another put IN
two tons of coal when the bin was
empty.
Among the men Of the church, nc
has formulated an organization
known as the Richard Allen Broth
erhood Of Steward Chapel under
their leadership, $f02 in conference
claims was raised the Sunday before
conference. His magnetic wife, Mrs
Fay s. Robinson has engineered
more than one movement that helped
tremendously to augment the con-
ference report.
Finally, just now, he Is busy M
stallinQ the budget system q finane-
inc the church, and the people ars
pledging ltheir monthly payments,
in a hearty manner. We hope Y
launch this plan--with duplex en-
welcomes and adj the paraphanaiis
that goes with 1t the first Sunday Y
January.
In the opening paragraph of tnF
modest exposition, the reference wa
made to the fact that so many mel
who early in ther pastorates wer'
stationed at Stewards for tern
Of years; and later became bishops 9
general officers.
First We wish to mention th'
founder of the church, I. G. Stew
ard, by whom one of the most ex-
hilirating songs in our present AMI
Hymn and Tune book was written
No. Gai, and for whols Tune No
g44 was named. Bishop Turne
never pastored Steward, but he wa
presiding elder over this particula