The Omaha guide., 1937-12-04
An Echo
From My Den
By 8. E. Gilbert

As sit here in my den with pen
in hand, medftating as it were,
there comes to my mind the fact
that black America now faces one
Of the greatest economic crisis Of
all times.
In this period of economic chaos
there Is a need for every organized
group within the race to play a
part in the breaking up of this
chaotic condition. Thanks be to
God that tfsere now exists such
stalwart organizations as the Ma
tionaf Negro Congress, CLIO, N. A.
A. G. p, Brotherhood of Sleeping
Car Porters, Workers Alliance, all
striking at the very roots of the
condition that unless its growth
Is slipped will strangle civilization
into oblivion.
But as | think of those stalwart
organizations, | also think of the
church, hat organization which in
the words of Bishop Noah w.
Williams, spoken as he addressed
the Missouri A. NJ. E. conference
last week, said that the church
must wake up, realize its respon-
sibility in the present economic
crisis and help find jobs for the I'M
employed"
The intrepid clergyman said that
business and professional people
whose own prosperity depends on
the prosperity of the working
class, should join hands with the
church and aid in it's nation wide
economic program.
The distinguished prelate declar-
ed, Il wish to speak loud enough
not only for our fifth Episcopal
district to hear, but for the entire
African Methodist Episcopal
church to hear, that at the bottom
Of our social and moral and religi
Gus life is our economic security.
We must have a ministerial leader
ship who will be socially minded
and able to organize the religious
forces and help them to find a way
out.
Our whole missionary and edu-
cational program at least our
home fields should be thrown en-
tirely behind preparation for q
type of ministerial leadership that
is intelligent c~onsecrated and has
Imagination and the spirit of ad-
venture and self sacrifice. I tel
you the church must help the PEG.
pie find a way to make a living.
Bishop Williams, who by his
stand, is taking his rightful place
among the emancipators of tht
Negro from economic slavery, fur
ther stated: "That the time ha:
come when the church must look
forward toward the economic vel
being of our youth. | mean by
that" he declared, that the church
must help the people to secure self
respecting jobs" In his call for 8
united front on the part of the
chaurch, he concluded his epocl
making address by saying, "Wt
have the most tremendous pro,
blems before us, and it is no time
to be fighting within our owl
ranks. 1t S going to take all of u
to stem the tide"
Fellow citizens the echo of thii
great speech should fall on tbs
ears of every minister regardless
of denomination. If, the churches
are to materially and spiritually
survive, the ministers must unitt
the forces of religion and build ra-
cial pride and racial interest. Tt
the extent that the host of church
members will realize that they
must help create jobs for one an
other by spending their money II
places where they can visualize re
turn through the avenue of employ
ment.
The Omaha Council Of the Ma
tional Negro Congress. an organi
zstion seeking TO develop a power.
full collective voice through bh,
federation and Interrogation of ex.
isting Negro organizations anC
progressive forces, behind crucia.
issues affecting Negro people il
order that Anti Negro and reac
tionary social trends may be ar
rested and beaten back and defn
ito and substantial gains of tn,
rights of the Negro people may b
achieved, invite every minister il
! Omaha to head the clarion call o
Bishop Williams, and unite wit
them in a battle to the finish il