The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-10-30

Of the Michigan Chronicle.
w. c. WOODSON - II Is with re-
gret and exceeding sorrow that We
pay this tribute to Wilbur c. Wood
son. former secretary Of the st. An
tome branch Of the YMCA. Mr..
Woodson passed In the Fort hospital
Friday. Oct. %. Mr.. Woodson was
one Of those rare souls In our COM
munity life. He made the st. An
tome branch q real force In the
lives Of the Detroit men and boys
He kept the YMCA from becoming
a cold and soulless institution. He
realized that he was dealing with
human beings. who needed kind
ness and warmth. His personality
invigorated the personalities whom
he touched in his daily goings and
comings in connection with his work
at the "Y". The men who went
there to recreate and TO relax at
the noon hour. will never forget his
sense Of fair play and enthusiasm
for the play in which he engaged.
For NOOdsOn, recreation was more
than play. II was a chance to know
a man for what he was. In play
men show certain weaknesses Of
character. and they display qualities
of good and bad judgment. When
ever he ran into an irascible soul
on the gym" floor. II was never
his to criticize. scold and exclude
the uncooperative gentleman. but
rather to demonstrate by his own
feeling. cooperation and sportsman
shin the better way.
WoodsOn realized what few OF us
realize. that most men are weak
and very weak at certain points In
their lives. He dealt with this weak
ness. not as something to be avoided,
but as some thing that could he over
come. and worked with i'm order to
strengthen the character. and CO.
operativeness Of a whole group. Mr..
Woodson in so doing showed a pro-
found sense Of religion in working
with men and boys. He was quick
to admit In the presence Of large
7rOups Of people, and small groups
Cor that matter. his own errors and
weaknesses. This stamped him as a
big" man. One could not help but
love a man Of such a caliber.
This explains 10 some extent why
so many people were Interested az
the time OF the membership drive
10 help secure memberships for the
YMCA They were not just secur-
ing memberships to keep the doors
Of the building open; they were
helping TO secure memberships be-
cause there was personality at the
head OF the institution that was
alive and human. The personality
at the head Of the ST. Antoine
branch recognized its Indebtedness
to all other personalities who in any
way participated in the fellowship
Of the "Y". Such men as w. c.
Woodson convinced the most skep-
teal of the immortality OF the soul.
Woodson cannot die as long as
kindness, love and understanding
are the great needs Of mankind.
Back in 1885, when the UAW-CIO
was getting a foothold in the auto
mobile industry, in Detroit. Mr.
WoOdson was skeptical OF the union
He had some real basis for his skep-
ticism. I at the time, was one of the
strong protagonists Of organized la
Dor in the city Of Detroit. He and
debated this question. over and over
again, but always during the de-
bates, we kept the profoundest re-
spect for the ideas OF each other
Our debating never at any poin
degenerated into anything cheap
AS a result OF these many debates
the first time in the city Of Detroit
that got chance TO put my think
ing TO a large number Of people ir
d, favor of-the union was through
w. c. Woodson. Some OF you may
remember that il was hot Apr
afternoon when Mr.. Don Marshal
and deb ted the question
Whether or not Negroes should
align themselves with Unions.
There were thousands OF people
there that afternoon, aU1 othel
thousands who could not get in
remember when Mr.. Woodson in
vited me to debate Mr.. Marshall or
this subject, he said, II may no
agree with you. White. but IL there
Is anything good in unions for Ne
-grees, the first place 1t ought TO b,
discussed, is among the men Of TIT
YMCA." After the union has beer
going a little while and demonStrlt
ed its benefits 10 the workers. Wood
son came and said. II understand
now what you were talking abOu
in the early stages Of the union
effort to organize Negroes"
I know a hundred men. whC
would have seen the error Of Their
thinking, no matter how honest i
was. but who would have not hac
the self suficiency. the emotional
security to admit that they were
wrong. Woodson did.
Woodson could banter. he serious
plan. play. and get a meaning on
Of life. He not only got meaning on
Of life for himself. but he helped
other people 10 get meaning on
Of life. His children can take hop,
and guidance from his life.
i -