St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-11-02

Crowd Attends
Reception for Rev.
And Mrs. Martin
A public reception Monday night,
Oct. 20, climaxed four day OBJ
servance by Bethesda Baptist
Church of the Fourth anniversary
of the pastorate of Rev. A. F.
Martin.
With Mrs. Fern Helm presiding,
the large audience heard praise of
Rev. Martin and Mrs. Martin by
Mrs. M. T. Burrell, president of
Women's Auxiliary of the Mime
sofa State Baptist Association. Mrs.
Burrell said, "Rev. Martin has made
fine contribution to the work of
the Baptists Of this state, and we
are proud of his leadership and
spirit"
Cecil E. Newman, newspaper pub
Usher, described Rev. Martin as a
man of positive force and character.
Newman said, eve need positive
leadership for today in the world
and in the Twin Cities there is
much confusion as the post war
period proceeds. Rev. Martin is
a positive force. There is nothing
negative about him. You know
where he stands; and that's the
type of leadership which the whole
world, including this community,
can USE"
Praises Bethesda People
The newspaper editor praised
Bethesda Church for it's contribu-
ton to the religious and civic life
of the city.
After presentation of a large
purse of over 5000, Rev. and Mrs.
Martin responded. Mrs. Martin
thanked the people of the church
and other friends for their express
sion. She said she hoped the peo-
pie here would grow to love her as
they did in her home town.
Rev. Martin, in characteristic
fashion, praised the church and the
pastors and choirs of other churches
who had played a part in the an
niversary celebration.
Pastor Praises Newsman
He drew considerable laughs and
round of applause when he de-
scribed his tits and later friendly
association with Cecil Newman,
whom he described as a man not
just interested in making living
for himself, but who had shown
that he was interested in his peo-
pie. "Newman's small in physical
size," the minister said, "but he's
no coward. He speaks out boldly
for his people whenever it's neces-
sary and often at considerable finan-
cial loss"
Church Out of Debt
In describing his four years pas
torate in Minneapolis, the Bethesda
minister pointed out that the church
was completely out of debt and
that not ticket had been sold, nor
a dinner, nor a chicken ratified, to
accomplish it. He said the people
OF the congregation had dug down
deep in their modest means and
put over the church program.
Mrs. Sarah Benson, general
chairman of the anniversary COM
mlttee, made the gift presentation.
Others on the program were Anna
Pearl Horris and Mrs. L. C. Har-
ris, both who sang solos, and little
seven year old Pluris Moore, who
sang a solo accompanied at the
piano by Mrs. Onie Mccoy. Miss
Minerva Johnnigan read one of
Edgar Guests poems.
The printed program of the an
niversary indicated that among the
organizations and individuals who
had participated in the Rev. Martin
celebration were Rev. B. N. Moore
and choir of st. James A.M.E.
church, st. Paul; Rev. John Bailey,
Rev. H. W. Bolts and the senior
choir of Zion Baptist church, Min
neapolis; Rev. Jace Clayburn, Pill
grim Rest Baptist church, Mime
apolis; Mrs. Lucille Jordan, Rev.
l.. S. Harris, William Seabron, Mrs.
Flossie Harris, W. B. Shepherd,
Mrs. Bessie Gresham, Elder J. W.
Graham and Minneapolis Churches
of God in Christ and the Twin City
Golf Club.
The committee in charge of the
affair, headed by Mrs. Benson, was
composed of Mines. Maude Watkins.
Fern Helm, Estella Sims, lone
Brown, Elsie Gonzales and H.
CLANCY and Messrs. W. M. Hall.
W. ]. Merrill and G. H. Hall.
CEDDED DTHTTTnHTC