The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-09-22

Horace White standing 10 the
people about
the importance Of the National
Baptist convention.
IN any large gathering Of people,
and in any planning for a large
gathering OF people, such as the
National Baptist convention, there
are bound 10 be some minor slip
| ups here and there We expect
minor slip-ups by the planners OF
any large gathering. BY and large,
me men and women who planned
the National Baptist convention
program for Detroit, did an excel
lent job A great deal OF work had
to be done 10 make il possible for
such a convention TO meet in our
city. This column wishes to con-
graduate the baptist leaders in De-
trot for successful session.
Your columniSt moved for three
days among the delegates Of the
National Baptist convention. He
talked with many of the leaders
who were responsible for the
movement and the program OF the
National Baptist convention. There
were three things that any careful
observer could discover among the
delegates and their leaders First:
II was very evident that the con-
Vcntion was motivated by a s. irit-
ual power which had meaning and
vitality for the members OF the
convention There was dccpness
about their longing for a better
day. AS one got close to these
delegates, IL was easy 10 discover,
that their spiritual motivation was
not unattached 10 the problems Of
everyday living. The delegates
we're concerned about what re-
lloiOn could do as an organized
force, 10 help overcome the PROB
lens that face America. Especially
were these delegates concerned
about the power and energy in
herent in the National Baptist life,
that could be Appropriated to help
alleviate the difficulties faced by
the Negro population in America
The second thing one noticed.
was an uneXpressed desire on the
part Of the thousands Of people in
attendance every day, In unite
themselves in the name Of their re-
ligiOn with the struggling masses
Of people. all over the world. no
matter what their race. or their
creed, or their color may he. In
fact. there was = longing on the
part Of the people to discover in
themselves the spiritual and ply
steal processes by which they could
add to the unfolding of democracy
To he sure. the orientation of this
longing on the part of the dele
gates, was ORIGINATED in religion,
and around the personality Of
Jesus, as the people understood
that personality.
The third thing one noticed. was
the oraanizatlonal loyalty the dele
gates display ed There was a sense
OF unity and community OF interest
on the part OF he delegates in the
convention. The key words Of that
unity were, National Baptist Con-
ventlOn In other words. the peo-
1le gathered there, represented as
'lliA ltl hClNSdNtS. lllOhSdiluS vi
hurchcS spotted all over America
They came TO their convention
with the purpose in mind. Of get
ting a sense Of kinship. with every
other Baptist church in America
The superficial people, will over
look this. Critics saw people from
rural areas. marching around. ex-
pressing their hopes their desires
and their deep longing. in the best
ways that they knew how. The
critics are likely to say. that many
Of these people represented the
absence Of real leadership The
reverse is true These thousands
Of people that came from all over
America, and from all sections OF
America, represented the dynamic
Of America They we're there IN
their convention. eager To express
themselves IN terms of their under
standing
Many people have been critical
Of the fact that the cost Of the CON
vention was fairly great. Such
people, however, have no sense Of
what IL takes TO mold a people into
strong striking force. for their
own best interest, and for the best
interest Of their nation. There had
to- be. and there always will have
to be a strong Baptist convention.
III II something around which the
people can rally. as sort Of con
summation Of years work. The
convention was good, IL IL had done
no more than provide social outlet
for the delegates themselves.
There was some very construc-
tive work done at the convention
( The whole convention re-appralSed
It's approach 10 education The
convention sought To bring to
every delegate present, the need
Tor greater interest III educatlons
and To keep education, as far a.
the baptist church is concerned.
religion mOtIvated. The Baptist
convent ION, increased It's approprla-
ton for education. Expanding the
idea, the convention. reaffirmed,
and broadened ITS thinking, and
proposed action about darker peo-
pie oatside the boarders OF Amer
lea. In .b'Tvr words, the MISSION
AIRY program OF me church was
strengthened N the National Bap-
tiSt convention
There was deep concern. and
meaningful pronOunCement about
the direction In which they would
work. 10 have America move for
the welfare Of all the people. The
delegates and their leaders, were
not unmindful Of the problems that
lie ahead Of Americans in the mat
ter of job opportunities for all
people, in the matter Of adequate
housing for all people, and In the
matter Of an adequate health pro-
gram. or course you could not
walk into the lobby Of the conven-
ton and get close To the seriousness
Of the convention. In order TO un-
derstand the nature of the serious
work done by the National Baptist
convention. one had To talk To the
delegates. and talk 10 the leaders
Of the convention.
No curbstone and far of In