The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1945-06-16
Fraternal Council Negro
Churches Had Far-Reaching
Meeting. $4,000 Raised
Organization To Unite All Negro
Churches To Advance Civic, Social,
Economic Situation of Race

The Fraternal Council of Negro
Churches closed today three days
session, said by those who are ia
miliar, the Councils meeting was
the best in its history. Peace and
harmony prevailed in the executive
session on the last day, with only
about fifty persons present. $780,
Al was pledged and $5,243.41 of
that amount was paid in cash.
Bishops Lead In
A committee requested that $4,000
be borrowed to tide the Council
over the summer. Rev. Smith of
Baltimore objected to borrowing
and said, 1--WE can raise the money
among ourselves. Why go to a
bank?" Later in the meeting others
expressed the same view. Then the
Councils President, Bishop A. P
Shaw, said, Il have faith in the
Fraternal Council of Negro Church
es. 1t is the Negroes best opportun-
ity for cooperation and advance
ment, and I am showing my faith
with this check for $1,000" Bishop
R. R. Wright, Jr, executive Secre-
tary, followed with a check for
$1,000, showing that he believed in
showing your faith by your
works" Then followed DR.. w. H
Jernigan, director Of the Washing
ton Bureau, with 81 1000 as a sign of
his faith in the great movement.
Others followed in rapid succession
among them Rev V. M. Townsend,
Little Rock, $500; Rev. George
Crawley, Baltimore, $500; Rev. j.
c. Beckett, Washington, 500; Bish-
op Jones of the Methodist Church
and Dean VIM. Stewart Nelson of
Howard University, $50 each.
Pledges were made to be paid
within three days to go days from
Rev. H. E. Smith, Baltimore, $500:
Rev. J. L. Horace, Chicago, $1,000;
Rev. c. T. Murray and Bishop Mat
thews of Washington, 5000 each;
Rev. R. M. Williams, Washington
500; Rev. H. T. Medford and A. c.
Foster, Washington, $50 each.
Distinguished LaYmen.
Life Members.
During the session more that 100
enw members joined. Two distin-
guished laymen were made life
members: Hon. John L. Webb OF
Little Rock, Ark; and DR.. A. S.
Jackson, Financial Secretary of the
A. M. E. Church. A campaign for
$4,000 members was launched with
a committee from each denomina-
ton under the direction of Bishop
r. R. Wright, Jr., executive secre-
tary. Bishop Wright said in this
connection, 'All the people need to
know is just what this Fraternal
Council of Negro Churches is do
ing, and they will join. For every
thoughtful Negro wants the Negro
Churches to get together and do
something to help advance the CT
vic, economic and social situation
of the race-and particularly as we
approach the post war season." The
joining fee is only 81 per year,
which makes one voting men,
Der. Churches may become mem
bers by paying So; local ministerial
organizations pay $40; while con-
ferences, synods, associations, state
conventions, etc, pay $25 to $500,
according to their membership.
Life membership is $500.
A high point in the session was
the reports of the delegates to San
Francisco conference by President
01Ol AAldA W. OOllUSOll, 1lSN. u. Il.
Horace and Rev. H. T. Medford. DR..
w. H. Jernigan reported progress of
the Washington Bureau which
looks after all legislative matters
for the Negro Churches; and Bish-
op R. R. Wright, Jr., executive Sec
rotary. Both reports made a pro-
found impression on the audience,
and gave confidence in the work of
the Fraternal Council.
All thief ormer officers were re-
elected, with only one exception.
DR.. Jernigan, who had held two Of
fic12es, relinquished Voluntarily the
Craftsmanship of the executive
committee in order to devote more
time to the Washington Bureau.
The officers for 1856 are: Presi-
dent, Bishop A. P. Shaw; Vice-pres-
ident at large, Rev. E. w. Perry;
Secretary, Rev. J. H. Moore; Assist