St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-06-21

crowd heard Or. Marsnau IL.
Washington, deliver the Foun
the S0th anniversary celebrate
DR.. Shepard, who Is the pastor
Of the Mt. Olivet Tabernacle Bap-
fist church, Philadelphia, and the
Recorder Of Deeds Of the District
Of Columbia, stressed the impor-
lance Of the work Of the Negro
preacher and the Negro church. He
said e was regrettable that we have
To have q HNegro" church, but
since we have, he pointed out its
value.
DR.. Shepard attributed much Of
the success Of the Negro in profess
sions, and the establishment OF Ne
gro colleges and secondary board
ing schools 10 the fact that the "un-
educated" Negro ministers had
vision, and came North to appeal
10 white church people to go South
10 establish schools for the freed
men. He paid a glowing tribute to
the founders Of the Pilgrim church
and urged the members TO carry
on the great work 80 humbly and
nobly begun so years ago.
Rev. Massey Commended
DR.. Shepard spoke briefly at the
annual presentation Of the l.. W.
Harris chorus at 4 p. m, honoring
the late DR.. L. w. Harris, under
whose pastorate the present edifice
was built. He commended the pres
ent pastor Of the church, the Rev.
Floyd Massey, Jr., for being broad
enough TO do honor to his predeces-
sors.S "Few ministers have sense
enough 10 realize that the church
Is not Just succeeding because Of
their labor, but rather because Of
the work and sacrifices Of others
who have gone on before"
Rev. II. W. Bolts, pastor Of the
Zion Baptist church, Minneapolis,
who also spoke briefly, Joined with
DR.. Shepard in recognizing this
fact. A busload Of members OF the
Zion church accompanied their pas
tor TO this service.
Miss ]. Arlee Harris, a daughter
OF NuN AAlt LII IL W. hAANAsS VI
rected the large chorus Of more
than so voices that bears her faith
er's name.
Old Subject, New Idea
was pleased 10 have had the
opportunity, with my family, Of
hearing DR.. Shepard at the eve
ming service when he preached a
great sermon from q very familiar
story, that Of the so-called "Prodi-
gal Son." II was very helpful TO
hear one Of Americas great and
outstanding pulpiteers take an old
story and give II new and signih-
cant Interpretation.
DR.. Shepard did not follow the
usual trend IN criticizing the "Prod-
igal Son." but spoke well Of him
as he pointed out that Jesus did not
call him a "prodignl." In his own
inimitable way, DR.. Shepard pointed |
out that "this boy asked only for |
what belonged TO him and he wasn't |
afraid TO make an adventure into |
life. To be sure he had mistaken |
idea and thought, like many people |
today, that money could and would
buy happiness. But he had the
good sense TO recognize his plight
when he had lost all In 'riotous Nv
ing and returned to his father,
who not only forgave him, but re-
stored him to full sonship without |
even mentioning the mistakes the |
boy had made"
DR.. Shepard, with his innate hui
NOR, had his congregation first |
laughing, and then catching the |
full Significance Of what the preach |
or was saying.
A Great Step Ahead
Il was interesting to hear DR.. |
Shepard tell Of the time when he, |
As the Recorder Of Deeds Of the !
District Of Columbia, had President |
Truman as his special guest and
speaker at the unwilling Of plaque |
In the building where his office Is |
located, with 81 people, white and
Negro, who worked under him. II |
was a long step forward for a bare |
foot boy from North Carolina, to |
NtAN PiaCe anu tluiS WHSh ne COulu /
have as his guest the successor Of |
the man who appointed him TO a
high governmental office.
was naturally quite pleased
when ] heard DR.. Shepard urge the |
young people to prepare themselves
for jobs not ordinarily given TO Ne
groes, and 10 venture into new and
untried fields in this post war
period. Mrs. Nelson said to me,
THAT is just what you told the
graduates this morning"
After the evening service, DR..
Shepard was the guest Of honor at |
an informal reception given by
Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi |
Phi fraternities at the Sterling club. |