Hartford chronicle., 1946-09-14


 Ida H. Jackson, Treasurer; Mrs. \
 New York-The African Meth odist Episcopal Church began it's 150th celebration Sunday morn ing, September 8, at the Mother A. M. F. Zion Church, 151 West 137th Street, with the Rev. Dr. Benjamin c. Robeson as host pastor. Preceding the opening day, in a special broadcast over CBS, Saturday afternoon, the Rt. Rev. William J. Walls and Dr. William Trent, president of Liv- ingstone College, were speakers, with selections by the choir of First Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.
 Dr. James W. Eiche1berger, secretary of Christian Education, conducted the Sunday morning Sunday school rally, with 5000 young people attending.
 The righlight of the day was the stirring sermon delivered by Rt. Rev. Buford F. Gordon of Charlotte, N. C., prelate of the Ninth Episcopal district, whose subject was: Climbing Together for Christ"
 Founders Hailed
 Bishop Gordon, in paying tri- bute to the founding of Zion Methodism 150 years ago, said the group of Negro members who withdrew from the John Street Methodist Church, did so because sthey sought the kind of freedom in their church that Crispus At tucl1s fought for" He further said that Negro Methodism grew out of the denial to deserving Christians the right to exercise their talents.
 'Our task today is not to build race consciousness" he said, "but to work for an inter-racial con- sciousness that will break down the walls that separate us. We, the underprivileged, in a land of the privileged, must take the lead in pressing the cause for the full freedom of all people. ''We must rescue Christianity from the clutches of greed, ava- rice, form, fashion, sordid influ- ences and indifference. The world will continue to suffer from an isolated Japan from Jewish Ghettoes, Italian sections and Ne gro Harlems.
 xxx Assailed
 Ku Klux Klan and exclusive Negro civic or religious organiza- tions defeat the cause of Nation al Unity" he declared.
 Pressure groups here in America have joined hands with racial groups to SOW discord. Throughout the Southland, lynch law is rampant, Negro boys are beaten, tortured and lynched, and the Organized Church sits quietly by, and never even raises it's voice in protest" Bishop Benjamin Garland Shaw, senior prelate of this de- nomination, said in his opening. address that eve have been fol- lowing in the circle made by James Varick 150 years. ago. The vision has been fulfilled as we gather here today, 150 years af- terward, we have raised up from cur ranks one or two great men, but until today we have none in our ranks to match the founding fathers of this great Zion Church."
 Bishop William W. Matthews pleaded for a better equipped Sunday School organization. Walls Sums Up History
 Rt. Rev. William J. Walls gave short summary of Zion's his tory and outlined the program for the two weeks activities, re- ent speakers arranged by the Rev. Dr. Robeson and his committee. A mammoth rally will be staged at Madison Sq. Garden Saturday evening. The theme will be Brotherhood In Americal Down with Lynchings. Up with free dom, jobs, justice and relief from oppression" The object will be to rouse the masses in an effort to save America from disgrace, cruelty and bloodshed, to raise funds to fight injustice, help stop lynch terror, and secure relief for neglected African war victims. The list of distinguished three