Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-12-19
ny ROBERT DURR

bARSAtNSAA"As HAas ~ wv
weeks ago. I attended the COnVo-
cation services In the chapel Of
Flsk University. II was the con-
eIuding service Of the thrSe-day
seminars and formal Inauguration
Of DR.. Charles s. johnson a. the
univsrHity's sixth and hrst eolorsd
president In ita illustTious eighty
slH year history.
The speaker, DIR. Brownies Of the
American Missionary Association
emphasized that "a Man IL What
lie wsnts." II followed. Of course.
that II We can make men want the
higher things they win become the
right sort Of msn, and, In turn. be-
como . builder Of the Kind Of way
Of life The world stands 20 Sorsly
In need Of. That he termed the
function Of q university.
have been very conscious Of the
fact that ProtestAntism's greatest
need today IL for . will 10 survive
In . hostile world. and for q leader
ship which In itsslf win not cause
men To lose faith In themselves.
their fellowmsn. their country and
their God.
Today the Protestant or Evan
Rslical church Ia flAnksd on one
side by Catholicism, wherein races
have achieved spiritual Brotherhood
and the followers have shown
themselves amsnAbls 10 the doc
trins Of the brotherhood Of man
and the fathsrhoOd Of God. and on
tho other side by Communism.
Most recently, ! was q guest Of
my good friend, Bishop d. Ward
Nichols Of the great A.M.E. Church
a. he presided at the North Ala
hama Conference In Birmingham
IA no talked Of the Importance Of
the constituents looking upon them.
selves a. builders Of the Kingdom
Of God. ! thought Of the need for
lSadeTship within that great church
which would dedicate itself %
broadening the basis Of fellowship
withdrawing the church all en-,
bracivs ~ far ~ all tho peopls
Of the world are concerned.
Richard Allen withdrew from 9
white domination Methodist church
because they did not want 10 take
communion with him on . basis 81
equality before God. He knew
that breaking bread and feasting
together h the highest form Of
worship, and the Christ IL not
present whore this IL forbidden on
the basis 81 race. He thus did not
agree with those who would dis
eriminats In the house IL God and
looked upon the Negro 90 q sub
human being, He made bold his
claim Tor all time that he felt no
infsriOrity.
In . blacksmith shop In the city
Of "hrothsrly love-" he founded the
African Methodist Episcopal
church wherein whOsoevur would
could commune together a. broth
era,
The only way to 20 forward h
BY going forward. The time h
here for . rS-inearnated Richard
Allen 10 come forth with Q real
world vision, In Bishop d. Ward
Nichols. I think W. have q leader
capable 81 setting In motion a new
cycle In the Protestant Of Evan
gSiISAl church. . crusade for open
ING the membership rolls and all
houses Of worship TO all men every.
where. regardless Of race. creed or
color,
Next year. the great A.ME.
church win hold It, General Cen.
ference That would 10 q pro-
p'tiOus time for that BODY to drop
the word ~AfrirAn" from its aauns
and substitute an al.smhracinr
adjective and set In motion a world
wide campaign 10 bring men 81 all
races Into an Sll-smhracinR church.
The day 81 isOlationism is past.
although the Skeleton remains with
u.s. There Is something very tragic
bout a church In this changing
prolAEoaists Of this continued %
Schools win b defeated a. the nos