Arkansas State press., 1951-02-02
MEM0T0 M0M-', n.''. Flower.

these things. However, he made the as
sertion that things may be different twenty
years from now, and expressed hope that
whatever action was taken would not oper-
that future time. He paused as though he
ate as hardship upon our descendants in
wanted to say more as though he was
waiting for small voice that would give
MN courage to 60 on, but no, it was for
the community of Negro citizens to decide
and so let's wait! However, the Superintend-
ent had brought along a lawyer maybe
member of the school board, and said that
there were probably one or two there Well
1t does not take a rumor long to get around
and my presence was known as soon as |
walked into the building, and regret that
l did not have the pleasure of meeting the
gentlemen of the school board, whose
friend l should like always to become and
further become the friend to all such public
officials similarly situated. So, the final adj
monitor which was given with regard to the
subject matter of the meeting came from
set out that the building be used for school
the lawyer who asked that a restriction be
PNA Pooeo anu q tlIIle HILL SET TO insure dC-
tlon Well, the meeting warmed up with ar
attempt to make motion to turn the soil
over Immediately to the school board. The
chairman was not sympathetic and the
spokesman of the school board said it might
DE better that the matter be discussed in
their absence. So, the white school board
members left and ON CAME A FIERY
MEETING IN INDEPENDENCE which
evoked my personal sympathy for the chair
man, Mr.. Finley who was later during the
meeting to be ousted in pure Hitlerian tao
tlcs. When the vote was taken on the ques-
ton OF turning the land over to the school
BOARD saw only one opposing vote and
that was registered by a calm mother of an
OKlahMna City physician, and an AMIN
college faculty member, Mrs. Sam Finley
the wife of the chairman They were hurt
and the whole affair seemed to have been
one OF misunderstanding But, as voices were
raised In support of giving the land to the
schooi board, from one corner came one
asking that l be given the privilege of the
floor. The new chairman Mr.. Waugh made
ready but | waved the request aside with
raise OF my right hand high above nv
iorehead. | did not care to interfere until
they were ready to listen. So, soon. DIR
QUINN presiding elder in the AME church,
and whose white head indicated that he
might have withstood during the many wears
much OF the noise and strife which tear
mems hearts, came forward, and with the
old school of eloquence he gave me an intro
auction, the like of which, have never re-
ceiVed since my pal, Rev. w. M. Spencer.
passed away. You remeber how ne would 90
with me down on Red River when we were
SURFING up the people who were hungry for
1000 during the early days of the Roosevelt
Administration. Well, DR.. Quinn made me
feel good and the memories of the mast
swept across and left me suddenly warm. In
that spirit stood and said my speech and
now near the ringing of applause and the
poignant exclamation who brought this
man here?". So, then all was quiet and
the effort which Immediately put forth IN
check strangely warmed heart. gave mo
an opportunity to exhort the bretheren and
sisters. The warm handshakes which were
mime AFTER had finished, together with the
spontaneous contribution of $500 fro,
f'"'tu me Ddfk INTO the hands
Vi ule prayer Department" as my pastor
ana took the highway back to the County
OF Jefferson. As we rode along the way.
reverend Holland said Judge all you need
TO 90 is to go into the woods and pray and
set the woods on fire.. Well I still emem.
Der the words which have come through the
n'aiis during my absence, and the admoni.
'ion w1en we are together face to face "lis.
Ten Tor the still small voice.. This brings 10
rnind the sermon which | heard the late
president make when he had been granted a
Incense TO peach text from Habakkuk
ma chapter and first verse 81 Will.
STAND UPON MY WATCH, AND SET MI,
UPON THE TOWER, AND WILL, WATCH
TO SEE WHAT HE WILL SAY UNTO ME-
AN WHAT | SHALL ANSWER WHEN
AM REPROVER"