The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1954-12-04
by
Rev. Vernon Z. Carter, Minister
Of the First Congregational
Methodist Church Of
Boston, Mass.

Methodist Church OF
Boston, Mass.
We can't in any way give Il
you a complete picture or dis
cussion of this important ma.
tional assembly of Churches
Let us simply give you thi'
week. several factors of tho
occasion and more next week
The first plenary session o.
the Assembly at Hotel Stat
Ter, Rev. DR.. Roy G.. Ross, gen.
eral secretary, and Rev, Ros-
well~P. Barnes, associate gen.
eral secretary, gave a report
on THE State of the Chur-
ches.' Race division still
exists in corporate structures,
in the. listings of the census
and iHathe minds Of many in
dividuaf church member, ="
the report states. Five mem
Der denominations of the Ma
tionalcouncil are separate
only because OF race or color. "
In Observing this report it
seems that the colored demon
nations have a challenge
whichamost be met efficiently
in tue years to come. How
ever, doing away with racial
Churches must be a voluntary
matter with the laymen as well
as with the minister. The
Kingdom of God is a commit
nifty of integrated fellowship
with God and has no place
for Socialism. The report
proceeds to say,aWe seem to
be moving toward an Ameri-
can culture where the only
major segregated institution
left will be the church." The
responsibility falls on the
shoulders of both races, white
and cofored, In a day that Is
so far advanced every step
should be taken especially by
the members or laymen to do
away with or oppose the name
of any church that has a
racial title or label. Why la
bel o1eself as Irish, Greek,
Yellew,-. Brown, Colored, Afri-
can, Oriental, or Caucasian.
The : Church of God is one
people from one God. AS long
as We carry the label it will
be harder for the man of CO.
lor TO get his rightful place
in world. Christian ed
ucatiun in the Churches
should excel, in a scientific
approach in alternating this
problem,
Rev. Paul E. Scherer gave
a great send off sermon for
the opening of the Assembly
last Sunday. His sermon Till
He Come" at the historic Old
South Church was based on
the text For as often as We
eat this bread and drink this
cup We do shew the Lords
death till he come" The Rev
Scherer tells the opening SEES
sion that it is the redeemed
community, the company Of
those for whom Christ died.
He Celebrates on the fact that
the Church got its start in
Tragedy the worst in man met
the best in God"
He brought out that Christ
was the picture Of the best il
God "Church is the sacrifi-
cial communion. Worship al
its highest moment. The hu.
man soul meets it's God Will
warmth, Worship is not the
SUM end Of its own. It /,
himself Christi that he be.
slows. We do not rub out any
ones theology in the name o.
ecunlenicity. Christianity does
not raise questions defending
a particular faith or institu-
ton. We must bind up tho
wounds of the world and brins
to the world the light OF tht
glory Of God that Is in Jesu:
face" These we're the inSpir,
ing -send off sermon excerpts
as well as many others which
gave the Assembly its impe-
tus.s The service closed with a
great bitany of Praise arrang
ed BY Truman B. Douglas.
The evening of last Sunday
Nov. %, a public meeting OF
the General Assembly took
place az Symphony Hall which
presented a colorful pomenade
OF the many denominations of
the United States as well as
the many lay and ministerial
delegates in their denomina-
tionalsand academic robes. The
president Of the National
Council Of Churches gave an
inspiring address stating that
the Assembly was brought to-
getAep TO manifest our cen
trat Unity in Christ" He
spoke of first doing away with
overlapping efforts, (2nd) di-
visionaL responsibility, and
(3rd) .averting humiliation Of
our world. He further stated
that the Assembly teaches de-