Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1956-02-24
II Is A Big Negro Business Concern
S. S. Taylor. Associate Editor

phenomenon of the age is the Bishop council and the
Correctional council of the African Methodist Episcopal church
organization met last week in Hot Springs
the biggest Negro devised Negro inspired Negro al
mnsered Negro serving and Negro supported business IN
the world.
At the top is the group bishops urbane. some
cordial some reserved all besieged with nnumerable pc
petitioners and unable to give more than NOM
ent any person or thing Just oeneath
them are general officers of the denomination and the
heads of Its leading institutions and others who have d.
stnguixhed themselves in service
Several thousand ministers and aymen were here eaeh
of had position TO safeguard or an appointment TO
seek support solicit calculated advantage TO
gain mingng in the august gathering Every part oil
the nation represented there were auto license NUMBERS
from California to Maine and from Maine to Florida
Sycophans there TO suck the life blood out OF any
thing which they could attach themselves and TO become
in turn for those little shewder than themselves
nine persons present launching cam
pagn to put themselves three four vacancies
which possibly the bShoprics in May, at the
time of the quadenna general conference scheduled to meet
in Miami. Florida.
There were expensive and weltaored clothes sleek
auent looking dgnares and shabby and Shiny clothes
had been carefully cleaned and pressed TO look less UNI
presentabe important occasion No telling how much
effort how much sacrifice how much tragedy maybe thee
was to account for the places
In all branches Methodism the prevailing system of APP
pointment makes every minister competitor and rival of
every minister. pastor better charge II ne
dsplaces the who just above him. With So great
premium placed competition and sefshnesS, is mar
vel that friendship loyalty should possibly exist in the
Methodist ministry
But regardless of the and discorant cddes Of
personal and opinion, there remarkable unanm
ity opinion sngeness Of purpose racial policy The
body condemned the attempt defy the Supreme Court and
commended Negro citizens of Montgomery Alabama for
their recent stand There is no all that the Scnt
men of AME church is sody against segregation laws
and ordinances
But in the AME church. there is disposition to do
away with organization There veStge of
idea of doing away with the Negro schools other distinct
~ Negro enterprises the ANE church. The young leader
ship the church than dedicated to the Negro enter
prise The against segregation is not TO be con-
strled as a movement away from the Negro concern.
One direction taken by the progressive leadership the
sponsorship the soaed general budget fund.- for the
AME church. This fund" would systematic and simplify
financial procedures of the church The general budget
will include all of the church will be
administered by well selected general board which the
bishops are exofeio with Among
other items bill provides for the minimum salary of the
experienced minister be less than $1,000 year
appearances indicate anything the bill will the APP
pova of the general conference and will strengthen the
onomic life Of the AME church.