St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-02-23


The Roman Catholic churches in
the Twin Cities continue to make
converts among the Negro popula-
ton. st. Peter Claver in st. Paul
which has a parochial school leads
in this respect. This is an integrated
church with Negroes in the MAORI
ty. One of its earliest priests was
Father Stephen Theobald, a Negro
minister. At the time Rev. Theo-
bald pastored at a St. Peter Claver
there were only three Negro cath
Ole priests in the entire us.
st. Leonard's in south Mime
apOlis is a integrated cOngrega-
ton with white members in the
majority. The Catholic churches
in the Twin Cities may be the
most integrated church In the
communities, since in a number
of parishes there are only one or
two Negro families who are
members.
The Catholic Interracial Council
which in the Twin Cities has had
only a brief life has made itself
felt in the area of human rights
since its formation. Catholics who
formerly appeared not too con-
cerned with the problem of white
Negro relations are being exposed
to the problem by growing group
of young white laymen, aided by a
few of the clergy.
The late Archbishop Murray dur
ing his shepherdship over the St.
Paul diocese played a consistent
part in the civil rights field, as
did his assistant Bishop Cowley.
Catholic support was important in
the passage of the fair housing
bill in the last session of the legis-
lature. James w. Luger a young
Catholic business man and layman
played an important part in
getting Catholics individually to
support the legislation and getting
the blessing of the church HER
archy.
The Church of God in Christ
still makes steady progress in Min
neapolis. The principal congrega-
tons are Graham's Temple in north
Minneapolis and St. Pauls on the
Minneapolis southside. st. PauIs
under Rev. John c. Virgins, was
the first predominantly Negro con-
gregation to construct a new
church building in Minneapolis.
Bishop j. w. Graham is head
of the church in this area. The
Fourth Street Church in the
Seven Corner area still has its
faithful band of followers. Its
pastor is the Rev. William VIII
HamS.
While the Negro communicates
among the Lutheran synods is not
large, some of the outstanding at
tacks on racial intolerance has
come from that group in Minnesota
during 1861. Negroes are found in
few Minneapolis congregations
and at least two congregations in
st. Paul there are a sizeable num-
Der of families who are members.
One st. Paul congregation Re
deemer Lutheran at Dale and
Iglehart Av., is following a new
pattern and plans to expand its
church facilities to serve both
its present membership and its
new Negro members in larger
church facilities, recreatiOnal
areas and a planned high rise
residence for Golden Ayers.
This church as many other
churches in the nation with orig
inal congregations of white par
ishioners face residential change.
A good number Of Lutheran
churches in some of the nations
cities encouraged by a Chicago
congregation have decided not to
move their churches but stay in
the community serving all who
want to join them in worship.
Another Lutheran church, st.
Paul Lutheran at Marshall and
Chatsworth has an increasing
integrated membership.
Other Protestant churches in the
Twin Cities have not followed the
example of Hennepin Methodist
church and absorbed an entire Ne
gro congregation but members of
the group have been made to feel
with increasing force that they are
welcome in practically all of the
predominantly white Methodist,
Baptist, Presbyterian, Congrega-
tional, and Episcopalian churches
of the Twin Cities.
JehOvah's Witnesses have been
gaining converts all over the
nation among Negro religion
lists, the Twin Cities are no ex-
ceptiOn.
1t can be said that church and
religious life in the Twin Cities
continued its growth during 1861
contributing to the constructive
life of both communities.
In all of the so-called Negro
churches which number roughly 10
in the Twin Cities with several
small groups which can hardly be