Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 2 September 1993 — Page 14

The Muncie Times, Thursday, 2 September, 1993, Page 14

Down memory lane to days of ‘Colored Circles’ in newspapers

by Hurley C. Goodall In past years, Mancie’s African American community and its life style was structured around its churches and its community facilities, such as the Y.W.C.A., Y.M.C.A., Odd Fellows Hall and Veterans Clubs. There were also many social and fraternal clubs, most of which met in the members’ homes because meeting facilities in hotels and restaurants were denied to them because of their race. Starting in the 1920s and continuing into the 1960s, the Muncie Newspapers accommodated the black community by printing, on a periodic basis, columns written by African American writers providing information on the activities of these groups. In the Muncie Morning Star the column was called In Colored Circles. In the Muncie Evening Press it was called Colored Notes. Other columns were also printed. Most common was a column titled Phyllis Wheatley Branch Y. W. Some of those very prolific writers were Mrs. Carrie W. Phillips, Mrs. Charles Booher, Mrs. Georgia Lucas and Mrs. Grovelle Peele. The Muncie Times, in an effort to share some of those experiences with its readers, will print reproductions of some of those columns selected at random to give our readers a feel for what activities those early pioneers participated in, who the people involved were and what the names of their organizations were. The Times hopes you enjoy this voyage into the past. If you enjoy the columns, please let us know at The Times. \ Our first except is from In Colored Circles. It ap-

peared on December 24, 1927, and was printed in the Muncie Star. In Colored Circles by Mrs. Charles M. Booher. Calvary Baptist Church--Dr. William Z. Thomas; pastor. Sunrise prayer service at 6 a.m. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Preaching at 11 a.m. by the pastor; subject, “The Old Time Religion: God’s Gift to the World.” B.Y.P.U. at 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m. the senior choir will render a sacred program, “The Watch of The Shepherds,” Mrs. G.L. Riffe, reader. A Christmas address by the pastor, Dr. Thomas. Bethel A.M.E. ChurchRev. G.S. Smith, pastor. Sunday School at 9 a.m. Preaching at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. by the pastor. A.C.E. League at 6:30 p.m. Union Baptist ChurchRev. H.L. Buckman, pastor. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Preaching by the pastor at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. B.Y.P.U. at 6:30 p.m. Shaffer Chapel A.M.E. Church-Rev. A.E. Taylor, pastor. Sunday school at 9:20 a.m. Preaching at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. by the pastor. Tabernacle Baptist Chu-rch--Rev. R.B. Dixson, pastor. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Preaching by the pastor at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. B.Y.P.U. at 6:30 p.m. Subject at 11 a.m., The Birth of Christ. There will be a Christmas tree Monday evening at the church. Trinity M.E. ChurchRev. T.R. Prentice, pastor. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Preaching by the pastor at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. A.C.E. League at 6:30 p.m. Christ Temple, 3rd and Vine Streets-Elder Oscar Sanders, pastor. Our

special holiday Bible study begins Sunday, Jan. 25th. The pastor will deliver the message each evening. Sunday, “Holy Ghost: What It Is And How To Get It.” Monday, “Which is Right, To Take Water or Wine for Communion?” Tuesday, “Is it a Sin To Eat Meat as Some Affirm?” Wednesday, “Is it Necessary For All Christians to Speak With Other Tongues To Be Saved?” Thursday, “How to Know a False Shepherd in These Please the People Days.” Friday, “Why Did The 120 Speak in Other Tongues at Pentecost?” Saturday, an all night watch and prayer meeting; Sunday, Jan. 1, “These Things Are Hid From The Wise and Prudent and Are Revealed Unto Babies.” Antioch Baptist Church--Rev. Devasbar, pastor. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Preaching at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. by the pastor. B.Y.P.U. at 6:30 p.m. Revival service will begin at Calvary Baptist Church Saturday evening, Dec. 31st, conducted by the Rev. J.T. Martin of Indianapolis. The ministerial alliance will conduct the New Year’s services Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Sermon by Rev. A.E. Taylor, pastor of Shaffer Chapel A.M.E. Church. Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Pierson are spending the Christmas holidays in Chicago, the guests of the former’s sister and family. The H.G.B. Club will have a community Christmas tree and party Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Seymour Street branch Y.W.C.A. Doctor William Z. Thomas will spend the Christmas holidays at Indianapolis, the guest of his

family. Ben Shobe left Friday for Indianapolis to accompany his sister, Mrs. Lizzie Cook, to Smith Grove, Kentucky to attend the funeral of his niece, Mrs. Hallie Cooke. There will be a Kentucky Oyster supper this evening at the home of Leo Coleman on Highland avenue. The members of Calvary Baptist Sunday school will give their Christmas program this evening at the church: First part--Christmas chorus by school; class recitations, beginners and primary classes; reading, junior and intermediate pupils; duet, senior girls. Part two: Cantata, “Santa Claus Dissenters.” Cast of characters as follows: Santa, William Board; The News Boy, Mrs. Gladys Sinas; Miss Discontented, Miss Mattie Tribble; Good Will, Miss Addie Shelton; Peace, Miss Sevella Lucas; Love, Miss Mabel Douglas; Four Spinsters, Miss Emma Cloyd, Miss Ida Vena, Mrs. Jessie Pettiford, Miss Mary Peck, Sara Sylph, Miss Louise Glass: Magic Dolls, beginner’s class; Five Old Ladies, Mrs. John Holt, Mrs. Della Jones, Mrs. Helen Porter, Mrs. Jamie Reed and Mrs. Millie Keith; Winter Sprites, Junior Boys and Girls: King and Queen of Sprites, Estella Hardgrove and Harold Haywood. Dissenters Committee—Charles Watkins, Mrs. Alice Willis, J.C. Taylor, John Alfred Nelson, Cecil Wilson and Miss Bessie Williams. Poor Maggie, Miss Lucille Board; Leila, Miss Marjorie Scott; Nita, Miss Alice Grsos;Rock-a-Bye Girls, junior class. There will be a Christmas tree and gifts for the children.

There will be a Kentucky oyster supper and fish fry this evening at the home of Mrs. Callie Grace, 231 South Hackley street. Ed. Note: Hurley C. Goodall, former fire fighter and long time state representative from Muncie, is now retired and a Visiting Scholar at the Middletown Center of Ball State University.

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