Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1919 — NEGROES WILL TAKE PROMINENT PART IN METHODIST CENTENARY CELEBRATION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NEGROES WILL TAKE PROMINENT PART IN METHODIST CENTENARY CELEBRATION

rHE Methodist Centenary celebration. which will be held la Cohiiabus. 0., June 2t5 to Inly 18, Will for a* time e*tab!lsh recogaiti** R>r the Mgro on the international church map by tnmsterHag him feoaa his traditional racial role at recipient to Burt of * potent contributor to the world’* religion* uplift. "The very fact that aS MothodMsm I* celebrating the one hwadredth *h atvezsary of the birth of missions is a tribute to the zeal and the consecration at its negro membership examplified in the person of John Stew art. a negro member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who started at Upper Sandusky, 0.. the first honu

■ • , ' t 4J missionary work ever done in our country,” said Dr. E. L. Gilliam, pastor of the St. Paul’s A. M. E church of Columbae and . hairman of the Af-' rican Co* to a ary bureau, ia a recent taker view. hesoa« negroes of prominence who wtN bo ip (Jotnenbue to take part in Mm Oeatoaary proceedings are Bishop Alexander Camphor M Monrovia, Africa; Bioko? Issah Soott of NashriMe, Toe*.; Dr W. A. C. Hughes. MM saeretasy of toe Beard of Home Mteetomo; o*a. S’. M. Delaney of the rp-M-r-rt* l M*y«viW* district and A M. Jones, deM secretaries .of the BoaW of Suadey Behools; Dr. W, S' SborrtH, WM secretary of toe Board of Foreign Missions; Dr. J. H. G. cogrias, Boid secretary of the Board of : Dr. I. G. Fenn, correipns fiesta secretary of the Freedman’s Aid Society: Bishop O. A. Carter;, pro- ■-■■■■■ ■ - ■ " -

siding over the A. M. B. church of Tennessee; Dr. E. W. 9 Hammoad, editor of church literature, Rushville, Ind.; Dr. J.-W. Robinson; Dr. G. R. Bryant and Dr. E. M. CarroH of Chicago; Dr. R. E. Jone*, *dit*r of the Southwestern Christian Advocate; Dr. W. M. Brooks of Naw York; number of college presidents and district superintendents as well as a host of well educated, intelligent men and women, lay representatives bf the varied fields of. African Methodist church activities. Columbus boasts of eight African Methodist churches, * new Y. M. C. A. building, valued at $100,000; two community social center houses, one

on the tax’ duplicate for $25 00d, the other for $20,000; a Y. W. C. A. war community center, a theater and a meVfe house and two good hotels. A thoroughly organised African Centenary eommittee is actively engaged in perfecting plans for the participation of nearly 2.PP9 negroes in various forms of the celebration activities. This committee iacludoe district superintendente and toe pastor# and lay members of the Coiusa=hWtsfcWMhe«r; who have charge of the enlistment of Africans for pageant and musical service and securing of accommodations for too Centenary visitors. Already a chores of Hd colored singers, two estoesd beads, emo of men. toe other at women, and college quartettes are pledged and ta trntaiag. la addMea Wt negroes wMI take part m the pggeanta sad* assist ia the demoastration exhibits.

SCENE OF A VILLAGE IN AFRICA. One of the Many Features of the African Exhibit at the Centenary Celebration.