Blog 58 - Wait, Until the Prayer is Over

Blog 58

“Wait, Until the Prayer is Over”:

The Beginning of The African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)

by

Vernon M. Herron

In his book, RICHARD ALLEN- APOSTLE OF FREEDOM, the late Charles H. Wesley, a noted historian, my mentor and an Alpha brother, gives a prayerful account of the beginnings of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME).

You will recall that history gives a progression of the birth and growth of Methodism. The Church of England or The Anglican Church broke away from the Catholic; the Episcopal Church in U.S. developed from the Church of England; the Methodist Episcopal Church (ME) left the Church of England in 1784 while the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) was born from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1787 followed by The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ) in 1796 and so named to indicate that it was formed by people of African descent; then, The Colored (later) The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) in 1870.

In this story, Richard Allen is presented as a man, minister, organizer, bishop, citizen, administrator, group leader and exponent of freedom. He was born 14 February 1760, reared in Philadelphia and Delaware, self-educated and directly influenced by the Quaker faith, but in later life he abandoned the Quaker denomination and accepted the faith of the Church of England, then the Methodist Episcopal Church.

At age 17, Richard experienced the religious change, which the Methodist denomination had made popular as “conversion…the dramatic change of life from          the ways of sin to the ways of righteousness.” In Allen’s day, men and women had similar experiences. He went from house to house, describing his experience to his former companions and encouraged them to be more consistent in Christian living.

Shortly afterward, Allen joined the Methodist Society in his neighborhood and began to attend the class meetings. He impressed his master and his enslaved companions that workers who were church members were more reliable than workers who were not.

Richard Allen, his brothers and others received the opportunity to purchase their freedom and they did. Richard became a free man in 1777 and this brought on a dilemma, which was an occupation and security in slavery or freedom’s insecurity.              

Methodism, to which Allen was devoted, was based on itinerancy. He began to travel and to preach, spending much time in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Allen’s career was influenced with the spirit of independence in the American Colonies, known as a period of discontent. In this period, life was motivated by Methodism and the American Revolution. The latter broke with the Church of England and established itself as an independent religious movement.

The spirit of these movements affected the life of Richard Allen. He and his followers became discontented with restraints as the American Colonists were in their relation with Great Britain. His experience in establishing the African Methodist Episcopal Church was to be similar to the rise of this movement for independence. First, a protest, then a desire for peace with the congregation, and then independence, and back of it all was the desire for independence. Methodism was over the religious and social expressions of protest.

Efforts of the Methodists in humanitarian causes continued throughout the 18^th Century. Slavery received attention as other social evils. John Wesley preached against it. He did not hesitate in the evangelization of Negroes.

In February 1786, Richard Allen came to Philadelphia. He began preaching by appointment at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church at 5 a.m. There were conversions at these meetings and the results were so encouraging that he remained in Philadelphia for a longer period than he had planned at first. He saw an increase of number in attendance at the church. He began to preach twice a day, sometimes, four and five times.

As the years passed and the number of persons increased, the “Negro Pew” began to manifest itself. Negroes were required to take seats in the rear, or in the galleries of the church of which they were members. They were asked at times to sit next to the walls on the lower floors, in special pews within the body of the church, or in the rear seats, or the gallery.

As early as 1786, Richard Allen saw the necessity for the erection of a place of worship for the Negroes of the city. When he first proposed this idea, he met with opposition. There were only three persons who favored the plan; Absalom Jones, who was destined to be the founder of the first Episcopal Church for Negroes in America, William White and Dorus Ginnings.  The elders in charge at St. George’s opposed the plan and no progress    was made for nearly a year. The number of colored members increased as a result of Allen’s meetings and they began to feel themselves “much cramped.”

To give you, the reader, the flavor of the true birth pains of the AME Church, like Wesley, this writer has endeavored to follow the dictum of David Hume, who said, “the quality of an historian is to be true and impartial; the next, is to be interesting.” In that spirit, I quote Wesley directly for accuracy and drama.

“Another result of the increase in the colored membership was the removal from the seats around the wall to places in the gallery. In November, 1787, on the Sunday following the announcement of this change of seating an incident occurred which has become a classic in the history of the Negro church. Richard Allen… states that when he, Absalom Jones and a small number of colored members arrived at the church, they were told by the sexton that they were expected to sit in the gallery. Assuming that they were to sit toward the front and above the seats which they had previously occupied, they went forward. The services had begun as they neared the seats which they thought were for them. The elder began at the moment to lead the congregation in prayer. They knelt, and Allen says that shortly thereafter he heard considerable scuffling and talking in low tones. Lifting his head he saw one of the trustees seize Absalom Jones and attempt to pull him from his knees, while saying that they could not kneel there. Conscious of the proprieties of the situation, Absalom Jones asked him to wait until the prayer was over. This request was refused and the effort was continued to move him from this particular place. Finally, Absalom Jones said, “Wait until prayer is over and I will get up and trouble  you no more.” Again the trustee declined to desist and beckoned to another of the trustees to come to his assistance. This one started toward William White. By this time the prayer was over. The little group, after a brief consultation, as Allen states, “all went out of the church in a body and they were no more plagued with us in the church.”

It was out of this experience that the African Methodist Episcopal  Church was born.             

    

I Remember "Winky"

     Blog 57

I Remember “Winky”

by

Barbara P. Hendricks

Barbara P. Hendricks

It is quite usual to find articles in newspapers and magazines about memory-the long term, the short term, the impact it makes on life-long learning, the loss of it; memory is a favorite topic. It seems that the older I get, the more frequently I recall my early childhood years. I remember fondly many things that happened to me, even before I was old enough to attend school.

Some people might think that I had a lonely childhood because I grew up without any brothers or sisters, but I was never lonely. I enjoyed the companionship of neighborhood playmates and my friends from Sunday school.  Because I was an only child, I had a very special relationship with my mother and father and my grandmother who lived with us. I learned earlier than most children, the art of conversation because I spent a lot of quality time with the adults in my home and with the adults who often visited us.

According to educational terminology, I was a precocious child. My parents were always seeking ways for me to interact with children of my age. Perhaps they needed some time away from endless chatter and questions. The solution for all of us came from a family friend, Miss King,” who lived one street over from ours. We could see her house from our back yard and a shallow creek separated our back yards. Miss King was a first grade teacher and in those days, teachers’ salaries were truly meager. During the summer months many black teachers took jobs as maids or babysitters to supplement their income. Miss King had another idea. She had a big house and no children of her own, so she opened a summer “kindergarten” in her home. There were no kindergarten available to black children and this decision on her part generated much excitement among Miss King’s friends who had children.

I still remember the day my mother told me about the kindergarten and then said that I would be going there for the summer. I was so excited I could hardly wait for the first day! My mother took me shopping to buy my first “book satchel” (today’s kid say “book bag”). On opening day, my father gave me fifty cents to pay my “tuition” for the week and my mother tied it in the corner of a handkerchief for me. I packed a little notebook, a pencil, and a box of crayons in my new book satchel. My mother tucked the handkerchief into a pocket on my dress and I was ready to go. My mother walked with me to the end of the yard and waited until I walked across the plank from one side of the little creek to the other. When I was safely in Miss King’s yard, I waved to my mother and ran to Miss King’s back door.

When she opened the door and directed me to my “classroom” I could not believe what I saw! I had been to Kiss King’s house many times with my mother, but what I remembered as her dining room had become a bright and colorful room filled with all kinds of books, small toys, colored paper for drawing, and a big chalk board stood in the corner in front of her china cabinet. It was the most beautiful room I had ever seen- a room just for children who were five years old, like me. Shortly after I arrived, five other youngsters came and I was really happy because I knew them from Sunday school.

Kindergarten was off to a great beginning! Miss King then told us that she was going to teach us how to read and she brought to the dining room table six brand new “readers.” We most often hear that children in that time period remember Dick and Jane. A boy and a girl were mentioned in my new reader, but I have I have no memory of their names. In addition to their mother and father, there was one other member of their household. His name was “Winky” and he was a little monkey!  I don’t know why Winky stands out in my memory, but I distinctly remember Winky.  After a few weeks, I was reading quite well because I loved to read about Winky’s antics. In the reader he was pictured wearing a little blue suit and a little round hat that sat on the side of his head. To this day, I do not know why there was a monkey in their home as a pet in 1944. Today, it is not unusual to hear of people choosing pets like monkeys and other animals normally considered to be wild. Nevertheless, I remembered Winky.

Winky set me on a course that is with me to this day. I am sure that my enthusiasm for reading was enhanced by my introduction to him at Miss King’s Kindergarten. Every day I would carry my little reader to school and back in my book satchel! On weekends I would line up all my dolls and read to them the stories about Winky. I even created some new stories about him that were not in the book! My creative juices flowed freely back then and that little reader was very special to me, mainly because of Winky. I have retained that love of learning to this day.

When my own children were born, I bought a book for each of them and they too grew up loving books. A great joy to me has been seeing my daughter reading stories to her children from books that she owned as a child. My home still has some of those books on the book shelves and our grandchildren often select them to read when they visit us. I don’t know which characters they remember or find most appealing, but as far as I am concerned, I still remember Winky!

Note:

            A brief bio of Mrs. Hendricks can be found in blog 39.

#56 - A Phenomenal Woman

Blog 56

A Phenomenal Woman

by

Vernon M. Herron

Mrs. Carolyn Brenda Reynolds Jones

The Western North Carolina Chapter of Bennett College National Alumnae Association recently recognized and honored Mrs. Carolyn Brenda Reynolds Jones as a Phenomenal Woman of the Church. In her own words, Maya Angelou describes this:

  Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

but when I start to tell them, they think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips,

the stride of my steps, the curl of my lips.

I’m a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I walk into a room just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes, and the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist, and the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered what they see in me.

They try so much but they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them they say they still can’t see.

I say

It’s in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style.

I’m a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s the click of my heels, the bend of my hair,

The palm of my hand, the need of my care,

‘Cause  I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

‘Phenomenal’ is defined as very notable or remarkable; it or one is extraordinary or exceptional. The criteria of The Bennett Alumnae Association included the following descriptive words as impact, involvement, inspiration, integrity, spirituality, humility, kindness, wisdom, perseverance and serving others. We too, at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC can call Mrs. Brenda Jones a Phenomenal Woman because of her 3P’s: Position, Purpose and Personality. She is indeed a very notable, remarkable, extraordinary and exceptional person.

Position

Mrs. Jones is the beloved wife of Dr. Clifford A. Jones, Sr. who is the pastor of one of Charlotte’s most prestigious mega churches, the FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. This is a mega church   with a membership over 7,000 members, of which 62% are females and 38% are males. The age groups reveal 8% children and youth; 60% adults 18-54; 23% senior citizens; while 8% is unidentified.

She is the alter-ego of her husband, a second “Cliff,” a trusted friend who is the opposite side of his personality. She articulates his philosophy, extends his spirit and brings his dreams to fruition. As such, Mrs. Jones is the FIRST LADY of this phenomenal congregation.

Purpose

Even though “Miss Brenda” is an alter-ego, she conducts a unique ministry of personal and group needs in her own way. Among many noteworthy achievements, she helped established the Youth Opportunity University (Y.O.U.), a summer program offering academic, religious and cultural enrichment as well as scholarships for local and South African students. She was the co-founder of the CREW (Christian Really Enjoying Witnessing), coordinator of the New Perspective Bible Study (for Women) and Ministry, advisor for the Baptist Young Women (BYW), Sunday School  teacher, senior high superintendent, youth advisor and director of youth life.

Personality

The personality of Mrs. Jones is not self-serving. You won’t find her in a special seat reserved for the “first lady.” Rather, she moves about the congregation, sitting with “any” and “all,” sharing her Bible and hymn book with one who may be the city’s mayor, the former mayor,  a legislator, a judge, an educator, a financier, a doctor, a technician, a retiree,, a student, a laborer or a struggler. Her movement enhances identification with people. She loves people at their point of need. She embraces the church and calls “them all” family.

Mrs. Jones is known, loved and respected through senses rather than through thought and intuition.

To know Carolyn Brenda Reynolds Jones is to love her;

            To love her is to see her in action;

            To see her in action is to observe a—

P H E N O M E N A L     W O M A N

#55 - The Wadsworth Estate: A Symbol of Eloquence and Distinction

Blog 55

The Wadsworth Estate:

A Symbol of Eloquence and Distinction

by

Vernon M Herron and Judge Shirley Fulton

The Wadsworth Estate

The Charlotte community has acquired a most distinguished and eloquent estate which enhances the cultural life of this locale. It is The Wadsworth Estate, a property listed on the registry of Historic Landmark properties and now is used for weddings, receptions, meetings and other special events.

THE GEORGE PIERCE WADSWORTH HOUSE turns 100 years old this year.  Built in 1911, the residence, carriage house and gardens in Historic Wesley Heights, are unique North Carolina examples of the Arts and Craft era that has earned historic designation.  Throughout 2011, we will commemorate the property and its significance in Charlotte Mecklenburg’s development and explore a century of history and culture.

The celebration will include myriad events, experiences, and topics—drama, music, literature, culture, law, art, community conversations, introspective, and more—opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn and to engage as we weave through and explore these 100 years, locally and beyond.

The house is located at 400 South Summit Avenue in the Wesley Heights neighborhood, an early twentieth century streetcar suburb, of Charlotte, North Carolina.   Occupying the equivalent of three lots, it faces east on a corner lot at the juncture of South Summit Avenue and West Second Street.   It is positioned to capture the aura of the Charlotte skyline and the excitement of the activities at the Panthers football stadium.  It is within walking distance of uptown Charlotte and two blocks north of the West Morehead Business corridor, making it easily accessible from all of the major travel thoroughfares.

The Wadsworth family continued to live in the house after the sudden death of George Pierce Wadsworth in 1930 at the age of 51. James Dallas Ramsey, an officer of the Textron-Southern Company, and his wife, Pearl Shelby Ramsey bought the house in 1936. The Ramseys converted a portion of the west side of the second floor to an apartment and adapted a small sleeping porch as a kitchen, probably during the late 1940s. The Ramseys moved in 1967, and the house stood vacant for two years.  In 1969, during the Civil Rights era, Mrs. Ramsey sold the property to an African American family, prominent businessman, Worthy D. Hairston (1902-1969) and his wife, Marie S. Hairston.  Hairston, a funeral director who had established the Hairston's House of Funerals in 1930, moved his family and business from Beatties Ford Road to the Wadsworth House.

Judge Shirley L. Fulton

Judge Shirley L. Fulton bought a home in Wesley Heights in 1989 and moved in 1990.  She discovered Wesley Heights neighborhood when she was searching for a home that was easily accessible to the interstates and major thoroughfares.  As a superior court judge, she was assigned to preside over courts in many North Carolina counties, but primarily in the western region.  Upon her return from these assignments, she found herself sitting in traffic trying to reach residence in south Charlotte. She was impressed with the architectural character of the housing stock and the tree lined street and recognized the potential for revitalizing the neighborhood as a desirable place to live.  After organizing the community as a nonprofit community development corporation, she led the community through a renaissance to reclaim the housing stock, reduce criminal activities, and develop a greenway in the community as a part of Mecklenburg County’s greenway master plan. 

Fulton had a vision for the property as a conference center, something that was missing on the Westside.  She pursued that vision through a restoration of the main house initially, maintaining most of its original features.  This part of the property was opened for business in August 2001.  

In 2007, Judge Fulton started the restoration of the servant’s quarters/Carriage House.  As it turned out, this project took the better part of two years to complete. Its grand opening and reopening of the main house took place on January 16, 2010 as part of Rev. Martin Luther King’s birthday celebration.  The Carriage House is now in use primarily as a wedding chapel, but is also used for meetings, receptions, small dinner parties, family reunions, political events, social gatherings and all other special events.

Blog 54 - Is Jesus Black Enough? Raising the Level of Consciousness

Blog 54

  Is Jesus Black Enough?:

Raising The Level of Consciousness.

by

Vernon M. Herron

Black Jesus at Gethsemane

by

Gretta Whitted

According to demographic and statistical reports, there are five billion peoples on the face of the earth and the majority of them are peoples of color. In fact, it is reported that 2/3 of the world’s population is dark skinned. It is also reported that there are more than two billion Christians and that one third of them are dark skinned people.  If that be true, color is significant to one’s perception and image of a divine order. Since the Jesus of history is “all things to all people,”  African Americans ask, “is Jesus black enough?”, Jews and Arabs might ask, “is Jesus brown enough?”, while Caucasians can ask “is Jesus white enough?”

The dark skin of Jesus can be seen as Luke 1 speaks of Mary as, “The Black Madonna.” Mary was the mother of Jesus. She was a distant relative of David and Solomon who were of the lineage of Boaz, direct son of Rahab, “the Black Canaanite.” (Ruth 4:13) His existence can be found from Genesis to Revelation since He is Alpha and Omega. His earthly maternal genealogy can be traced from Adam to Noah and Ham. Therefore, Jesus was dark skinned.

That means that where there is difference in race, skin color and even location, there may be a difference in culture, modes of living and even religion. However, in all areas, relevancy of a deity is the key.  That is to ask, is Jesus as a God-man  sensitive to one’s total needs?

Referring to the Jesus of history rather than to the Christ of faith, the question of  Jesus’ blackness, raises the issue of consciousness and at what level.    

                                  

Often a people have experienced a mind-set which endured discrimination in housing, education and employment. The Civil Rights movement of the late ‘60’s was a period in which the level of consciousness was raised. Like a horizontal dial, it moved from being a victim of circumstance to commitment, seeking to end discrimination and to guarantee equal rights and opportunities to all people.                    

Consciousness defined is the state of being conscious, aware and alert. To raise one’s level of consciousness is to make one more aware of his or her potential to cause political or social change in oneself.  Conscious-raising is a method of making people more aware of their ability to bring about change or reforms. Conscience then is the sense of right and wrong.       

During the protesting years of the late ‘60’s, the community’s mind-set was challenged in various ways. We experienced a Viet Nam War, politics by assassination of which John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy were killed. Various methods were used to make people become more aware of their potentials in voting, economic and educational power. Vocabulary changed. “Black” replaced “Negro” and “colored,”  “Black” became beautiful; the individual claimed worth by declaring that, “I am somebody.” That language influenced speakers of every sort including this preacher.

One Sunday in ‘68, this writer preached a sermon entitled “Is Jesus Black Enough?” at the Second Baptist Church in Joliet, IL. In that sermon, the real Jesus was portrayed with high cheek bones, woolly and nappy hair, (Rev.1:14) thick lips, thinly dressed, who appears as the suffering servant, despised, rejected, wounded, whipped and beaten with many stripes, bruised and cast out. (Isa.53) This Black Jesus is in contrast to the conception of an Anglo Saxon painting of a Jesus, associated with Wall Street and as portrayed by an European artist.

That sermon inspired a listening-parishioner-worshipper-artist, Mrs. Gretta Whitted who took mental notes, went home and immediately painted a Black Jesus to whom the Black community and others could relate. The following Sunday the portrait was presented to the pastor who found a prominent place for it in his residence.

Shortly afterward, an elderly saint stood before the revealing painting and said: “Look what they have done to my Jesus. They have made Him Black. Well, my Jesus has brought me this far over the years and I am not giving Him up now for another.” That saint had a mind-set, her conscious level was not raised and she could not effect change in herself nor in others.

Is Jesus Black enough? The answer is NO, if there is no movement of a mind-set conscience which stagnates mental and spiritual growth. The answer is YES, if there is awareness of a new personal potential and motivation toward a more just and humane society.

The historic Jesus comes in all shades of colors to all people. He comes in a skin color of red, yellow, black or white. His “enough-ness” depends on how you perceive Him to be, His sensitivity and His response to the needs and cries of His people. He is a personalized God who visits when one is in prison, clothes when one is naked, feeds when one is hungry, attends when one is sick, comforts when one is cast down, restores when one is ostracized, and made whole when one is wounded. “Enough” means that there is connection with the Divine because He sees me, knows me, needs me, loves me and calls me.

            ___________________________________________________

About the artist:

Mrs. Gretta V. Whitted

Mrs. Gretta Whitted was born, reared, educated and employed in Joliet, Il. She developed an interest in Art while attending Joliet Central College. Gretta drew the artwork for the manuals that were enclosed with the ammunition that was produced at the Joliet Arsenal. She is a member of The Second Baptist Church of Joliet, Il.