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Portland Observer
Thursday, February 8, 197«
Page 7
The Black spirituals
Part I
A Testament ol Hope (or Our T im e.
The Hlark spirituals grew out of the
Blark experience with human enslave
rnent in America. The spirituals are
unique in the modern world in terms of
their insights or perceptions regarding
God's relationship to the world and to all
who are God's creatures.
In thia regard, the Black spirituals are
strikingly similar to much of the spirit of
the Old Testament literature. Indeed, in
the minds of many, the literature of the
spirituals is seen as a kind of Third
Testament. It js said to add a new
dimension of hope to the "God Eneount
ers" in the present Old and New
Testaments.
In our present exploitative or colonial
iat minded world, the images of God are
presented largely in concepts or symbols
which either make God into an idea
which is subscribed to by a statement ol
faith
or they make God into a
controllable companion. The spirituals
portray or reveal a vastly different God,
To the Black men. women and children
locked in the iron bonds of enslavement,
God could not be experienced as an idea
or a kind of tamed domestic pet or
business partner and have validity. To
the Black situation in American bondage,
the God met and known by Daniel in the
lions den had meaning This was the God
of Rescue and Salvation.
What the enslaved Black community
needed was divine or total salvation from
a sub human and dehumanizing system ol
captivity. Being devoured by a lion was
Benedict College president visits UF
similar although perhaps leaser peril
than the perpetual or lifelong endurance
of the indignities of human enslavement.
Almost instinctively, in the collective
experience of the Black enslaved com
munity, the Old Testament God of Rescue
and Salvation came to be encountered
and experienced in daily reality. We shall
see God liberating later. But initially God
came to the enslaved community under
standing the depraved condition which
had been imposed upon it.
The
community sang, using the pronoun “I"
for “we" as an expression of absolute or
ultimate communal identity.
There arose from their lips the words:
Nobody knows de trouble I see,
Nobody knows but Jesus:
Nobody knows de trouble I see,
Glory, hallelujah!
•••
The sense of "glory" in the midst of
suffering was the glory of encountering
and being with the God of Rescue who
came proclaiming salvation even while
the chains were still unlocked.
This note of confident joy on the part of
demeaned Black people is still evident
today. It served as a sign ol victory over
what others would want to be death or
diminution in the past. And it serves that
same purpose today.
We can never afford, especially as
well educated Black people, to pretend
such superficial sophistication as to deny
the supremely saving elements in our
priceless inheritance. Our threatened and
guilt ridden detractors win out each time
(Part II will deal with "Joy in the
Struggle")
M a r tin Luther King, Jr.
Additional Biographical Information
Martin Luther King. Jr. helped revolutionize the status of the
American black through a decade of nonviolent demonstrations. It
began with the bus boycott of 1955-1956‘in Montgomery, Alabama
and continued through the Selma March of 1965.
King was born in Atlanta where his mother had been a school
teacher before her marriage King’s father served as pastor of the
Ebcnezcr Baptist Church in Atlanta, beginning in 1932.
King's heritage was m ilita nt. His grandfather, Reverend
Williams, was a founder and member of the Atlanta Chapter of the
NAACP. King was exposed to further militancy when his father was
called "boy" by a local policeman. Reverend King, pointing to his
son, responded angrily, “ That's a boy. I’m a man’’
Young King attended the public schools of Atlanta and skipped
the ninth and twelfth grades, lie was only 15 years of age when he
entered his father's Alma Mater, Morehouse College, in Atlanta. He
had planned to be a d<xtor, but he soon changed his course of study
from premedicine to a major in sociology. Belore the end of his
junior year, however, he changed a second lime with his decision to
enter the ministry. He was ordained in his father's church in 1947.
King graduated from Morehouse College in I‘MX and became
one of six blacks among l(M) students at Crozer Theological Sem
inary in Chester, Pennsylvania. He became president of the senior
class, was honored as Hs most outstanding student and was awarded
the Cwzca-MlowsiMfMeMPaJmiic study. He chose the School of
fheology at Boston! In iw s ity While in Boston, he met «and married
Coretta Scott who was a student at the New England Conservatory
of Music.
King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in
Montgomery, Alabama in 1954. There he completed a dissertation
that earned him a Ph D. from Boston University.
During that year, 1955. King was called upon to lead a boycott
of the Montgomery buses as a result of the arrest of Rosa Parks who
had refused to give up her seat to a white man King conducted the
boycott for 3X1 days without violence. A court ruling ended the
boycott and segregated scaling in December, 1956.
Until his assassination on A pril 4, I96X, King was involved in
crusades of non-violence to overcome the second-class citizenship
of blacks The Birmingham demonstrations of 1963 and the Selma
March of 1965 are examples. They led to the Civil Rights Acts of
1964 and 1965. His efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
-JBW
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AFRICAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL ZION
CHURCH
First AME Zion Church
109 Skidmore
Portland 97217
Rev. George W. Maize
DR. PONDER
Academic Affairs at Alabama A. & M.
University: Dean of the College at
Alabama A. & M.: Economic Consultant
for Irving Trust Company in New York;
Chairman, Department of Business and
Economics at Fort Valley State College,
Georgia; and Chairman of the Depart
ment of Agri-Business at Virginia State
College.
Koinonia serves students
by Elizabeth Mary Henzl
Two hundred years of religious free
dom in America and twenty years of
ecumenical campus ministry at Portland
State University make Koinonia House
an exam ple of religious progress.
Ixx-ated at 633 S.W. Montgomery,
Koinonia continues to be supported by
Christians ol eight denominations in the
interests of service to Portland State
students, faculty and friends. One part
time and four full time ministers unite
forces of Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans,
Methodists, Roman Catholics, Presby
terians, United Church of Christ and
Christian Disciples of Christ to streng
then the City of God in the heart of the
city of Portland.
Jesus Christ described His
work to His disciples this
way: “It is meat and drink
for Me to do the will of Him
who sent Me until I have fin
ished His work.”
The Bible tells us that
man’s chief work is not his
own work, but rather doing
the work of God. “This is the
work o f God, that you be
lieve on Him whom He has
sent.” The highest work is the
furtherance of the Gospel and
the service of the purposes of
God.
M M
V"
Dr. Henry Ponder, president of Bene
dict College in Columbia, South Carolina,
will address the Union Fellowship on
Sunday, February Mh at 6:00 p.m.
Dr. Ponder, who is representing the
United Negro College Fund, will speak
on “The Role of the Blark College Today".
Dr. Ponder earned his BS degree at
Inngxton University, his MS at Oklahoma
State University, and his PhD at Ohio
State University. He served in the
United States Army Artillery in Korea
and Japan from 1953 to 1955.
His employment has been in the fields
of agri-business, economics and college
teaching. He has done research on
cooperative grain elevators, business
operations of cooperatives, and super
market merchandising. He also worked at
the Federal Reserve Bank, Philadelphia
National Bank. Omaha National Bank, the
U.S. Treasury and Chase Manhattan
Bank.
Dr. Ponder has been the president of
Benedict College since 1973. Previously
he held positions as Vice President for
“The heavent declare the
glory of God; and the firma
ment thew eth hit handy work. "
Ptalm t 19:1.
The great Master Artist has
fashioned everything in nature
with marvelous beauty. The
heavens declare His glory as
one looks up into, seemingly,
unendless blue with a panor
ama of clouds — one day large,
fluffy ones, another day they
are swept by the winds as spun
silk. The sunrises and sunsets
are a flame of glowing colors
that cannot be shown in their
true splendor by any human
artist.
The earth is formed for the
happiness of man, speaking to
us of a great love. The surface
is not monotonously the same;
beautiful lakes mirror grand old
mountains, ribbons of sparkling
stream s break the fertile
plains, mighty oceans resound
with force against a rocky shore
— stopped by an unseen power.
God sends the dew and rain to
refresh the thirsty earth.
Breezes cool and purify the
atmosphere. The sun has been
placed in the heavens to mark
the periods of day and night
and to bring light and warmth
causing the growth of vegeta
tion.
Our heavenly Father has
been so kind to give us these
visible things to promote our
happiness, and He has given us
blessings in disguise. While He
gives us advantages on one
hand. He see all of fallen man’s
necessities. Inconveniences are
designed to stimulate us to use
the abilities He has given us —
to develope patient industry,
perseverance, and courage.
l,et us, each new morning,
awaken praise in our hearts for
His tokens of love, trusting
Him to know what trials are
good for us. knowing He can
give us the strength to meet
them.
"Z will love thee, O Lord, my
itrength." Ptalm t 18:1.
By its very title Koinonia, Friendship
House, stands for the fellowship that
attracts many to the faith Community for
coffee, conversation, camaraderie, or
theology courses. Called by a noon bell,
patrons become an inter faith praying
Church.
The Eucharistic prayer of
Thanksgiving on special days bring
Anglicans, Catholics. Lutherans to their
Agape, the source in Communion of
growing love for one another.
Throughout the week, from nine to
five, offices serve as counselling centers
for religious instruction, preparation tor
Christian marriage, guidance in vocation,
or sharing sessions on life's recurring
problems, often best handled through
giving and receiving affirmation, hope,
Christian courage and healing prayer.
Koinonia's calendar for Spring indi
cates an early March B-x>k F air to display
and sell recent inspirational works from
many publishing firms: Jewish, Catholic.
Protestant, Interfaith. There will be
times to sing and dance together, times to
seek the solitude of spiritual retreat,
times to receive the Good News of the
Gospel from invited lecturers. A "Lenten
Film Fare on Religious Themes" has been
announced, Scripture Study continues, a
Seminar on “Current Religious Writing"
is in progress, another on the Spirituality
of Teilhard de Chardin is being planned.
America's Bicentennial is a time to look
back from where we started to where we
are now. Over two hundred years ago
the citizens' first freedom, freedom of
religion, led groups to escape persecution
by their fellow Christians of other
denominations for isolated settlement
in the welcoming new land. Congrega-
tionalists sought for their freedom in
New England. Catholics found theirs in
Maryland, Quakers theirs in Pennsyl
vania.
Koinoni House represents an
evolution of religion in America. Chris
tians are coming together, finding the
commonalities that make them one as
they live by the same Word of God,
revealed in Christ. The forward thrust,
the progress that Koinonia House re
flects, was first spoken by the Word:
"That they may all be one as Thou,
Father, in Me and I in Thee, that they
may be One in Us." Wc invite you to be
one with us. Come to Koinonia House.
OBITUARIES
William "Buddy” Frazier. 4206 N.E.
6th Avenue, died at the University of
Oregon Medical School Hospital on
February 1st, 1976. He was born in
Magnolia. Arkansas on February 29th,
1916.
Frazier worked for eighteen years as a
laborer for the Pacific Marine Service
Company in Portland and was a member
of laborers Union No. 296. He retired in
August of 1974.
Survivors are: Children - Bobbie.
Billie. Pattie Williams, Gloria Harold, and
Vernell Carter. Brothers Joe Frazier
and John McCall, Sister
Roana
Douglas; fourteen grandchildren, two
great grandchildren, and eight neices and
nephews.
The funeral will be held on February
6th at 12:00 noon at Caldwell's Colonial
Mortuary, with entombment at Rose City
Mausoleum. Reverend Rernard Devers
will officiate.
AFRICAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Bethel AME Church
5826 N.E. 8th - 288 5429
Portland 97211
Rev. A. Lee Henderson
Hm. 282 0067.
BAPTIST CHURCHES
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
Christian Churches in Ore.
0245 S.W. Bancroft
Portland 97201
Regional Minister,
Russell Hensley
Irving Park Christian
831 N.E. Fremont St.
Phone 281 0608
Portland 97212
Pastor Webster B. Turner
Hm. 281 1342
Mallory Avenue Christian
126 N.E. Alberta St.
Portland 97211
Rev. Dale Stitt
Hm 281 9554
Antioch Missionary Baptist
5935 N. Minnesota
Phone 289 2364
Portland 97211
Rev. Felton Howard
Berean Baptist Church
4822 N. Vancouver
Portland 97212
Rev. WiUie Peterson
Phone 281 5672
Ebenezer Baptist
3707 N. Williams
Portland 97227
Rev. Percy Manuel
Phone 284 2864
Highland Baptist
607 N.E. Alberta St.
Phone 288 1115
Portland 97211
Rev, George Dick
St. Mark Baptist
119 N.E. Morris
Phone 287 7457
Portland 97212
Rev. E.C. Wilder
Morning Star Baptist
106 N.E. Ivy
Phone 281 4925
Portland 97212
Rev. Sylvester McCulumn
Hm. 287 5036
New Hope Baptist
3725 N. Gantenbein
Phone 281-6746
Portland 97227
Rev. A. Bernard Devers
Hm. 288-1946
New Light Baptist
75 N.E. Wygant St.
Phone 282 7880
Portland 97211
Rev. John Malone
Hm. 284 6302
Mt. Olivet Baptist
116 N.E. Schuyler
Phone 281 4925
Portland 97212
Rev. John Jackson
St. Paul Baptist
8101 N. Fiske St.
Phone 2X9^0,47
Portland 97227
Rev. Cannot]
Providence Baptist
313 N.E. Failing St.
Portland 97212
Rev. Eugene Boyd, Jr.
Hm. 281 4110
CHURCHES OF CHRIST
Albina Church of Christ
3908 Mallory
Phone 288 1092
Portland 97212
Rev. Richmond
UNITED CHURCHES
O F C H R IST
Highland United
4635 N.E. 9th
Portland 97212
Rev. Samuel Johnson
Ph. 287 9567
Hm. 287 5341
CHURCH OFGOD
PENTECOSTAL
Good Samaritan COGIC
4801 N.E. 9th
Phone 282 8875
Portland 97211
Rev. F.J. Crear
Hm 287 0165
Sellwood COGIC
8051 S.E. 16th
Phone 236 1073
Portland 97202
Rev B.T. Wells
Mt. Sinai COGIC
801 N.E. Failing
Phone 284 0854
Portland 97211
Rev. W.G. Hardy
Solid Rock COGIC
4237 N. Mississippi
Phone 289 4595
Portland 97227
Rev. A.R. Hopkins
Williams Temple
241 N.E. Hancock
Phone 282 1396
Rev. Earnest W. Rand
Hm. 2882691
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
St. Phillips Episcopal Church
120 N.E. Knott
Phone 281 5802
Portland 97212
Father Bill Wetzel
A rk of Safety
.84 N.E. Pentecostal
Phone 288 9418
Portland 97211
Bishop U.V. Peterson
Hm. 285 9418
LUTHERAN CHURCHES
Augustana Lutheran
—
2710 N.E. 14th
Phone 2886174
Community Church of God
Pastor Kindschuh
202 N.E. Skidmore
Peace Lutheran
Phone 281 5678
2201 N. Portland Blvd.
Portland 97211
Phone 289 1070
Pastor V. Brown
Portlnad 97217
Pastor Dewayne Bey
Redeemer Lutheran
5431 N.E. 20th
CHURCHES OF GOD
Phone 287 7553
IN CHRIST
Portland 97217
Evangelistic Center
Rev. Dennis D. Marttala
522 N. Albina
Hm. 287 3015
Phone 285-1156
Rev. Samuel M. Irving
UNITED METHODIST
Gethsemane COGIC
CHURCHES
801 N.E. Failing
Patton Central
Phone 287 3463
5023 N. Michigan
Portland 97211
Phone 281 7328
Rev. R.L. Menefeehlm
Portland 97217
Hm. 284 8480
Rev. Bob Dowrey
Greater Mt. Calvary COGIC
Woodlawn
1234 N.E. Killingsworth
1425 N.E. Dekum St.
Phone 284 3721
Phone 289-0284
Portland 97211
Portland 97211
Bishop H.B. Daniels
Hm. 774-1294 — «•»
St. Luke COGIC
2700 N.E. Sumner
Phone 287 8345
Portland 97212
Rev. Roosevelt Thomas
New Hope COGIC
5125 N.E. 24th
M t. Sinai Baptist
Phone 281 4587
602 N.E. Prescott
Portland 97221
Phone 282 6773
Rev. B.E. Johnson
Portland 97211
McKinney Temple COGIC
Rev. L.L. Ransom
1737 N.E. Alberta
Vancouver Ave. 1st Baptist
Phone 282 8522
3132 N. Vancouver
Bishop W.L. McKinney
Phone 282 9496
Hm. 285 7606
Portland 97227
Mt. Nebo COGIC
Dr. O.B. Williams
4077 N.E. 9th
Hm. 289 7417
Phone 282 3633
Rev. Jonah Taylor
CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Overstreet Powerhouse
St. Andrews
Temple COGIC
806 N.E. Alberta St.
4525 Williams
Phone 281 4429
Phone 282 6880
Portland 97211
Portland 97212
Father Griffin Burt
Rev. Overstreet
Immaculate Heart
St. Paul COGIC
2926 N. Williams Ave.
2859 N.E. Rodney
Phone 287 3724
Phone 287 7998
Portland 97227
Portland 97212
Father Bill Curtin
Bishop J.C. Foster
Father Bernard Rinehart
Hm. 282 8474
Rev. Watcht Oyanagt
Hughes Memorial
111 N.E. Failing
Portland 97217
Rev. Waichi Oyanagi
NONDENOMINATIONAL
CHURCHES
Albina Ministerial Alliance
126 N.E. Alberta St.
Portland 97211
Rev. John Jackson
Hm 288 3603
Director NNEA
3905 N. Vancouver Ave.
Portland 97227
Rev. Williams
Emanuel Hospital Chaplain
2801 N. Gantenbien
Portland 97227
Rev. William F. Adix
Hm. 284 0773
Faith Tabernacle
5926 N.E. 26th
Phone 282 8071
Portland 97211
Bishop L.W. Osborne
Maranatha
1222 N.E. Skidmore
Phone 288 7241
Portland 97211
Pastor John Parker
attend church this week
ALLEN TEMPLE CME CHURCH
Corner of 8th and Skidmore
Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00a.m.
Christian Youth Fellowship 6:00 p.m.
(Second nd Fourth Sundays)
Reverend Thomas L. Strayhand. Minister
A. Lee Henderson, Minister
5828 N.E. 8th
2 8 8 -5 4 2 9
-, IZ"
Q.
Church School
Morning Worship
Wed. Noon - The Hour of Power
Wed. Prayer A Class Meeting
Nnraery Care Provided
9:45 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
12:00 Noun
7:30 p.m.
“WE ARE MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD A BROTHERHOOD"
ST. ANDREW CATHOLIC CHURCH
806 N .E . Alberta Street
Reverend Bertram Griffin, Pastor
2814429
5:0» p.m. Vigil - Saturday
10:00 i n . Choir - Sunday
12:00 p.m. Falk - Sunday
ST. ANDREW COMMUNITY SCHOOL
491» N .E . 9th Ave.
Nerita Kelly, Principal
Phone: 284-102»
Grades 1 through 8<(