Pilgrim Baptist Church - Centennial Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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Moreover, the church yard was improved with a cement retaining wall plus sidewalks and curbing. The campaign to erect the Educational Unit began in 1946. In Dec. 1948-Sept. 1949, the three stories struc- ture was erected containing individual church school rooms for all departments, the church office, pastorls study, nursery, church parlor, baptismal dressing rooms, Board of Education office, lavatories and a new gas furnace. Moreover, in the same year, the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, and the kitchen were completely re- decorated. The kitchen is equipped to serve 300 people. Four times, the sanctuary has been redecorated during this administration. In 1957 new pews and new hymnals were installed and in 1958 a new Wicks pipe organ was purchased and installed. In May 1961, the congregation liquidated the indebtedness on the Educational Unit, three years ahead of time, and burned the mortgage, October 8, 1961 on SS170,000 of improvements. Today, Pilgrim Church property is evaluated at 3S250,000 and is debt free. The funds were raised mostly through the Fellowship Units system headed by Deacon M. A. Knott, Sr. Memorials have been made possible by bequests of deceased members and families of the deceased: organ chimes, water fountains, pianos, some pews, some hymnals, church 8: christian flags, pulpit Bible, offering plates, tithing box and the church library. May God bless our donors and the memory of our dead. In the special projects, through the years, Dr. Massey has solicited or influenced from friends outside our congregation, plus his own contributions, 332,661.62 as of Dec. 31, 1962. In the same period, we have raised 55554521.24 and 1335 new members have been received. Our sanctuary is usually filled to capacity on Sunday morning and the Educational Unit is over crowded. Our Vacation Bible School is of capacity proportions. We are indeed proud of the fine spirit which has been manifested through the years. It has been an l'Era of good feeling . Five young men were licensed and ordained to the christian ministry: Milton Combs, Moses A. Knott, jr., john Diggs, Chester jones and Gerard Laroche. A Director of Christian Education, Miss Hazel Murray, was added to the staff in Oct. 1959. Her services ended Dec. 31, 1962. The congregation of Pilgrim Church has been a driving force for Civic betterment in the North Central Community of our city. Dr. Massey was the chairman of a drive which resulted in successful erection of a 3750,000 new Maxfield Elementary School in 1955. In 1956, the Rondo-St. Anthony Highway Organization was formed, convened by Dr. Massey and led by a Pil- grim member, Timothy J. Howard. This group gave unity to hundreds of homeowners who were dislocated 12 by the freeway and aided them in getting best possible prices for their homes. This group also led the fight to get a depressed freeway which kept property values up and the adjacent streets liveable. We joined others in the drive to make possible the new Oxford play- ground. Moreover, our congregation is particularly proud of paid-up Life Memberships in the N.A.A.C.P. for both pastor and church. Enactment of Fair Employ- ment Practice laws and Open Occupancy laws had strong leadership and support from Pilgrim. Public Housing and Urban Renewal received vigorous leadership sup- port form our members. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have leaders in our fold. Church-wise, Pilgrim supports the Baptist World Alliance, American Baptist Convention, the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc., the National Council of Churches, the Minnesota Council of Churches and the St. Paul Council of Churches. In addition to groups which may be found in the pastor's section of this publication, Dr. Massey has served on Council of Churches and Urban League Boards, was formerly President Colgate-Rochester Alum- ni Association, member Executive Board of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., and is presently mem- ber of Foreign Missions Board of both the National Baptist Convention and the American Baptist Conven- tion. At the Philadelphia Convention, 1962, he was elected President of the ABC Foreign Mission Societies. Dr. and Mrs. Ethel Hurley Massey came to us as newly weds. She is a graduate of Benedict College, Columbia, S.C. and a former teacher of French, Algebra and Director of Dramatics at Marlboro High School, Bennettsville, S.C. Dr. Massey is a graduate of johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C. and Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, N.Y. They are the parents of three boys, Floyd, III, Ronald Bruce and Thomas Rickie. Mrs. Massey has directed several plays for teenagers and adults of Pilgrim and the State Baptist Pastors Wives. She has been in demand as a public speaker and a funds raiser for many worthy campaigns in the city. They have enjoyed the full confidence of Pilgrim congregation and community throughout these nearly 19 years. God has truly blessed the work. The next 100 years of Pilgrim's Progress should be more revealing because of the foundation laid by those children of God who labored to fill the first 100 years to overflowing. Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Contributors: S. E. Hall, The B. F. Taylors, Ida Mae Murphy, Arlee Scott, A. W. jordan, Dr, Massey - Edited by james R. Brown

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was reared and educated in Emporia, Kansas. He re- ceived his Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Emporia State College. In 1931, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him at Western Baptist Seminary at Kansas City, Missouri. Early in his career he pastored in Leavenworth, Kansas, was Home Missionary Field Worker in Canyon City, Colorado under the sponsorship of the American Baptist Convention. Following this position, Dr. Harris served twelve years pastorate in the state of Missouri. Nine years of his Missouri pastorate were spent as pastor of Virginia Street Baptist Church at Carrollton, Missouri. The remaining three years were spent as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church at Fulton, Missouri. While pastoring in Fulton, he was appointed Field Secretary for the National Baptist Convention. At this time, the NBC was in the process of erecting the Na- tional Baptist Publishing House under the leadership of the late Dr. A. M. Townsend. In April 1922, Dr. Harris accepted a call to pastor at Pilgrim Baptist Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. During his pastorate, the present Sanctuary was erected in 1928. The Daily Vacation Church School was organized in june of 1922. He also fostered participation of the Community Youth in the Snail Lake Vacation Camp. For several years, Dr. Harris was Moderator of the Minnesota Baptist State Convention . . . a position he held until his demise. The late Dr. L. K. Williams appointed him to or- ganize and direct the National Baptist Moderators Asso- ciation of the National Baptist Convention. Dr. Harris was also active with the American and Northern Baptist Conventions and the Greater Twin City Council of Churches. He served on several different boards of these organizations. Dr. Harris was Editor and Printer of the first printed church bulletin for Pilgrim . . . it was known as the Informer . Besides his religious activities, he found time to serve as active board member of such different civic organiza- tions as the Urban League, N.A.A.C.P. and Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. The family of Dr. Harris supported Pilgrim during his lifetime and has continued since his death. The late Mrs. L. W. Harris was organizer and presi- dent of the L. W. Harris Gospel Chorus in 1938, Director of the Cradle Roll and Home Department of the Sunday School as well as active with other Pilgrim organizations. Mr. Lee W. Harris, now a resident of New York City, was well known as an outstanding singer here before making his home in New York. At present Mr. Harris holds an executive position with Ohrbach's Dept. Store in Union Square, New York. The late Miss June Harris was a faithful and ardent worker in the church. She was quite active in the BYPU and a member of the Gospel Chorus. She edited the Pilgrim Baptist Church Bulletin for several months. Miss Harris was also a group worker at Welcome Hall now known as Ober Boys Club. Mrs. Odelle Harris Galloway is Assistant Director of the Gospel Chorus. She also holds a position as Social Worker with Ramsey County Welfare Department. Mrs. Arlee Harris Scott is President-Director and Pianist of the Gospel Chorus. Mrs. Scott is a member of the staff of the Ramsey County Welfare Department serving as Case Aide. Also, Mrs. Scott is an accom- plished Musician, having studied at the University of Minnesota. At present she is continuing study at Mac- Phail College of Music. Women have played an important role in all phases of the work. Some of the first members were: Grand- ma Hickman, wife of founder Rev. Hickman, Aunt Slate, Mesdames Trotter, Combs, Toliver, Peters and Giles. Some of the outstanding leaders were: Maggie Irvin, First Pres. of Ladies Aid, Lula Howard, Henri- etta james, Susie Gaylord, Anna Jordan, Laura Hick- man, zealous missionary workers. Mmes. jordan and Gaylord were staunch supporters of the National Bap- tist Missions cause. Annie Foster was president of Ladies Aid for more than quarter of a century, Jennie Kelly was financial secretary, Susie Walker, Ida M. johnson were zealous Ladies Aid Workers. Nellie Francis secured a pipe organ from the Carnegie Founda- tion, Martha Diggs and Nema Phillips were pastor's aid leaders, Emma Mosby, Martha Williams, Carrie johnson lived to 100 years of age, Mother Clayton, Azzie Stephens, Josephine Todd were Deaconess board Chairmen, Effie Wills served as Trustee, Deaconess and Social 8: Literary Society leader, Evelyn Hickman, grand- daughter of the founder, was an early organist, Hattie Hall, late wife of Trustee S. E. Hall was organist for more than 40 years. Queen Ransom was the first Woman Treasurer, Hattie Walker was president of Earnest Workers for more than 20 years. Today our women are carrying on in excellent fashion as did the Women of yesteryear. God's benedictions be upon all of them. The Rev. S. E. Ware was pastor 1941-1944 coming from Pittsburgh where he was on the ministerial staff of Central Baptist Church. During his tenure, the sanctuary and parsonage were remodeled. Rev. Ware was dynamic and created a new spirit of giving. More- over, many members were added to the rolls. Mrs. Ware was an accomplished musician who worked with the Senior Choir and Treble Clefs. She was an excellent teacher of piano and voice and contributed much toward the cultural enrichment of the community. A word should be left here regarding Rev. David Beasley, Rev, W, Phelps, and Rev. Isaac Fisher. At different periods, they served the church on an interim basis. They are unsung heroes who helped keep the ship moving until a new captain came. In September 1944, Floyd Massey, jr. a native of the Carolinas, came to us as pastor, following graduation from Divinity School. Under God's Guidance, peace and harmony prevailed. Immediately, the church roster was brought up-to-date and the budget system was adopted. For the purpose of erasing the remaining 355000 indebtedness on the sanctuary, the pastor intro- duced Fellowship Units system. Within eight months the mortage was retired. Such an effort encouraged the congregation to continue its spiritual efforts. The roof and exterior walls of the sanctuary were repaired, the parsonage property improved, the Cedar Street Church lots were saved by paying the taxes, and later sold to the city for the capitol approach project. Parti- tions were purchased to provide some privacy for church school classes, a public address system was installed and an electrical outdoor bulletin board presented. ..4

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