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

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liiil A, Headtable Foreign Mission Board, American Baptist Convention, Banquet, Omaha, Nebraska Rev. jackson Wilcox, Pastor March 1963: L to R, Dr. Massey, President, A.B,F.M. Society, Dr. John Skoglund, Chairman Park Baptist Church, 1944, who of Board, Mrs. P. S. Curtis, Assoc. Gen. Sec., Dr. Clarke, Nebraska Executive Secretary, Dr. recommended Rev. Massey to and Mrs. Edward Willingham, Gen. Sec., A.B.F.M. Pilgrim Church. Founders' Day - Pastor's Appreciation Service, june 1962, Speaking, Mrs. Massey. Seated, left to right: H. janabelle Taylor, Paralee Milligan, Chairman, Rev. Dr. A. P. jackson, guest preacher, O'Delle Galloway, Dr. Massey, Rev. Gerard Phil- lips, Rev. B. H. Hunter, Judge Archie Gingold, Rev. jerome DelPino. Peace Corps Recruits, 1964: Otis and Allie Mae Hampton and son, Bernard. Finance Committee: Left to right: L. E. Tarver, S. E. Hall, Nathaniel Galloway, S. E. Williams, Johnell Wil- liams, H, janahelle Taylor, C. S. Anderson, Ramsey jackson, jesse Smith, Chairman, james Brown, Winifred S. Hartsfield. Standing: J. L. Banks, Sr., james Perry. 1

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E Youth ACt1V1t16S Groups, Dlreoted by Louella Taylor, 1950 1956 Little Theater Night. 'outh Activities Group. looray For Youth Cast. eft to Right: Anita Hill, mes Torrence, Marlene nes, Dana Wood, Cyn- ia Stone, Ann Sims, hristine Smith, Emma iller, Corrine Grant, illy Knott, Muriel Mil- Youth Activities Staff Left to Right Roberta Willis Lucile Carter, Louella Taylor Lawrence Hampton, Ruby Grant Daisy john son, Estella Dorsey Youth Choir Directed by Ruby Grant Front row right. Mary K Murray Pia nist.

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PILGRIM CHURCH LEADERS, 1963 Floyd Massey, Jr., A.B., B.D., D.D., Minister B. L. Morris, Chairman, Trustees L. E. Tarver, Chm., Board of Education M. A. Knott, Sr., Chm. Capital Improvements Fund janabelle Taylor, Current Expense Treasurer johnell Williams, Capital Improvements Treas. J. R. Lawrence, Chairman, Auditors Louella McIntosh Magee, Office Secretary Estelynne Rodgers, Asst. Office Secretary Charles Henderson, Custodian Rosianer Henderson, Assistant Custodian Deacons Deaconesses L. E. Tarver, Benevolence, Treasurer Clerk C. S. Anderson, Chairman, Regenia Morris, Chairman, Cora Belle Banks, Church Winifred Hartsfield, Financial Clerk I. M. Dorsey, Church Photographer James Brown, Church Reporter Virgella Harper, Asst. Church Reporter Estella Dorsey, Chm., Decorations Ruby Grant, Chairman, First Aid FOLLOWING RELIGIOUS BODIES PILGRIM CHURCH IS MEMBER OF THE Baptist World Alliance American Baptist Convention National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. National Council of Churches Minnesota Council of Churches Minnesota Convention of American Baptist Churches Minnesota Convention of National Baptist Churches Twin City Baptist Union St. Paul Council of Churches SOME FIRSTS FOR PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH AND PASTOR MASSEY Often we refer to firsts on the part of Negro individuals and groups. Such is not to exalt them on the one hand or to express a lesser status on the other hand. Moreover, it is not intended to indicate that certain indivi- duals are superior and thus happened to break out of an area of intellectual restraint. The purpose is to simply reveal part of the story of the forward movement of Pilgrim through the years. It is with that simple motive that we outline the data to follow. Pilgrim congregation was the first predominately Negro church in Minnesota: 1. To become organized . . . led by the First Baptist Church, the Mother Church, into permanent organ- ization. 2. To build a church sanctuary. 3. To become dually aligned with the Northern QAmericanj Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. . To build an institutional church with a complete Educational Unit. As of january 1963, Pilgrim is the only one with an Educational Unit. 4 5. To have a full-time Director of Christian Education, 1959-1962. 6. To install a pipe organ. The second pipe organ was installed in 1958. 7. To have a member to be chosen by the President of the U.S.A. to represent our nation abroad. In 1927 Attorney W. T. Francis was appointed Minister to Liberia. 8. To have a couple sent to a foreign field by the American Baptist Convention. In 1958, Milton and Edna Combs became the first Negro couple to be sent out by the A.B.C. They are missionaries to Burma. 9. To have a member to be chosen by the American Bible Society as representative to an African nation. Moses Knott, jr., is A.B.S. Executive Secretary, stationed in Monrovia, Liberia. 10. To have a paid-up life membership in the N.A.A.C.P. 11. To have a completed church, constructed by the congregation, completely debt free. For these we not only are proud, but grateful to God who made such possible. There are some firsts for our pastor, Dr. Massey, which show how he has spent himself in service beyond the call of duty. He is the first Negro: 1. 2. To serve as President of the Colgate Rochester Divinity School Alumni Association. He served the unexpired term of Dr. Ralph Johnson, Berkeley, California, 1955-1956. To be elected Chairman of the Minnesota State Pastors' Conference, 1958. He and Dr. H. B, Hicks, Columbus, Ohio, were the first two Negroes in the nation to serve in this capacity, and in that same year. 4. To serve on the Planning Committee for the first Urban Convocation of American Baptist Convention. Clndianapolisj, To serve as a member of the Council on Missionary Cooperation of the American Baptist Convention. 3. 5 . To serve on Planning Committee of the first Convocation on the Mission of the Church of American Baptist Convention. fMinneapolisj. 6. To serve on the Foreign Missions Board of the American Baptist Convention, elected in 1956. 7. To be elected President of Foreign Mission Societies of American Baptist Convention, 1962. In the City of St, Paul: 8. To serve on Rent Control Advisory Board. 9. To serve on City of St. Paul Planning Board. 10. Pastor to have a paid-up life membership in the N.A.A.C.P. 11. Pastor to successful receive, the Man of the Year Award of the St. Paul Sterling Club for leadership in the campaign for a new Maxfield Elementary School. These services and many more in the 19 years of Dr. Massey's pastorate have been given without monetary COYYIPCHSHLIOH.