(Not printed at Government expense) Congressional Hecord United States of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 86 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION

A Tribute To the Bicentennial of Richard Allen, a Great American SPEECH The life and philosophy of Richard is dedicated to make liberty and justice OF Allen becomes increasingly meaningful for all a living reality. HON. ADAM C. POWELL in the year of 1960. Indeed, the strug­ Our preachments of democracy will gle for civil rights in which we are now continue to have a hollow ring so long as OF NEW YORK engaged has its roots deep in the fruits we are complacent about the existence IN THE HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES of his life and works. of segregation on account of race or re­ Monday, January 18,1960 It was Richard Allen's objections to ligion, or so long as any of God's children Mr. POWELL. Mr. Speaker, the year racial segregation in the Methodist are denied their due. 1960, February 14 to be precise, is the Church of Philadelphia that led to the To implement this policy of massive 200th anniversary of the birth of a great founding of the present African Meth­ insistence, the A.M.E. Church, both American, Bishop Richard Allen, a for­ odist Episcopal Church as a Christian clergy and laymen, must maintain con­ mer slave who after purchase of his own body foresworn to the right to worship stant vigilance. They must be more freedom founded the African Methodist without humiliation and dedicated to the concerned with the proper exercise of the Episcopal Church principle: God our Father, Christ our right of franchise, and they must vote As a civic leader and a citizen dedi­ Redeemer, man our brother. into office only those who unequivocably cated to the principle of brotherhood Most of the early fighters for the free­ share our hope for a bias-free America and equality for all mankind, Richard dom of Negroes were members of the by 1963. Allen exemplified the best tradition of African Methodist Episcopal Church. This statement, calling for massive in­ his time. It is noteworthy that he was Hundreds of the first Negro teachers re­ sistence on first-class Americanism, was eminently respected by his contempo­ ceived their early training under its warmly endorsed by the national board raries and fellow Philadelphians, Benja­ auspices, and , of directors of the NAACP at its annual min Franklin, Dr. Benjamin Rush and Xenia, Ohio, the first institution of meeting—New York, N.Y., January 4, others whose names were affixed to the higher learning for Negroes in the 1960. It exemplifies a spirit and social Declaration of Independence in 1776. United States, was founded by African gospel that is patriotism in its purest sense. It is dedicated to the realization To mark the anniversary of Allen's Methodists. of the principles on which this, our Na­ birth, the African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Sherman Lawrence Greene, tion, is founded. Church will hold a year-long observance of Atlanta, Ga., is chairman of the commencing February 14, 15, and 16 in Bicentennial Observance Commission. One of the denomination's ranking .the city of Philadelphia. A committee As senior bishop of his church, Bishop general officers, Dr. George Arnett Sin­ of distinguished Philadelphians has been Greene is also the closest link to the gleton, of Philadelphia, widely regarded formed to launch this bicentennial with tradition and philosophy of Richard as a man of letters and a keen student appropriate dignity and ceremony. Allen. It is pertinent, therefore, to note of history, is editor of the oldest of Negro the following exhortation made by magazines, the A.M.E. Church Review. The name of Richard Allen is revered Dr. Singleton has compiled the following not only by the members of the African Bishop Greene in a pastoral letter to his colleagues on January 2 of this year: highlights of the life of Richard Allen: Methodist Episcopal Church in America, RICHARD ALLEN but throughout the world wherever the The 1950's saw many far-reaching message of brotherhood as a Christian changes in our status. Paced by the He was born in Philadelphia, a slave of a Quaker lawyer, Hon. Benjamin Chew, chief principle has been carried. National Association for the Advance­ ment of Colored People, we have won justice of the Commonwealth, February 14, It is most fitting that the entire popu­ victory after victory in the courts of the 1760. Because of financial problems he was lace of the United States join with the sold with his family to a Mr. Stokley, near land. The most singular victory, how­ Dover, Del. At the age of 17 he was con­ African Methodist Episcopal Church in ever, is the raising of the banner of unity paying tribute to Richard Allen, and I verted under the preaching of Freeborn Gar- and oneness in the goals toward which retson, and became a preacher in the Metho­ deem it a signal honor as a clergyman to we are struggling. dist Episcopal Church. He purchased his make this tribute to his life a matter of We must keep it crystal clear as well freedom. During the Revolutionary War he official record. as firmly declared the Negro leadership won a noncombatant and hauled salt for 539625—73785 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD George Washington from Rehoboth, Del. opportunities of seeing the conduct of Ab­ The A.M.E. Church now owns and oper­ When the Christmas conference met at salom Jones and Richard Alfen, and the peo­ ates the oldest college by people of color Lovely Lane, Baltimore, Md., in 1784, and ple employed by them to bury the dead: I in America, Wilberforce University, Ohio; organized the Methodist Church as a con­ with cheerfulness give this testimony of my , Columbia, S.C.; Morris nection, Richard Allen was present. He approbation of their proceedings, so far as Brown College, Atlanta, Ga.; Kittrell College, traveled as a preacher, returned to Phila­ they came under my notice, their diligence, North Carolina; , delphia in 1786, joined Old St. George attention, and decency of deportment, af­ Jacksonville, Fla.; Payne College, Birming­ Church, Fourth and Vine Streets; organized forded me, at the time much satisfaction. ham, Ala.; Campbell College, Jackson, Miss.; , Waco, Tex.; Shorter a prayer band of 42 members. Because of "MATTHEW CLARKSON, College, Little Rock, Ark.; and Payne The­ segregation, and an attempt to pull his "Mayor. friends from their knees while in the act ological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio. And "PHILADELPHIA, January 23, 1794." there are schools in South America and of prayer, one Sunday morning in 1787 he Allen organized a Sunday school, a day led them out by faith. Africa. The Douglas Hospital, Kansas City, school, and a mutual aid society. For the Kans.; Camp Baber, Mich.; and the Reid He purchased an old abandoned black­ War of 1812 he organized a regiment of Community Center, Charleston, S.C. smith shop for $35 at Sixth and Walnut Black Legion to defend the Nation. The church publishes the oldest religious Streets, hauled it with his own team of Allen was the first ordained preacher of journal, the Christian Recorder, and the old­ horses to Sixth and Lombard, and founded est magazine, the African Methodist Epis­ Mother Bethel, which stands upon the sa­ color in America, in 1799. In 1816, with 15 ministers and laymen, he organized the copal Church Review. cred spot. Richard Allen took the leadership in or­ During the yellow fever epidemic of 1793, African Methodist Episcopal Church as a connection, because of segregation. Today ganizing a Masonic lodge in Philadelphia, under the direction of Dr. Rush he nursed March 26, 1797, and was the treasurer of the denomination has over a million mem­ and treated the patients. The sick he the first African lodge. bers in the United States, Canada, the West carried to the hospital managed by Stephen The bicentennial celebration is in honor Girard, and buried the dead. Indies Islands, Bermuda, South America, of the pioneer champion of religious liberty January 23, 1794, he was given a letter of West, and South Africa; 7,000 churches, and in America. Upon the foundation which he commendation by the mayor of Philadelphia, 6,800 preachers. He was the first bishop laid a stride is now being made toward first Hon. Matthew Clarkson: elected and ordained April 11, 1816. class citizenship for all. The motto of the "Having, during the prevalence of the In 1817 he published the first book of church is: "God our Father, Christ our Re­ late malignant disorder, had almost daily discipline, and in 1818, the first hymnal. deemer, man our brother." 539625—73785

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTINS OFFICE: I960