Part 37 Civil Rights, Missions: Local and otherwise

For nearly a century the United States government had been on record that all men should be free. The Thirteenth Amendment (1865) was thought to guaruntee that. The Fourteenth amendment (1868) added citizenship as a privilege and responsibility for all men who had formerly been slaves and the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) presumably guaranteed all men over a given age should have the right to vote. It seems, however, that
over the course of time state laws that came to be known as “Black Codes” or “Jim Crow Laws” abridged those rights. Even the Supreme Court had judged that schools could be “Separate as long as they were (appeared) Equal” as found in the Plessy vs. Ferguson Case (1896). Even when the Methodist Church merged several elements of Methodism as late as 1939 equality was questioned and the Central Jurisdiction was a body created specifically for black members of Methodism.

In the 1950’s Civil Rights for Blacks gained the spotlight first with the notice of a little black woman who refused to move to the back of a Birmingham bus. Rosa Parks who died in October of 2005 was that woman. She was jailed and this in turn led to the first significant protest led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others. Violence was a part of the 50’s for these folks and many religious leaders both black and white took up the cause. The results of another court case, Brown vs. Topeka School Board (1954) paved the way for desegregation in southern educational institutions in particular. The North was not immune for soon bussing became the issue in order to ensure that segregation did not continue even in cities like New York, Philadelphia and Boston. To a degree the change of school lines even in Portland, Maine was the result of desegregation. It seems that while South Portland had few black families they too had felt the pains of segregation when their children were guided to pursuits that may have been below their abilities. I recall coming into the teaching profession in the 1960’s and finding one of my best friends from college having difficulty finding a job in education, even in his home town, which happened to be Portland.

The civil rights struggle began to wane when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Amendment 24 were added to the national law code. Equality of Civil Rights issues for all is still present with us today. Perhaps because our own community had not experienced the wrath that seemed to dominate the pages of the newspaper and the television screen we felt distant from the issue. It was, as has been mentioned in a previous episode, that it was because of the increased awareness of equal/civil rights that the Maine Methodist Conference and Peoples Church discontinued minstrel shows. New evidence and wisdom led Peoples people to honor loving all people by following the Lord’s wishes.

While we may have remained somewhat aloof at the struggles of Blacks in America, we were very much aware of the plight of Blacks in Africa. We had visits in the 1960’s from the Pyburn family, who had long been in Methodist Mission work in Africa. Later they would be stationed in Southeast Asia. Peoples remained very close to this family. The Commission on Missions sponsored a series of African Safari nights during the winter of 1961. In another series of programs the discussion was on “Our Problems with Alcohol”. It was reported by Helen Jewett that these meetings were especially well attended by members of the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Half of the Lenten offerings during several of the years in the 1960’s went to Missions support. The Methodist churches in the greater Portland area jointly sponsored a School of Missions. Certainly this church was deeply engaged in the support of missions and missionaries, near and far.

As mentioned earlier, it was during the 1950’s that our first association with Heifer International began. Sunday School association with this organization also continued. Heifers, goats, sheep and chickens were all saved for by the Sunday school and supported by the adults of the church throughout the 1960’s and beyond. A highlight of our relationship to the Heifer Project came in the fall of 1962 when Reverend Chamberlain went with a delivery crew of Heifer Project workers to British Guinea in South America. Later in the winter his trip and the slides that he took was the subject of one of the more successful family nights of that era.

The most ambitious project of a missionary nature was yet to come but not until the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. That project which we will include later was a multi-year commitment to assist Cambodian families in resettling in this area.

One of the other elements of mission that began to develop at Peoples during the 1960’s was the hiring of a second pastor with the specific intention that this person would serve as a visitor. Retiring at this time from many years in the pulpit was Reverend Louis S. Staples. A kind and generous man, Reverend Staples with his wife continuously visited members of our church who might be home bound, in the hospital or in nursing homes. This new ministry to Peoples kept those folks informed and a part of the church life. Countless miles were trod and hours given to the work of Peoples by the Staples. In addition Reverend Staples filled the pulpit at Peoples when Reverend Ellis was off. Reverend Staples also filled the pulpit at several other Methodist churches and those of other denominations in his retirement. It was certainly a blessing to have the Staples in our midst throughout the period of the 1960’s.

A note to John Robinson who was then the head of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee from Reverend Staples in December of 1965 read:
“Dear John:
After considerable thought, it is best for me to request a furlough
without pay as of December 1, 1965. This will ease my mind and be in
time to save writing a check.
I had no idea I was running into such a spell as I have had this Fall. The last time the Doctor came I talked with him to see if I should resign. He said no. So he evidently thinks I will get back on my feet in time. So I feel that if you wanted to consider it a furlough I could be at lease and take up the work when able. I don’t imagine, at my age, that I can expect to continue much longer. In my mind I still feel young, “as a man thinketh.”
After enjoying Christmas Sunday, I had to take to the bed again. Evidently the thrombosis in that knee was not wholly absorbed, or I did to much in the three days I was out.
Thank you for taking care of this. We have been very happy in our retirement work The fellowship in Peoples Church is unsurpassed.
Very cordially yours,
Louis S. Staples”
The dedication and love of Reverend Staples for our Lord is evident in this simple note of asking for a leave. Reverend Staples was already in his late 70’s or 80’s at the time of this request.

While the second pastor or administrative position took a hiatus for a number of years after Reverend Staples held the position, it would return during the 1980’s through the 1990’s and used in a variety of capacities.

One other activity to include at this point in the unfolding stories of Peoples that needs to be included is the membership’s involvement in the development of a Christian Coffee House in Portland. This initial attempt at being “on the street” was known as “The Gate” and found a home among the storefronts in what was once known as the Lafayette Hotel. The location was off the center of the downtown area and became an effective ministry for many years. The Gate Association consisted of representatives from a number of area churches who would raise money for the operation of this location and also gather individuals to keep the coffeehouse in operation. Peoples was one of those supporters both in the form of financial donations and in the supply of personnel to operate and counsel young folks who were invited to drop in, drink coffee and other beverages, play games and enjoy from time to time entertainment, often presented by themselves. In time the cost of support went up and the amount of support decreased. Likewise the number of young people who would avail themselves of the opportunity to sit and chat diminished as well and the Gate closed. Ironically such a location might have even been more appropriate in 2003 since directly across the street from this location the former Columbia Hotel, serves as a co-ed dormitory for the University of Southern Maine.

Long before Meals on Wheels was created and housing for the elderly was provided, the Christian Social Concerns Committee of Peoples formed a Mature Years Club. Members of the church would once a month go out to private homes and bring 16 to 20 elderly folks to the church education building for games, discussions and snacks. Sally LaVigne served as the chairman of this program of outreach. Certainly the change in living conditions for the elderly and programs provided through elderly and low cost housing supplanted the need for such a program housed here at Peoples. Programs that were popular in the past sometimes see themselves returning because of new needs and purposes.

To complete this episode in the life of Peoples we need to include the mission activities of Earl and Janice Nicholson. This couple had become active in the early 1950’s at Peoples. Earl was very much involved in Men’s Club and other church bodies while Janice who became a teacher at South Portland High School was active for many year’s in the women’s organizations and the Sunday School. At the end of their working careers the Nicholsons volunteered to spend a year on the reservation of the Winnebago (Santees) Indians in Nebraska. Earl worked with the tribal council with his business acumen while Janice taught science as well as tennis. At the end of their commitment to the tribe they returned to remain active in the life of Peoples. It was my pleasure upon their return to nominate them for the Social Justice Award of the Maine Annual Conference. It was also my distinct honor to present them with a plaque at Maine Annual Conference held at the University of Maine at Farmington on Saturday, June 14, 1980.