St. Paul Recorder

St. James Church and Benjamin Moore
St. James A.M.E. church of St. Paul, founded in 1876, Sunday,
Sept. 11, 1949, dedicated the most beautiful and modern church
structure owned by Negroes in Minnesota. It was a memorable occasion and it was the fulfillment of the dreams of many of those
present, and others who have gone on to their just rewards.
From the building and its furnishings it is apparent that Rev. B.
N. Moore and his official family and the building fund committees
did not fall into a common error of doing things by halves. In structural design, appointments, pews, memorial windows, prayer rooms,
kitchens, dining room, pastor's study and offices the new St. James
presents a pleasing and welcome picture. In the words of an elderly
woman member "It's going to be a pleasure just to come into St.
James church now."
Behind the facade of this fine new structure which is a credit
both to St. Paul and the Northwest, lies a story of hard work under
difficult circumstances by Benjamin N. Moore, pastor of the church.
Rev. Moore is a determined, purposeful young minister. He is
so determined that often he appears to be stubborn. It was this determination, however, call it what you will, that made it possible for
his church with the assistance of many fine friends in the community to open the doors of a fine building for worship.
Rev. Moore's stubborn insistence that he was going to build a
church could easily have ended in a catastrophe, and almost did, because some of the strongest and most useful figures in his church
opposed his immediate plans. Their honest opposition became public
property when a court action was instituted. Since these men and
women were in the main honest, Moore's job and position was difficult, for church building requires a united church at best.
But Moore consecrated himself to the job ahead and closed his
ears to differences, attacks, disappointments and all, and last week
the people got a chance to entertain the annual district conference
of the AME denomination in an edifice that lent splendid dignity
to the religious convocation.
There is a great strength in big men. Rev. Moore several weeks
ago came down from his pulpit in the old church and offered the hand
of fellowship, on equal ground to some of the members who had opposed him. This was not an empty gesture but it revealed in happy
light the true stature of a young minister who while dedicated often
to a single purpose, was big enough to admit mistakes, forgive those
with whom he differed and ask their forgiveness. No man big
enough to take a stand like that needs worry over the future and no
church which produces men like that need worry about its future.
The new St. James church is a credit to its members. Rev.
Moore and the wife by his side, the A.M.E. church, St. Paul and the
Northwest. Every single soul who made a contribution in any way
to its erection ought to feel proud of the structure. May it serve as
a beacon light of comfort in a troubled world.