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National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc.

[[Note: the following individual lines appeared in individualized boxes/enclosures that surround in the margins the core narrative]]

Highlights of our Annual Convention

Soul-Stirring Devotional Periods

Excellent Business Sessions Each Day Junior, Young Adult & Senior Depts.

State Sunday Night Musical

Candlelight Rededication Service

Tribute to the Golden Age Ushers

Junior Dept. Picnic

Henry Ballard Nat'l Chorus Monday Night

Junior Dept. "State Flowers" Parade Crowning of Queen

Young Adult Retreat

A.W. Briggs Health Dept.

Arts & Crafts Dept.

Programs and Exhibits

Annual Sermon

School of Ushering EACH morning at 7:
(All of us are there)

Drill Team Contest Awards.

Education Dept. Awarding of Four Scholarships (These Young People are Superb!)

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

Election of Officers

INSTALLATION BANQUET

[[image: logo symbol]] Members of THE NATIONAL UNITED CHURCH USHERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.

[[narrative]]
Brother Elijah Hamilton - founder of the National United Ushers Association of America, Inc.  Brother Hamilton came to Philadelphia, Pa., from Augusta, Ga., and became a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church.

In July, 1919, he traveled in the nearby states, soliciting their support in starting a National Organization. A meeting was held at the Varick, M.E. Church in Philadelphia, Pa., with New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the District of Columbia taking part in formulating plans for the National United Ushers Association of America.

With prayerful thanks to God, he laid his plans before the assembly. They were received with enthusiasm and he was elected President, serving for one year. He was made honorary President and retained the highest respect throughout the National Body. This was the foundation laid for the greatest Layman Organization in the World. The Elijah Hamilton Tag Day, the 4th Sunday in March remains a great memorial to him.

The purposes of the National Body are: to create a better service and broaden the fields of our Christian social and moral activities; to foster more intimate and cordial relations among the various state unions; to break down the barrier of Interdenominational discrimination and prejudice which has seriously hampered the church in its efforts to perform its mission on earth; to insure a large fellowship among ushers and all people; to be a source of inspiration for doing greater and better things in kingdom building; to unify the system of ushering in all churches affiliated with the National and to educate them in Christian work and to practice the Golden Rule.

The Wheel of Progress turned with each president.

WILLIAM A. DAVIS, of Washington, DC was elected 2nd President in 1920. Under his dedicated leadership and faithful service, the National Organization made wonderful progress. The W. H. Davis Club remains a symbol of his great leadership.

ALLEN A. C. GRIFFITH, Sr., also from Washington, DC was elected 3rd President at the convention in Dallas, Texas in 1940. He gave the organization great leadership. In 1952 President Griffith was given the honor of President Emeritus. The Allen A. C. Griffith, Jr., Scholarship Fund remains as a memorial to him, a distinguished orator, and the love he had for young people.

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