[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 22, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4403-S4404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           TRIBUTE TO THE REVEREND MARIAN CURTIS BASCOM, SR.

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, for 45 years the Reverend Marian 
Curtis Bascom, Sr., has, as pastor of the Douglas Memorial Community 
Church in Baltimore, been a leading force for fairness, opportunity, 
growth, and advancement, not only for the many devoted members of his 
congregation, but for all the people of Baltimore. His leadership, 
vision and commitment have made Reverend Bascom, and the members of his 
congregation truly a visible, viable, and compassionate force in 
Baltimore.
  This month Reverend Bascom will officially retire as pastor of 
Douglas Memorial Community Church, but his influence will continue to 
grow not only by his continued presence and leadership in our 
community, but also through the lives and works of the countless people 
he has led, inspired, and challenged to achieve the highest levels of 
dedication and commitment of which they are capable.
  Born in Florida and educated there and in Chicago, Reverend Bascom 
holds an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Florida Memorial 
College, and has completed advanced studies at Wesley Seminary and 
Howard University in Washington, having served as president of Howard's 
alumni association.
  [[Page S4404]] Since coming to Baltimore in 1949 as pastor of Douglas 
Memorial Community Church, Reverend Bascom has held leadership posts in 
a broad range of institutions critical to our community's growth and 
vitality. He has twice served as president of the Interdenominational 
Ministerial Alliance, and with his fellow clergy in this wide ranging 
institution, Marian Bascom has been a force for economic, social, and 
civic progress leading the way to opening up access to our institutions 
to all people.
  His inspired and committed leadership in the community has made him a 
leader in many ways--the first black commissioner of the Baltimore City 
Fire Department, first black to serve on the board of Baltimore City 
Hospitals, past president of the National Council of Community 
Churches, leader in support of working men and women, and vice 
president of Associated Black Charities.
  Under his inspired leadership, Douglas Memorial Community Church has 
played a critical role in reaching out to the people of Baltimore and 
into the world. Under Reverend Bascom's pastorate, Douglas has 
developed and implemented programs which focus on youth, our senior 
citizens, and the homeless. There are camps for the youth, a Meals-on-
Wheels service, apartments, a vibrant Sunday school and youth 
fellowship, and a ministry that touches people of all races and creeds 
throughout the community.
  Mr. President, it has been my special honor and privilege to work 
with Rev. Marian C. Bascom over the years. I have found him to be an 
inspired leader, committed servant of his faith and tireless advocate 
for fairness and opportunity. His retirement will be only the next 
phase of involvement for this dedicated and inspiring clergyman, and I 
ask that all our colleagues join with me in wishing him every 
happiness. I also ask that a brief biography of the Reverend Marian 
Curtis Bascom, Sr., be printed in the Record.
  The biography follows:
      Marion Curtis Bascom, Sr.: Preacher, Teacher, and Innovator

       The growth of Douglas Memorial Community Church as a 
     visible, viable compassionate force in the city of Baltimore 
     is inextricably woven in the leadership of and by its 
     minister, Rev. Marion Curtis Bascom, Sr.
       Marion Curtis Bascom, Sr. was born in Pensacola, Florida 
     and was blessed by the early influence of a religious life 
     with his parents and grandparents. He soon became active as a 
     child-preacher at the Mt. Olive Baptist church in Pensacola. 
     As a young boy, he also lived in Chicago, Illinois, where he 
     acquired his early education. Later he returned to Pensacola, 
     and was graduated from High School.
       In 1970 his Alma Mater, Florida Memorial College bestowed 
     upon him the honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree. He also 
     completed additional studies at the Wesley Seminary, 
     Washington, D.C. In 1976, Dr. Bascom was selected to receive 
     Howard University's coveted Distinguished Alumni Award at the 
     111th Anniversary of the founding of the institution. He has 
     served the University frequently as a resource person for the 
     School. Dr. Bascom has been president of the Alumni 
     Association.
       Before coming to assume the pastorate of Douglas Memorial 
     Community Church, he had served as pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist 
     Church, Pensacola, Florida; Shiloh Baptist Church, St. 
     Augustine, Florida; and the First Baptist Church, St. 
     Augustine, Florida. In July, 1949, he accepted the invitation 
     to become the pastor of Douglas Memorial Community Church in 
     Baltimore, Maryland.
       Under the astute leadership of Dr. Marion Curtis Bascom, 
     Douglas Memorial Community Church has become known as the 
     church whose people have an acute awareness of the religious, 
     social and political problems inherent of the city of 
     Baltimore and which extend into the world. His leadership in 
     connection with outreach programs focused on youth, the aged 
     and homeless has brought recognition to him as one who 
     believes that ``Love for one's fellowman reaches the highest 
     pinnacle when we render service to others.''
       Since 1949, Dr. Bascom has attained innumerable religious 
     and civil heights, attesting to his stature as an inspired 
     and committed leader in the Baltimore community. His 
     prodigious list of credits include: twice president of the 
     Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance; first Black 
     Commissioner of the Baltimore City Fire Department; a former 
     chairman of the Task Force for Welfare Rights; and the first 
     Black to serve on the Board of Baltimore City Hospitals. In 
     addition, he is a Past President of the National Council of 
     Community Churches; and a former member of the Board of 
     Directors of the Baltimore Branch of the National Association 
     for the Advancement of Colored People. He has actively 
     supported the local labor movement, and participated fully in 
     the political life of Baltimore City. He was also a trustee 
     of the Roseland Gardens Culture Center. Community concern has 
     been maintained and Dr. Bascom serves as Vice President of 
     Associated Black Charities.
       Dr. Bascom has constantly admonished the Douglas 
     Congregation that instead of doing ``church work'' it should 
     ``do the work of the church.'' As a consequence with his 
     foresight and guidance, Douglas has developed an enviable 
     succession of outreach programs with four of its more 
     prominent being: Camp Farthest Out, Inc., located in Barrett, 
     Maryland, and serving four hundred under-privileged children 
     for two-week periods throughout each summer; the Douglas 
     Memorial Federal Credit Union, with assets over $1,000,000; a 
     Meals-on-Wheels Kitchen serving all creeds and Douglas 
     Village, with 49 apartments, occupying the entire 1300 block 
     of Madison Avenue.
       He was responsible for leading the church into sponsorship 
     of a Headstart program and also for establishing the 
     ``Seeker's House,'' a coffee house on Pennsylvania Avenue for 
     area residents. Dr. Bascom was a local leader and activist 
     during the civil rights movement, and marched in Selma with 
     Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Poverty marchers enroute to 
     Washington were housed and fed at Douglas Memorial, as a 
     small part of its awareness of the social problems of the 
     day.
       His battle for economic equality erupted in the development 
     of a business thereby opening the entrepreneurial door in the 
     minority community to the sale of fine papers--an arena 
     previously closed in the Baltimore community.
       Always available to growth prospects, the last five years 
     have seen major efforts to renovate the Church House come to 
     fruition. An elevator, long needed to care for more maturing 
     congregants, has been installed to serve both the church and 
     church house. Plans to install a new organ are evident and 
     growing.
       The intrinsic, incalcuable effects of his forty years at 
     Douglas are reflected in a vibrant Sunday Church School, an 
     active Youth Fellowship, an outstanding musical aggregation, 
     responsible and committed circles and spiritual group 
     fellowships--all hallmarks of the blessings visited upon the 
     Douglas Family through the untiring efforts of its pastor, 
     Marion Curtis Bascom, Sr.
       In addition to his wife, Dorothy, immediate family members 
     include their children, Bernadette M. Miller, Marion Jr., 
     Peter and Singleton Bascom and Yiviane B. Yeadon and their 
     grandchildren; Chokise L. Miller, Ellis and Gillian Yeadon. 
     While his beloved mother, the late Mary A. Knutt, has joined 
     his sainted grandmothers, Marion Bascom senses a welcoming 
     bonding with his maternal heritage--the Andersons--Uncle Tom, 
     Victoria, Thomas Jr., Corine and Harry--with Aunt Dorothy, 
     Barbara and Meta.
       Dr. Bascom's favorite scriptual passage, the 139th Psalm, 
     embraces his most fervent prayer:
       ``Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my 
     thoughts . . .''
     

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