[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12] [House] [Pages 17144-17146] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov][[Page 17144]] REVEREND J.C. WADE POST OFFICE Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4615) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3030 Meredith Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska, as the ``Reverend J.C. Wade Post Office.'' The Clerk read as follows: H.R. 4615 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. REVEREND J.C. WADE POST OFFICE. (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3030 Meredith Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska, and known as the Ames Station, shall be known and designated as the ``Reverend J.C. Wade Post Office''. (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Reverend J.C. Wade Post Office''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella). General Leave Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 4615. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Maryland? There was no objection. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) introduced H.R. 4615 on June 8, 2000. This legislation has been supported by the entire House delegation of the State of Nebraska pursuant to the policy of the Committee on Government Reform. H.R. 4615 designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3030 Meredith Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska, as the Reverend J.C. Wade Post Office. Reverend James Commodore Wade was a noted pastor and a civic leader. He was born in Oklahoma in 1909. His mother died when he was 5 years old, his father died when he was 8, and his grandfather died when he was 11. At age 17, he was completely out on his own. He joined the ministry at age 21. He was known as being the youngest pastor in the State of Oklahoma. J.C. Wade was invited to speak in Omaha in 1944 and stayed on. He served on the Mayor's Advisory Committee in Omaha and organized the first Head Start Program in Salem, Nebraska. He was a member of the Baptist Pastors Conference and the Interdenominational Alliance. He served as the President of the New Era Baptist State Convention, Incorporated, for 9 years, and also as the State vice president to the National Baptist Convention for 9 years. On the national level, he was a member of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc.; the Gospel Music Workshop of America; and the NAACP. Dr. Wade died in August 1999. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) for introducing this legislation, and I want to urge our colleagues to support H.R. 4615. {time} 1515 Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4615, which names a post office after the Reverend J.C. Wade, was introduced by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) on June 8, 2000. We thank him for doing that. Reverend James Commodore Wade was a noted pastor and a civic leader. He was born in Oklahoma in 1909. He served on the Mayor's Advisory Committee in Omaha, and organized the first Head Start program in Salem, Nebraska. He was a member of the Baptist Pastor's Conference and the Interdenominational Alliance. He served as a President of the New Era Baptist State Convention for 9 years, and also as a State Vice President to the National Baptist Convention for 9 years. I want to personally note as a member of that convention that I am very pleased to see that we are honoring him today. On the national level, he was a member of the National Baptist Convention, the Gospel Music Workshop of America, and the NAACP. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that you cannot judge a man by his station in life, but what he has done to get there. I listened to the words of my distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from Maryland, as she noted the fact that his parents died at an early age but yet he was able to overcome, and as a matter of fact, become a minister at a very early age. Again, on a personal note, as the son of two ministers, I can appreciate what we are doing here today. Just to know that this gentleman who hales from Oklahoma was able to and became a significant part of the National Baptist Convention says a whole lot. It is a very distinguished convention, and it is a very important one in our Nation. With that, Madam Speaker, I urge the swift adoption of this measure. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), and I thank him for introducing this piece of legislation. Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to me, and I thank the gentleman from Maryland. I thank both members for managing this bill on the floor. I also thank the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), for their efforts in committee to make sure that this bill passes and becomes reality. In our society I think it is important, and especially for our children, to recognize those people that have had such a positive impact and effect on their community. It is truly an honor to be able to stand here and name a post office after one such gentleman in Omaha, Nebraska. This bill renames the Ames Street Station after Reverend J.C. Wade, who for 44 years was the pastor and emeritus pastor of the Salem Missionary Baptist Church in north Omaha, which is the largest African- American church in Nebraska, and frankly, is one of the largest churches, period, in the State of Nebraska, because of his commitment and leadership. Reverend Wade, as we learned, was born in Oklahoma, Wybark, Oklahoma, September 1, 1909. Wybark, by the way, is now called Chase, Oklahoma. Unfortunately for the Omaha, Nebraska community to which he moved in around 1950, he passed away on August 30, 1999. Madam Speaker, I submit for the Record the program of his memorial service that outlines in more detail his achievements for his community. A copy of the memorial service program is as follows: Rev. Dr. James Commodore Wade, Sr. Sunrise--September 1, 1909 Sunset--August 30, 1999 Homegoing Celebration for Rev. Dr. James Commodore Wade, Sr. ``And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.''-- Jeremiah 3:15 ``And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!''-- Romans 10:15 Friday, September 3, 1999 10:00 A.M.; Salem Baptist Church, 3336 Lake Street, Omaha, Nebraska; Rev. Maurice Watson, Officiating Obituary (The obituary was prewritten by Rev. Dr. James Commodore Wade, Sr.) The life of James Commodore Wade, Sr. is a theocratic reply to the somewhat desparaging question, ``Who's gonna take the boy?'' James Commodore Wade, Sr. was birthed in a small hamlet called Wybark, Oklahoma, now Chase, Oklahoma, on September 1, 1909 to the parentage of George W. [[Page 17145]] Wade and Henrietta Ayers Wade. When the boy, James, was 5, his mother died and that marked the beginning of that disparaging question, ``Who's gonna take the boy?'' At age 8, he experienced the death of his father and again the question was raised, ``Who's gonna take the boy?'' Then at age 11, he witnessed the demise of his grandfather, Mr. Samuel Ayers, who at the time was his guardian. Once more, we encounter the query, ``Who's gonna take the boy?'' Seeming to be an orphan child, living as he says, ``from pillar to post,'' it was at that point that God intervened and replied to that disheartening question by saying, ``I will take the boy and make him the beneficiary of special providence.'' And the rest of the life of James Commodore Wade, Sr. is but a constant unfolding of God's providential care for a boy without a guardian or a home. Prior to the death of his grandfather, at age 10, he accepted Christ at the Union Grove Baptist Church, Wybark, Oklahoma, and was baptized in the Arkansas River by the late Rev. W.L. Turner. Because of the twin afflictions of poverty and segregation, James went to a little one-room school, when he could, and finished the eighth grade in his mid-teens. By the time James was 17, he was completely out on his own. It was at this point that James left his native home and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. After moving to Tusla, he united with the St. Andrews Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. W.H. Woods. It was during these years that James picked up the pace of his flight from his life's calling. He attempted to do what so many have sought to do, and that is to run away from the ``preacher'' calling. But God always has a way of making his servants give in to the clarion call. For J.C. Wade, God brought about a cataclysmic experience in the solar system. According to Rev. Wade's own testimony, ``The sun, instantaneously switched places.'' Because of that stunning experience, J.C. Wade, Sr. confessed his call to the ministry at age 21 and preached his first sermon on April 1, 1931 at the St. Andrews Baptist Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose pastor was Rev. W.H. Woods. The year 1933 began another phase in the life of Rev. J.C. Wade, Sr., for in 1933, Rev. Wade was called to be the pastor of the Fountain Baptist Church in Haynes, Oklahoma for an overwhelming salary of 50 cents per week, sometimes! Pastor Wade had the sweet, torturous task of walking five miles on Sunday to preach the gospel to a dense crowd of 50 to 100 people, that is, if it didn't rain or snow. After serving the Fountain Baptist Church, the oldest church in the state of Oklahoma for approximately 2-2\1/2\ years, Pastor Wade, who bore the distinction of being the youngest pastor in the state of Oklahoma, resigned the Foundation Baptist Church and moved to the southern metropolis of Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis, at that time, was considered to be the haven of great preachers. There were two significant reasons for his moving to Memphis. One was that his father in the ministry wanted him to go to school; and secondly, he wanted him to be his assistant pastor at the Bethlehem Baptist Church. After moving to Memphis, Rev. Wade met at Bethlehem a tender young lady named Mary Frazier, whom God had delivered from the crippling affliction called polio. Rev. Wade was most impressed with Mary, but Mary was most unimpressed with him. In fact, she was so unimpressed with him until when he would seek to pay her a visit, she would say, ``Here comes that Old Esau.'' But her being unimpressed did not deter nor dissuade Rev. Wade. There was a prominent member of the Frazier family who genuinely admired ``Old Esau,'' and that was Mary's mother, who everybody affectionately called ``Mama Frazier.'' Since Mary refused to court Rev. Wade, Rev. Wade took a most effective alternate approach. He courted Mary through her mother, ``Mama Frazier.'' It was an effective approach because on December 18, 1935, Rev. Wynn united in holy matrimony, Rev. J.C. Wade, Sr. and Mary ``Unimpressed'' Frazier. Those early years were some tough days. Because of grave circumstances, Rev. and Mrs. Wade lived five years with her mother, ``Mama Frazier.'' Rev. Wade worked at the government fleet, better known then as working on the levy. While working on the levy in the fall of 1936, Rev. Wade was called to be the shepherd of the Middle Baptist Church. However, a strange thing occurred: After serving as pastor for approximately three months, Rev. Wade permitted a visiting minister to preach for him during the Christmas season; he had to work on Sundays. The congregation, feeling that the visiting minister could outpreach Rev. Wade, dismissed him and called the visiting minister. In the year 1937, Pastor Wade became pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church on Court Street in Memphis, Tennessee. The membership totaled less than 100 people. This time, there was a substantial pay increase from ``sometimes'' 50 cents per week. The financial arrangement at Shiloh was 40/60. Whatever was raised on Sunday, 40% was to be retained by the church and 60% was to be given to the pastor-elect. What an arrangement! However, the offering was a modest $6.00 per Sunday. Then in 1940, Pastor Wade accepted another church in Memphis called the Riverside Baptist Church in the south Memphis area which had a membership of 200 people. Pastor Wade did something that was a church custom in the South at that time. That custom was to pastor, simultaneously, more than one church. Pastor Wade accepted the Riverside Baptist Church at a great salary increase: He began his ministry there at $25.00 per week. To show you that Pastor Wade was concerned about providing for the needs of his family, while pastoring two churches, he took on a job at Mr. Green's store on Horn Lake Road and Ingle as a butcher. In Genesis 1:28, we read, ``And God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.'' The year 1937 marks the beginning of the Wade's being fruitful. On March 20, 1937, a little girl was born, and she was named Ruth Evelyn. On July 24, 1938, a boy was born and he was named James Commodore Wade, Jr. In the fall of 1939, tragedy almost struck the Wade household. Mrs. Wade became dangerously ill and was carried to the hospital in an unconscious condition. While Mrs. Wade was en route to the hospital, Rev. Wade went into their pantry and shut up with God and said, ``God, you can't take her now. I don't want my children growing up as I did, not knowing Mother.'' God heard and answered that prayer because by the time Rev. Wade arrived at the hospital, Mrs. Wade was sitting up, dangling her feet on the side of the bed. After Mrs. Wade's recovery, they moved from Mama Frazier's to rent from Mr. George Griffin on Dixon Street. After having moved on Dixon, the Wades continued to be fruitful, for on March 15, 1941, another girl was born. She was named Doretha. Then on September 18, 1944, another son was born, and he was named Melvin Von. In the early summer of 1944, Rev. Wade was invited by Rev. Woods, his father in the ministry, to preach a two-week revival at the Salem Baptist Church in Omaha Nebraska. Excitedly, he told many ministers who would gather at the Polk Printing office on Monday mornings. With a jubilant spirit, he went to Omaha to preach, for two weeks, only to find out after reaching Omaha, that Rev. Woods was not in the city. So, in an embarrassed state and at the request of the official board, Rev. Wade remained in Omaha. On the third Sunday in July, Rev. Wade was called to be the pastor of the Salem Baptist Church which had a roll of 250 members with 88 present. Rev. Wade states that there were three significant reasons for accepting a church who kept their pastors for two years at a time: 1) God ordained it so; 2) He did not want to rear his children in the segregated South; and 3) His mother- in-law's sainted sister Emma Highsmith told him that the Lord told her that his field was not in Memphis, and pointing in a northern direction, she said it's going to be that way. The unique thing about Pastor Wade moving to Omaha was that, gradually, all of Sister Wade's family moved to Omaha. After moving to Omaha, the Wades continued to be fruitful. In 1949, Sister Wade conceived a son, and to their dismay, that son passed away at birth. However, desiring to have one more child, on March 10, 1951, a little girl was born, and she was named Marsha Ann. In 1949, Pastor Wade began to make extensive changes on Salem's structure. Then in 1955, with the membership having exceeded the present seating capacity. Rev. Wade sought to enlarge the sanctuary to accommodate the overflow crowd. That vision met with much opposition. But in spite of opposition, the structure was completed in 1956. Two years after that completion, the loan which they almost didn't get, was paid off. 1957 and 1958 were exciting years, not only because a loan was paid off, but because in December, 1957, Pastor Wade watched his daughter Doretha conduct her first musical. It was a Christmas cantata. And then in the spring of 1958, his elder son James confessed his call to the ministry and preached his first sermon. Then in 1961, with much ecstasy, he watched his son James receive a B.A. degree from Bishop College. Another exciting year for Pastor and Mrs. Wade was 1962. For 27 years, Rev. and Mrs. Wade lived in the following places: with Mama Frazier, in a rental house, and in a church parsonage. But in 1962, a dream came true. They purchased their first home at 3612 North 42nd Street. Then in 1963, his second son, Melvin, preached his first sermon. After being told that the freeway was going to include the Salem structure at 28th and Decatur, Pastor Wade began to search out a location for a new Salem site. In 1970, ground was broken for a new church structure at 34th and Lake Streets and was completed in April, 1971. That loan was paid off in 1978. Another milestone was reached when he was informed in 1982 that government funds had been granted for the construction of a senior citizens' complex. Yes, it was God who took the boy. For only God could take an orphan child, without much education, call him to preach, change his education insight, make him a rhetorical genius, and a linguistical genius. Make him a husband, a father, a pastor, a shepherd, a builder, and an evangelist. Because God had [[Page 17146]] taken care of the boy, Rev. Wade was one of the most influential pastors in Omaha. He stood in some of the great preaching places in America, and he traveled extensively, evangelizing and proclaiming the gospel. Because God had taken care of an orphan boy from Wybark, Dr. Wade held key denominational positions, both locally and nationally. Yes, God, indeed had taken care of the boy, James Commodore Wade, Sr. Rev. Wade also acknowledged, lest he seem ungrateful, the three years he spent as a member of the Friendship Baptist Church, Kansas City, Missouri, under the pastorate of the Rev. S. C. Doyle, who was a pastor and friend to him. Rev. Wade will be greatly missed by ALL who knew him but he leaves to cherish his memories his wife of sixty-three years: Mary Frazier-Wade, Omaha; three daughters and son-in-law: Ruth Murray, Doretha Wade-Wilkerson, Los Angeles, California, Marsha Ann (Rev. Clyde) Nichols, Denver, Colorado; two sons and daughters-in-law: Rev. James C., Jr. (Ella) Wade, East Chicago, Indiana, Rev. Melvin V., Sr. (Jacquie) Wade, Los Angeles; nephew: Gene Bell, Evanston, Illinois; four nieces: Tina Williams, Chicago, Illinois, Marguerite Anderson, Cincinnati, Ohio, Myrtis Twyman, Westchester, Illinois, Wilma Hardiman, Omaha; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Susan and William Cooper, Queon Temple, Agnes Brown, Sam (Grace) Frazier, all of Omaha; nine grandchildren; six great- grandchildren; and other relatives. Madam Speaker, renaming this postal facility in his honor is an attempt to pay tribute to this outstanding citizen and dedicated man of God. The work initiated by Reverend Wade continues to this day in our community, and his impact on our community should be remembered, as it will forever have changed our community. Among the notable community service achievements, Reverend Wade created the Salem Preschool for Children. In the early fifties, he realized that our youngest children have to go to school ready to learn, so he started the preschool to make sure that when they entered school they were ready; the precursor to what we call the Head Start program today. He started it before anyone in government had ever thought of that concept. He organized, too, the first adult basic education in Omaha, Nebraska, at the church. He participated, and we have heard deeply in our community through the Mayors' Advisory Council, the Interdenominational Council, which by the way unifies our community from all faiths and geographic areas. As a leader in the religious community, Reverend Wade served as the President of the New Era Baptist State Convention, the State Vice President to the National Baptist Convention, and director of religious education for the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union of the New Era State Convention. As a member of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Reverend Wade brought the Baptist National Convention to Omaha three times. During his tenure at Salem Baptist, Reverend Wade grew the congregation from 250 members to nearly 4,000 members. I was reminded the other day of a fascinating story about this man who took the Salem Baptist Choir to Crookston, Minnesota, for a concert in the late 1960s. This church in Crookston was based in an all-white community. Some of the Crookston members had never associated with African-Americans before, but this choir performed their concert even while their hearts were grieving because of riots that were occurring in Omaha, Nebraska. The Choir fellowshipped with church members at a picnic following the concert, and later stayed in Crookston members' homes. The event broke down racial barriers and helped develop friendships between the two congregations that last to today. This outreach was a great success, particularly at a time when riots were going on not only in our hometown but throughout the country. It greatly affected the members of both churches. All these earthly achievements testify to the character of Reverend J.C. Wade, who we seek to honor today by passing H.R. 4615 designating the Reverend J.C. Wade Post Office. Finally, I would like to honor Reverend Wade's wife of 63 years, an amazing woman, Mary Frazier Wade, and thank her for her assistance and her support in this legislation. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I was very pleased to hear the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) reiterate the concern that Reverend J.C. Wade had for the education of young people. If we were to honor him, I am sure he would want to be honored for his pastoral duties and his efforts, but I am sure he would also want to be honored for looking towards the future so that he could make sure that young children could rise up to be the very best they could be. When we are talking about establishing the first Head Start center in Omaha, I think that says a lot, because he clearly had a vision of the future. As I often say, he cared about somebody other than himself. He wanted to make sure that those children were able to rise up. I am sure that as they pass the post office, a lot of those children who benefited from his efforts, they can only stop to salute and say, thank you. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am very moved to hear about the contributions of Reverend J.C. Wade. I want to thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) for so acknowledging and for introducing this legislation to name a post office building in his name. Madam Speaker, I urge support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4615. The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________