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PETERSBURG, VA„ FRIDAY. NOVEMBER S!, 1884.
:n-. ! • ■ -_ . . .1 r-- • ;i • -J-b..a\n}._
NUMBER 47
®4
CORRESPONDENCE I
I ROM THE MINISTERS AND
MEMBERS OF THE A . M. E.
ZION CONNECTION IN
ALL PARTS OF THE
bNITEH STATES.
TO THE STAR OF ZION
BISHOP HOOD’S ADDRESS.
[Continued from last issue.]
moral and Christian courage and with
the strength of will to break away
from long standing evil habits. In
this connection I am sorry to hear that
the section of the general rules which
forbids the use of intoxicating drinks,
is not strictly obeyed. I was sitting
in a minister’s room some time ago,
and two sisters came in and began to
pour out their complaints against min
isters who had had charge of that
church. They told me that they had
seen bottles piled up in that room,and
that they were fully satisfied that there
were intoxicating drinks locked up in
that room at that very moment. Now
unless the ministers in this conference
cease to use intoxicating drinks as a
beverage, you can not hope for success;
drunken ministers cannot preach the
gospel of Jesus. Isaiah says thejr err
in vision, stumble in judgment, they
are out of the way through strong
drink.
The habitual use of tobacco is
scarcely a less evil than drinking, and
its natural tendency is to lead men to
greater evil of drunkenness. If the
ministers of this conference could
know how greatly the using of tobac
co destroys or hinders their usefulness,
they would cease at once to use it. If
they could realize how many stars
from their crown it will lose them?
they would never touch the weed
again. We who want to be the equal
of the best on earth will cut a sorry
figure in heaven with not enough stars
to distinguish us from ordinary people,
who were satisfied with bearly grace
enough to get in with, while those of
our acquaintances who, by their use
ful, holy and exemplary lives, have
turned many,not merely to the church,
but also to practical righteousness,
shall shine forever as stars in heaven's
firmament. Oh, brethren, how can
you be satisfied with being mere hire
lings or servants in God’s house, when
all the blessings of Divine sonship are
freely offered.
I accepted the appointment to this
district, which is the largest, and re
quires the most work of any in the
connection, without a murmur, hoping
to be able to improve it. If I should
fail I shall be happy when my time is
out.
Thirdly, I have noticed a want of
brotherly love among you. There
ought to be, at least among ministers
of the same church, a most decided
friendship, yes, a strong affection, and
a large degree of care for each other.
If you have not ar large degree of this
you should cultivate it. I think also,
that we need a greater conneetional
interest. Whoever will or may cling
to their local and clannish notions,
certainly ministers who are sent by
. their Master into all the world to
preach, cannot afford to indulge local
notions.
•' ■ : ■ - ■ l '
I must repeat that which has been
so often stated, and what we shall have
to continetoispeakof untilthe needed
interest is awakened, namely, that the
general fund, which is placed at the
lowest possible figure, must bh collect
ed. When I tell you that our connec
tional institutional are all languish
ing; that thftjftlary of theteachcr at
our collegeii not. paid ? that we caa
not afford accommodations for as many
students as desire to attend, nor teach
ers enough for the’ number in attendr
ance, that notwithstanding the Bishops
at the last General conference, donated
man} thousands of their back salary
to the connection. There still ref
mained over six thousand dollars due
them on salary for the last four years,
and that since the general conference
they have received only the following
amounts: For June, $o 81July,
$11 27; August, $40 23, or ($57 3lj
fifty-seven dollars and thirty-one cents,
It reems to me that you ought at least
to feel a deep interest in the matter
yes, an interest sufficiently deep to
move you to such effort as you have
never felt like making before. Quite
a number have expressed to me a de
sire for a place where they can do
better. I have only this to say, viz* :
that the places are just what you have
made them, and they will not be any
better until you have learned how to
make them better. I am quite well
satisfied that there are at least a dozen
appointments in this conference which
could be made equal to the best in the
connection, and yet the great interest
hinges upon four churches. There are
a d6zen members who want these four
churches. You know that I cannot
appoint a dozen men to churches, and
you ought to know that God does not
want a dozen of you in four churches.
If these churches were mine I might
select some men whom I regarded as
special friends, and put them in charge
to make the most that they could out
of them. But the churches are not
mine, I am only a steward, with an
awful responsibility resting upon me,
a responsibility which involves the
eternal interests, possibly of millions
of mortal souls. For aught we know,
if properly provided, the churches
may be the means through which, in
the ages yet to come, millions may be
saved. If by any avoidable mistake
on my part, this possibility should be
hindered, how shall I escape the fear
ful consequence ? I do not claim in
fallibilibity, I am liable to err, but
when, past experience and my best
judgement is' against a certain ap
pointment, if I make that appoint
ment, t make, it with all the chances
for failure and disaster starring me in
the face. Jesus, the matchless speak
ing, asks in substance, this question :
If ye have failed in what is small,
who will commit more important mat
ters to your . care. Ken who have
never built up a small charge are
cUinmering for large ones. I am not
averse to having you express your
wishes, and especially am i pleased
when a brother tells me he ieels that
he has a call to go and build up a bro
ken church. t have been sensible of
such a call myself oaseveral occasions,
and upon several occasions have
brothers expressed.such feelings re-;
specting werk, and neither in my or
any other c&e, have I ever known a
failure in such a case. I could men*
tione nearly a dozen cases, in
which the success was far beyond the
expectation. In any case I. am quite
wilting to hear from all sides, and It
wish all to know' that if I jail to do
wbatl wishit is not because of any
unwilHngnen to please them, but be
tfatafe I ftftf the Lord. My
study is, what will pfeape th$ Lord,
what contribute most to the successof
his cause? I do not expect to avoid
mistakes,but Ido w*u)Jt ty reduce them
to. the smallest possible number, .. And
I believe if you will seek the grace
necessary to overcome all ungodly
habits, and go to work, with a single
eye to the upbuilding of his cause,
W not have canwSlsi^fl?®
plain of .poor charges. « -m,:!
If you will have tobacco and be^r,
and wine and whiskey—if you want
to study how to be .genteel, pleasant
and agreeable, if you cannot over
come a disposition to be jealoup of
other men’s ability, to succeed. Ip a
word, if you are going to whine and
fret, and make yourself; and. everybody
around you feel disagreeable. I have
no hope for you.
I am happy to find a tew of tbs
ministers doing exeeedingly.^reljL ^t
Indianapolis I found Elder WashfPgt
ton carrying all before hum At St.
Louis I found all doing, lairly well,
and i he same may be said of LcHiisyiUet
Brother Temple has ,m*de his mark at
Evansville. ;
... The most pleaaigg feature of this
conference is the; number of proini
sing young men who are vising up. to
take our places.in the near feature. I
would say: 4o them, whatever in your
seniors’is worthy of imitation, mark
and imitate. Whatever in tbsi# %
not commendable shim as you would
a deadly poison.
And now to the business before us*
let us betake ourselves with ad eye
single to God’s glory,that His great
name may have the praise now and
forever, Amen.
- J. W. Hood, Bishop.
NOTICE! NOTICES!!
To the Ministers and Delegates of the
North Carolina Conference.
Dear Brethren.-—Our next annual
session will be held . in Newborn, Ts C.
and will convene on the 4th Wednes
day (26th^^r) of November, 1884,at
10 A. M, Bt Rev. Thomas H. Lo
max,' will preside. I have secured the
following reduced rates on the fallow
ing railroads, respectively:
Richmond and Danville ' railroad,
North Carolina division, from Hills
boro and all intermediate stations to
Goldsboro. Tickets will be on sale
for two days, only—namely, Novem
ber 25th and 26th—good to return for
ten days.
Raleigh and A. A. Lino Railroad,
Carolina Central,RakighandGaston,
respectively. Tickets'will be granted
at three cents per mile each way—
good from November 24th until De
cember 4th, 1884 /
Wilmington and Weldon. Special
rates. No cheaper than the regular
rates.
Atlantic and N. C. Terms not yet,
received.
I will write or telegraph you a
Goldsboro in due time.
Yours in Gospel service.
A. B. Smykr,
Secretary N. CL Conference.
/
hw. a c. PHUiffs’;
. ' rH
[Which the Secretary (after much dis
cussion) was ordered to publish in
the Ziqnju*ta» Uis.]
viz :
Dear Burthen :
. Ahbther year have passed since we
tnet last in district conference. Many
have been my trials, and I suppose all
of you Ha^ had your bitter cup.—
This, however, will be the last time
that I shall meet you in' district con
ft reace on this district. (Four years
have passed when this one is out, since
I have been with you, I have tried to
Walk in and but before tire people like
a professing Christian. T never was
to very Unkindly treated ad By the
elders with whom I have been associ
ated—3 exceptions. Since I’ve l>een
bi this work I have nothing to say Us
a complaint against the deacons and
preachers, nor the membership, (but
enough of this.) There has been
ouch spiritual and material progress
on this district for the last four years;
17 years have I been in the North
Carolina conference, much progress
have • been made in gathering mem
bers,building church houses, and gath
ng Sunday School scholars. Much
progress have been made educational
iy. -.A. gospel minister ought to be
kind.one toward another, and faithful
to God and the church, and stand
above the people. Sin among our peo
ple is great, especially that of the dis
regard for morals. Let God’s minis
ters set good examples, preach the
gospels, preach the law as well as the
gospel^ and pray for them. Fight not,
but love one another, and so fulfill the
law. of Christ
I hope you will be suoeessful in
raising all the general fund this year.
God have done mneh for its and is
still doing. Let us praise Him, let us
rang, “Sure J. must fight if I would
reigninerease my courage Lord, I’ll
bear the toil, endure the pain; support
ed by the word.”
Surely, if there ever was a time in
which you .should be proud it is now.
The success of your college at Salis
bury? jour talented yotnig men, your
book eoxteern, church paper, learned
bishops, dfc. You should be mindful
of the heathen of Africa. Let us sup
port our foreign missions, let us fight
for God and Zion. How easy to honor
God with "yciar mouth, but who will
Ministers going to conferences, un
less it is at places where, there are a '
plenty of accommodation should avofjji
taking too many oftbeir friends along,
’tis true while the pastor and people
will do all they can to accommodate
all, yet they may be put * to a great
deal of inconvenience. A hint to the
wise is euffioent," . j/".,
A good beginning is half the wetfe
Prudery is the carieatni% of modes*
<T* • */ * 7 '
stand up tor Uod r 1 think we can
get someonefor anything, to fight for
any i»mrtostand up for all Shades and
colow of opinions, bat who will stand
up for church purity, female purity in
the church, in the State^nand around
our own fireside.
Poor' black women! You must be
heard aad protected, or the race is
gone. Hear me, and mark what I
have to say, God will safely revenge
the colored woman 4a this country,
she has no friend*: like other native
women. But Hlunfour frther,, dis
honored his own father, end the black
man as a race, dishonor their women*
Great oity, for if, when weare
•if - HI iliijit: illi
Wanting, woe be unto you, for their
will be great upon our people^ Let
ZionV - watchmen all awake and take
the alarm they give, and let them
from the mouth of God their awful
charge receive. May they in Jeeus
who they preach their own redeemer
see, “And Watch 1 for seals for whom
the Lord the heavenly mansions
leave.”* It is reported that Bishop
Lomaxsaid, “let the sweat and tears
grow together,” thatrif what the Bible
says, and it also'says; “Drink, get
drunk and spew.” Let us encourage
purity of society, of body and soul.
Take care, the worn out preacher
stand up for God,its manly to be brave
in a good thing. *
May we all meet in heaven.
H. E. Phillips, P. E.,
Of the Newberne District for four
.. j. . ■ •• i
years.
The above is a true verbatim et lit
erature copy of Brother Phillips’ ad
dress, which I was ordered to publish
in the Star of Zion. I trust that it
will be published just as it is, that no
blame be attached to the secretary as
there'was much discussion over it.'
Yours in Gospel service.
A. B. Smyer,
Secretary.
FROM CAPE FEAR DISTRICT.
Clear Run, Sampson Go, N- C.)
October 28th, 1884. j
Mr,Editor :
According to previous appointment,
our Presiding Rider, Rev. E. EL Hill,
has iust elosed bis fourth [District Con
ference, which convened in Zion chap
el, near Clear Run, Samson county, N.
C., on the above date. f
The first, second and third days
were beautiful, the whole natural
heaven presented one unbroken sheet
of serenity; and the citizens received
die conference without any controver
sy
Though it is painful in a religious
point of view, to say, that several of
the circuits were not represented—
either by delegate or by pastor. But
the reason is not difficult to explain :
There is quite a famine in this portion
of the State in regard to money and
provisions. The rivers are low, the
boats can’t run. Turpentine and tar,
being their only hope of support, is
now at a low ebb. Laborers’ whges
are low—males 50 cents per day; fe
males 25 cents per day; meat, 15c.
per pound; corn, $1 OO per bushel ;
beef 7 and 8c. round; coflbe, 25c.:
sugar, 121c.; and a common $10 00
suit of clothes isnow priced at $20 00,
and the majority of onr members be
ing renters, of course, this embarrasses
the church, and well explains the rea
son why the brethren were hot at the
District conference. But notwith
standing these appalling calamities
which prevents the financial progress
of the church, yet we had a pleasant
conference, ana the beauty of the
whole was that the Presiding Elder
and brethren worked together in har
monious union, and the glory of God
seemed to overshadow the meeting,
and it affords the writer much pleasure
to say that the district is at peace,and
according to the favorable reports pre
sented by the different pastors, show
that there has been a general spiritual
rejoicing, and many hate been added
to the membership, and according to
the report of the oomraittee on state
the church, shows a wonderful addi
tion inker wealth this year, both in
lands and other property.
Our Presiding Elder has been very
sick foraday ortwo. He is being cared
tobyfttofci*.
v
REVIVAL, MEETING.
Gbeehville, Ala., )
October 24, 1884. )
Mr. Editor :
Oar revival meeting at Evergreen
Station, T. A. Weattington, pastor,has
dosed witb great and glorious success.
Permit me to say in regard to the
preaching, at said Bwcliag m October
l$th, that Elder Ford preached at 11
o’clock. Text * " Jesus answered verily,
verily, I say unto thee, except a man
be bora of water and of the spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.” There had been so mnch water
preached up at a Baptist big meeting
previous to this time, that some of our
members seemed to think that water
was the way, but Elder Ford in his
sermon on the new birth, showed them
that water was not essential to the sal*
vation of the soul, but being bom
again, born from above. He did
honor to himself, and showed his love
for his church.
Elder GiH at 3 o’clock took for his
text: Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth and the life, no man
cometh unto the father but by me.—1
He showed them that truth and life
and Jesus were the essentials, and the
only way. He said let all the seas and
lakes, bays, rivers and. ponds, and
wells dry up, but Jesus is the way.—
He said give the Methodist one drop
of wafer, and them give them Jesus,
and the Baptist might have all the
balance. Ana I hope the Methodist
will stop using so much water.
Ford and Gill did honor to them
selves and good to the church in Ever
green, and may the Lord let them live
long to preach Him to all, and cry in
death! Behold! behold! the lamb.
Your humble servant preached at
night. He says nothing about his ser
mon. He is no egotist, and he hates
egotism. T
Elder Gill's discourse on Monday
night was “Lazarus and the rich man.2’
He made the unconverted think with
seriousness, for he spoke with power,
and the holy ghost was felt in many
hearts and souls, and sinners were
brought from darkness to light, and
from the power of satan unto God.
Tuesday night Elder Fora preached
again. Isaiah 7th chapter, 13th verse:
“And He said, hear ye now, O house
of David; is it a small thing for you
to weary men, but will ye weary my
God also V* It .was a subject for the
time and the occasion. . He showed
that the sinners wearied lawyers and
preachers, police and sheriffs,and even
the chickens themselves. He handled
the subject with dignity and delight.
I should have mentioned the servi
ces pf Monday at 11 o’clock by Elder
Worthy, of Georgiana circuit. He
spoke on the atonement. He gave all
that heard him good satisfac
tion. Elder Worthy is a good
preacher and a good pastor, May the
Lord prolong his days, for we heed
many more like him.
Monday night, loth, Udder Uiil
preached. On this night the converts
were baptized by the pastor, Elder T.
A. Weathington, and your humble
servant gave the Lord’s supper.
Elder Gill in his sermon showed the
converts that as the servants were to
fill the water pots with water to the
brim-, so they the converts must do
their whole duty. Now may the Lord
enable the converts* to grow in grace,
and true holiness.
I conclude by saying dearly beloved
brethren that we are about to meet
again in conference assembly, let us
say like David, “Bless the Lbtd Omy
soul, and forget not all his benefits.5’