i muniim w"iiif.i. uniiLJirtDjiMW TO; ^ if - /_ h TOr n B B tPKiw.L ^ ^ —_s__ VOL. VH1. NUMBER 51 correspondence IROM THE MINISTERS AMD, MEMBERS OF THE A, M. E. zioN-eommmotf m ALL PARTS OF THE LNITED STATES. TO THE STAR OF ZION. NOTES FROM THE CENTRAL N. C. CONFERENCE. The 24th annual session of the Cen tral North Carolina Conference met in the A. M. E. Zion church, Monroe, N. C., at 12 M., on Wednesday, No vember 26, 1884, Bishop S. T. Jones, presiding. A large number of members were present, the weather fine, and the pro ceedings marked with harmony and good feeling. The pleasant, jovial manner of the presiding officer kept the conference in constant good hu mor. Rev. J. A. Tyler, G. L. Blackwell, and George H. Haines were elected secretaries, and C. R. Harn reporter for the Star. The usual committees were announced and the bishop read his opening address. In the course of his address the bishop referred to the action of the late General Conference held in New York. He called attention to the fact that while the general tax of 50 cents per member remains the same as here tofore, the anpfdpriations from the general tundior \iarious purposes are largely increased, and that unless the receipts on general fund are largely increased, the bishops would scarcely receive enough for travelling expenses. If conferences would adopt the exam ple of the mother conference, and re quire the collection of every dollar of the general fund, there would no diffi culty. Not more than 25 per cent, of the fund is collected, that is two out of every five members pay the tax, and ministers justify the three who do not equally with the two who do. Preach ers cry out that the people* do not pay the general tax because the bishop has not visited them. But fees from othei* societies are collected from without the members ever seeing their general officers. Suppose that a citizen should . refuse to pay his State taxes because the governor did not visit him, would he be relieved trom the payment ? It is the preachers business, not the bish op’s, to collect the general tax. The bishop referred to the present sense of disquietude on acconnt of the recent elections, and said that excite ment and alarm are needless. The moral sense of the nation will not tol erate great wrongs to our people.— Thoughtful whites would not allow in timidation. He urged the ministers to avoid all exciting discussions and inculcate politeness, industry and dis charge of our duty to God and the church. It might be on account of our remissness in these respects, this Lord has allowed these reverses. He spoke of a plan he intended to propose at the Bishop’s Meeting nexit week for a grand centennial offering to church enterprises from all parts of our connection. He took occasion to commend the Ladies Home and For eign Missionary Society, and appoint ed Her. Mr. SIade to receive contribu tions from the brethren in aid Of that The address was referred to appro priate committees. . j" Rev. J. McH. Farley, manager, of the Star, was introduced and proceed ed to the discharge of his duties. The paauge of characters Wed, dwfcfejisui tor’s duty being brought up the bishop repeatedly stated that collections on general fund are to be made every month beginning at his first entrance upon work, mid remittance made promptly to the conference steward.— At the end of six months the pastor should call a committee consisting of members who have paid the tax, to decide whether or not those who have not paid are able to uo so. A fist is to be made out of paying members, another fist of those decided to be unable to pay, called the poor list, and another of members under 15 years (called minors list.) Before tho clore of the conference year those who are able to pay and do not pay must be tried before a suitable committee and excluded. Pastors are direlect in in duty if they do not enforce the law. Previous to the sermon at night Prof. W. H. Goler, who had been pre viously introduced as a representative of Zion Wesley Institute in place of the President, J. C. Price, who had delivered a telling speech in its favor, came forward and called the roll of subscribers to the Zion Wesley Insti tute Fund. Sixty-two dollars and sixty cents were collected in subscrip tions. A public collection was then called and ten dollars were received. Soon aftewards Prof. Goler left for the N. C. conference in session at New berne, N. C. On Thursday, Rev. Jacob Thomas, agent of the Book concern, arrived, and was introduced to the conference. In his humorous style he presented his “greetings” to the brethren of the con ference. The passage of characters was re sumed. The bishop incidentally stated that the little book of disciple is of more weight than any man, though he weighs three hundred pounds. The men must learn to carry out the pro visions of the law, and that with a fair construction of it, and not according to their own peculiar nations. A committee was appointed to re ceive monies which had been ordered collected to defray the expenses of delegates to the general conference.— Only a few dollars were realized, and the proceeds were paid into the con ference fund. . j JNotee were required of the pastors in charge ior half the amount due from their churches .on general fund. On Friday Kev. Jacob Thomas re ported the condition of the Book Con cern as follows : . Cash receipts (for one year.) I 1008 60 Disbursements, 1004 14 Estimated Value of stock ^>n hand, 2000 00 The agent (stated that he had pub lished a large quantity of catechisms. He called attention to our Sunday school paper, the Children's Guide, edited by Bishop Mo Then the elder proceeded to appoint the several committees. The Committee on Rules announced the conference would open at 9 A. M. and adjourn at 3 P. M. Committee on Demotion announc ed that Brother Starling would preach at 7 o’clock. On motion of Brother Cypress, the conference adjourned to meet at 7 o’clock the next day to arrange the presiding elder’s salary. Benediction by Brother Hunter. The district conference convened at 9 o’clock. Elder Gudger in the chair. Brother Bayliss announced hymn on page 439, and opened with praj er. Roll call. Minutes read and approved. ^The conference then took up the order of the day, namely, the presi ding elder’s salary. After some remarks made by Elders Starling, Bayliss, Moulden, and Kel ley, the elder appointed the following committee on salary: Josh Nelson, John Dickson, Gordon Crockett. The Committee on Home and For eign Missionary submitted their re port, which was adopted after some re marks by the different brethren. The Committee on Presiding elder’s salary snbmitted their report, making the Presiding elder’s salary $600. The report was confirmed by the confer ence. On motion of Brother Cypress, the conference adjourned. Benediction by Elder Starling. • The conference re-assembled at 8 o’clock P. M. Elder Gudger in the chair. The cause of Missions was called up. j The Presiding elder appointed the following committee to draw up by laws to govern the Missionary Socie ties in this Presiding elder’s district: Messrs. White,Cypress, Starling,Scott, and Molden. This committee will meet at Bodgersville,Tenn., on Friday before the 3rd Sunday in January, 1885. Elder Starling moved that we have a Missionary Convention this year.— Oh motion of {bother Cypress, this committee will meet in Bristol on Thursday .before the third Sunday in Jamiary. On, motion each, minister will bring 50 cents and each delegate 25 cento to the convention. . On motion Elder Moldenrwas elect ed treasurer of the Society of Minis ters. J 3 M Gudger, president. F K White, vice-president* . r "W 'A M Cypress, Secretory! J A Scott, Recording Secretary. J 1$ Starling, Corresponding Secre Brother Kelly was el . ' Brother H Bhrylise, < A « . 1 * ; - priTKtt lVwnBy* the Ii was moved and carried that Elder McDonald preach the missionary ser mon and Elder Cypress preach the opening sermon. On motion it was resolved that we hold a Sabbath School Convention at Jonesboro, Tenn., Thursday, before the first Thursday in May. On motion of Brother Cypress the4 convention will convene at Jonesboro, Tenn., on Thursday before the first Sunday in May. On motion of Brother Cypress the proceedings of the conference be sent to the Star op Zion for publication. It was moved and seconded that the next district conference, be held at Roaring Springs, Va., commencing on Thursday before the last Sunday in September, 1885. The Presiding elder announced the tollowing brothers to preach : At 7 o’clock H Bayliss; 11 o’clock Satur day, J J Kelley; Sunday at 11 B M Gudger; 3^ o’clock Elder J H Star ling ; 7 o’clock F R White. So closed one of the most pleasant conferences that we ever attended. Benediction by Brother H Bayliss. F. R. White, Secretary, INCREASED 240 WITHIN 60 DAYS. BY REV. A. MCIVER. Spring Branch, Bladen County, N. C., September 2,1684. Mr Editor:' Dear Sir—As a brother and a friend to the Star of Zion, I now present my third letter to its many readers. Owing to the debility of our much be* loved Presiding elder of the Cape Fear district, I was appointed by him to assist in holding his quarterly con ference,and accordingly I started from home August 20th en route to my work, but having some other makers to see after, I was therefore detained in Elizabethtown three days. The morning of the 28th of August was a token of a beautiful day, the whole heaven above presented one unbroken sheet of serenity, the hammer of in dustry and the shouts of the merry hearted farmer, could be heard from the fiats of the bending creeks of the Cape Fear river, which seems tomake merry over the glad tidings of the ap proaching fall. The same day at an early hour, I was met by my friend Mr. Robeson with a horse and buggy, and started for Sampson county. On August the 29th, soon in the morning, I arrived at Clear Run, and here I found Rev. J. S. Henderson, the pas* tor of Miller’s circuit, standing at his post,aurrounded with his many friends, I spent the afternoon with the Rev. and his lady, after which I returned to my room, where everything was ar ranged for the comfort of a minister. At the hour of 4 o’clock F. M. I was to attend a school which is known as the official and local preaehers’ insti : tute. The honor of chairmanship was conferred upon me, which I accepted, according to rule. See Discipline, page 27 and rule 235 for local preach ers. This institution is somewhat strange to them, as they never knew such a thing before. But Brother Henderson knows just how to bring a dead work to lig and it is the opinion of the write? that this school will proVe a blessing to the Zion church in Sampson county, in bringing about a higher feeling in her people. On Saturday morning at 7} o’clock, we all started for; Johnson’s chapel, where the quarterly conference Was to cbnyene. At 10 o'cftfcfk w* mi/t at the appointed place. All of the best men of the circuit were there. At the proper time the conference opened, myself in the chair. Brother Henderson then introduced me to the strange brethren, and I re ceived a unanimous reception from the brethren.* This-conference was one that reflec ted credit to the connection. The four points o^ this district were all repre sented, and each board member with his report • ready, and at the close of the conference all of the presiding elders expenses were promptly met and something left for the pastor. On Sunday morning we held our love feast with the largest crowd that I ever witnessed,and all of them Beem* ed to be filled with the spirit. At 11 o’clock I preached myself, anu at 3 I administered the Lord's Supper to 78 persons. But there would have been more than a hun dred to partake, but it was late and they could not wait. At night there was a large congre gation, and the glory of the good Lord was there. Seven were received in* the church, and the work is still on the increase. Now there, is something startling as to how this work increased within 60 days. The 2nd day of July the pre siding elder and his committee met on this work to consider the case of San derson, and his case being sufficient to exclude one from the Kingdom of Grace and Glory, he was therefore suspended according to law. Before this court was called I was sent there to hold the presiding elder’s quarterly meeting, and there was not 50 out of 200 that would accept of sacrament, and all of the four churches was con sidered as having gone to other churches, and one of them had re solved not to support the Presiding elder, and did show sign of fight, but on the 3rd of July the^Presiding elder appointed Bev. J. E. Henderson, to fill the pulpits of this work until some thing could be done to save the work. This good brother went there and within thirty days, he had gained the unity of all four of the churches, and each board reorganized, and added to these barren spots 120 members, and within the next 30 days he purchased one acre of land and lumber enough tp build a house 40x60 feet, without costing one cent, and added to this work 141 members, making a total gain within sixty days of 240 mem* bers 1 Everybody seems to be devoted to this brother, so much so that the whites crowd all of his churches and helps to support him. * I am proud to say that 1 was treat ed all right, and they have voted for the return ov* the Presiding elder or his proxy, and I am pleased to say that my work is in a good condition, and promises to make a good report for conference A. McIver. NOTICE! All who wish to have any commu* nication with Rev. J. W. Alstork, will address him at Montgomery* Ala. Pastor in charge of Clinton’s Chapel. December 1st, 1884. > We note that the Bishops recom mend no change to be made in the mode and manner of raising the pre siding elders salary, other than the usual way of agreement between the pastors and people of the PE dk, trict. j Subscribe and advertise in the Star bf Zion. I . ■ ■ ' '■ 1