Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / May 1, 1885, edition 1 / Page 1
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;. M «M::,·· —--——-—————J———— i i -i ■*" U .'»! ORGAN OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH IN AMERICA. VOL. IX. NUMBEfi 15 HEKNOWETH BEST. What if the way seems long and weary Thy tired feet are forced to tread? Some day thou shalt look back with wonder And say, “My steps were gently led, The way was short.” What if the rough stones wound the sorely, And to thy pathway terrors lead ? Turf soft and green thou wilt find only, When thou hast reached thy journey’s end Where thou shalt rest. . What if thou seest more of shadow About thy path than sunshine’s light? The days that are but gray and cloudy, End sometimes with a radiance bright. At sunset time. What if . the work be very heavy Thou doest now with many fears? When all thy work slips from thy fingers, Thine own shall say with falling tears, They were brave hands. What if the things thou most deairest Are given to those who prize them not ? Perhaps some day thou shaft see clearly That they would not have blessed thy lot. He knoweth best. > What if thou fain wouldst shift the burden In sorrow thou hast born so long ? Before thee lies the crystal pavement, There shalt thou cast it with a song. Thou const but wait. What if the blessings of God’s favor Seems held from thee thy work to crown ? Some day thou shalt see that His mercy Did forever and aye shine down On thy faint heart. —H. 8., in Ledger. CORRESPONDENCE I ROM THE MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE J*. M. E ZIONCONNMmWTlN ALL PARTS OF THE LNITED STATES. * PHILADELPHIA AND BALTI MORE CONFERENCE. The 57th annual session of the Phil adelphia and Baltimore Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church in America convened in Galbraith Church, sixth street bet. L and M, Wednesday A pril 15th, 1885 and adjourned Mon day April 20th at 9 p. m. Bishop J. W. Hoocl of North Carolina, associ ated by Bishop J. J. Moore, D D of York Pa., presided over this august body of distinguished ministers. At the opening of conferenoe Bishop Hood read the 48th Psalm and 12th chapter of Mark. Rev. N. Stubbs lined the 707th hymn, after which he addressed the throne of grace. While a hymn was being sung, a general hand-shak ing and congratulations in the good old Methodist fashion were exchanged. N. J. Green and J. W. Smith were elected secretaries; Prof. Wm How ard Day, city reporter; Gen. T. Mor ris Chester, Stenographer; Login Johnson, statistical secretary ; M. M. Bell compiler of the minutes. The bar of the conference was laid off and J. W. Fairfax and G. W. Talbert were elected marshals. The roll of confer ence was called and most of the breth ren were present and answered to their names. The Bishop read his episcopal ad dress at 3 p m. It was able and in structive, and that portion relative tc Cleveland’s election was wired by th« associated press to the length and bredth of this land and appeared in hundreds of newspapers. A great deal of important business was transacted every day after the minutes of the previous session were read and approv ed. Several brethren who were ab sent the first day of the conference but came in the * second (lay, we« called up to render a reasonable ex cuse or pay the- fine of one dollar. 0; * course it is no trouble to get an exCus< for if you are caught up unaware and have no excuse, satan will quickly find yon one. The origin of excuse) cornea oed away back in Eden; bu where these brethren got their excuses from is a conundrum. Some were reasonable and some were not. After being excused, Bishop said: “Breth ren, I hope you will not do so again. The conference is disposed to take your excuses in good faith. You miss something by not heing here and we miss your presence and co-operation. Be punctual next time.” Revs. N. J. Green and J. W.Smith offered the following preamble and resolutions which were adopted: Whereas, It was decided by the General conference held in New York May 1884, to create no more bishops at that time, and after due considera tion we find that the present number is insufficient for the task, and Whebeas, The “presiding elder system” has worked with successful results to our churches: therefore be it Resolved, That this annual confer ence proceed to elect from the list of prominent and oldest elders a certain number to superintend the work of this conierence district. Resolved, That the presiding elders shall be paid by each church accord ing to its ability; the presiding elders to have the privilege of making such arrangements with the district confer ence as will secure this pay; however, his salary shall not exceed seven hun dred dollars, traveling expense not. included, to be divided in proportion to membership, between the churches of the district _ v:_i_ nominate and the conference elect. When these resolutions were offered popular manifestations of approval or disapproval held full sway for over thirty minutes. Elder Cowles said, he had always been opposed to the presiding elder system, but looking at the subject and our circumstances he had somewhat recanted. If we can get the right kind of men to fill the office, and if the P. E. will attend to that part of the work, and that alone, it would be a good thing, and there would be no conflict. . But a presiding elder is apt to assume the duties ot a pastor. In the church there is always some one who does not like the pastor nor his administration, and if a presiding el* der is not of the right stripe, there is sure to be trouble. Some presiding elders go among the pastor’s members and are in sympathy with them against the pastor. Now if we can find men who will devote themselves to the work, and not improperly interfere with the pastor, great good will result from the adoption of this system; but if we are to have a class of men who will make it unpleasant for the pastor, I shall fight against it every time. M. H. Boss spoke against the sys tem. He thought there would be con tention between the pastor and the P. E. about his pay. He said while he did not favor it, yet he would abide by whatever the conference pass. Elder Green said if he was to con sider his own feelings, he would be opposed to it; but the resolution is brought forward in the best interests of the church. He referred to the sad disasters which have been occurring for years, especially in this Conference by not having presiding elders. He referred to the churches which hive suffered and to some which have been , lost and how the people have been i scattered by bad pastors when the bishop is far away, and all fer the f want of spiritual care and general : oversight He also referred to the church at Laurel, Md., which haa been suffering the past year. Bishop i Hood at the last conference appointed ; Kev. W. R. Davis, a transferee from the Alabama conference, to that church, and he refused to go, simply because it was not the largest church in the conference. We hope the pas tors and members of Zion wiU steer clear of this fellow, for he is jumping from church to church, looking lor the best appointments. Elder Green thought if the brethren would leave themselves oat of the question, and keep out of the way of presiding elders that there would be no trouble. J. P. Thompson said, if the pastors would do their duty the presiding elders woald have no trouble. No office can be filled successfully if the principle is not in the man. If he does not possess it, this conference can not put it in him. My experience is, the system has been tried successfully even in the smallest conference. New Jersey, for instance, has prospered un der it. The brethren there love the presiding elders and the presiding elders love the pastors. The prestdsagj elder is governed by the law. must know the law if he would succeed and if he does not the law will know him. If he finis to do the right thing in my charge I will handle him with j the law. It is his duty to oome and L.1J .1___l_..A MV1U VUV WA MJ WUAV* VUW WW meeting, and get his money, and after that, to make for the next point, but not to linger back and hunt up among ’members, news about the pastor, i Bishop Hood said, he- had decided not to urge the presiding elder system in this conference tmtil the brethren felt the necessity of it. He was glad this conference was seeing their mis take in not haying presiding elders. No Methodist church is complete un less it has the presiding eldership. The importance of this office is becoming more fully realized. We have elders presiding over deacons in most of our charges, but the elder cannot dis charge his duty to the work presided over without neglecting his own charge. The objection to the system is, that it is too expensive, two men to pay; but we have the same thing in all but a few churches, and the excep tions are those which are the best able to support it. The only men who seem to oppose the system are those in the largest churches. They are willing for the presiding elder to go out in the country places and hold his meetings, willing for him to go where the dea cons are, but when it comes to the fat charges, then there is grumbling and dissatisfaction. Is this right? After several other aide speeches the system was adopted by two-thirds of conference. The conference was di vided into two districts, viz: Balti more district, Prof. W. H. Day, P. E.; Philadelphia district, Rev M. M. Bell P. E. We are well pleased with our presid ing alders, for they are men who stand high in the church and state. M. M. Bell is truly a pious man and Prof. Wm, H. Day is known throughout the country as an orator second to none of color. He is at honfe in the pulpit on the conference floor or on the stump. President Cleveland received the conference on Friday at the White House and Prof. Day delivered the address which was telegraphed all over the country. Nekt day several leading white men and one of the Professors ofHoward University eame to conference to grasp the hand of Prof. Day andcongratttldte him upon his able oratorical eflbrf, and they said in open conference that they did not know 01 any minister, white or Colored in the United States who couM have made a better address. ; ** Bishops Foster, D D and E G An drew D D and Dr Edwards ef the M ■ aS - - ' ''' . • **** ■ E, church and Bishops Ward and Wayman of the A M E church were oducd and made speeches. Promi members from all of the churches city visited the conference, to God, the ministers and >pe are realizing that denomina* titles are of little importance for in heaven they are unknown. The characters of brethren exam ined and passed. Four candidates wet^e admitted after preaching ten min utes sermons. Francis H. Norton and William Spencer were ordained dea cons and T. H. Scott, elder. W. R. Davis was dropped. The lav delegates rendered their reports and fraternal greetings were received from Rev. G. W, Clinton of S. C., G. W. Alstork of AJ% and F. K. Bird of Hass. Rev. Jaebb Thomas, agent of Zion’s Book concern was here and made a verbal report which caused a heated discuss ion. He was requested to make a foil bwflprt of the book concern and have nt printed and scattered in each annu al conference and he would sell the stock as fast again. ^he several committees reported and they were adopted. Rev. J. S. Cowlps has been transferred to the N. Y. conference. He has done the best work of any minister in this confer ence. The conference and church are grieved to part with him. It is thought that one of New York’s great theologians will be transferred to fill v Cowles’ church. ■ Rev. J. P. was elected conferwcestew ard in place of Rev. J. S. Cowles. Death has taken away Rev. J. H. An derson since last conference^. Nearly all of the preachers have been sent back to their charges. Our next con ference will meet in Harrisburg, Pa., the third Wednesday in May 1886, at 2 o’clock p, m., Bishop Hood presid ing. Bishop Hood rendered a very important decision upon “apostolic benedictiop. J. W. Smith, Reporter. AST ADDRESS BY BEY. W. J. MOOBE P. E. Delivered before the quarterly conference of the Raleigh District, held in York’s Tem ple, Greenville N. C., April 12th 1885. Dear Brethren: It has pleased our heavenly Father to permit us to meet again, the second time this year, in quarterly conference to do business for God. We should be thankful that the Lord has been so good and kind to spare pur lives, and has blessed us with the privilege we now enjoy, while many have been re moved from our midst by that messen ger death, who will soon call us all to rest or to woe for eternity. This brings before our mind sthe beloved and faithftil Elder Amos York, the designer and erecter of this beautifhl church known as York’s Temple. Elder York was one of the eleven who met in" Andrews Chapel, twenty years ago last 'December, and organized what is now known as the North Carolina Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church, from which three other conferences have been organized namely: the Virginia,8uoth Carolina and Central North Carolina confer ence. > ■ i The eleven who composed the first conference were Bishop J. J. Clinton, presiding ; elder Jas. W. Hood and John WiHiamai The number receiv ed at the conference were: E.H.Hil] EHis Lavender, 2L W. Jones, Amec York, Joseph Green, SampsonCopper David Cray and W. J. Moore. Gi this number only five live today; viz: Bishop Hood, EldereHiU, Green Craj and Moore, the latter being elected secretary of that conference. The first of the founders called from labor to reward was Elder Sampson Copper; next Ellis Lavender; then followed H. W. Jones ; then Bishop Clinton; mid the last of all to join the happy and glorious company around our Father’s throne was Elder York, who departed this life February 25th 1885 Elder York was a faithful minister of the gospel, a true lover of Zion’s connection, a great builder and worker Wherever he was sent by conference from year to year, it was his delight to build up the cause of Christ. He was a great circulator of the period icles of our church. He was well ad vanced in age, and was one of the fow aged men who kept up with the times. Elder York attended four sessions of the General Conference and every session of the North Carolina Confer ence from its organization to the last session which met in Newberne, Nov. 26,1884. He was a good governor and financier in the great work in which he was engaged. He was very industrious, and managed to accumu late some valuable property in New berne N. C., where he left all, and has gone to live with saints, angels and God forever. While Brother York was frugal, he was patriotic and very liberal to his church When ever called upon. In connection with the crowning labors of his life, we see as a monument to his name, this church, for which he sacrificed time and money to carry it on this far, and it would be a dis grace upon you as officers and mem bers of this church, if 3 ou fail to com plete it. Elder York’s chief desire ot things on earth was to finish this church and the last conversation we had three months ago, was about complete ing this church. O, how it makes me rejoice today when I think of our pleasant and co-labors in the vine yard of the Lord, who are laboring and striving to bring souls out oi darkness into the glorious light oi Christ. The last work I did for him was a : great pleasure to me. When at our last quarterly meeting, I was enabled to raise for him sixteen dollars, and advised him to go home under a doc tor where his family could attend him. We have heard his voice often in con ference, and his fatherly advice has been gladly received; but we will see him no more nor hear his voice, Until we meet on the shining shore above, where sickness, sorrow, pain and death are felt and feared no more: Brother York, through crosses and trials has finished his course and com pleted his race, obtained the prize, now rests with Jesus and left us as laborers and soldiers to continue work ing for the Lord, until we too, are called one after another to heaven, where we will all meet end have eter nity to tell the story/ of our earthly conflicts and find the joy and society of the Lord with those who have gone before us. Now brother*, as I have presided over this church the past four years and a half, and have - addressed you eighteen times on the importance oi your duties a*, officers of yotur. church, and having brought the claims of the connection before yto» et each quar terly conference, I will not dwell on these matters at this time. ■ . . ? I have called your attention to the 1 in^ortanoe of collecting the general &nd, of being snbscribers to the Star ! of Zion, our church organ^ad of pa : tronizing our own book roqm, and, by tins time I am satisfied you haveleam i led your lesson well. AUow iie to mg that since I was with yon last, it has been my privilege to visit Zion Wesley College and see the workings of that noble institution. It is an honor to our whole connection and should be the pride of the-Negro race. I’ll not attempt to describe the Work ing of our colleague for I am not able if I had time. I will say to you, it is a living reality, and as much as I have said in time past. Respecting the general fund, I have a greater knowl edge of it being raised than ever be fore. While at Zion Wesley College, I felt it I had the money, I would give ten thousand dollars to that great work, as it fills my heart with joy when I think of Zion’s onward march. In conclusion I will say, this seems to be a lucky church after all: for when that faithful worker J. N. Ras berry was removed from here, you were blessed with having the earnest and faithful labors of our deceased father, Rider York. You now have another untiring worker, and an able minister of the gospel, in the person of Elder F. B. House. I have known Elder House a long time, and can freely say if you will co-operate with him and follow, he will lead you on Successfully. Elder House and I have labored together a long time, and it is a pleasure to hie to think of the past, and I pray that our^friture sojourn together may be as /pleasant as the past I May the blessings ot the great head of the c&urch preside ever our delib erations and may we aft,, when done meeting on earth, meet in heaven is my prayer. P, S.——By reference to the history of onr connection I find Rev. A. M. Ferrebee was also one of the founders who afterwards became one of the founders of the Virginia Conference. This makes the number twelve instead of eleven. After the close of Rider Moore’s addresSj EMer F. B. House rose and moved a vote of. thanks to Elder Moore, for his very interesting address, then offered the following resolutions: Whereas—It has pleased Almigh ty God in His eternal wisdom to re move from our midst that faithful and noble father, Elder Amos York, from labor to reward, be it Resolved, That we deeply deplore the loss of one so fervent, so devout and self Sacrificing to the cause Of the Redeemers Kingdom,. : . Resolved, That we commend' to the Christian church and ministry theTifb and conduct of this noble and pure messenger of salvation, as' worthy to serve as a guide and example by which we can shape our own Christian char acter; Resolved, That we extend to the bereaved family of the deceased Elder our mncerest sympathy in their be reavement and that we truly hope the Shepherd of souk may guide tbemsafe through the uneven journey of this life and at last bring them to glory and to God. Resolved, That these, resolutions be printed and copies of them sent to the family of the deceased and published in the “Star, of Zion,” our Church will please taka notice that they *re to rftfKud ftfnda>their b»aA> on the Second We&naiatffo. .eaoh menth to.- ,,,r,
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 1, 1885, edition 1
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