WSStoi
* h
ORGAN OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST
»PAL ZION CHURCH IN AMERICA.
- wl
VOL XVIII.
SALISBURY, N.C. THURSDAY, MAY 11
, 1894
NUMBER 20
EPISCOPAL ADDRESS
BY BBSHOP A. WALTERS.
[Delivered before the Philadelphia a |
( Baltimore conference, May, 1894.]
To the Ministers and Delegatee oompos- i
log the Philadelphia and Baltimore <
conference: Dear Fathers and Breth
ren—We are grateful to almighty God
for having spared us to assemble in
another annual conference snsslnn It is
because of the continued illness of Bish
op C. R. Harris, D. D., that I appear
among you for the seoond time as your
presiding officer. At the last session of
the Board of Bishops which was held the
seoond week in Maroh at Charlotte, N.
C*, Bishop Harris was given a year’s va
cation. He is now recuperating in Cali
fornia; I received a letter a few days ago
from Mrs. Bishop Harris stating that he
W8S greatly Improved in^bealth, an Its on
the road to complete recovery. I notice l
a remarkable ohange in 1dm for the bet
# ter during the three weeks I w*» with
him on the Coast. No pains will be
spared to save this soholarly and plOns
prelate to the churoh. Our losses by
death in the last twelve months has been
so great that we cannot afford by any neg
lect on our part to. sustain any ad
ditional losses. .
In the first instance death removed
from our midst an ex-member of this
conference in the person of Bev. N. J
Green, D. D. He was a dignified, pains
taking, erudite, genial, ohiistlan gentle
man; his place will be hard to fill. Er*
this wound had time to heal the whole
oonneotion was shocked at the news of
the death of the foremost |educator of|he
age, fearless advocate of bnmsn rights
and neerless orator of the race, Bev. J.
C. Price, D. D., president of Llvlngstonel
College. A great many thought that
his death meant the destruction of the in
stitutlon, but happily for theehugtife andj
the race his work was not of an evanes- ;
cent nature ; he buHt not with “hay and
stubble but with gold, silver and precious
stones, materials sufficient to stand the
fire.” His associates in this laudable en
terprise were strong men and women
who were able to take hold where he left
off and carry on the work to complete
viotory.
While shedding tears of sorrow over
his untimely taking off we were sadden
ed by the intelligence of the demise of
our venerable senior Bishop J. J. Moore,
D. D. He ihay be dasssed as one of the
greatest preachers ever produced by the
ohurch. For dee p research, vivid image
ry, scholarly attainments and gentleman
)y bearing, he has not been exoelled by
any.
A short while another one of oar
strong preachers was oalled to his heav
enly reward; I refer to Rev. George E.
Smith, of the New York oonferenoe. I
am afraid that our men have not t.ken
as maoh care of their health as they
should have done. In oar haste to build
up the ohureh we have driven on too rap
idly. We mast pass the word along the
line, "Take care of your health." All
mast heed this admonition, from the
bishops down. Let this be a part of oar
instruction in the fatare. Mr. Wesley
laid great stress upon this point; indeed
it is one of our ecclesiastical rulers that
we are not to talk too long or too loud.
CONDITION OF TH* CHURCH.
Notwitstaning onr political ohaos and
financial straits oooasioned by an imbe
cile administration, soolal upheavals as
exhibited^ “Coxeyism,” and sonttnued
outrages perpetrated upon our race by
lynehings, discriminations, eto, the
churoh has enjoyed a season of unusual
prosperity. Esdedally is this true oi
our organization. We have received see
oral strong religious bodies anl more
than a s lore of ministers into the emmet
tion within the last twelve months. Oi
the 20th of February a ohureh edifice
two or three ministers ani 200 memben
were received into our connection a
Cincinnati,Qiio* Two ohurohes came U
ns from the A, M E connection, one*
Mohile, Alabama, and another at Wash
iqgton, D. C. The Mother ohuroh (M E
has furnished ns with some stymg mei
‘ in the persons of Drs* Johnson, Carta
and Moreland, and I understand then
are others to follow. Our Zion has beei
blessed during tire fall and winte
months with great revivals East, Nortl
and South; hundreds have been added ti
her oommunion; she is moving on glorl
ously. We are proud of her ministrj
* pleased witir her Qomreotlonal instttt
tions even if they we not all we deair
them to be. We are hopeful of her fn
tare. What we need to make our inetl
tattoos what they should be, is mor
money.
It is apparent to a great many in th
ohuroh that the time has come when w
must increase the general fund. W
have done all in onr power to oolleot ti
60 oents; sttU there is a large deficient
We ere told that we have e sough area
$r» io njf'eet bqt 6Q oenb
|l(isiuaybetruetsttlil am prepared <
a ay that 1 don’t believe It wfll be don
There la net a bishop an the beaoh wl
does not use all hit influence to have the i
brethren oolleet the whole of the general
fond, and jet with all oar efforts we
had bat very little, if any, Increase in the
last two years. Ir the last year we ac
tually had a deorease in the general
amount. The matter has been pretty
thoroughly worked up, and about all.the
members who are going to pay their 50
oents are paying it. I am sorry to say
that there are some people who will nev
er pay any general fund. It is only the
loyal members who pay; these same
members, who are interested in the con
nections! Institutions and who glory in
their prosperity, will pay the dollar or'as
muoh of it as they can. Wnat we need
to do is to oonvinoe them that it is
needed.
Our educational work is suffering for
the want of financial support. The
buildings at Livingstone College are
greatly in need of repairs, and the teach
ers are far hack in their salaries. The
Sigh school at Madisonvllle, K>., will
; be olosed and the property taken awsy
from us if immediate relief is not given.
Jones University must have some finan
cial aid or dose her doors. Other insti
tutions are in like condition. Shall we
stand by and see them perish because a
few persons objeot to the increase of the
general fund t Nay, nay; let us have the
courage to make suoh assessments as
will meet the demands of the work.
We may boast of our members as much i
as we choose, and talk about what 50ots
will do, but I am convinced that without \
an increase in taxation we shall be forc
ed into bankruptcy.
We made a great mistake in 1884 when
we failed to increase the taxation at the j
suggestion of the bishops. If the assess
ment was one dollar, 25 cents of it would
go into the educational work, 25 cents to
the Church extension fund and the other
50 cents for other oonnectlonal purposes,
soothes superannuated preachers’ fund,
Junday-school Department, Stab, Quar
terly, Book Concern, widows and or
phans’ fund salaries of bishops and
general offioers.
y There are several large dties in this
country where we have no ohurohes; if
we had a strong church extension fund
we would be able to loan to strug
gling organisations sufficient money to
put them on their feet, and would be im
proving the work. The Board of Bishops
i at their last session acted wisely in re
questing that every member of the con
nection contribute one dollar towards
building a church in Chioago. We need
strong churches at Baltimore, Md., At
lanta Ga., New Orleans, La., Nashville,
Tenn., Kansas City, Mo., Cleveland Ohio
Denver, CoL, Buffalo, N. Y., Richmond,
Va., St Paul, Minn., Omaha, Nebaska,
and at a great many other points that
I cannot just think of. j
While werej ice that'some money is
being collected for the theologioal de
partment at Livingstone College, yet it
is a very meagre amount that is being
paid in. We must have a regular system
of collecting money for educational work;
these spasmodic eff orts wont do.
▲ friend speaking of a certain western
city the other day said that when schools
were supported by voluntary contribu
tions they were no good; rarely ever
oontinued more than three or four
months;'but when the oitizens made up
their minds to levy a tax upon the people
for sohool purposes it was not long be
fore they had a ten months’ sohool and
tbe.teaohers paid regularly.
The increased taxation may be a little
galling for a while, but when the ipem
hers see the increased influence, splendor
and general prosperity of the work they
will rejotoe at the increase of the tax. I
hope this conference will be the first to
go on record in favor of raising tne gen
eral fund to one dollar.
O brethren, wont you hear and answer
the prayer of help from our worn out
preachers (who have spent their best
days in building up the work) by lnoreas
; ing the fund? Qur educational cause
demands an increase of the assessment.
The Stab, Quarterly, all our publica
tion departments are pleading for rail
must have financial aid. I appeal to you
i to-day on behalf of the institutions of
the ohuroh and future of the connection
• to help out in this struggle. I am not
here pleading for the salary of the biih
■ ops alone; God forbid that I should be
i that narrow mad selfish. I am pleading
i for the future suooejM of our Zion.
VARRICK MEMORIAL BUILDING.
We have just scoured a beautiful build
Ing at Charlotte, N. C., for a publishing
1 department Hon. John 0. Dancy haa
’ been appointed collecting agent for it
■ Wahops our brethren will assist him it
» his effort*. The building is to be knosi
as the Yarrlek Memorial Building. Th<
» seoontr Sunday in August has been sei
» inert as Msmorlal Day in honor of Blsh
• ^.TuovZd.b^ i.t,
• be taken up on that day for the benefi
>, of the Yarrlok Building. LetnqVoth
f 4 fu(l tnolperu tip lam 1* this respeot
i CENTENNIAL
0 We are nesting the time of our Cental
r nisi We hope to make it the greater
0 affair of the kind over attempted by th
race. All branches of the chriatta^
church are to be invited to participate
with us in our one hundredth wmlTenl
ry, which is to be held in New York city
during the latter part of September or
the early part of October, 1896. I know
the Philadelphia anil Baltimore confer
ence will not be backward in performing
its part in this gigantic enterprise.
Everybody in the connection is expect
ed to gi^e one dollar or more during the
Centennial year; it is to be the grand ral
lying year of the connection.
Let our versatile penmen grasp their
pens and write quioidy and continuously
either in prose or poetry, (for we are
blessed with the ability in this confer
ence to do both) that 150,000 is needed
and must be raised during the Centen
nial year.
^am afraid that some of oar brethren
don’t understand my position on the sib
j*ot of Organic Union. I am as much a
Unionist tc-day as I over was. I believe
chase two churches would do a greater
work together, but because of the seem
ing indifference and inslnoerlty on the
part of some of oar leading brethren in
the A M E church, I have deemed it wise
to be silent on that subjeot for a while.
Tf the A M ,E and A M K Z churches
should fail to unite I am sure that it will
not be the fault of our church., Let me
j reiterate this:—If the A M E Zion and
i the A M E churches fail to unite, it will
I not be the fault of the A M E Zion
< ohuroh. We are for union; every one of
our conferences have so declared; a large
majority of our members of our members
are for union. But I am afraid that
! some of our A M E brethren started out
to swallow us up, and not have a mutual
affair of it; when they discovered that
Zion was likely to divide honors with
them in the consummation, they backed
down 1 found that they were taking
advantage of the situation by telling
•pmertour membersinloealities where
'hey were stronger than jwe were, that
they might just as well oome on over to
them, as the two ohurches were united,
or about to unite. When I saw that
move l thought we ought to do some
thing to thwart it; at least let our mem
bers know that there was no likelihood
union until we had reinforced our
selves to suoh an extent as to convince
the A M E brethren of the advisability
of uniting. J
The A M E brethren believe they are
stronger than we are numerically and fi*
socially, hence don’t c^re to take us as
equal. Perhaps they are. If this 'is
true, it is only a matter of time until
they will be forced to ahange their opin
iod along tois line. While I am anxious
for the consummation of the union, I
don’t want it consummated until we
have demonstrated to them that we are
their equal in every partioalar. My
chief business now Is, to help put the
foroes to work which will convince them
of this fact.
<(It is not lhat I love the union less, but
Zion more.” Thii is why I allowed my
address on “Unity without Uniformity”
to be published in The Q uarterly. More:
was anxious for some of the “Anti
Uaionists” to make whatever capital out
of it they oould, and so wrote my friend,
Dr. J. W. Smith.
The man who thinks that the Afrioan
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is lack
ing in ecclesiastical diplomacy and dex
terity is greatly mistaken; I am afraid
some people are finding this out to their
confusion. If the Zion church is noted
for any two things, they are piety and
diplomacy; she Is a striot observer of
the admonition of the Savior: “Be ye
wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
I mean no braggadocio, for if there is
anything a minister ought to avoid it is
the oontemptible business of braggado
cio: it is not Christlike,—there is no
ohristianity in it.
There ought to be no disagreement as
to the unity of the churohes being right;
the ohief feature of the controversy is,
the advisability of the consummation
under the existing conditions, whioh are
mainly alleged superiority In numbers
and wealth—and in some initanoea^pre
judiee. When these causes shall have
been removed you mty expeot the con
summation of the union. In the mean
time let us do all in our power to remove
these hindrances; let us put nothing in
the way of the union, but do everything
that we can to encourage it, since itii
right and “right the day must win.”
Let me assure you that I have not losi
faith in the union.
THE HEW HYMNAL.
Our new Hymnal has been published ai
considerable expense and we are anxt<*ui
to put it on the market. At has a shori
ritual service which ought to be intro
doced into every church in the connection
If for no other reason this alone should h
an inducement for our members, to buy th<
boo^. Besides, it oontaiqs a great man;
hymns by oqr own bishops and minister!
It is the best book of the kind that ha
ever been published in a colored church.
In the next place, the Book Boom mar
agement is greatly in need of funds, an
must make sale of its literature if it woul
i
|ibe relieved of this embarrassment. Lot
every minister if tjils coufereLoa send in
his order at the earliest opportunity. See
to it that the Bltnal is introduced in your
churches; it wifi ad greatly to tie dignity
of the service.
If our brethren will send for a dozen or
more we will allow then 30 per cent., on
condition that they remit within $0 days.
We have also published some new Class
Books, which the brethren will do well to
fhrnish their leade.f with.
We have secured Mss. of Bishop Hood’s
History of the A. M. E. ZiouvConneo
tion,” and are prepared to give a large per
centage to agents. The book h|now in
print and will soon be ready for delivery.
It will make between six and sepn hun
dred pages and the price will in the
neighborhood of $360 or $3.00. '*
DEPARTMENTS.
I know you will give the following de
partments proper conside *ation: Star of
Ziow, Quarterly, Sunday School Uiipn, Ed
ucational, Missionary and Theologjpal De
partments. I hope you will nefepncglect
any of them. I* expect the reggeaenta
tives of the most of them here us en
courage them by giving
cial help we can.
MINISTERIAL
I am glad to perceive a
for the better along all lines
try. Our men are impioi
neatness and intelligence,
a number of diligent
men who appreciate their ^
and are doing all in their! $ewer[ to pre
pare thexnse'yea for their tasks.^ It is a
good sign for the future of the church and
race when our brethren are willing to
make sacrifices in order to procure for
themselves first class literature, especially
when they make proper Use* the same.
Indeed, some of them possess most excel
lent libraries, and are prepared te-intelli
gently lead the people. The fitet is, we
are coming! Tea, we are HXSKl
Notwithstanding the hindrance* #ttttiOS&
upon us through the vnoiMd institution
of slavery, we ere fast rising above our
banefhl environments and are snatching
victories ont of our defeats.
West we need is to add to our piety and
intelligence. Be sober, sincere, conscien
tious in what you do and say, and the vic
tory is Ours.
The question is being asked in religious
assemblies if Holy Ghost preaching la not
falling into decay. It is the consensus of
opinion by some of t he best writers and
thinkers of this age that it is. Says Dr.
J M Buckley, of the Christian Advocate,
N. Y.: “The power of the pulpit in the
presentation of truth has sensibly declined
It is increasingly seldom that convictions
are attributed to particular sermons. This
arises from the fact that preaching is not
as spiritual; that sin, guilt and punish
ment, and the need of regeneration are not
preached with the clearness, solemnity
and earnestness commensurate with their
vital relation to salvation; and that
thatches are regarded as places of enter
tainment. of solemn, admonition,
Revivals appear to be more and more
superficial; conversions not deep; charac
ter not changed; converts, though enter
ing and renaming in the ehurch, speedily
returning to their former associations and
practices. Nor do revivals take hold of in
telligent and strong characters as former
ly.”
This is a serious statement. I don’t think
.t is as generally true of the colored minis
•try as of the white; however, I believe
hat more spiritual preaching is needed in
»nr pulpits as well as among the whites,
k man can not do much good without tho
motion of the Holy Ghost.
‘O that it now from Heaven might fall
Ind all our sins consume;
3ome Holy Ghost, tor thee we call,
Spirit of burning, oome.
Refining fire, go through our hearts,
Illuminate our souls
Scatter thy lift through every part,
knd sanctify the whole.”
O.my brethren, you who have not beer
mbued by the Holy Ghost do tarry a
rerusalem. Be constant in your prayer
md thorough in your consecration till ym
receive the baptism of powsr. Youwil
iever be able to do your foil measuremen
»f spiritual work until you receive it.
All along with the baptism of the Ho$|
Sheet we most look alter our inteUectua
endowment. They both go together. On
most not be urged te the detriment of th
other. I am afraid this has been done ii
too mang instance*. The Lord wants tut
have as much in thahsai as in the.hsarl
If the head is foil ofknOwledge and th
heart foil of religion, we will be eqnall;
poised. When erne Is developed to th
exclusion of the othsr, look out for an ei
thusiast or an egotist. ; T. .
I have not had the pleasure of viaiti*
but a fow charges in the conference, di
Uiet,heneel will bate to depend upc
foe prodding elders for reports «f ti
wo’-k. I have been informed that tl
work has met with
especially John Wesley churoh, Waahin
ton. DO, under the pastorate of Dr B
Fisher. *
I anticipate a pleasant and profitab
1 Now unto Him that is able to do ex
ceeding abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that
worketh in us, onto Him be glory in the
church by Christ Jeans throughout all ages,
world without end. Amen.
TU8KEGEE, (ALA.) DISTRICT
REPORT
OP THE EA8T DIYIMON OF THE ALA.
CONFERENCE.
BY BEY. L 8. PETERSON, P. E
We are proud to state abroad to the
members and friends of Zion that we
hare completed the first round on our
field of labor, and found things present
ing a very promising outlook both spirit
ually and temporally.
Tuskegee Station, Rev J T McMillin
pastor. Elder McMillan is serving his
seoond year at this church. It Is one
among the leading ohurohes In the Ala
bama conference, and the longer he stays
at Tuskegee the more he proves to be
the proper man for the plaoe. He at
attends the Bible Training school there
to make himself fully prepared for the
work of the ministry by and by. He is
muoh beloved by his people as one of
Zion’s ooming young men.
Chebaw oiroult, Rev L Fannin pastor.
Elder Fannin has but few equals as to
his ohristlan integrity and experience as
a preaoher. Though he bears the weight
of many years he still plays flue part In
the battle-field of the Lord. He is also
going to the Bible Training school in
Tuskegee to prepare to do better work
for the Master. Rev Fannan is looked
upon as a worthy father in Israel.
Tatlasee oiroult, Rev C L Alexander
pastor, nils young brother seems to
have a warm plaoe in the hearts of near
ly all of his people. Whatever he wants
them to do he only but has to make it
kaosmte them and the work is, or will.
be done. There are three churches on
this oiroult. Peaoe abides with them. He
is also In the Bible Training school.
Mt Meigs circuit, Rev Moses Pitts pas
tor. Brother Pitts is noted for building
fine houses of worship. He has erected
one of the most delightful ohurohes on
this circuit that I ever saw in the coun
try. It equals almost any oity ohuroh
for taste and beauty. There are a little
odds against him at one of his three
ohnrches, but as far as we have been able
to hear and see into the matter it is
founded upon unwarranted grounds.
Wetumpka Station, Rev R Taylor, pas
tor. RevATaylor is doing a great work
for Zion at this point. This is his fourth
year, nevertheless he is spreading the
borders of our churoh in Wetumpka. He
has a cheerful and willing working orowd
around him that are at work repairing
the ohuroh, painting, oarpeting and put
ing new seats into it. Brother Taylor is
proving himself master of the work at
his high calling.
Mt Zion station, Rev E M Brooks pas
tor. Too muoh can not be said for this
roung brother as a devoted pastor and
neaeher, He is a man of remarkable
duck, grit and graoe, he fills his plaoe
>othin the Sabbath-sohool and pulpit
nanfully. He has gone to work with
lis trustees to enlarge his church that
iss proven to be too small to seat the
irowds that gather to hear him.
Verbena circuit, Rev J T Scales pastor.
Brother Soa!*s has three appointments
m this eirouit; however the membership
• very small, and is not large enough to
keep the pastor and family above want.
STevertheless we are glad to state that
she preaoher is moving oheerfully along
rith his little band. We had a grand
time with him at Verbena on E*«ter
Sunday.
Burkvilie circuit, Rer J R Gill pastor.
Fhen Elder Gill reached this point from
he conference he found things little op
used to him oaused by the hope of the
uople for the return of Brother Wrivht,
hair pastor of last year. All things are
tbw quiet and the preaoher is going
□Sharters oiroult, Rav P W Laremore
pastor. Elder Laremore Is a young man
raised up on this oiroult, and it suffloes
to say that no minister is looked up to
and regarded higher than he is by the
people of his ohuroh. He Is a good
preacher and a muoh beloved pastor. Hs
has three churches on this oiroult Bro
Laremore never runs behlnk with gen
eral tan.
Fort Hall otrcuit, Rev J 0 Lannre pas
tor. These two young men are brot hers
and what is said of one of them for up
rightness is true of the other according
to all reports. Rev J 0 is putting forth
all efforts possible to build a new ohurol
at Fort Hull five miles below Tuskegei
to the South. We ask the blessing ol
<*9d npoa his labors.
Fine Grove circuit, Rsv JH Huber
~ ‘ were very muoh soattem
reached this appoint
proving himself maete
in gathering the Hook o
r droult, Rev MoD Shaq
Sharp is one omong'tb
leading young ministers in our confer
ence. It is no mistake to say that i
he is a good preacher ani« man of prom ]
ising appearance. There are three i
churches on this circuit and the pastor i
don’t allow the grass to grow under any i
body’s feet that comes in touch with ’
him. They are preparing for a new ;
church at Liberty Hill He is also a 1
student of the Bible school. 1
Miss Lilia V Davis is doing great edu- <
catlonal work in the Cotton Valley clr- 1
cuit. She is creating thinss ane v in
that sect! on in the uplif ing of fallen hu- j
inanity. It would be a great blessing <
to the race if it had a thousand in this i
State to do the work for it she is doing I
out in the country.
ZION IN ARKANSAS.
BY PRESIDING ELDEtt R. J. *IMES.
Mr. Elitor:—It has been qaite a while
since I have furnished the readers of our
gieat Stab a few words in behalf of ZioD.
As I am presiding elder of the Little
Rook district I thought it time to write
a few lines, so our people might know
what we are doing. After a still voice,
deep studying and hard work, I can say
Zion is alive on my distriot, and we are
moving on to a greater success. Though
some times things look a little dark and
discouraging but I still hold Zion’s ban- 1
ner high. I want to say I hare been bat
tling for Zion for 24 years and if I I've j
24 more I will battle on for her for she is
good enough for me. I will give you a I
brief account of my district. 1
I started on my first quarterly confer- 1
conference round Dec. 23, 1893. Bev T 1
J Jones is pastor here. The work is in 1
very good condition. Rev J >nes Is a stir- 1
ring man.
Dee. 25 th I held quarterly conference
at Neel’s school house. Rev G W Morris
is pastor in charge. Rev Morris fs hold
ing tho fort like a. great and true general;
he is moving things before him.
January 4*.h, 1894, 1 held conference
at Clarendon. Rev W S Cou’ey is the
pastor at this point. Owing to bad
weather we were unable to have much
suocess, but the outlook is bright and we
expect much good to be done at this
point by Rev Couley.
January 6th, I held conference at Pop
lar Grove. Rev G W Taylor is pastor at
this point. He is a wide awake man in
the interest of' God and the church, and
has donemuoh for Zion here, and is loved
by the people. Since he has was appoint
ed here he has built a nioe church for
God and Zion. We had a fine conference
and everything is in good shape.
|f January 11th I arrived at Forest City.
Our church at this place’ is under the
pastorate of Rev W G Brooks.- Owing
to the heavy rains we were hindered a
little. But on my arrival I was met by
Mr and Mrs S Scott and Sister Harrison.
Rev Brooks is the right man in the right
place. He will push things to the front
for Zion.
January 13th and 14th 1 was with Bro
W M Mathews at Brinkley. Here things
are looking very bright. We held a love
ly conference. We had good reports.’
Bro Mathews is a young preacher but he
is brave and a hard worker for Zion. He
loves his church and i3 loved by the
church. May God bless him.
January 18th, I arrived at Payne’s
chapel, Little Book. Bev C N Payne is
i pastor in charge. Rev Payne is doing a
• great work at this place, and he is loved
by his people. He had everything in
trim for the quarterly conference. All
of his offioora were prompt and made
their reports according to law. He is
meeting with great suooess in this city.
The Sunday-sohool is also in a flourish
ing condition; in fact it is in better con
lition than any timesinoe RevR Moman
was pastor. Bro T S Mitcham is the
raperintendent of the Sunday-school. He
is a true Zionite and he loves the oonneo
don. May God spare him a long time to
help build up Zion.
January 27th and 28th, I was with Bro
j L Evans at Cato, Rev Evans is a young
man and a soholar; he is full of vigor
for God and Zion. He is also loved by
Us people and is doing a good work at
this point He had every thing ready
(or the conference and we had a pleasant
session.
On the 8th of February I reached Con
way station on Rev J C Williams work.
Raining as it was we held conference and
had services. Bro Williams is an ener
getic cVls’iBn gentleman and a good
preacher. He 1. holding things down
for Zion here.
February 10th and 11th, I was at Blaok
rille. Bev MMitoham is holding th*
'ort at this point and has done a wonder
ful work for Zion. He Is a dignified
flrristlan minister and has one. of the
nost intelligent congregations in the
State. His officers are always on time.
I hope the time will soon oome when we
jan have more such ministers and ohargei
is this one. This is his fourth vearal
this point He has built a nice ohurol
and furnished it up. His people love
Urn and are planning to keep him another
year.
March 31 and 4 h, I was a!; Cleveland,
A.rk. Rev E M Martin is pastor at this
point. He is a gospel preacher and an
intelligent Christian gentleman. He is
meeting with suoccsi on every hand. He
is pastor of Moore Point. Grand reports
were received. ■
Fort Rmith mission is under the pas
torate of Rev H II Huggins and is doing
very well; not as well as he would have
done had he been well. May God bless
him.
March 5th and G.h, I was with Rev P
E McElwee at Atkins, Ark. He is a true
Christian and a lover of Zion. He was
appointed to this mission without a mem
her or a dollar but he is doing well now.
March 9^h and lO.h, I was with llev E
M Martin at Solgohachia. Here Rev
Martin is holding tie fort and both
saints and sinners love him, He is high
ly esteemed by both colored aucl white.
This ends my first quarterly round. We
believe in raising the general tax to $1.00
and hope it will be dona in ’90.
‘UNTOUCHED AND UNAN
. 6WERED”
BY REV. EDWARD D. W. J0NE3.
Editor of The ^Stae:—I’ieaso give
space to the following:
I would suggest to Bro. Blackwell that
as he sees so many deficiencies in Janes’
Hand-Book on Discipline, so many im
portant questions "unanswered and un
touched” as it is such a narrow, " on com'
prehensive little book, and as he wa3 the
to discover that it contained only "good
and reliable” matter that he would be
doing a great work for the connection to
displace it by a broader work emenating
from his versatile brain.
I know Bishop Jones would not have
dipped bis pen in ink only to write a
“goo*}, reliable” essay on Methodist law,
for to my own personal knowledge, he
was actuated to spend his little earnings
to publish the book, to deal only with
those knotty questions over which had
arisen doubt as to the exact meaning.
He was asked- to write on intricate top
ics in our general law by the best brain
of Zion connection, and the majority of
subjects explained in his work were sug
gested to Jiim by such men who desired
information, as would not ask for light
only on "important” subjects. He left
nothing "untouched” that needed to be
touched then, and as our law in general
is a fixed basis of operation, therj re
mains nothing important now that he
left "unanswered.”
The "pity” Bro. Blackwell experiences
because "Jones’ Hand-Book is so brief,”
is to a goodly number of us a great satis,
faotion, since ,we want a handy, plain
guide. It was his purpose to enclose
valuable truths in a concise way, and he
did not intend for it to be estimated by
size, but by its contents.
Brevity does not lack for;e, or Bro.
Blackwell’s grand ‘ Excurses” would bo
weak indeed.
He oomplains against Watson’s Theo
logical Institutes because it is too volu
minous, and Jones’ Hand-Book is tco
brief; well let him give us a "digest ot
Methodist law” that will come up to the
standard. He has been the only one to
see so many important things unanswer
ed and untouched and he is the only one
to touch and answer thoso important
things, for he alone knows them. He
implies that the wilting is good and re
liable, but of no value since it deals only
with trite subjects, subigots that are not
important. There wotWl have been no
need of his writing the Hand-E ook If he
did not intend for it to explain the
weighty questions in our Discipline.
The book is the result of bis experi
ence. He saw what the men needed,
i and knew exaotly the points that were
, difficult to understand, and he treated
i these in a, simple e'ear manner. The
Methodist law should not be beyond the
, oommon level of those to be governed,
> nor is it, yet there are a few things that
• oall for a dear explanation. But, if the
■ Discipline demands a vclumniuoug book
t to be written, a kind of "Encyclopedia,”
r to dear it from obscurity, then 1 would
t suggest that it be written at once, and
substitute it for oui present established
. oode.
No ehuroh need make laws that the
I ministers who are to enforce them, nor
y tbs laity who are to obey them can’t un~
1 derstand, and if there are necessary top
a ios left oat in oar Discipline they should
be placed therein, to save the time of
our great men to write lengthy "Digests
a on Methodist Law.”
v I have noticed Bro. Blackwell’s arti
j cles, and if I be guided by him, why at
B our next general conference we will have
a to ohaoge everything. It is a great won
,, der to my mind that ha hasn’t said that
B the Discipline had left untouched and un
a answered important questions. Let ns
X go slow on what has been done for Zion
h by her dead pioneers, and not run too
* far ahead ot our times, for fear we will
k be oalled "fast”
Maryville, Tenn,