Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / Nov. 12, 1896, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOLUME XX. NO. 45. CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12,1896. $ CEN.TENHIAL VOLUME, 1796-1896. BETHEL AND ;ZION. A Reply to Rer. J. M. Henderson. He Misrepresents Zion. BY BISHOP A. WALTERS, D. D. J First: I am at a loss to under stand why it is that Rev. Dr. J. M, Henderson, pastor of Bethel church in New York, in his letters to the Christian Recorder„ comparing Zion t and Bethel, so shamefully misrepre sents the former. In his article which appeared in the Recorded’ soon after the removal -of the A. M. E. congregation from Sullivan Street to 25th Street, New York City, he made Bethel in New York to appear in every way stronger than Zion, when really the facts do not bear out his statement. Zion Cbureh owns property in New York City to the value of $150,000, with practically no debt upop it. In 1891 the trustees were offered $90,000 for the magnificent brick churchy at the corner of West 10th and Bleecker Sts., and the fine three-story brick building adjoining it, uaedfor parson age and Book Room. Besides this property, they own three brick houses in Grove St.; and two lots 50x100 in 117th St. And they ohly owe on all this property $7,000, while Bethel is in debt for the present building in 25th St., New York, $36,000 and owns no other property in the city. Is there any comparison financially between Bethel and Zion in New York City ? Second : 111 influence, Zion Chnrch has nothing to ask of Bethel. If equality of membership is doubted, we are ready to produce our member ship roll. In age4 (in New York) there is no question as to our priority. Indeed, the comparison between Zion and Bethel ih New York is rather amusing than otherwise to one who understands the situation. In his article which appeared in the Recorder of Oct. 15th, 1896, he says, speaking of the Zion Centennial Ju bilee, “The occasion i3 one of a great deal deeper significance and of vaster importance than the most prominent actors therein appeared to realize. I have thus far heard none speak who seemed to fully appreciate the real meaning of this great fact.” My ! what consummate egotism. It is a great pity that'this Solon "was not invited to read a paper on “The Philosophy of the One Hundred Years of Zion Methodism.” What a loss to the church; indeed to humanity, that this intellectual^) giant waB over looked. You will agree with the statement when told that besides the 16 Bishops who were present, (four A. M. E. Church, three M. E., one Union and eight Zion) there were over 75 ministers and professors from all denominations who participated in the exercises. 1 . Dr. Henderson says : “In .Novem ber, 1787, certain colored people of the Methodist Episcopal Church erected a building in which they con ducted services independently.” In his hurry he forgets to inform his readers that this new organization was ndt a Methodist, but an Episcopal or gpAization. He is. not the only one inf the A. M. E. Chdrch that has made this mistake. I desire an ex planation from Dr. Henderson as to how St. Thomas Protestant Episcopal Church and Bethel Church in Phila delphia can both claim the same or ganization. It has long been a mys tery to me. When the reader is not informed that the organization which withdrew from the M, E. ChurGh in 1787 finally became an Episcopal church, the statement is misleading. He further endeavors to show that Bishop Allen and his followers ex ore independent spirit than jk and his followers in thdrawal from the M. E. by a play upon the word ndently,” which refers to the al organization. One would his statement that the A*. Church was not supplied with from the M. E. Church af erection of a house of worship delohia by Bishop Allen, tyne in his History, page l§ that after the building Bishop Asbury by invi preache ra until 1816. Talk about Independence! Why, Bishop Allen did not have control of his own prop erty. Will Dr. Henderson please inform as who had the oversight of Bethel Ihurch-from its organization till 18L6?^?Dr. Hendersoo states that Bethel was incorporatedlp 1793. We wil consider it a great kindness if he wi 11 tell us the date and number of such record. I mean the Incor porate l gotten out by the colored trustees of Bethel Church, Philadel phia. [ am in possession of a record which ?ays it was incorporated in 1807. Zion Church, New York, was incorporated February 16th, 1801. (See R< cord of Incorporation of Re ligious Societies, Library No. 1, page 28, Ne’t York City, N. Y. Recorded March ), 1801.) ZI( N £1 CLAIM OF PRIORITY. . The question of the priority of the two coi neotions is one hundred years old. I am of the opinion that that questio i will be a little ha'.d to settle at this ate date. Zion, however, be lieves s;ie is the oldest; first, because Peter Tilliams, Mary Durham (who afterwards; became his wife,) Francis Jacobs, Abram Thompson, William Miller met others were in the origi nal Me hodist organization in Ameri ca. Dj. Wakely, in his “Lost Chap ters of Methodism,” page 441, says: “Peter Williams identified himself with th 3 little flock when they wor shipper in the Rigging Loft, and soon’ afteiwards became a sexton of the church. His wife looked after the parsomge," Says he: “Peter felt a deep interest in the welfare of those of his o vn color; he did all he could to elevate his race.” He was one of the lea ling spirits in the formation of Zio l Church. Peter Williams could say: “Before Allen was, I am." , Seco id: Long before any agitation was hi ard of in Philadelphia, and several years prior to 1796, Peter Willia: qs and others had entered their protest against the discriminations to which they were subjected ; and in* stead (f Bishop Varick drawing his inspiration from Bishop Allen, he receiv» d it from Peter Williams and hi3 wii e. (See “Lost Pages of Meth odism. ’) Tall: about Zion following in the wake of anybody! She has ever been a pioneer in all great move ments especially for liberty of soul and b< dy. Bishop Allen came from Philadelphia to New York to confer with t ie leaders of Zion concerning organic union. So coQscioufc were they c f their priority, however, that they < eclined to unite with him* un der ai y circumstances. Dui ing the anti-slavery agitation Zion ] ed the forces for freedom with such nen as Christopher Rush, Doug lass, Jeremiah Wesley Loguen, Joseph P. Thimpson, George Galbraith, J. J. Clintc n and others. If by aggressive ness Dr. Henderson means braggado cio ar d boastfulness, then Bethel has always led. But why^ quarfel over this n latter ? There is but very little differ snee in our ages. We have here tofore silently submitted to misrep resen;ation, bat, mark my words, we shall not do so hereafter. We anx iously await a reply to our questions from Dr. Henderson. Nnu York, N. Y. Please allow me to say a few words abouj i, the third district of the North Alab una conference.. Rev. S. P. Cal lims s the presiding elder. The dis trict is doing very well, but not as well as it ought to. Under the man] changes it has undergone we can’t expect so very much. When he t:iok charge of the district there was i ot a church paid for and iu many places there was no church at all. Undor the leadership of such able men as Revs. A. J. Warner, T. R. Gainss, J, H. Sylvester, N. R. Rhodes, R. Steele, H. J. Stork and W. M. Bryant the district will come out with flying colors leading the grand armj of Zion. Tl.e first and second districts had bette r watcb-ueufor we are going to lead the conference. We led on the first district and we are going to lead on tl iis. Through spite some of us were removed from th§ first- district, g just the welcome tc/ our confer J. B. Small} D. D. The sold, but raising CENTENNIAL JUBILEE. Two Papers Bead Thereat bj Hisses > Gardner and Brans. WELCOME ADDRESS.—BT MISS ELIZA A. GARDNER, PRESIDENT OS' THE WOMAN’S AUXILIARY CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE. “Honored sirs and dear friends of the Centennial how assembled in Mother Zion, New York : To me has been assigned the very pleasant duty of not only presiding at this hour but also of welcoming you on this our ‘ Woman’s Day* of our glorious Cen tennial. As we recall the reminis cences of the past, the grand and glo rious work wrought during the last one hundred years of our Christian lile by not only the fathers of the Church, but the mothers as well, sur rounded as we are by so many of the heroes of our church, living and dead, something within almost impels us to put off our shoes from our feet, for not only the ground upon which we stand but the atmosphere around, is holy. has seen to it that: n hlr ecclesiastical polity, she should be no bar to place or position. But while we accepted the privileges we realised there was a corresponding increase of responsi bilities. “And sisters from the far West and our beautiful Southland as well, we invite you to-day to a full and free discussion of those duties. You need not blash for the mothers, the pio neers in the church. Another voice will tell you of the grand work ac complished by Mt.ry Roberts, Ellen Sterns, Mother Tubman and other noble women. “Again we welcoiieyoti to this beau tiful city of the Empire State, and to all the duties and festivities of the hour.” ORIGIN AND WORK OF TEH DAUGHTERS OF CONFERENCE AND KINDRED SOCIE TIES.—BY MISS AURORA EVANS. “Whenever woman has an oppor tunity to work, 8h} has always played her part well. She is an impor tant and indispensable factor, not MRS. BISHOP J. W. HOOD. [Mrs. Bishop J. W. Hood, the devoted wife of the senior bishop of the A. H. S. Zion Churoh, and President of the W. H. and F. M. Society, presided at the afternoon seeMohef woman e Day at the Great Oentennlal n Now York. Mrs. Hood who Is motherly, full of natural modesty, was the first lay member of Zion to contribute fifty dollars toward Livingstone College.] * ( “It has been one hundred years of joy and sorrow, labor, conflict and triumph. The century has witnessed the emancipation o'f man and the al ’Tis most severed bonds of woman, a glorious thought that this grand old Church whose Centennial we as women to-day celebrate, is the first religious organization to accord to the women of the church the same religious rights she gives to the stern er sex; so that sisters from the East, West, North and South, we are here to welcome you to-day ; inviting you to join with us in celebrating our one hundredth years of civil and relig ious progress. . “One hundred years ago we were slaves with no inheritance save that which slavery gives, the Christian Church denying us a place at her al tar. Our skies were so dark and cloudy with scarcely a star to illum ine the gloom. To-day, under God’s own clear blue sky, redeemed, we are set free, our own hands helping to break the bands that bounds them. A.8 our minds glance back down the century, we recall so many thrilling experiences, as told us by the dear fathers and mothers, of the' flying, panting fugitive seeking shelter with in the hallowed walls of Mother Zion —the shelter and protection which was never denied him ; for stalwart men stood ready to defend his liberty with their lives if need be. The gos pel of anti-slavery was always boldly proclaimed from her pulpit; and Garrison, Garnet, Douglass, Lucretia ChoW Downing and their compeers always found a welcome here. “And it is quite fitting that the church, which in the dark days early incorporated in her Discipline that no slave holder as one ef her members could kneel at her communion rail, and which did so much for human liberty, should also be the first to lift her voice in defense of woman. While the great M. E. Ohuroh has been for i many years attempting to solve the hether their own Frances I. Willard was eligible to a sei alone in the home circle, temperance reform and educational work, but largely in the success and glory the church.. and work of The origin Daughters of Conference is as replete with interest as it is full of self-sacri fice and devotion to the cause of missions and the promulgation of the gospel. They were organized in 1821. Zion church and its mission ary operation wore in their infancy, and the cry came from New England, all over New York and New Jersey. ‘Send us the gospel: send ministers: we need churckes.' The great need was money to aid the ministers in go ing to their mission fields and 10 as sist in erecting churches. / “The noble and heroic women of Zion said we will give money; and for this grand and glorious purpose the United Daughters of Conference were organized at that early meet ing in Mother Zion. To-day we would place our loveliest and. most fragrant garland on the brow of that magnanimous and sainted woman, Mary Roberts, who was the founder, and, for forty years, the president of said society. “There were other great workers and illustrious memliers of this original society whose names have long since been recorded on the Lamb’s Book of Life. Sarah Ennalls, Eliza Gardner, Sr., Sarah J. Eato, Marie Bogalsang, Matilda Bush, Ellen Stevens and others gave* largely of their means. The beautiful example and fervent zeal of the older sisters spread, and the young women of the church ex pressed the wish to be organized to be known as of Conference, take part sending the lost, by the Young Daughters might Ellen Stevens, as A PLEA FOR JUSTICE. What Hare I Done to be Treated Thus. —Still A Superintendent. BY REV. ANDREW CARTWRIGHT. Mr. EditoY:' Will you please give me space to say a few words to the many readers. Janijary 7, 1876, I left Plymouth, N. 0., for Africa and landed in Monrovia, Liberia, West A.frica, February 16, 1876. In Feb ruary 7, 1878,1 organized the A. M. E. Zion Church in Brewersville in and Slayashlend November, 1878. I bad the church incorporated. I or ganized a church at Cape Palonus by letter. In 1880 I wrote a letter to Gener al Conference asking the Connection to send a bell for the new church. In L882 I came back from Africa and met the Board of Bishops in Peters burg, Va., ! March 28, 1883. The Board of Bishops authorized me to hold annual conferences in Africa and appoint suitable persons to preach and teach our people in Africa so long as my life and conduct compared with the gospel of our Lord and faviour Jesus Christ/ subject to the ratifica tion or modification of the General Conference. The General Conference of May, ^884, ratified the appoint ment. September, 18Q1, I met the Board of Bishops in Washington, D. C., with letters from the trustees of our church, Supreme Court Judges, deacons of the Baptist church, the Temperance So ciety, the Mayor of the city, Dr. Ed ward Blyden, and the Magistrate of Brewersville testifying to the truth to my standing with the people in my church and community in general. I met the General Con ference in Pittsburg, Pa., May, 1892. Bishop Walters then in October, 1892, wrote and asked me to accept the pre siding eldership in Africa over my work. I answered him saying that if I be wanted me to accept I would; bat not because I was not Superintendent; [knew what I was. I knew that I was Superintendent of African Mis sions. J 'I met the General Conference May, 1896, and asked what was I in the Connection. After three days and much talk from the Bishops, the Gen sral conference then styled me pre siding elder in Africa. Now all men mow they can’t make a Superintend mt of African Missions with power ;o hold annual conferences in Africa ir ratify the same bo long as his life somports with the gospel, and then ;he same general body revoke his suthority without a charge, trial and :ound guilty and expelled. Resigna ;ion or death are all that can revoke iis autUority. Lawfully the same power that makes bishops made the Superintendent of African Missions, ind his authority ends when a bishop s md. Anybody with common knowl edge of our law knows that. I know | what I was and what I am; I hope 10 one will get angry, as I speak the plain truth. What has A. Cartwright done to ie treated like this, after working so ong in America; walking and wad ng, Winter and Summer, and building >o many churches—twelve in ten fears—then went to Africa, crossing ;he ocean eleven times in the interest >f Zion. I know better than any I me what I went for. In 1886 11 wrote to the Connection asking them x> send^ lady to teach the girls in Africa, but I heard nothing. I then jame back and met the Board of Bishops in Charlotte, N. CL The Board of Bishops agreed to send a I ady teacher to Africa. Bishop J. 57. Hood, D. D., LL. D., sent me to Washington, D. C., to see a lady— ;he first lady that taught in Char otte after the war. The lady could lot gO. I then went from place to ilacrSlooking for a teacher. At Suns rary, N. C., in the annual conference, Elder Jacob Thomas of New York, nformed me that he had found a lady lamed C^E. S. Somer, at Newbern, $T. C. I went to see her and she igreed to go and wanted to know tbont her Salary. I employed her at ;he salary' of $300 a year—the same hat other)lady teachers were receiv k»o.that tiie Superintendent of African Mis sion was fixed at $800 a year, and how it was to be paid. The balance now due me is $7,538.60. Carrie has taught ten years in Africa. We have to live by our labor like other peo ple. Please pay us. We need it. At present I am at Elisabeth City, N. C. j the Work at stoneham, BY BEV. 8/ J. WARES. I was sen b-to this point January 26, 1896, from the conference held at Calvert, Texas, by my great father, Bishop Pettey. On taking charge of Simon’s Chapel, Bishop Pettey sajd to me, “My son, in God’s nfcme succeed.” When I arrived here I found the church spiritually dead. The church edifice looked old and bad, and some of the members said thay did not want any preacher this year, that many of our members have gone astray, our church house is almost a wreck, and it seems that there is no chance for us to build a church. We have given money enough to have a fine church built and now we have not one dollar to start a building. I called the church together and car ried the matter to God. I then got the officers together find said, “Breth ren, do yon know that God-lives in Zion, and if He lives in anything, He will prosper it?” And fhen and there Zion at this place lifted her head and looked heaven ward. I said Jesus was my leader and theirs too, and then proceeded to tell them what I wanted. They harkened to my voice and to day we have as a result one of the neatest structures in the conference. We have paid all the indebtedness ex cept about $50 and want to pay it by the setting of the annual conference, which meets the 3rd Wednesday in December, then Zion will stand here with one acre of land and a parsonage and a nice church all belonging to the Connection. I have kept up very well with ‘the connectional claims. The great old Zion battle-axe, our beloved Biehop Holliday, has made his first round through this State, and preached two great stirring sermons to this people and it did them much good. There was a grand reception given here by the Willing Workers’ Society. There were many persons who, participated in the literary ex ercises. We are compelled to say that the program was equal to any that have been heard in this city. The Sunday following this grand event Bishop Holliday dedicated our beautiful church. He preached the de&icatorial sermon at 11 a. m. I collected $18 general funds and do nated to him $6.45 ; making $24.45, which I gave to him. He said that I hr.«l collected already about $80, and the halt has not been told. ~ Stoneham, Texas. THE WASTER’S WILL. If we accept Christ as oar Master, then we should let Him be onr Mas ter in deed and in truth. It is for us to unreservedly obey Him, and not for us to ask Him to obey us. We are not by any means to give Him orders, but rather we are to take orders from Him. C. H. Spur geon once said: “Do you wish to know the Master’s will? I should not like that any part of the Scrip ture should be distasteful to me. I would tremble if there were portions of my Lord’s testimony which I feared to read or found it convenient to for get. It is terrible when men are obliged to pass over certain texts, or cut and square them to make them agree with their beliefs. We should not practice-an ordinance merely be cause our’church teaches, or our par ents believe in ifc We must read the Scriptures and search the question for ourselves, or we are not respect ful to our Lord.” These are the ut terances of a man who was greatly intent upon knowing and doing his Master’s wilL It mattered not to him what human authority said nor what expediency suggested, he held right fast to the one supreme ques tion , “What eaith my Master ? ’ ’ This is the only true attitude. And if this THAT RESOLUTION. Nobody Has Been Misled as to its Mean* L in* but Her. F. H. Hill. BY HEV.jO. D. HAZEL, COMPILER, Jn tbe Star of October 29th, ap peared a letter emanating from the Rev. F. H. Hill, of Providence, R. I., addressed to pastors and superinten dents of the New England district • Sunday-school convention entitled, "A Question of Right." In jastice to myself please allow this reply, j Brother Hill says that the, conven- ^ _ tfffh ordered moneys sent to him hs treasurer, which is not true. The vote isf. as followp: “A motion was offered by-'that the larger Bchools lift a collection of $3, and the smaller ones $2, to pay the expense of print ing m nu^es and the names of m be printed; also each school receive^ minutes without further cost.” Not one word Was said about forwarding the several amounts to the treasurer. Of course, ini. the absence of written law, custom ^becomes a law. The custom of the 'l^ew England district has been that tins'>&Qinpiie£ receives money s appropriated for minute?.' My dear Brother Hill has evidently in bin high regard for honor con strued the resolution to make him dictator in matters of money. Tha t letter reminds me of the same Rev. F. H. Hill, who was pastor of the. 1st church, Providence, when I was ai: the 2nd and entertained the New England conference. This brother, fearing that Hazel would get honor for a successfully planned con ference among other things refused to have the '“Moody Gospel choir ” o 100 voices to sing in his church be cause this fellow (flazel) who he says holds so many offices, arranged for it, as all other sessions of the con ference. Our beloved Bishop J. W. Hood had to inform him that it was the business of the conference to terfere, and not his. So it ino brotner can be misled by tne circular letter but that great revolu tionising Brother Fill- Every brother in the district knows too well that he never did otherwise than' send money to the compiler for min* utes. This was true when /"Revs. Blackwell, Colbert and Fend were compilers, and__the coni of Bridgeport neve* ly. I am the best have all minu I am sorry, ho' England corr better to writ Brother Hill; Your time will Co mbridgt erson DEATH OF Aft The Rev. B. Saturday, October on Market Street, 12th Streets. The place at St. Lake's church Sunday afternoon. RESOLUTIONS OF CONDOLENCE. "We, yonr committee appointed to draft resolutions of condolence in re spect to the memory of Rev. B. K. EUe-y, who departed this life October 23rd, 1896, submit the following: "Whereas, The sad news of the death of Rev. B. K. Ellery has reach ed onr ears and has alarmed oar worthy officers and members; and whereas it has pleased Almighty God to pluck from His vineyard one of His sleet bonsand ' ' —. "Whereas, Bro. B. K. Ellery has ever lighted up his part of the field of his labor with his presence and has brought love and sunshine into our church and caused there to exist hap piness and pleasure; R&olved, That we extend our heart felt sympathy to the loving family in the sad moments of bereavement, and entrsat them to look to Him who has said He would be a father to the fath erlets and a husband to the widow. Resolved, That a copy of these reso lutions be tendered to the bereaved family because of the loss that they have sustained in the death of the father and husband. < Resolved, That the church he in mourning for 30 in respect to this great worker and faithful friend.
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 12, 1896, edition 1
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