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[E XX, NO. 46. CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, INOYEMBER 19,1896. CENTENNIAL VOLUME, 1796-189^1 —« —— tcvic GOVERNMENT And Politics.—A Review of the Recent Election. BY EEV. E. GEO. BIDDLE, B. D. “Righteousness exalteth a nation hut sin is a reproach to any people,” And what is sin but selfishness ? Bible Holiness is nothing less than emphatic, uncompromising hostility against sin and selfishness—against this predominant evil in the govern ment as well as in the individual. The late election culminated in the temporary triumph of - organized greed and selfishness; hot righteous principles and patriotism, but pelf and plutocracy won the day. Most of the pulpits of “Greater New York,” and in fact of the entire . country out-did even the blinded partisan press in misrepresentation and slander of Mr. Bryan and his cause with Breckenridge, the libertine; with Ingersoll, the notorious blasphe mer, and with Herr Most, the noted anarchist, the pulpits of the land did their part well to sustain in power the heartless trusts and syndicates that fatten on the life blood of the people. Why continually ask the question, “How.shall the church reach the masses?” Can the masses be ex pected to follow a pulpit and church that are ruled and dominated by the classes? Will the common people flock to the church that has only words of scorn and contempt for the cry of distress? A - the prophet Ezekiel said to the hauguty money power of his day, so the true prophet of God should say today : thy “Priests have violated my law, and the profane . . . princes in the midst thereof are like wolves rav -ening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get Dishonest Gain; and her prophets have daubed them with nntempered mortar, seeing van ity and devining lies unto them, say ing, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken. The peo ple of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vex ed the poor and needy; yea, and have oppressed the stranger wrongfully,” While thousands upon thousands in the land are suffering for the want ' of fuel and bread, the heartless mon ey power is placing corners, on wheat . and coal and other necessities of life, andh partisan press and a man-fear ing and man-serving pulpit, nurtured and supported by the “money power,” has not a word of sympathy for the poor and oppressed, nor a word of warning for the oppressor; nay, rath ^ er misrepresentation and slander for those) who dare to raise their voice in protest against wrong, God is neith er dead nor asleep; the battle for right; has just begun; the people against plutocracy ; divine righteous ness against ungodly riches ; the toil ing masses against the robber classes. Thej financial system of this govern ment which allows a few selfish men in Wa ll Street to dictate its policy for th sir pecuniary interest at the ex of the millions who are eucher of the just reward of their la ust and surely will be over throw i. Nfwburg, N. Y. pense ed ou bor, l ISHOP CLINTON’S TOUR. GUDGEE, P. E. When the children of Israel were undic hard task-master^ in Egypt, God raised up a; Moses. When i the Land of Promise was but small and needed more power and more spirit ual strength, God raised up a coura geous man in the person of David—a man after. -His own heart. When and polytheism began to in Palestine, Asia Minor rer portions of Europe, and no agency could rebut bk the scales from the eyes |t, fearless and Ohristian When the true Chris sueh men as Paul began really \ad died;—and i Ca tholicism was degrad istiap world, God burst [from the conscience of a bather. And in our own suffering and an un [ race was praying for hand of God, ~our lips; a newspaper champion in ^Hor ace Greely and William Lloyd Garri son ; and a powerful public orator in the person of the ijnmortal Frederick Douglass; and, glory to God, when the people of Dayton district were financially oppressed, and, it seemed, spiritually sleepy,vBishop Geo. W. Clinton, our lately elected and God sent young Bishop, came forth into that district, reviving by his height, tongue and spirit those who seemed to be sleepy and those who seemed to be dead. The Bishop’s first vieit was made to Dayton where the people were sur prisingly glad to see him. Here he preached to a crowded house in the M. E. Church, South, having many white hearers. The following night he preached a practical and soul-stir ring sermon from the first division of the* Psalms, giving new aspiration and encouragement to the people of | Dayton. The young hero went to Cleveland where he was greeted with no less gladness than usual. Our Cleveland is not as large as Cleveland, Ohio, but when the Bishop left little Cleveland, it was not second in spirit to the Cleveland by the_ Lake. He went from Cleveland to Charleston where his presence gave much pleas ure. The people’s acts of kindness showed that they are always glad to have the Bishop in there presence. New Zion at Retro and Riceville were the next points of visitation. At each of these places the people do not often see Bishops, so anyone may. see clearly about how the people felt. He next surprised the citizens of Pikeville with his dimpled cheeks. Here the people met him with the same expression of joy with which the Jews and Gentiles met Christ the day He rode triumphantly into Jerusa lem. My hearers will not think this is an exaggeration when I say that Bishop Clinton’s feet were the first Negro Bishop’s feet that ever made, sacred the soil of Pikeville. Satur day before the second Sunday (being the time the Bishep was present) he made one of his notable speeches, drawing the crowd more and more with each impulse of his elocution and oratory. At eleven o’clock Sunday he preached another sermon that stir red the people to an expression of great joy. At three o’clock your humble presiding elder preached and administered fhe Lord’s Supper. At night our young Bishop with his last .sermon brought the people to tears of joy and shouts of praise. Bishop George W. Clinton is the youngest Bishop on the bench, and may be the youngest ever elected, but he has honored those who voted for him. He understands the laws of the Discipline, and common sense, by traveling extensively over his work and learning of his mission, cir cuits and stations, so that he might be able, for himself, to understand his men and put the right men in the right .place. We bid him God speed; WADESBORO DISTRICT NOTES BY REV. J. H. MATTOCKS, P. E. I wish to say a few words in be half of the loyal ministers and mem bers of the Wadesboro district. We are bound together as with a solid fillet, keeping pace with the moving of time, and the progress of the age, and seeking to advance Zion’s great interests along all lines, without a break or hitch in our ranks. Each pastor seems to be possessed of the same pass word, i. e., “Onward, on ward.” All the pastors haye had and are having great outpourings of the Holy Spirit, and the work is blessed wiib many conversions. Therefore' we are working, hoping to pull up the district to its former glory and pride, as it was in ’93 and ’94, during the administration of Rev. J. W. Thomas, P. E., who was and is a brave and fearless leader for Zion. I shall ever feel grateful to minis; ters and members in general for the warm, hospitable spirit with which they received the confidence reposed in, and the respect shown me upon assuming the duties of this my new field of labor. I tvhank them for heeding the address laid down inyJbe Qu arterly guide, and fof-^deavor Lng to carry put its instructions to the letter. The July SabbaJ^chool how arduously my predecessor la bored to make the success of to-day possible. I arrived at Hamlet early on the morning of the 22nd ult., ancLI felt anything but cheerful. My faithful warriors arrived and for some time had to stay at the depot with sharp teeth and keen appetites. Your hum ble servant did the honors by hand ing over to the fair delegates several baskets of juicy grapes, and enjoyed seeing those grapes disappear like dew before the rising sun. At length Pastor Darwin who had been busy : putting on the finishing touches to the church came up panting with a wafrant in his hand and placed all my delegates under arrest and in charge of deputies to escort them to the different places named in the war rant. I confess, however, I would like to be arrested and sent back again to the keeping of that charm ing host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie E. Morris. All the’hotel gentlemeu, Mr. and CENTENNIAL JUBILEE. Prof. B. T. Washington Advises the Race to Cultivate Business Tact. ADDRESS ON INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION. [Extracts from address of Booker T. Washington, Principal Taskegee Insti tute, Alabama, at Carnegie Music Hall, New York, October 12th, 1896, on the occasion of the Centennial of the A fri can Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America.] “The lessons to be gleaned from an occasion like this are so many and varied that one hardly-knows where to begin or where to c*d—lessons of congratulation for wh^ has been, les sons of sober, earnest thought for what is, lessons of hope and courage for what is to be. , “One hundred years in the life of a state means much; one hundred years in the life of any. church means more ; one hundred years in the life of a religious body born in poverty, in the midnight of bondage, amidst j the throes and groans of slavery, sur j rounded and penetrated by oppres REV. II. T. JOHNSON, lb. D. [Rev. H. T. Johnson, D. D., is Editor of The Christian Recorder, the official or gan of the A. M. E. Church. Highly educated, he wields a red-liot pen. He read a paper at the Ceutennial in New York.] Mrs. Mooney, and others too numer ous to mention, came to the help of Sheriff Darwin and Zion against the common foe. The church was crowd ed neat ly all the time and good order was had throughout. The good peo ple of Hamlet spared neither money nor pains to make the convention a success. On Thursday night the lit erary programme of the young peo ple closed the convention to meet in Rockingham, third Wednesday in July, 1897, 10 a. m. The delegates and president were both to leave; Hamlet and while purchasing tickets some were heard to' say, “Glad I came,” “Lord, it is good to be here,” “Let’s have another one here next week," “My willing soul would stay,” etc. District conference convenes at. Gatewood station, The proceeds of each Jubilee mufit be reported to'tke district Centennial Jubilee. TALLAHASSEE NEWS. REV. J. 0. LEE, JR. It pleases me to say Zion is alive in this town and has some wide-awake stewardesses. They have been try ing to make it pleasant for us ever since we arrived. With the hearty co-operation of their friends they gave us a surprise Tuesday night, the 29th, which amounted to $8.00 worth of groceries besides handkerchiefs and other articles and some cash money. We return many thanks to our stew ardesses and their friends for their kindness. I will further say to the brethren of the first district, you need not go to sleep. We are coming and if you can't go we - shall soon step in the lead; we are doing all we can to make a grand report this year. Breth ren, I love Zion and intend to make Zion love me, and I am teaching my members the same. eion and lack of opportunity, furnish an occasion; for supreme thanksgiving and congratulation. Then $80 in property, now $3,500,000 ; then '20 in church membership, now 500,000; then one minister of the Gospel, now 4,000 besidos 9 bishops. “But the record is not complete; blot out th is property and these mem bers and the church with such a birth that could within a century produce a Price, a Dancy, a Hood, or a Wal ters, and set the world an example in its ability for self-dependence and self-government would have with these achievements alone more than justified its existence. “The criicial test for a race as for an individual is its ability to stand upon its own feet and make progress. In demonstrating to the world that the Negro has legislative and execu tive ability of a high order, your great Cbrintian body has helped the entire race “But what for-the present? Re ligion is supposed to be the first busi ness of a church. In proportion to our numbers, intelligence and wealth, I do not speak irreverently when I ' say that we have more religion than anything e se, and in many sections this seems ;o be the only article ol possession. “The minister in the Negro church has an influence for good or evil—is looked to for advice on all subjects— to an extent that is not true of any other class of ministers in the coun try. What are some of the great problems that the ministry is to help us work out? Our religion must not alone be a concern of the amotions, but must b ? woven into the warp and woof of our e^ry day life. Besides, the ministry—the Church—must help the educators bring about such a change in the education of the black ererwill be a more vital connection between the become in a more potent sense a pro ducer of wealth as well as a consumer —he must become more of a business man—must enter all avenues of in dustry. Even now in most every part of our country there are'indus tries that mean our life blood a& it were, that are fast slipping from un der uS, and from being the head and center of these industries as of .yore, we are too fast being relegated to the ragged edge of some of the most im portant. I repeat that we mijst, as a race, enter business; for we are con stantly being required to measure ourselves by the side of the business world, and by this test, we rise or fall. In thirty years there has been no political campaign in which the Negro has figured so slightly as is true qf the present. Ask the reason, and the answer is : this is not a cam paign of sentiment, but a campaign of business—where only business is sues are discussed, and as the Negro race haa-liltlq business and less money he can be of little servifeb?- in parts of the South this business test is being applied. In one state it is applied and the Negro fails to pro duce his tax receipts at the ballot box and is disfranchised by the scores I in another state it is applied and the Negro fails to show hipselfthe owner of $300 worth of property and is dis franchised by the tens of thousands. “What has all this to do with re ligio'm? Much. Show me a race that is living on the outer edges of the industrial world or on the skimmed milk of business and is the f. ot 1m.U for political parties, and I will show you a race that cannot be what it should be in morals and religion. “la that church organization of a hundred members in the cotton fields of Alabama where nine-tenths are in debt for food and clothing, and live from hand to mouth in one-room cab ins, there may be much morality and religion; but I had rather take my chances in the community where the minister has taught them to buy land, build comfortable homes and schools, keep out of debt, and to mix with re ligious zeal plenty of well-cooked, nourishing food, habits of thrift and economy so that they will be able to stand on their feet and look the world in the face as independent men in their business and political life. “Reverend and honored sirs, grand as has been the past, inspiring as is the present, the future holds for your church still greater achievements, if it siezes, as I believe it will, upon the opportunities that are about it aud leads our people into the promised land of business, educational and re ligious development.” DISTRICT S, S. CONVENTION. BY E. J. STEOTHEES. The fourteenth session of the New York district Sunday-school conven tion convened in the Centennial A. M. E. Zion church, Hudson, N. Y., Wednesday, August 26,1896, at 1:30 p. on., with Dr. E. George Biddle pre siding. Dr. M. R. Franklin of New York, lined a hymn and read the scrip ture lessons; Sister Julia Foote of New Jersey, led in prayer. Dr. Biddle after explaining the healthful condition of the schools of the district, spoke feelingly of the death of our President, Rev. J. R. B. Smith. He stated that the change in the sitting of the convention from Poughkeepsie was due to the illness of the pastor and President. But Rev. B. Judd, who is a giant in Zion and a spe cial friend of Rev. Smith, who loves the cause and desireed to carry out j the wishes of Brother Smith, opened his church and homes for the accom modation of the ministers and dele gates. For this he received a vote of thanks. Presiding Elder Biddle an nounced the several committees. The election of officers: Rev. James But ler, secretary; Mrs. W. A. Hatcher, assistant secretary ; Miss Alice Levi, statistician, and Rev. A. Tolbert, marshal. At 7:45 p. m., a large congregation assembled in the Grove, numbering possibly l.QCjftlong before the hour for p>eaching. I Rev, Jas. Butler preach ed a grand,/eloquent and forcible ser mon, as o||^Batlercau do, tak ored. Rev. Butler is a fine speaker. SECOND DAY—AUGUST 27. The convention convened at 9:30 a. m. The masterly address of Welcome was delivered by Miss Robinson. Rev. W. H. Ely responded, after which Dr. Biddle asked Rev. R. J. Strothers to lengthen the response. The following ministers reported their schools as their delegates had not arrived: Revs. A. Jackson, C. Fairfax, J. Butler, A. Walker, M. R. Franklin anft^tfkTolbert. Miss Grace Levi rejHHnthe work of the Westbury schooTT Saying it was good, and sickness prevented her pastor from being present. Mrs. W. A. Hatcher of Tarrytown, N. J., re ported, saying her school was in a flourishing condition under the super intendency of Prof. D. U. Prime and the pastor, Rev. R. J. Strothers. She said her school now numbers 75. Mr. Kemp of Troy, N. Y., reported his school, saying it was in a fine con dition. In fact, all the schools were -ably- vepwnaated by their respective representatives. ^ ^ ^ Rev. Strothers stated that he had sent the report to the Star as asked, and he supposed that it could not be read, or it was not -accompanied by cash, was the ciuse of its non-ap pearance. This drew forth a debate in which the interest of the Star was ably defended by Revs. Strothers and Franklin. After the discussion, a collection of $2.00 was raised for the Star. At this juncture Bishop Hood was seen to enter the church and the audience arose. The following essays were then read: “The evening of our life,” by Mrs. Tucker; “The betrayal and cru cifixion of Christ,” by Dr. W. M. Kemp; “Charity,” by Mrs. W. M. Hatcher. Misses Grace 'Levi and Delilah Hunter read excellent pa pers—their essays were misplaced and can’t be found in the matter sent me. AFTERNOON SESSION. After the usual opening exercises Bishop Hood spoke of the work and expressed himself as highly pleased to meet the convention. His speech was grand, eloquent, and one to be ever remembered by those who heard him. Dr, Biddle then appointed a commit tee on constitution, or to write a con stitution and present the same at the next convention. This session being held at the grove the audience was large. The committee on eulogy to Rev. Smith reported : Revs. Allen Walker, B. Judd, E. Geo. Biddle and others spoke. Bishop Hood presided. Possibly the best speech made in eu logizing Brother Smith was that by Miss Hunter. She was a member of his church. She is an elocutionist, having graduated from one of the best schools in the State. . - EVENING SESSION. Bishop Hood appointed Dr. Biddle district superintendent. Miss Alice Levi read a fine essay and also did Rev. Fairfax, after which Bishop Hood delivered an adderss filled with many good things. The Centennial sermon was a masterly exposition of the Old and New Testament charac ters in reference to a man having one wife; a woman, one husband : text not remembered. Dr. Biddle riddled the brethren who were not living with their wives and the women who were not living with their husbands. This sermon was especially enjoyed by Bishop Hood, for their was a con stant smile on his face, and he looked at first one minister and then an oth er who did not have their wives with them. THIRD DAY.—AUGUST 28. * The morning service was opened by reading and prayer by jjtev. Fairfax. The financial committee made'their report which showed that $43.55 had been collected. Bishop Hood was re membered. Rev. Strothers was elect ed compiler and publisher of the min utes. The convention elected an exec utive board for the district: Revs. B. Judd, chairman; R. J. Strothers, secretary; M. R. Franklin, L. D. Wil liams ahd 4. J. Tolbert. A resolu tion of thanks was tendered to Rev. B. Judd and his people for thei? kind treatment. Peekskill was selected as the plaoe for the sitting of the con vention, the 2nd "Wednesday in Aug ust at 12 m. i ZION’S PROGRESS As Indicated in the Following Succinct Communications. CONFERENCE-CONVENTION REPORTS. frhe Wilmington district conference arid Sunday-school convention convened in :3t. James church, Southport, N. C., October 20th, 1896, at 2 p. m., Presiding Elder S/B. Hunter presiding.'' He read, the 20th chapter of St. Matthew; Rev. A. F. M(Oorc, D. D., lined the hymn; prayer by Rev. J. W L. Council. Rev. E. I). Johes was elected secretary of confer ence; Vlrother E. S. Burney, recording secretary; Rev. E. A. Carroll, statistician;^ D. D. McKeithan, Esq., reporter to Star; brothers Lewis, Nickols ar McCall, marshalls. At night Rev. T. H. Hall lined a 1 and theh read the 76th Psalm. Hector Smith led prayer, after Rev. Modre introduced Rev. Hall, chose for. his text Isaiah lv.T, intro^ ducing as the theme the “Gospel Invita-1 tion by the\use of the metaphors water, milk and ^ ine, showing the efficacy of Salvation through Christ and theTich provisions ofHis gospel.” The sermon was able and forcibly delivered. Elder Hall is one of Zion’s strong preachers. . Miss E. O. Brown of Southport, wel comed the'conference and convention in a touching and impressive maaner, re flecting credit alike to herself and race. Rev. Moore with his usual style and wit responded in behalf of the conference. Collection, $4.15. The Sunday-school delegates submitted encouraging reports which showed marked progress in Sun day-school work. The several* commit tees submitted their reports, all of which received their proper consideration. We were well supplied with good eatables. The Presiding Elder’s address was able and instructive. ^Messrs. Burney and E. W. Smith were elected delegates to the annual conference. The several Dele gates made their Reports whifck were as a whole encouraging, with two or three exceptions. Petitions were made fo#The return of the present pastors and pre siding elder. The committee on educa tion reported, which was adopted recom mending Whiteville as the location for the district school. By special request of the people Rev. Moore consented to preach. This able divine preached from Revelations y:6 and easily proved himself master of thw deep and sublime subject. The congre gation was so worked up that some were looking for the preacher to rise up from behind the pulpit after he had actually taken his scat. Collection, $4.88. > The Presiding Elder made some re marks pertaining to the Centennial pro gram, then introduced the following^ named persons who read papers ■■ A. F. Moore, E. A. Carroll, Maultsby, B. K. Ellerby, T. H. W. L. Council, E. D. Johes, A. tin, A. R. McKoy and A. B. Jo Rev. Hall acting as l ies, the following la<] Misses Lenora Gallows dricks, Maudie E. L. j ing, Lizzy Gore, C. Oj mons, M. I. Scurlockjl L. B. Swain, M. F. Gaj ney, Emma Ellerby, Mrs. C. T. Maultst ed that these care together with all < the distiict confer pamphlet form, the 1 and compiled by Rev.! tions of thanks to the their care of the cohfei* Ltion. Lumberton was' place for the next scltij ense and convention, petitioned by motion for the return of Rev. S. B. Hunter as presiding elder. Conference adjourned. D. D. McKeithan. The Memphis district conference con vened in Johnson’s Chapel church, 'Aug 18th, 1806, in Courtland, Miss. The conference opened with Presiding Elder E. J. Carter presiding. Aftef devotion al exercises the following officers were —— elected: Prof. W. S. Cooper, secretary; Rev. M. V. Hancock, assistant secretary; Rev. W. L. Lee, reporter to the Stab, and M. L. Strong and C. L. Robertston, marshals. At 8:30 Rev. Hancock preached the annual sermon from Judges xiv:6. It was excellent. Rev. S. M. Medcalf wel comed tjie ministers and delegates to the homes and. hospitality of the members and friends of Johnspn Chapel. Rev. Carter then introduced Rev. Lee who responded, saying, “We are here representing a church which forms a most conspicuous part of God’8 Militant Host; a church; which has witnessed a hundred years of \ marching; a church that has enlisted 500,000 souls to fight against wrong.” Second day’s session—The delegates from the different circuits and stations made their reports, showing the work in a fine condition. The committee on pas tor’s salary reported, which was discuss- f ed by Revs/D. L~ Irven, Lee, Medcalf, inthony, Cooper, Carter and Prof. P. T. rhomas. All the speakers urged that he standard of pastor’s salary should be •aised higher. The comliittee’s report m the state of the country was grand, leal in g with the live issues of the conn. *■ _ ...
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 19, 1896, edition 1
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