OR.O--A.3ST OF THE -A.FPaO-AJST MBTHOOlST BPISOOPALi ZIOIST CHURCH I3ST AMERICA
A
—
VOLUME XX. NO. 52.
CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24,1896
CENTENNIAL VOLUME, 1796-1896;
1 BETHEL AND ZION.
-.j: ' " J
. . ..'I
ORGANIC UNION WA8 NEVER POS8IBLE*‘HISTORIC
■,'Tlsj j;
STORY OF METHODI8RI HECES8ARY.
-.if., .. .
BY REV. J. M. HENDEI 80N, M.D.
Ia opening the columns of the SlAB
to a free discussion of questions relat
ing to Bethel and Zion, Dr. Smith
{has shown k spirit which must in time
iwin for him great admiration from
both Churches. These discussions
Will do much to remove from the lay
mind the vain and impracticable no
tions of organized union which have
for years done so muoh to impede
the vital growth of each Church. Or
ganic union was never possible, and
can never be desirable unless one or
the other Churches runs to the end of
its course and is about to die; even
in such a case absorption would be
the only wise measure. Zion and'
Bethel ate distinct bodies, and have
a distinct mission; otherwise, they
would not have survived a century
and present so string a front to-day.
Neither one has completed its pecu
liar work, and neither one should
surrender its being. Besides, either
Church has more members than it is
at present able to handle. The vast
numerical increase has imposed prob
lems that will tax the ability of either
Church. At present the people witlx
in colored churches are not superior
in their preparation for the struggle
of life to those outside of the fold,
tind it may be asked with some rea*
son, ‘ Do not the prevailing religious
notions rather unfit the people for
the highest forms of civil activity and
-eoekl life
Anyhow, each Church has all it
can do to discipline and benefit those
now within the fold. Bethel and
Zion are overburdened with members.
Ther6 are no methods now in vogue
which are able to put a proper pro*
portion of the people to work and to
draw from the people such contribu
tions of service and money ae they
could and should make. The multi*
plication of independent church pa
pers, the quasi-rebeliioos tone of
numerous contributions, the slow re
sponse to. general appeals, the ham
pered exercise of enfeebled authority,
all go to show that neither Church is
a closely united and easily managed
body. To attempt to unite would be
the signal for innumerable Splits, and
would result in the death of two grand
bodies now extant. The proper course
is for Zion and Bethel to awaken to
the new need and new conditions
existing. The talk of organio union
has toned down the exertions of eith
er Church until tameness is threat-1
ened. In the past, Zion has been as |
a spur to Bethel, and Bethel has been
a guiding star to Zion. Let us eon*
7 tinue to sfci$;each other up iu a friend
ly way, and the race will profit by the
greater zeal and activity thus stimu
latea. xaese uiscussiuiis nave uuuc
nothing to delay or to binder organic
union, for such union was never pos
sible; but the people did not recog
nize this truth; now they will, and
good is thus accomplished.
It is now time for Dr. Smith and
for me to ceasa to impose our person
alities upon the people. If he is will
ing to discuss the questions still un
settled, let us do so like intelligent
men. That class of ignorant fellows
who will tell the good Doctor to go
for Henderson are like the small boys
at a heated trial. The thoughtful
readers want to see what we have to
say on the questions involved. If I
or the Church to which I belong hold
any claims that are not consistent with
historic facts and cold logic, it would
be no shame for me to admit it. If
convinced, I would do so in a minute.
Not to do so would be to indulge a
mere puerile vanity. Boys and ig
norant men can dispute but not dis
cuss; can assert, but not argue; can
fuss and fight, but not debate. My
articles shall deal only with what I
believe to be the truth. I shall ig
nore all departures from thd strict
limits of history, logic and truth.
Such disputes can be carried on be
ttffen.those of another class. I be
^ Smith to be capable of in
cate and will now accept
.not d< bat* with ladies ; before them I
would bow and retire. I have earned
the ri {ht to knightly honors and will
only < roes swords with Zion’s best.
THE HIBTOBIO 3TOBY
of Me ihodism is what we now need
in ore er to have before our minds in
prope * order the fasts. We will then
be abl s to pick out the doubtful points
and j< in'issue. When was the origin
cjjf M« thodiam, of American Metho*
dism, of; African Methodism and of‘
Zion African Methodism? The books
give t ie following dates: 1739,1760,
1787,1796. None of these dates re
fer ei iher to the incorporation of a
society/ or the formation of a confer
ence. f; The*Oeneral Rules written by
W else y say, “In the latter end of the
yep 3739, ^sight or ten persons came
to’me in .London and desired that 1
would spend some time with them in
prkyefc and advise them how to flee
from the wrath to come: this was the
rise ofthe^nited Society.” The cen
tenary, celebrations of this event were
held by the Methodists of the world
in 1839. The United Society was
not a Ohurch, it was a movement. In
May oC 1789 two buildings had been
dedicated, but it is not until the end
ot tneyear teat tne iaea oi a distinct
movement was evolved. Welsey re- j
gards this as the essential fact, and
by it fixed tl?e date of origin. Bish
op Hood is honest and full of zeal
but he lacks proper knowledge when
he asserts that Zion originated in
1780. The Negro prayer-meeting
then held was not the inception of
Zion, but only a Negro prayer-meet
ing due to the natural tendency of Ne
groes to get away from the whites to
worship. It meant nothing more.
Welsey was a man of philosophical
mind and therefore did not attribute
the origin of Methodism to his organ*
ized society begun in 1789. His
mind valued history and was superi
or to small vanity.
American Methodism dates its ori
gin from the opening of regular
“preaching at meetings” by Philip,
Embury, and honors Barbara Heck,
who stimulated Embury to action,
as the real foundress. The essential
point dor fixing the origin of Ameri
can Methodism is the intention to
maintain a Methodist society as shown
in the first movement toward that
end. The succession and con
tinuance of this original move
ment in the house of Embury can be
historically traced to the rigging loft
and to John-st. Chapel. The begin
ning of Methodism at Baltimore un
der Robert Strawbridge was but lit
tle later, and was not a result of the
New York movement. The New
i oru propaganaa, However, carnea
the movement to New Jersey, Dela
ware and Philadelphia. It is correct
to date the origin of American Meth
odism as it is, although property was
not bought until two years later; and
I could not eite any record of the In
corporation. The Methodist Church
does not look at a man’s knees for his
feet. .■ Dr. Smith g'ves the matter of
Incorporation in exaggerated and
disproportionate^value. He can ring
on it tdfttie great admiration of a oer
tian class only. He does not seem to
place a very high estimate upon the
intelligence of his readers, if I may
judge by the character of the appeals
which he makes.
African Methodism dates its ori
gin, not at the organization of Bishop
Allen’s prayer-meetings in 1786; not,
at fhat of any other purely and mere
ly separate meetings held at even
earlier dates; but the history of
Bethel is logical and fixes the origin
of African Methodism with the move
ment from which, and only from
which, it was evolved as a logical se
quence.
Every ecclesiastical history
accepts 1787 as the date; no one but
Bishop Hood and those who take hisj
tory front him have ever tried to dis
credit it. Bishop Hood attempts to
justify his position
did not Bpurn the Church of England,
but died within its fold. He never
founded Episcopal Methodism in
England; only founded Wesleyan
Methodism. Episcopal Methodism
did not begin until the General Con
ference at Baltimore, 1784. There
was first Methodism, then Wesleyan
Methodism, then (Episcopal Metho
dism. With African Methodists
there was first Afrioan Methodism,
the former originating in 1787, the
latter in 1816. The African Metho
dist Episcopal Church is a Church
and not a mere Connection. We use
the word because it is iu vogue, and
not in a strict sense. The United
Scciety was a Connection in the full
sense of the term. The Wesleyan
Methodists are a Connection, Zion is
a Connection, but the M. E. and A.
M. E. bodies are Churches.
As to the origin of Zion I _will
quote her own highest authority. In
preparing the historic statement for
the official program of the Centenary
Celebration it is fair to presume that
the authorities were reviewed and
the very best conclusion reached. The
official program says, “In the year
1796 Bishop Francis Asbury, at the
request of the colored members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in New
York, gave them permission to hold
meetings under their own auspices.
This was the inceptive organization
of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, but for obvious reasons they
did not declare, their underlying pur
pose, nor publish the name until
three years after." This shows that
in claiming 1780 and the Negro
prayer-meeting as the origin of Zion,
Dr. Smith resorts to mere assertion
and commits the same error of van
ity that has made the name of Bish
op Hood so ridiculous. It is sufficient
for me simply to cite the statement
on the official program as my answer
to Dr. Smith. He can deny, bluster,
bluff and abuse, but he will only fool
the ignorant. We all accept Zion’s
account of her origin and then stuiy
the movement from which she sprang
in order to find out that for which
she stands. What was the essential
point in the movement of 1796 ? Now
be honest, be candid, be philosophi
cal. What was it more than a social
separation, mutually agreed upon be
tween blacks and whites of the M. E
Church ? Is there the slightest evi
dence of any other underlying pur
pose? The only purpose to be dis
covered or revealed by subsequent
eveuts is Bimply the purpose of white
and black Methodists to be separate in
worship. The incorporation and pur
chase of property is the very first
aggressive step of Zion. This does
not indicate any more thati a decided
and intelligent purpose to carry out
the original intent.
The declaration of independence
was an accident, and was due to un
foreseen disputes about the control of
property. Zion had expected to hold
property just as did the white socie
ties, and to be subject to. the general
UllUrUil UliIj aa iciaic irV
trine and ecclesiastical life. From
1801 until 1821 Zion of New York
bore exactly the same relation to the
M. E. Church as did St. John- or any
of the white societies. April 6th,
1820, the General Conference of the
M. E. Church, through the Rev. Jno.
McCIftskey, recognized the newly in*
corporated Zion Church. ThiB state
ment is on the Centenary program.
This simply settles the question as to
the intention of the movement of
1796. Zion intended to be an Afri
can society within the M. E. Church.
She was regarded and treated as
such until 1820. The M. E. Church
supplied her pastors and directed her
spiritual affairs. In 1820 Zion struck
£ snag. Neither then nor now will
the M. E. Church regard or treat her
African members as the social equals
of her white members. She main
tains separate schools and ohurches
and conferences and is the pious
champion of one of the most damna
ble sins of the century. Her course
is quoted to justify Jim-Crow cars
and discriminations. Zion would not
submit and therefore in this Varick
followed Allen, and these two men at
the dawn of the now closing century
became the apostles of a great truth.
The hosts of Zion and Bethel stand
vantages as to priority and aggres
siveness. We have thus provoked
Bishop Hood to make his historio
blunder.
I do not know whether Dr. Smith
has the moral tsoarage to own his er
ror. It is mere weakness for him to
bluster. I do net wish to gloat over
his mistake. He simply acts honest
when he admits his error. Pacts of
history have relative values which
are appreciated all thoughtful per
sons. Their is not an intelligent
person in Zion Church who would
dispute the dates that I have quoted.
Zion accepts 1796 aS the date of her
origin: I claim that the event of 1796
bears only an accidental relation to
Zion, and that tfch occasion of her ori
gin was the even - of 1820; and that
the circumstances of her incorpora
tion in 1801 enabled her to succeed.
The incorporation was a fortunate ao
cident, nothing more.
Dr. Smith has pointed out .the his
toric fact that Bethel did not immedi
ately win her independence of the M.
E. Church. I do not dispute this,
nor give it attention, because it is
true, and because it has no relation
to the issue. Alrican Methodism be
gan" with the firrf overt declaration of
independence. The struggle to vin
dicate this is no* only admitted, but
is one of the facte of our history of
which we are most proud. We did
not slip out by tiding underlying in
tentions, but we boldly fought our
way out. Dr. Smith is incorrect in
dates. Bethel woiTthe recognition of
her independent^ when the Supreme
Court decided in her favor. This
was the end, not the beginning. The
origin of her Episcopacy is among
the events which follow in logical or
der as the outgrowth of the original
movement. Let us now get dates be
fore us. Methodism began as a socie
ty in 1739 ; the Wesleyan Church in
1744 ; American Methodism began as
a society in 1760; ®as a Church in
1784; African Methodism began as a
society in 1787, as a Church in 1816;
Zion Methodism began as a society
in 1796, as a Church in 1821. These
are the accepted dates. The- only
possible issue is as to the value of the
fact that Zion Society was organized
in 1796. The fact that it was inoor
rated, February, 1801, and recognized
by the General Conference of the M.
E. Church, April, 1801, appeared to
sever this fact from all causal rela
tion to the origin of Zion as an inde
pendent church. An independent
church was not intended nor contem
plated; if so, why seek recognition as
an M. E. Society of Negroes?
Now I can reply to one personal
reference made by Dr. Smith. He is
constantly seeking to make it appear
that our discussion is a fight, a flay
ing match. He is constantly assert
ing that he is a terror, and that I am
timidly fleeing before him. That is
all childish nonsense. I am in his
paper discuesing certain important is
sues. The only things I have to meet
are facts and falsehoods. I can but
admit the forme# and must try to ex
pose the latter. If he be a terror, it
can only be because of hU ability to
giro me mountains of'falsehoods to
combat I don't want to obscure or
evade any fact no matter which side
it favors. I seek such a result as
will stand the scrutiny of those who
live when Dr. Smith and I are gone.
I do not think it is becoming to in
troduce^. intentionally, any unwar
ranted, assertions in this discussion,
and I am sure that it is bad taste to
introduce mere personal abuse. To
ridicule an opponent’s arguments,
when such arguments are incorreot,
is a valuable art belonging to debate.
To simply say rough things of the
person is mere vulgarity.- Would I
dispute with a rough ott the street?
No. Why ? Because I would be re
strained by shame; he would cot.
When I come in contact with per
sons as mere individuals I am free to
exercise-my tastes. I don’t com
promise a single notion in my per
sonal relations with people. My per
sonal friends are only thoee whom I
regard as of my class. In publio life,
I recognize the distinctions there ex
isting. Officially Dr. Smith and I
are on a plane. So long as his side
of this controversy is kept on the lev
el'that should characterize it, we can
retire. Ia legitimate debate, he o&n
give me fair sport, bat I have tilted
with many who are much stronger
and more skillful. He loves to foal.
Let as keep this c.iscussion on a high
plane and leave to posterity some*
thing that will be valued. Let others
wrangle and snarl when we are done.
When we get through, we can throw
the bones to the follows who are anx
ione to get in tbe ring. They can
yelp and bark; let us argue.
Brooklyn, N. Y
CONGRATULATE ^-RESOLUTIONS.
[The following leselotlons offered by
Prof. R. J. Crockett, President of Clin
ton Institute at Bock Hill, 8. C., and
adopted in the Pa metto conference in
Union, 8. C-, pres ded over by Bishop
I. 0. Clinton, were ordered to be printed
in the Stab of Zio t.]
‘‘Bishop and Members of the Pal
metto Conference: We congratulate
the members, bishops and general offi
cers of the A. M. E. Zion Connection
everywhere on he one hundredth
anniversary, of tie church of their
choice. They have done well in cel
ebrating the one hundredth anniver
sary of their eccle uastic organization ;
and naliberty lov ng, Christian-heart
ed organization trill envy them this
season of jubilant rejoicing.
We revere the actions of our bish
ops, general' officers and delegates
who met in delega te session per order
of the Connection in.New York City,
sacrificing their limeand talent for
the nonor ana pmtige ox oar beloved
Zion. . f
We farther congratulate ourselves
upon the fact tha t oar leaders em
braced the historic opportunity of
bringing our organization before the
world by visiting the nation’s choice
for President—Hon. Wm. McKinley,”
of Ohio—in an ecclesiastic body un
der caption of “Zion Methodists.” Wt
highly commend their actions, and
our breast heaves with more than hon
est pride when we remember that a
loyal son of ours from the Palmetto
State made the historic oration to the
President-elect McKinley, in person
Rt. Rev. Geo. Wylie Clinton, A. M.,
D. D. We hail this as an evidence
of the gradual yield of the state to
the influence of the church, and an
ensign of the world glorying in the
cross.
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, One Rev. E. Geo. Biddle, an
apparent disciple of mal-administration
and mob violence ran adherent of “Pitch
foikism and Bryanism” which rose once
above oar country like Chimborazo
above the clouds, and rolled beneath her
institutions like the Turkish streams
of Ganges, destroying the autonomy of
good government; a caterer to ignorance
and sloth; a courtier of Jeff Davis’ De
mocracy which makes the Negro an heir
of ignorance and an associate of immor
ality, issued a tirade against the ecclesi
astic excursion selected to congratulate
our choice for president on behalf of our
church; and
Whereas, Rev. Biddle made remarks
unbecoming one Christian gentleman
against another, thus Jeopardizing his
Christian integrity; and "
WHKBKA8, He violated the laws of die*
cipline by his untimely personal attack
upon Bishop Small publicly, when the
discipline instructs him to make timely
criticisms privately; he calling Bishop
Small a “ Sabbath breaking bishop, ”
making untimely remarks and a ques
tionable exhibition of the conduct of the
delegation’s conduct on the cars; be it
•Retolved, That we, the ministers and
delegates in annual session denounce
the action of Rov. E. Geo. Biddle as un
manly and unchristian and insist that he
be asked to recant or account for his
harsh, untimely, repugnant attacks upon
his brethren. Renewing ouj. fidelity to
our country, our raoe, and our church,
we are loyally yours for God and Zion.
I was assigned to St. James’ Chap
el January, 1896, by the great and
noble Bishop Pettey. We a.e com
ing, blessed Zion. We have t strong
class-leaders, other strong officers and
about 110 members and we are tied
together with the strong o^rd of love.
The world's great preaeher, the elo
quent Jehu HolH^ who is now my
Bishop, visited usi the second Sunday
in July. We gave him $22.00 gen
eral tax. We expect to collect 60
cents general tax from every member
and alto carry x>nt every law laid
down in the Discipline and meet the
Bishop at the not anneal Conference
and report eomejhing for all oonnec
CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS.
WHERE THE MINISTERS ARE 8TATIONED FOR THE
ENSUING YEAR.
TWO CONFERENCES GIVEN.
CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA CONFERS NCR.
Bishop J. W. Hood, presiding bishop.
Fayetteville district—J. M. Hill, presid
ing elder; Fayetteville, R. Alonzo Scott;
Snow Hill circuit, T. B. McCain;
Tar Hill circuit. J. J. Stitt; Loch’s
Creek circuit, A. 8. Hubbard; Flee Hill
circuit, H. C. Harrison; Dumt circuit,
0. J. Simmons; Harnett circuit, D. A.
Williams; Tillington circuit, 0. P. -8.
Harrison; Norrington circuit, J. M.
Stitt; Jonesboro and Lovegrove, W. H.
Graham; Manchester circuit, J. W. Har
ris ; Zion Wall circuit, A. McDoug&ld;
Beaver Creek circuit, R. Haoty; Red
Springs circuit, A. McCallum; Mountain
Grove circuit, S. H. McEoy; Johnson
ville circuit, H J. Green.
Concord district—J. W. Thomas, pre
siding elder; Concord, Zion Hill church,
J. I. Settle; Concord, Price Memorial
church, A. • F-IGorham; Bethel church
circuit, J. N. Raabury’; Mt. Pleasant cir
cuit, M. M. Mitchel; Pleasant Grove cir
cuit, N. B. Stelly; Jacob’s Rock circuit,
J. B. Bailey ; Ebenezer circuit, W. A.
Darwin; Union Springs circuit, J. A.
Barber ; Mt. Zion circuit, A. J. McDon
ald; Waxhaw circuit, K. 0. Chambers;
Monroe, W/J. Sides; Anson circuit, P.
H. Stephenson; Wadesboro, J. H. Love;
Getwood circuit, G. B. Kelley; Flat
Rock circuit, R. A. Simmons; Lylesville
circuit, W. M. D. Cuthbertson; Hudson
School house circuit, C. M. Mason; Lin
fleld, to be supplied.
Raleigh district—F. K. Bird, presiding
elder ; Raleigh and Durham, W. A. Peg*
gans; Henderson circuit. R. Spriel; Ox
ford circuit, J. W. Levey ; Franklintcn
circuit, C. G. Tyson ; Cardy circuit, J.
Q. Johnson; Haywood circuit, P. A.
Swindle; Chestnut circuit, M. G. Goins;
Egypt circuit, W. B. Gordon ; Mitchei’a
circuit, P. J. Jones; Greensboro station,
J. F. Lee; Randolf circuit, I. Cameron;
Richmond circuit, B. W. Turner; New
Hope circuit, W. M. McKay; Carthage
circuit, R. M. Thompson; Cameron cir
cuit, G. W. Richardson.
Rockingham district—J. H. Mattocks,
presiding elder; Rockingham station, W■
A. Mitchell; Mt. Zion circuit, R. Allen ;
Green Lake circuit, W. 0. WaddeU ; Bt.
Paul’s circuit, D. G. llowe; John’s cir
cuit, E. W Pritchard ; Mazton circuit,
J.M. Mitchell; Manley circuit, J.O. Coz;
Buckhannon Grove circuit, J. J. Stubbs;
Eagle Springs circuit, C. M. McNeil;
Norwood circuit, 8.- J. Hargrave; Al
bermarl, A. J. McNeil; Mt. Arey circuit,
W. J. Gains; Mt. Gilyard circuit, E. B.
Bennett; Wadesville circuit, S. H. Ross;
Lethee circuit, R. L. Edwards; Peedee
circuit, W. R. Hunter; Silver Grove cir
cuit, P. A. Cole ; Snow Hill circuit, J.
S. Bennett.
ALABAMA CONFBBBHCX.
Bishop T. H. Lomaz, presiding bishop
Union Springs district—J. W. Cooper,
presiding elder; Derry’s Chapel, <5; L.
Alexander; Snowden circnit, C. W.
Motley; Rama circuit, J.. W. Smifcii;
Troy circuit, J. Winkfteld; Ozark
circuit, Thomas Jones ; Tinkard circuit,
A. H. Adams; Matthews circuit, C. Ger
man ; St. Mark circuit, L. D. Harman;
Bascomb’s Cornerstone, W. H. Harman <
Abefoll circuit, W. M. Tolbert; Harts
boro circuit, 0. C. Allison; Warrior
Stand circuit, J. W. Stakely; Baroms
circuit, W. M. Easley: Hannon Mission,
M. Daughtry; Howard’s Mission, T. H.
Howard; Dotban mission, u. reopi*;
Hubbard’s mission, George Hubbard;
Hatchebbee Mission, B. W. Wind; Hen
derson Orion Chapel, J. C- Harris;
County line, G. G. Green.
Tuskegee district*—L. 8. Peterson,
presiding elder; Tuskegee, B.M. Gudger;
Opelika, J.'T. McMillan; Auburn, D<
W. Right; Little Zion circuit, Wm'
Medows; St. James circuit, D.C. Calhoon*
Marvin circuit, 0. P. O’Neill; Racke
mount circuit, H. Whitehead; Uchee
circuit, T. M. Matthews; St. Luke cir
cuit, W. M. Dickerson; Nolosulga cir
cuit, Wm- Jacobs ; Fittings Chapel cir
cuit, G. W- BerryJ; Camp Hill circuit,
0. L. W. Hamilton; Annison circuit,
Z. H. Booker; Talladega, J. W. Booker;
Cove Mission, S- Gaines ; Birmingham,
G. W. Drake.
TPetumpka district—J. Gomez, presid
ing elder; Wetumpka.P. TP. Laromoro ;
Crimshaw Zion, J. TP. Billingslea;
Vervena circuit, 0. F. Brown; Blb
tewm circuit, A. TP. TPflUams; Mt.
Meigs circuit, E. M. Brooks; Cotton Val
ley circuit, J. C. Lsrepaore; St. Luke
circuit. T. R. Rodgers; Shorter’s circuit,
J. H. Hubbard; Hew TParker’s Chapel,
D.D. Green; Tallace circuit; R. Taylor ;
Fort Hull circuit, J. S. Chambers; Che
haw circuit, J. Good; Pine Grove cir
cuit, J. R. Gill;Oak Grove oirouit, 0. T.
Green; Pike Road circuit, D. 0. Depen
port ; Harda Mission, 0. Larence; Bur
ga Homer Mission, J. T. Goleton.
RESOLUTIONS OF CONDOLENCE.
idence baa removed from our midat
3ur beloved brother in gospel bonds,
in aged veteran of the cross, Rev.
Ghreejisbury W. Offiey.
Raolved, That we' tender our
heartfelt sympathy to the widowed /'
wife and to the relatives and friends
in th) loss of a loyal member of the
A. hi. E. Zion ehnrch in New Bed-1
ford, Mass.
W;jeeea3, He waff once a travelling
minuter and built a number of.
churches, one of which was the A.
M. E. Zion church at Worcester, *
Hass
Retolved, That we draft this set
of resolutions and enter them upon
our church book, and that a copy be
sent >o the Star of Zion, and a copy
to hi? family. We cannot forget bis
genial disposition, his fatherly and
timely advice, and the interest he
had in the uplifting of .his raoe. We
Bhall ever cherish his fond memory
and mourn his loss. Peace to hie
ashes—Rev. S. E. Robinson, Wilson
Turner, Matthew Stranghn, Rachel
Andy and Senorah Smith.
New Bedford, Man.
REV.; J. H. HECTOR IN ENGLAND.
18 Parxburst Road, Holloway,
Lokdow, N. Enolakd, Dio. 8,1896.
Editor Star or Zion,
UHAELOTTI, JJI. U.
Dsab Beotheb Smith: I thank
you for printing the change in my
address. I am meeting with good
success here. God is blessing me in
the Temperance work that I was warfc
ed against. I find that it is taking
as well as anything I am able to set
before the people. I am having the
chanoe to lift the standard of Zion
Connection in England as it never
has been before. I was very warmly
received when coming before the Con
ference as fraternal delegate with
Oenteninial greetings. I took Miss
Willard’s place oh the platform at
the great Temperance meeting in
Hangler’s Circus and spoke to about
6,000 people. On the enclosed circu
lar you will find paper reports of
said meeting. v
I.have had'a great struggle hereto
get straight in the College work; so
many frauds have been here collect
ing for bogus institutions ; but God is
blessing ms, and I am now gaining ^
the confidence of the people'where
ever I go. Souls are being saved and
I am greatly encouraged in my new
field pf work. I am now being booked
for 1898, 1897 being full except a ,
short time reserved for rest and some
weak nights. The work that Dr. J.
0. Price did over here is alive to-day,
and is a big .deip to me waereever
lie has been.
Tender my heartfelt sympathy.to
Brother J.: S. Cowlee in. his tad be- . '
reavement, Zion lost a good sister
when Sister Cowles left os. Dr. Pen
man tells nk that he still gets hie
Star ’of ZrbN and is very much
pleased with the new Editor. Thank
ing you (or past favors, and praying .
God’s blessing upon you in yoor new
field with .Zion’s Stab, I am yoarj,
brother in Christ and co-worker for •
the right, , John H. Hector.
CANCELS ENGAGEMENTS.
. BY REV. B. ALONZO SCOTT.
Dear Editor: Owing to the faot
thaUl have been recently transferred
to the Central Nj C. Conference and
appointed to Fayetteville, N. 0., to
the pastorate of the Metropolitan A.
M. E. Zion church—one of the lead
ing churches of the Connection—I am
obliged to cancel all engagements of
evangelistic meetings whioh were ar
ranged while we were in New York
City celebrating the 100th anniver
sary of onr beloved Zion. My en
gagements, which are hereby can
celled were in ^‘Mother Zion,” New
York, Providence, R. L, New Haven,
and Rochester, :