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RO-A-UST OF THE -A.FR.IO-A.3ST ME7THODI9T FFISOOF-AJl. ZION OHXJR.OII I3ST AMEIRICA OLUME XXL CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURDAY. MARCH 11,1897. NUMBER 10. CHAIR OF 5THEOLOGY. A JLife-Giving^Remedy For Onr Theo logical Department. BY REV. R. EL WILSON, D. D. That our^Theological Department at Livingstone College is dying or is dead, and that if this condition of af fairs is allowed to obtain-during the entire quadrennium it would be a lasting disgrace to our Zion, is the consensus of opiaipn throughout the*' Church. No ecclesiastical government is complete without its own “School of the Prophets.” The theological school of a Church does for that par ticular Church the same thing that the-Military Academy at West Point, N. 'Y., and the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., do for our country. Those institutions, by special train ing, furnish the best officers for the military and naval forces of the coun try ; and in the same sense, in ninety nine out of every hundred cases, the best and most succofisful leaders in the ministry of all Churches are those who received their training in the schools'of their distinctive Churches. We have diagnosed the condition of the Theological Department of Livingstone College, understand its case thoroughly, and will now write a prescription which will prove a life-giving remedy. Here it is; Let 200 of our preachers who love Zion and her institutions, and who do not desire to see her take a step back ward contribute $5 each per year for the maintainanoe of the said depart ment. If 200 cannot be found, then surely we can find 100 who will con tribute $10 each per year. Put our name on the roll of the company of 200 or 100 of Zion preachers who will furnish $1,000 each year for the training of pastors for the great a.nd growing A. M. E. Zion ChurclwWho will be the next on the roll ? Cincinnati, Ohio. BY REV. J. S. CALDWLL, B. D. Mr. Editor: I rise to second the suggestion made by you and Mrs. Bishop Pettey :}n the last issue of the STARj namely, that subscriptions be solicited looking to the re-opening of the Theological Department of Liv ingstone College. Enter me on the book as one to pay five dollars ($5) annually until other arrangements can be made for its support. We should never rest until ample provis ion is made for said department. Let the ministers of our great Church rise up and say, by sending from one to five dollars, as ability will allow, that this department must be re opened, and it will be done. The bishops will, doubtless, legisla1" "'p eerning this Department at. „neir next meeting, but to my opionion if they were to make an appropria tion from the general fund it would certainly further cripple the already financially hampered departments of our Church. Brother Ministers, let us come to the rescue of our great Church and school, the enterprise that lay nearest to the heart of our late Dr. J. C. Price, our fallen hero, who gave the best years of his life that such a. school might be opened to our youths in the A. M. E. Zion Church. It was Elder G. ^V. Clin n, (now bishop,) while stationed at Pittsburgh, Pa., who made the sug gestion that; a chair in theology be established, known as the Jones’ Theological Chair. His idea was tc lend down to posterity the name oi ne of our greatest theologians in the erson of our lamented Bishop S. T, nes. Let us not allow that idea tc rish; but keep the Chair there and ip it supported. 'hiladelphia, Pa. BY BKV. G. S. ADAMS, D. D. Dr. Smith: You are to be imended for taking steps tc rid sustain our Theological department. I will pledge myself U. pay $5 each year till General Confer ence. iV differ however, with you as t< plank Let the Board of Bishopi adopt \a plan by which every Zioz pastor will collect or pay, as he shal prefer, flfoer annum for said depart " ,ve of the voting altogeth President of the College Trustees select &n< the usual way Your plan to have each one who con tributes,'^ io vote for the Dean, it seems tome it will lead to difficulty. Waahtingto i, D. C. BY BEV. W. A. BLACKWELL. Mr. Editor : I am deeply inter ested in the welfare of Livingstone College, the i nstitution which was the pride of the late Dr. J. C. Price, and for which he gave his life. Can we who-are living beeome indifferent to ts success sirce his death? Where is our <tenoi ft&tefcnal fitted The world is looking at Zion to see if she will re-open ;hat Theological Depart ment. It will be a deep shame on us if we do not sustain Jones’ Theologit cal Chair. Mr. Editor, put me down with those who will give $5 a year until the ne; :t General Conference to keep it a-going. My money is ready any time. Let the fittest be selected as Dean. it Lancaster, S. C. BY RIV. E. M. STANTON. To the readers of the Star of Zion : I hive a feeling of interest for our Conuectional schools, and es pecially for that of Livingstone Col lege. As al ready said by many, some one should < tccupy “Jones’ Theologi cal Chair,” und that it should be well supported if the prevailing sentiment. Rev. Wiliam Howard Day, D. D., of Harrisbirg, Pa., is the very man to fill that Chair. His pre-eminent qualifications as a scholar and his pe culiar fitneis as a teacher, make, or would make, him master the situation. I am in favor of him and will give one dollar or more per annum for his support. 1 hope he will be called to the work, and that he will see his way clear 1o accept. Newark, N. J. —o— BY BE V. WILLIAM JOHNSON Since the brethren of the Lincoln ton distric t of the Western North Carolina C inference passed a resolu tion to sujport a half-scholarship in our Livin gstone College, why is it neglected? St. John stands ready and determined to answer at the roll call: Fir it, Because the recepient has complied with the request of the district, and is now in school await ing the concurrence ot the brethren. Second, £ he is a worthy subject; and in the Centennial held in Statesville, N. C., shi played a prominent par as many others did, and to fail to support the scholarship will show dis loyalty to our obligated duty. This, like manj other duties, were ordered to be coll ected and paid to the Pre siding Eller, or elders, and forward immediately to Livingstone College. 1 am vjjy sorry that Jones’ Theo* o gical Cl air is vacant. It is greatly needed ir our beloved Zion. It was the only medium in our Church to train our ministers. Brethren I am ready, I am willing to comply with the dema ads required to redeem that worthy cliair. JRuthe -fordton, N. C. RE T. W. T. BIDDLE, D. D. I want to ask concerning Jones Theological Chair in Livingstone Col lege of which we hear such great weeping and lamentation and cries of “shame’ going up. Why do we al low this shame to exist in our great Church of which you have beeh boasting? Do you not see it a great deal easier to boast of a great Church which some one has made great by much sacrifice than it is to help make and sustain a great Church? Let ns Bee. How many loyal, lov ing ministers have we, say nothing of the members, who have got one dol lar’s worth of loyal love in them for Living! rtone College, our chief col lege ? Who will tell Editor Smith or Dr. Blackwell to open their book and here is my name? My money is ready now. - Tott mville, If. Y. REV. WM. LYONS. Mr. Editor; I wish to say some thing ibout the Theological Depart ment of Livingstone College. The Stab dated that it waB open for dis cussion. I think myself that that closed department is more than a Zion, it is a disgrace. If awake, And take the alarm they give.” Here’s a remedy : . We have five untiring presiding elders, viz.: Rev. A. G. Kesler, Rev. F. R. White, Rev. R. A. Morrissey, A. M., T. F. H. Blackman, A. M., of the Bine Ridge Conference. If each one will contribute $5.00 each it will make a total of $25. We ha^e 53 able ministers holding appointments in the Bine Ridge Conference. If each minister will contribute $2.50 each, to said department, this Will make the grand this conference; I am satisfied that the rest of our conferences will not be left behind. Presiding elders and ministers of the B. R. C. please let ns hear from you at once, through the Stab. Let us agree that said amount from each presiding elder and minis ter shall reach Livingstone College by the 25th*of March, 1897. Hendersonville, N. C. •o— EEV, W. R. DOUGLASS. It is yeiy much to be regretted that our Theological Chair in Living stone College is still vacant. It ap pears to my mind that if we ever needed to rally to the support of a move of that kind, it is now. This is an age of learning. Through the Sunday-schools, the Y. M. 0. A., the Christian Endeavor movement, And through scores of like organizations, the laity of the Church are studying the Bible and other religious litera ture as never before in all the history of the world. In view of these facts I feel that we should strive to have a better prepared ministry. Sleep on, if we will, but I tell you it will be a dark day in Zion when the pews get ahead of the pulpit. The day for throwing the Bible upon your shoul ders and walking up and down the aisles of the church to get up a big excitement has passed. If you can not teach the people fwmething from God’s word, that will make them bet ter men and better women, then you must come down and out. Our fathers who bo firmly laid Zion’s foundation a hundred years ago, meant that we their Bons and grand sons, should establish schools for the special training of ministers. They have been called from labor to re ward; and wherever they would fall, whether upon the snow-capped moun tains of the Alleghenies, or down in the valleys, or in the crowded cities, their dying words would be, “My sons in the gospel, build up Zion, ex tend her borders.” Now to do this most successfully, we must build up and support our Theological enter prises. By all means, let Jon^s The ological Chair be again occupied. Atlanta, Ga. BY REV. J. EDWARD ALLEN. Mr. Editor: I am glad to note the intelligent fact that Livingstone College has sent forth many sound scholars and useful men; but it ought to be a pillar of strength in our Connection in a sound piety and more flaming devotion to God. Our great church demands not so much learned men as it does holy men ; learning blessed and consecrat ed by such fervent aspirations for personal holiness and acquittal in the sight of God as dwelt in our honored founder and educator, the late Dr. J. C. Price. Should some of our stu dents feel called of God to spread the gospel of good news to dying men, and desired the requisite prepara tion in theology, our college should be prepared to teach them. I know too well how many unwel come experiences we have to endure before we get what we need. I be lieve it .to be the same in this case. We have the men, but not sufficient means. There is knowledge and light enough left from what the Col lege has already turned out to fill the Jones Theological Chair with dig nified grace and classic tongue. This chair will be a wonderful assistance to them in bringing all the trophies of its varied triumphs; and laying at the feet of our pure and simple Chris tianity will cause it to spread its arms like seas abroad to take in the fallen sons of a God-like' race. I will con tribute my share towards its support. Saratoga Springs, If. Y. Conference for the support of the Theological Chair at Li\ ingstone Col lege and I am sure mp church will give $5.00, and besides I have other auxiliaries of the church such as the Sunday-school, Christian Endeavor, stewardess board, etc., which could easily be induced tb gi re $5.00 each rather than have that Chair vacant. I cast my vote for Rsv. Dr. B. F. Wheeler as my choice to fill the Chair. Allegheny, Pa. Mr. Editor: Diving stone College is our chief Connectioi al institution to let Jones Theologies! Chair stand vacant any longer. Now is the time to show our love and pride for this College which was tho idol of the late J. C. Price. Put me down in the list of $5.00 iften, and I repeat that the cultured Rev. Jno. A. D. Bloice is my choice for Dean. Charlotte, N. C, of learning. Our Zion cannot-afford NEED OF UNIFORM!! Y OF LAW. —i— BY BEY. 0. CA1PBELL. Brethren, I desire to arrest your attention upon a very important mat ter which should be decided, not by and by, but now. Although the pre siding elders have labored arduously to bring about unity, the evil still exists. The interpretation and execu tion of Zion’s laws and doctrines are almost as varied as the number of ministers in the field, which, I be lieve, hinder the general progress of the pastor and church. When an appointment is made the church or pastor must undergo a change of custom, of law and often doctrine often to his own material, spiritual and numerical hurt. I doubt if ever an appointment is made hut that some one,.i lid jwt like jar honor the sayings of the pastor, let his doctrine be ever so poor or for eign from Methodism; and when his construction was placed on law some one said, “That’s light;” for such was his convictions, The next ap pointment may be a giant in law, a power in letters, but when he begins to undo the work of his predecessor, some look surprised and say in their mind “I will believe Brother John as soon as you.” Some pastors take members in the church on six month’s probation, and at the expiration of this time read them in without even being baptized. Others admit persomi who have never professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to full membership. I know of a church that for ten years allowed a trustee to the sacrament table and made him a class-lender, and he had never been baptized. Two more men of that church had been officers for years, yet were not baptized; and another had been baptized for twelve years but had never been read into full membership. I baptized cases like this last year. I have known pastors to ask per sons who Tyere ready for baptism, "Which do you prefer, sprinkling or baptism ? There ire some who do not believe in immersion, though the Discipline says let each person have his preference of the specified mode. I know of a church in Zion where more than one hundred members have not been enr riled nor assigned to any class—an open violation of law. Many of ui. know that poor records of membership are kept in some churches, and some are not kept at all. The time has come when we should have some system for keeping the business doings of our churches. Stewards, instead of trustees, are held responsible for pastor’s salary. There are.other evils I <;ouid speak of; but enough hfw been said to illustrate the idea we advanee. Let us suggest the following for the consideration of the Bishops and miniiiters: Let the Boarc of Bishops when they meet this nonth in Charlotte simplify this law and decide Upon the general spirit of the laws and doctrines and h ive their decisions no*nr,hlet rorm and submit one b presiding eld g elder set apart ct conference to doctrines. Let ZION IN THE WEST, Work And Prospect of the Third Pre siding Elder District ol Kentucky. BY EEV. I. W. SELECTMAN, P. E. Mr. Editor : *Thk is die first time as Presiding Elder thatl have tad to speak to the readers ci ncerning my district which k the ;hird in the Kentucky conference. We are proud to say the work is progressing nicely, spiritually, moratta^and intellectual ly*- I have a g6od set earnest, Christian-hearted ministers. Beginning my work, my first visit was at South Carlton where I found that well-built gospel preacher Rev. D. H. Jones with every thing ready for the meeting which was a success. This church always payi the presid ing elder. At Central City we found Rev. R. B. Arrondoff. Although the weather was stormy we had good services all day an,d some addition to the church. Thk youn.j hero k mak ing his mark. Rev. J. M. Hurt is at Sacramento. Here we had a glorious quarter and every ono was glad to see us. Brother Hurt is a spiritual preacher and well beloved by eaints and sinners. As proof, they gave him a $19.00 suit. At Patesville the pec pie were anx ious to see the new presiding elder. On account of sickness, the pastor had not arrived and we were com pelled to appoint Rev J. H. Camp bell in his place. Hera the meeting was a success. We found good peo ple here who are hoping to have their pastor with them soon. We vieited Stevenport, Rev. A. Jones, pastor. His meeting wus well worked up and waiting for ur. We got our assessment and some money for the pastor. He is the right man, and haa built a new church at Holt’s Bot tom since he has bee a on the work. At Owensboro where we left an ap pointment to preach ^ re found 'a nice audience. After endeavoring to preach a spiritual sermon we found twenty Zion members present, and arranged to send them A. Bunch, one of Zion’s old war-horses and church builderB. He promises, if health permits, to have a church for Zion by next conference. At White Plains, Rev. T. H. Mer riweather, pastor, me ; us at the de pot. We had here an old time quar terly meeting. He said this was the only quarterly meeting he held where he was able to get anything for him self over and above the regular as sessment. He is one of the coming men of this conference. At Kirk monville, Rev, W. T Ware is pastor On account of sickness he was ab sent. The work is prospering and the church is wide-awake. We got all of our assessment and edded three members to the church. The people like their pastor. At Nebo Rev. J. W. Henderson is psator.- We had a good meeting spiritually but not financially. The people love him and donated him a box of nice things for his family. He is an able preach er and has had the largest revival of any one in the district. Old hard hearted gamblers hj.ve been, convert ed and added to the church. At Housom we fc und Rev. M. W. Stewart. We wert treated nicely at oar stopping place. Quarterly meet ing very good religiously, but not so financially. Brother Stewart is a good preacher and is doing well un der the surrounding circumstances. At Earlington, Re”. H. H. Carter is stationed. He and his wife made it pleasant for us it the parsonage. Quarterly meeting very good. Broth er Stewart is a sou!-stirring preacher. At Madisonville, our headquarters, Rev. W. W. Dorsey is pastor. The meeting a success i piritually, but not financially. He ha4 a'good ten day’s meeting which rei ulted in seven or eight to tl\e church. He has organ ized a Christian Endeavor Society which is doing well. He is an able preacher. iNext in our mission work. We have not beer able to visit it. Rev. J. H. Earner was appointed at the conference to Slaughtersville, but by the advice of Bishop G. W. Clin ton I took l|im off that work and ap pointed him ,$o St Charles where-he has. organize4 te doing well through the first term with but very little aid and that from Mr. Atkin son. I hope our bishops and preach: ers will help us through the Spring term. Please pend all moneys to Rev. I. W. Selectman, Treasurer and Presiding Elder of the third district. MadiaonvUle, Ky. YOU ARE nr TEE FIRE. You Host Come Out.—This Plan Will Bring Km Out; BY Bfrt: MCCAIN. I- notice in the Star a complaint coming from the General Officers of our Church relative to the new finan cial plan. I wish to ask these ques tions : Bid you not help make it, and voted for it? If so, why do you complain? < I stop to answer in part for you, because you are not getting your sal ary. Now, Brethren, you are in the position that three-fourths of Zion ministers are in. Not one-half of the men that are serving appointments to-day in Zion Church who are prom ised $500.00 a year for their labor get it, and not one-third of them col lect that amount. The men that are bringing the Church up are the pap tors that don’t get more than half of the salary laid down in the Book of Discipline. The General Officers ought to have their pay, they must have it; but brethren you must learn to live like many humble preachers are living. Now, Mr. Editor, I suggest this plan to keep up our general expenses: We have 81 Presiding Elder’s Dis tricts that will average 10 circuits. That will give us 810 circuits in Zion Connection ; and each circuit will av erage three appointments. That will give us 3,240 charges to be visited every month. Now let each pastor make it a rule to collect at least one dollar Genefal^und every Sabbath. You see we can collect $810.00 every veek or 2,430 each month, which will keep us out of so much financial trouble. Now, Sir, if we sit down and wait till the pastor’s salary, current ex penses and chnrch indebtedness are all out of the way, you boys, will cry on. Now, Broher Smith, that is my rule in collecting General Fund. I must have a dollar every Sabbath. If every minister having an appoint ment will do it, we will move on. If you are in the fire I want you to come out. And if you General Of ficers are in there, you helped to throw yourselves there. But I judge you are burnt enough; therefore I am ready to help you out. Fayetteville, N. C. HON. I. H. SMITH. BY MBS. BET. M. A. CLINTON. Mr. I. H. Smith, of Newbern, N. 0.,-is a candidate for the Recorder of Deeda of the District of Columbia. He is a great philanthropist and race man, equally patriotic for the good of the country. He was the first col' ored man to raise money to aid' the McKinley campaign. He was out in a card 24 months before the conven tion announcing that Mr. McKinley would be nominated. In the election of Mr. McKinley he saw wh4l the future would be for the poor of this country. His great heart went out after them and he used his money to help make his "election sure,” so that the country might once more be re stored to its equilibrium* He stuck Jo his task with such te nacity until the centripetal forces crowded around him with their cohe sive power and made him the center of attraction, and now the forees'of inertia will not stop till he is ap pointed Recorder of * Deeds of the District of Columbia. He has ampli tude of brains, is strong, ardent, thoughtful, studious, benevolent and a great lover of hiB country. He will fit in it like polished stone in a gran ite wall and be a great lever in the systematical revolution of the polit ical world. When there is need either for race or country, he spends his means with no niggard hand; hence, the very laws of God will up hold him. & DO NOT LIKE IT. BY BKV. S. A. CHAMBERS. Plan nonber 2 mentioned by Rev. J. T. Gaskiil, for raising Centennial Funds is impracticable. If pat in operation, it would work a forfeiture to the best interest of the Connection. I do not favor it. First, it is strictly a violation of established law. The law provides that the appointments be made by the bidHfeli&dkd'not chosen by the ministers. Secondly, it looks too much like directly paying for big churches to pastors. We are to go up round by round and not by sudden bounds. Some may thus go up but ’twould be like throwing a rubber ball against a wall; it would rebound. Thirdly, this new plan does away with the Godly judgment of the bish ops in making appointments. God and the bifihop would have no part nor lot in making the appointments, since the ministers who brought up the money would settle their claims to the pastorate of the church in the same rank in which the preacher stood on the money roll. We regard appointments too solemn and sacred to be thus bartered away. When God gets out of the appointments, the next thing we see is humanity’s awkward work. •1 Fourthly, the place may not fit the man which he, by virtue of this new \ plan, won. Then the bishop would have to give him a charge for which he did not compete; and this would cause a dissatisfaction among the ministers and their friends through out the Connection. It would be dangerous to our peace and safety in many places; for some men are more selfish than loyal. Fifthly it looks too much like playing a game of chance. like it. Rev. Stephen Saven of California states that he was tired of the recent Church controversy carried on be tween Z:.on and Bethel, and wants the Stab taken out of the hands of the present incumbent and given to some one who will run it to suit him. It is to be remembered that our Church had been wantonly attacked and a defense was absolutely inevit able ; which defense was successfully made by Bishop Walters and Dr. Smith; apd any one who could not see the importance of this defense shows himself to be a back number; a Rip Van Winkle; and no depart ment of his Church would be safe in his hands. Zion-has much involved in that discussion; and for the Rev. to try to slur Bishop Walters and Dr. Smith for defending the Church as” they did, shows himself to be nothing more than a figure-head of California; a narrc w-minded, weak-kneed sick ling; last, but not least, nothing more nor less than a mule’s daddy, roaming over the uncultivated fields of the wild west. Union, 8. C. t ZION’S PROGRESS. I am glad that Bishop G. W. Clin ton sent me here. We are going to try to build a church. This is a mis sion held. Zion is beginning to spread her wings here. My people seem pleased with me. Rev. B. A. Stanford. La Folette, Term. Our district seems to be satisfied with tiie appointments. Rockingham, N. C. H. Mattocks. ABKANSAS NOT BEHIND. Our Sunday-school at New Zion church is prosperous. Miss Hattie B. Miller, age 16, with a bright fu ture before her, is the superintendent. There is a high seat in Zion for this intelligent young lady.' We have another bright and scholarly Sunday school worker, namely Mrs. E. J. Colbert. She is a Zionite indeed and attended Livingstone College, one of the greatest Negro colleges in the South. Our other Sunday-echool workers are J. L. Meek, W. M. Cor rs and Miss Minnie B. Morrow. Our church work is a success. Please glad
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 11, 1897, edition 1
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