North Carolina Newspapers

ORGAN OF raE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZIOUST CHURCH IN A3WIERIOA. ^ VOLUME XXL CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, MARCH 25,1897. ' NUMBER — REFORMATION NEEDED. Upon the Ulne of a Thoughtful, Temper ate, Christ-like Spirit. BY REV. R. S. RIVEI3, D. D. Mr. Editor: It ‘has been some months since I served notice that I would write on the above named sub ject. For several reasons I deferred a discussion of this topic. First of all, I am constantly busy endeavoring to discharge the duties of the pastor ate. The Star is usually full of spicy, instructive and live reading matter. It is disagreeable to have articles lie over, lose their date and become stale. It is hoped, therefore, that our views will have due atten tion. I am like Dr. Talmage. He believes in being able to direct as well as to correct. I have been much interested in the controversy between Bishop Small and Elder Biddle. Their dis cussion contributes to my conviction that a reformation is absolutely neces sary. One of the phases of the needed reformation, as I view it, is most glaringly demonstrated by the spirit revealed in Brother Biddle’s effort to correct things in general. It is not only . natural, but it is; proper that when a thing in use is displaced, some thing'else must be substituted there for, or the thing replaced. I believe Brother Biddle is sincere. I believe in the doctrine of Scripture holiness. I believe in the doctrine he advocates. The Bible commands holiness and peace with all men, without which no man cart see the Lord. To break a command of God in one instance by commission and the very next violate by omission is ridiculous, to say the least. I want to correct one mistake that Brother Biddle makes. He declares just as if he thought he was telling the truth when he declares that every one who went to Canton in our Church delegation from the Centennial- was fully aware of the Sunday travel be fore, he left. Upon the honor of a man and Christian, I didn’t know it, but was told that we would return Saturday night. I do not mean to offer my ignorance as an apology, for I believe that God was in favor of McKinley and against Bryan. I think Brother Biddle is guilty of two sins in his criticism. First, he is preju dicing. He doesn’t wait for investi gation, judge nor jury. In Matthew 7th chapter, Jesus says “Judge not.” My brother presumes to charge us -vwith sinning wilfully. The highest and most God-like of all Christian graces is charity. If one brother feels himself greater in knowledge and better in grace, let the strong bear the infirmities of the weak. If criticism becomes necessary, it should be done in meekness and ip the spirit of broth erly love. if I understand Christianity as it applies to individuals, we are repre senting Christ. “Ye are the light of the world,” said Jesus, commanding let your light so shine that others may see your good works. We should endeavor under all circumstances to ascertain what Christ would do if He was here in our places (for we are His representatives), j and then “go thou and do likewise.” There is still another sin of which Bishop Small and Brother Biddle both are perhaps guilty. Christ lays great stress upon the sin of offense. To give each other the lie as they do (in mild terms) is not only offensive to a sense of Chris tian brotherhood, but we are com manded in the Bible not to entertain an accusation against an elder with out at least two witnesses. These gentlemen stand high in the Church. They are men of influence. It is well, and perhaps best to be certain of the truth before flanging to the breezes the “ Bishop’s lies,” or the faith of some in the head of the Church might become materially impaired by such accusations, and their Christian prog ress injuriously stultified. To impugn the motives of fin elder, if they are pure, is wrong in the sight of God and man. Any soul that ma£ be hindered by defective influences, is offended; and “woe unto him by whom the offense cometh,” Dear readers, I think it is very clear from the above hints, that a refo rmation upon the line of a thought ful, temperate, Christ-like spirit is one of the necessities; “for if any man hai not the spirit ef Chrifit, he is none oi If Brother Biddle had asked him self the question, “ Would Christ have thrown open the vials of His indigna tion, evincing so much heated ven geance under the circumstances,” would Brother Biddle perhaps feel that :ny article headed “ Reformation Needed ” spends its force upon him? No; only as an object lesson. His motives are good, as I believe the the Bishop's to be. If you will ob serve the underlying motive, the spirii that prompts the acts and words of a great many of us do not savor of the Christ spirit. Those who read and give attention to the grammatical force of words, terms, phrases and the logic il tenor of sentences as they usua ly occur; those who have clearly and philosophically defined ideas of gran.mar, rhetoric and composition, will without special effort, conclude that existing conditions are in bad repair and that there is a manifest neec of special direction in view of a better State of things. It is a note worthy fact that a manifest need of refo rm is an all required incident to an iggressive reformation for any occasion. Three things are necessary, viz: First, Moral sagacity to realize the deformity. Only those who are walk ing the King’s high way (Isaiah 35:8) can see and feel the nauseating stu pidity now retarding the progress of vital piety; Second, There is also the manifest nee 1 of moral stamina and Christian fortitude, without which wickedness may stalk abroad and sin reign in high places undisturbed. Third, In the world where he in his satanic madness, is constantly ma ring war on the kingdom of Christ, we and all who have enlisted under the blood-stained cross and would fig] it successfully, must; with all other graces, have a degree of Godly wis dom; for Jesus declares that the "0 rildren of this world are wiser in thfir generation than the children of lig it.” It was the serpent that mis led and beguiled the first woman. Th at we may be equal to all moral en ergencies, “be ye as wise as serpents an I as harmless as doves.” The moral deformities to which we allude are not just the forms that elicited the at ack made so effective by Luther and his illustrious cotemporaries. Tl ere is a cynicism or snarling at the m )re conscientious, that to our mind is but the most glaring proof of the “ leed of a reformation.” By use of this snarling or cynicism a class thus misrepresenting them selves to their fellows and causing unnecessary irritation in their rela ti ms with other men. The name a “cynic” is not expressive; for dogs d ffer as much as men in their natures a id dispositions; and to be dog-like 8 ies not necessarily imply that one is a snarler. This, however, is tbe c laracter of a cynic. He is a snarling, discontented person, who sees little t lat is of is possible of being good i i the world and nothing that meets b ii?unqualified approval. Some disregard the law regulating and the usages of Christianity, and s steem it a merit to be eccentric and (isagreeable. “ Blessed are the peace i rakers, for' they are called the chil i iren of God.” The philosophy of the cynic is not itself so objectionable as he practice of its adherents. Their professed aim is the inculcation of the ove of right and virtue and contempt for pleasure. But m practice, its dis riples effected to despise outward splendor and have contempt for riches. Indeed, this class of people make themselves objects of ridicule, then in turn develop a snarling disposition, the end being that instead of becom ing, as they designed, the guardians of real virtue, they degenerate into un happy malcontents. March 2, 1897. Mewberx, jV. C. Oh Christmas day, at high noon at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. George Braxton, Prof. G. R. Wilson, of Calhorn, Ga., and Miss Octavia Braxton were united in marriage,Rev. J. L. Branner, officiating. The bride was given away by her father. Messrs. George and Charley Braxton, Miss Nancy Bailey, of Chattanooga, and Mrs. Amanda Braxton, were tha waiters. The bride was very useful in Sabbath-school. Prof. Wilson was educated at Knoxville-College. The mple received many valuable pres T- AS WE SEE IT, Rev. E. Geo. Biddle Should Apologize or v Be Excommunicated. BY REV. W. H. SNOWDEN. Mr. Editor: Zion Church, the old est Negro Church organization in the United States, has at last reached the point we little expected it would ever come to. It is a burning shame for' a great Church like ours to sit still and allow any man, I care not who he be, to publicly declare and show his disrespect for the Fathers (bishops) of the Church, and teach others to do likewise. We have nine men on the bench of- bishops who discharge the duties of the office as well as any we, or any otler Church ever elected. Their religious and moral character is above reproach, and- their love for Zion has been shown by their works. We admit they never attended “ Yale.” Neither did Lincoln, Cleve land, McKinley and a host of other leaders of this great country. And yet if Yale acts on all men like it seems to have acted on some, it is well they didn’t attend. The loyal men in Zion must wake up and teach the men who disregard the Bishops that they must stop or get out. Zion Bishops must be respected and must, first of all be respected by the minis try. How can we ever expect to get the people to respect the Fathers when we put them in office and then tell the people they don’t know anything and can do nothing? Twenty-four years’ service have I given Zion Church and must say I never knew the time ' that so little respect was. shown the ' Bishops. There was a time when you said the Bishop was going to visit the church, that everybody was glad; but the ministry has changed the thing by their disrespect, so that now the peo ple say, “ Well, I don’t care whether ^ I hear him or not. Such and such a preacher says he can’t preach and does ■ not know much.” My God! We must . move slow and love Zion more, or the presiding eldership will carry with it ( more dignity than the bishopric. In | the Star of February 11th, an article appeared from which we clip the fol- ^ lowing: Bishop Small’s recent article in answer 1 to my criticism of his political jaunt to Canton is so illogical in composition and so greatly blemished with “ Bad English” that I must first of all ask him to explain and define some of his cumbersome sen tences. Will the Bishop please define this undefinable sentence ? * * * I think it is time for our loudly-her alded Greek and Latin scholars to write, at least, intelligible English. Bishop Small tries to make it appear that he was sent, delegated, or to use his own word, “ assigned ” to go fi*bm New York to Canton. Is that true ? By whom was the assignment, made ? Certainly not by the Church, for the Church sent him to New York to celabrate the Cen tennial Jubilee. Certainly the Centen nial Committee did not send him, for the matter was never brought befofe the Committee. So his “ assignment ” must have been by some outside party. Was not the “assignment” made by the Bishop’s own insatiable desire to “ show 1 himself off?” 1 am astonished at Dr. Jb. lieorge ( Biddle. He preaches holiness and urges men to be holy; but he doesn’t practice what he preaches. The duty of a sanctified presiding elder, beau tiful man, and minister living a holy , life, is to do justly, walk humbly and < love mercy. Our Lord said, “ Do ye 1 unto others as you would they should ' do unto you.” Again the Master said, ] “ If thy brother trespass against thee, , go and tell him his fault between thee ] and him alone: if he shall hear thee, ‘ thou hast gained thy brother.” Thus 1 you see we are enjoined by the God ( we preach to abstain from offering wrong or injury to others, in their t person or their reputation. Did this £ good man keep God’s commands? 1 Did he do unto Bishop Small as he would have Bishop Small do unto him? ] When the Bishop by riding on the. ; cars transgressed, in his sight, did Dr. 1 Biddle keep God’s command? Did he 5 go to Bishop Small and tell him his j fault? Did he tell him when no one £ was present but himself and the s Bishop? I think not. He forgets t what he preaches; forgets the com- ‘ mands of his Master, and rushes on ^ and does what no living man wants i another to do to him. He takes a i Christian gentleman, good citizen and i learned prelate, and, in sum and sub' ‘ stance, publishes him to the world as . a liar, fool and ignoramus. Would it not have been more like a brother for J the good and ho>:y presiding elder to have taken othor Bteps? He would have Bhown mor» Christianity had he kept the comma: ids of the Maet6r. You may sCarih any other denom ination through : you may find men who profess to be sanctified, but you will not find one who would publish an article like Iff. Biddle against his Brnhop; and if le did, he would find that no grass would grow under his feet. It doefcn’; do to elevate some men. Their' heads won’t stand it. Some presiding elders think they are greater than the Bishops; and, it not in word, in act teach the people to respect them at 'eh not the Fathers of the Church. We clip the following from an article which appeared in the Star February 18th. Now we of tht jNpw York conference regret that our t: Moved elder designated any special Biship yet, I am sure, from my acquaintance with Dr. Biddle, that it was the state of his mind at that time, and the zeal he had for the Connection, that caused hin to so express himself. He loves Bishop Small as well as Prof. Drockett and hi J South Carolina minis ters, or the ministers of his conference. Dr. Biddle’s mind at the time, and seal for the Church, caused him to so sxpress himself. I don’t see any grounds for mo to think it was his mind. I think it was his heart. The mouth speaket .i what the heart is full if. He may 1 ive the Bishop, but the iifference between the love of Prof. Drockett' and the ministers of the 3outh Carolina conference and Dr. Biddle’s is just this: Prof. Crockett ind the Soutli Carolina conference >how their love by honoring and hold ng up the Bishop, and Biddle shows lis by publishing that Bishop Small :an’t write; can’t make his writing ilain; ain’t-what what he is repre lentedto be; went to Canton, Ohio, to ihow off; and he fears the Church nade a mistake in electing him. Now hat is cold love, I think. I believe, res, I move, tbftt the Church demand he Rev.* E. (Jeorge Biddle, B. D., Presiding Elder of the New York eon erence, to apologize to Bishop J. B. Small, D. D., and I honestly believe hat he should be excommunicated if le does not. In him the ministry cnows what it preacher fighting ele ment is. He must be stopped at once. Harrisburc, Pa. PREI.'S COMMENTS HE KNOWS nE’S COLORED. The Editor of the Star of Zion has lotified its writers that there is no need >f'being told that he is colored. Yes. 3ro. Smith, ji st a fortnight ago, we had o give a New York publisher a lecture ibout sending us matters in which we inppose he wanted an expression from is,but not the kind of one he got by any neans. The same pamphlet may have eached youi sanctum also. We were idressed in ;his style? “Wide-Awake, colored.)” We resented the insult, and lot more than that, that’s brass-riveted fall any way, to expect favors of us, md at the sa ne time “nick name” us, in •rder to cou."t favors of us. We don’t :are a “cuss” how many people love the ipplication of “colored” to them as their iroper race designation. We are one vho opposes it being applied to us. igain we repeat: “We know no such race >f men from an ethnological view as colored’— Wide-Awake. David Parker, President of the (ones Univsrsity, at Tuscaloosa, Ala., >ne among the most learned men of the iolored rac i, and one among the best, nost fluent and eloquent orators that sver ascended the rostrum in Alabama, lelivered ar address in the Court House lere last Fr day, 1st inst. By invitation nany white citizens of the town were •resent and listened with patience to the’ eund logic of his speech, delivered in a nost dignified and eloquent manner, lis talk was plain, practicable and full d good advice to his race, and if heeded rould prove a great blessing to them as . natiqii. I n the course of his speech he howed to 1 is colored hearers what the vhite people of the South had done for he Negro race along the line of educa ion, by proving that for every dollar •aid in on taxation by them for school •urposes, the white people covered it nth ninete Bn dollars more for edneation ,1 purpose!. All in all his speech was a ;randtreat, and speaking for the whites •resent, w as appreciated and endorsed a was evirced by the clap of hands and tamp of the feet throughout his talk and he outspo cen response by several pres nt after lie had concluded.—Choctaw Ala.) Alliance. it the-rcc uest of several of the bishops toticc is hereby given that the next nesting of the Board of Bishops and •ther Con lectional Boards will meet in lharlotte, N. C., the fifth Wednesday in if arch. H J. W. Hood, Chairman, ELOQUENT ORATOR. O.’W. Clinton, i RANDOM SHOTS. The Negro In Clly Life—Foolish Ora tory-Two Zion Laymen. BY REV, W. H. MARSHALL. The University of Pennsylvania has started a scientific investigation of the condition of the Negro in “City Life.” It has selected the notorious Seventh Ward oi Philadelphia as the base of its opera :ions.1 Here a house to house canvt.8 will be made. Among others, the following ques tions will be £skod:. 1st, Condition of family—age; number able to read and write; number sf months each child went to school during past year ; graduates of or attendants at higher institutions of learning ; amount of monthly or yearly income; nature of occupation; number of sick days and causes of illnessi; deaths and causes thereof; amount of real estate owned; money in bank; membership in se cret, building or insurance societies; chief forms of amusement? 2nd, Condition of the home—number of rooms, and condition of same; num ber of inmates? Of course, the ques tion uppermost in the minds, of all is, ‘‘Can this ware, with 9,000 Negroes betaken as a air example?” Per haps. For while much has been there accomplished, yet however, there are few localities vhere our people have wasted more opportunities than the one .by which we are about to be judged. The colored 5rator(?) is at it again. Here is his latest "gem:” "The pro gress of my people ever reminds me of ‘Ben Hur's chariot race.’ In front with chiery laugh rides the white man driving four white horses. From his chariot of gold he looks back with dislain upon his nearest competitor—tie yellow-man, who drives four yellow steeds, and he de rides the brow a man the next in the race and scoffs at the four brown horses; but when he looks around again and beholds the black man driving four horses black as night and coming a; a fearful velocity he knows that hin days of supremacy are limited.” Nonsense. When will our speakers learn that just such stuff as the above, while it tickles the ear, helps to fill our race with egotism ? The days of learning have passed when egotisn possesses a people. You may teach even a mule ; but any effort to teach the man who knows it all, is “casting pearls before swine.” How can a race of 35 years of limited opportunities endanger the supremacy of a race which has inherited the wealth, wisdom and experience of the centuries ? Better far .say to my people, “Ycai have done well, re markably we 11; indeed, history con tains no parallel: but yet there is much, very much, to be accomplished. Work now af never before.’’ So-long as we do net own and control the railroads, the telegraph lines, the ocean greyhounds, the great factories and the banks; and eo long as we are not producing the literature and the science of the day, the white man's supremacy in in no immediate danger, and every right thinking man can not believe otherwise. Wrightsville, Pa., is the home of Tiion 8 most eminent laymen, Jamisog, an intimate friend auu classmate of Dr. J. 0. Price and Prof. E. Moore. After graduating from Lined j, Dr. Jamison took a fall medical cou rse at Jefferson, America’s leading med ical college. His identity with our ra ;e was not discovered by the College authorities; else this great privilege would not have been allowed. He has one of the largest (white) practices in his County, and is usually consulted in difficult cases. His wife, a most estimable woman, is loved by ill who know her. The Doctor has an interesting family. He owns a farm, & quarry and other property. This scholarly physician, who is Health Officer of his town, is an earnest Zionite. * '* * * * Wrights rille is also the home of Mr! Chas. Johnson, a colored builder an4 contrs ctor, who has achieved con ble f access. He was architect contractor and builder of the hand Boml ftono Zion church at Wrights villoi Tins is one of the finest churches of its size in Zion. His ex its in Negro Methodism; and his large and energetic family must ever be numbered with Zion’s most enthu siastic, useful members. Mr. L. Law son, his son-in-law, is an effective, pleasing public speaker. * * * * * A bishop is only a man. His pub lic, acts are always proper subjects for public criticism ; but so long as a man honorably occupies that exalted position he is not a suitable object for the ridicule and vituperation of those who owe respect to the office. Can we belittle a bishop without shame to his Church ? Bishop Pettey wise ly said, “Love the man if you will; but respect the office, as it is your duty." Harrisburg, Pa. CRITICISM. BY PROF. R. J.£ CROCKETT. Mr. Editor: I noticed in a recent issue of the Star of Zion an article from one, Eev. R. J. Strothers, pur porting the discussion of “Those Res olutions ; ” but instead takes me for his “those resolutions,” and presents in his discussion personalities instead of facts. Although we are at a won der to know who this very promi nent^) Reverend is, we are equally as much surprised at his production, since it emanates from a citizen of the great “Metropolis;” one residing so near the seat of American intelli gence, the centre of culture, the Athens of America, the Mecca of Zion—because he seems to have lost his argument, laid aside all courtesy and leaves his readers (if it were not for the few quotations from Prof. Fonvielle,) just where they began— “those resolutions.” Since he was delegated, however, by one of our conferences to make an argument in defense of one of hei; of ficials, we would say to him as the least of all debators, we think it be littling the mission of his high calling to seek logic in love, philosophy in personalities and argument in slan der. We agree with the New York Conference in their lofty opinion of Dr. Biddle. But we did not intend, in our resolutions, to discuss the char acteristics of Dr. Biddle; hence the gentleman’s first and second para graphs are untimely. So are the others. More: We were not prompted by our affections for Bishop Small, alone, and the South Carolina Conference, to write the article that seems to ag gravate the brethren of the New York Conference; but by whole hearted affections for Zion of which Bishop Small and Dr. Biddle, also, are component parts. Not that we love Biddle less, but Zion more. Hence, we very much regret that our Church’s short-comings(?) (as thinks the Trumpet) should be-ex posed to criticism by her .leaders. And we think it the duty of each and all to be ever and anon on the alert to protect the Church’s polity from within; especially, because she receives blows sufficient from with out to slur her progress without ad ditional blows from her exponents. We wish to inform the Reverend brother, also, that, notwithstanding the climate of South Carolina is warmer than that of his State and place of residence, we are glad to ay, however, that it does not affect as to the extent to make us have ess appreciation for Christian man lood and holiness when it is real and lot affected ; neither does the climate lave a tendency to make us esteem ndividuals more highly than we do ,he Church. More: We have the honor of clami ng as our Alma Mater the pride of Sion—Livingstone College—and not nerely “some.public school” in South Carolina. We would be very glad & have the Reverend gentleman in :orm *us from what college comes he, n order that we may inform his Ai na Mater that he has come, (at last,) j >ver the ocean of Zion, to the port of prominence on the ship of Living itone, blown by the winds of Yale; ind that his historic ferryman now :eside8 in Clinton Institute, Rock FTiH, S. 0., presiding at an institution >f learning, for the race, in the name if Zion, enhanced by 200 earnest students whose efforts are made sue leseful by a small, yet proficient, = ATTRACTING NOTICE. Zion. Her Progress And Hter Men The Subject Of Comment. CLIPPINGS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. Editor Smith of The'Star of Zion nomi nates Dr. J. M. Henderson for historian of oar Charch. The nomination is a capital One and onr vote goes with it. —Christian Recorder. The Star of Zion, published at Char lotte, N. C., and edited by Rev. J. W. Smith, D. D., is one of our most valua ble exchanges. Editor Smith is one of the brightest journalists in the South. — A exandria (Va.) Leader. Rov. R. Alonzo Scott has conducted revivals in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Williamsport, Chambersburg, Elmira, Auturn, Syracuse and other places. Glorious success has attended hiswork, resulting in the conversion of nearly 1,003 souls.—Williamsport (Pa.) Daily, Bishop James Walker Hood,* D. ,D., LL. D., of Fayetteville, N. C., Senior Bishop of the A. M.E. Zion Connection, will celebrate the twenty-fifth anniver Barj' of his consecration in June- His denomination is arranging for a large offering to be presented to the bishop. —Syracuse (N. Y.) Christian Advocate. The sainted Dr. Price did more during his lifetime to break down the color line than any man of the present century. He not only demanded in clarion tones that man be known as man the world over, but he set a personal example that called in louder tones than that ringing voice of his.— Wilmington (N. C.) Sen tinil. —o— The Star of Zion, Charlotte, N. C., ed ited by Rev. Jno. W. Smith, is the lead ing colored religious journal in America. Dr. Smith is the Horace Greely of the Afro-American press. He is a sound, brilliant and at times sensational writer. Dr. Smith is destined to reach the high est notch in the great A. M. E. Zion Dfcurch.—The Chronicle. Bishop J. W. Hood, D.D.,Senior Bish op of the A. M. E. Zion Church, is the oldest Negro Bishop in point of service ao w living. He was made bishop in L872. Bishops Beebe, Holsey and Lane, of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Dlmrch, one year his junior, were elect sd in 1878. Our Zion brethren are doing ;he right thing in making amnle, prepare dons to celebrate the. silve' anniversary aext June of their distinguished leader. - Christian Index. The Star of Zion (weekly), the official organ of the A. M. E. Zion Church, is ranifestmg marked improvement in the lands of its new 'editor, Rev. J. W. Smith, D. D. It has the snap and ring l id energy of a living soul. Dr. Smith s a valuable addition to the colored mights of the quill. Rev. G. L. Black rell, A. M., D. D., is the business mana ger. Subscription price, fl per annum.' FUblication office, 206 S. College St., Iharlotte, N. C.—Nashville (Tenn.) Bu tie Blast. THE ZION CONFERENCE. We attended the annual session of the • ilouth Florida Conference of the A. M. ID. Zion Church at Kissimmee to-day, J There Bishop Harris of North Carolina 7as presiding with ease and dignity. We were introduced to the conference j jy that scholarly and broad-hearte^^ residing elder, Rev. J. N. Clint 3ishop Harris is one 'bFTBJT^fei^pKstj eaders of his Church and the race. He nade us welcome and assured qs that he “only question between Bethel and t Sion was a bit of history.” Our'Zion irethren have a right to feel proud of heir great bishop who is so fatherly in lis instructions to them.—-Florida Chris tan Recorder. _ ' . In commenting on the action of the L M. E. Church for proposing present ng the President-elect the Bible upon vhich he will take the oath of office, the Jtah of Zion, the official organ of the L M. E. Zion Church, has this to say: We do not blame Bethel for hustling o do something famous with the in :oming administration since the new ’resident said last October that the inest orators that had visited him dur ng the campaign came from the A. M. D. Zion Church.” It is very evident that these^wo great Ihurches are in for sustaining their re mtations, and that just a little jealousy : »r rivalry exists. It seems good natured ,nd rather amusing.—Indianapolis (Ind. freeman. '' ■ a ZION COMMISSIONERS. i oftbeex; of resi In response to a request from the aanagers af the great fair which is ar anging to he held in Nashville, Te issee, Mayor Warner will soon en local commissioners; whose duty Till be to promote exhibits on the >f local manufacturers and otl erest themselves in the success i >osition. The governor of the state has J Jready appointed a like number \ lent commissioners. None of them• eceive pay for their efforts, tas not yet completed his list of ten, 1 las decided upon a portion of them i nsterday announced that he would i ormally appoint Rev. J. Harvey And on, Charles P. Lee and William Spra gue and forward their names to rille. All of the commissioners : id are colored citizens, and at! >f them, Mr. Lee, will visit the e The mayor - -Rochester (