Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / July 1, 1897, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
ORGkAJST OF TEitE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION OHUROH I3ST AMERICA. VOLUME XXI. CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, JULY 1,1897. ': ; . ■ ... NUMBER 26 ALLEGHENY DISTRICT. Zion Pastors, And Other People Worthy Of mention. BY REV* G. W. LEWIS, P. E. We have just passed through one . of the most trying financial struggles - "in the history of this Conference; but « dince the inauguratian of Major Mc Kinley things are beginning to brighten up, and the churches have done well from a spiritual stand point. The following pastors and their people are worthy of mention: Rev. G. W. Kincaid, of John Wes ley, Pittsburg, Pa., has, 'within the last three months, raised $1,079.48 hnd added 200 members to the Church. He is the right man in Pittsburg. With him and his con jgregation it is only^a matter of time iwhen the great mortgage debt will be a thing of the past. Uniontown, Pa.—Rev. B. F. Com jbssh, B. D., is a progressive pastor, land is doing his work r^ell- He, too, had a successful revival, adding some 120 to the church and paying $800 on a debt. i Johnstown, Pa.—ReY. M. J. Snow is the captain of Zion’d host in this progressive church, and has done a grand work. He has added 47 mem bers to the church and raised nearly $500 during the quarter. He has a Building Association organized in the church of the best people of the city. They expect to erect a new church within the next 12 months. Bedford, Pa.—Rev. J. T. Moore is I,the honest, faithful pastor in charge of the army of Zion at this beautiful Summer resort and is grandly succeeding along all lines. He has had a grand revival and added some 20 or 30 members to the church. Homewood, Pa.—Rev. N. J. Wat son is the pastor in charge. This is one of the finest little churches in this district. He is one of our best preach ers and a straight-forward Chris tian; but for some reason he has not been able to succeed as we had hoped he would. We are pleased, however, to note the fact that the church is in better condition than it was three months ago, and there is a better feeling in the church than there has been for some time. There is now a disposition on the part of the pastor and people to try to pay the mort gage debt, which is $1,800. Mt. Washington, Pittsburg, Pa.— Rev. A. J. Workman is the pastor and is doing a good work. He is now serving his fifth year On this charge. During the last five years he has bought a church and parsonage worth $3,000 and has the debt now reduced to $1,200. The church is in good condition. west iiina, rittsDurg, ra.—tf,ev. W. P. Hopkins is the pastor in charge, and is succeeding well. He has turned things around in a general way for the good of Zion in this place. When he was appointed to this charge he found the people out of doors; but he has succeeded in get ting in possession of their church again, and now hopes to be able to pay the debt and save the church for Zion. He has had a successful revi val. He is a born leader and there fore must succeed.along all lines of Christian work. Mt Pleasant, Pa., is situated in the heart of the coke regions, and on the account of the hard times among the coke and coal miners at that place our church has suffered considerably for last year. Rev. W. A. For man, the pastor in charge, is build ing the work up' as rapidly as could be expected. On account of illness of pastor, and other things over which he had no control, they have not been able to paint and re-paper the church and parsonage, which is great ly needed. Rev. Forman is a suc cessful preacher and we hope for bet ter results as his health improves and the condition of the people grows better. Scottdale and Myersdale missions —Rev. R. Brown is the successful pastor in charge, and is doing a good work. He has had a successful revi val and has added about 20 mem bers to the church. He hopes to give Zion at Scottdale a new church dur ing the Summer. He is the right man in the right place. Blairsville and Apollo, Pa.—Rev. L. 6- Mitchell is the successful pas tor and has had a great revival on this work, adding about 20 members to thech ireh at Apollo, and increased tte cong regation at Blairsville. He is alway i a success. Hollic aysburg and Altoona. This work is located at the headquarters of the I ennsvlvania Railroad Shops and proi aises to become a first-class work. itev. L. N. Guinn is the pas tor and with the assistance of his able anc faithful wife is succeeding nicely. Rev. Guinn was stricken down vith La Grippe right in the midst of his revival and therefore had nol the success he would have otherwii e had. , Hunt ngion and Lewistown form a very po »r work. Deacon Williams is the past ar and he is succeeding well. He hss aad a very successful revival and has built up the work in a gen eral wa;f. Jeam ette mission is a new work organizi id by Rev. A. Garter about a year aj;o. He is trying to plant Zion’s lag here and he has already secured a church in which to worship for the present. Rev. J. E. Little, of Pittsbu -g, was down recently to assist in the opening of the church. Pitts iurg, Pa. \N EARNEST APPEAL. Dear! lir and Brother: Whereas we are in great distress, I make this earnest ap peal to rou and your dear congregation who lo re Zion, to aid us in trying to build a Sion Church in Winnsboro, S. C. I was assigned by Bishop I. C. Clin ton, D. D., to this mission point Decem ber, 189 5. On our arrival I found our Zion w< rshippers holding services in a very small, insignificant building (by no means i credit to this proud Zion Meth odist be dy more than a century old) sup posed to be their own; but on investi gation last Fall it was found that no titles could be found and that the land belonged to one Mrs. Rachael Gibson, the sistsr of Rev. 8. L. Jones, formerly of Zion but now a Congregationalist. Aftei he, Rev. S. L. Jones, left Zion it is be ieved that he prevailed with his sister t > let him have the church for his denomi nation, thereby, doing Zion all tfie liar m he could. Since then we have had ai up-hill journey, very steep at that, having to rent or leave. 'We ha^e since then kept up rent and raised $53 toward the erection of an edifice that will gi ve prestige and credit to our be loved Zion. This loss caused a good many of Zion members to become de spondent and careless, thereby causing the church to lag and the pastor to suf fer. We therefore appeal to you in the name of God and Zion to aid us in our struggle. I am enduring the hardships and pi ivations, as a soldier, to make it pleasa it for some of you pastors to fol low m i, be at ease and get your support. All I i sk of you is to earnestly make the appea and raise us a few dollars or what you can for the furtherance of this w ell-begun work, and let us build a monument to Zion in this proud town whose church Spires point heavenward and siy Zion shall not succeed. Shall we hs.ul in our flag, tuck our head and say tl'at Zion is to« poor ? God forbid! What aver may be sent will be thankful ly received, receipted for and acknowl edged before the public. Please d® what you can on or before the second Sunday in July, 1897. Send all contri butions to my address. No lover of Zion vill refuse to hear the cry. Yours for God and Zion, Rev. D. C. Baum, Box 20. Winnsboro, S. C. N. B. Please write me a card as what amou nt I may expect of you, so I may knov how to make arrangements. To ministers of the Palmetto Confer ence, please read resolutions (in refer ence to Jthis point) in conference min utes, pages 43 and 44, and act at once. Youi time is past. Please don’t delay long ;r. OBSERVATIONS. BY WILLIAM MCBURLEIGH PBOVINDER. II is June! the smiling, dancing sunny month of June; into whose lap, pleasant, departing May dropped innumerable sweet-breathed flowers It if>not very likely that yery manj pernons regret the coming of the hap py iSnmmer-time. Certainly not thal vast number of men and women— boys and girls—young men and maid ens—instructors and instructed-, who have for nine months arduously worked with books in crowded school rooms. J am of the opinion that the; at least are very glad. - With then the “now" is vacation. They leav< for a time blackboards and desks, etc. Thjy will rest—^rest from their la boiB? And is there anything mon pleasing than resting from exacting lators? But while these many are gladly swaetly, joyously resting, vaster num be rs will be, of necessity toiling anc toiling; and many of these without proper pay. I had almost said hope lessly. They are the Btrong pillars on which stands our social structure. They are sturdy and patient and re liable. A high Christian considera tion is due them all. I was reading a while since of a number of “Farmers’ Conferences,” held by notable schools for Negroes, in some sister states. I am delighted to know that they were all prolific of good results. Educated farmers! Even the words are beautiful in print; and the speaking of them is musical. Farmers highly intelligent, wide-awake, capable of managing well their own affairs—farmers read ing agricultural journals, studying and understanding the soils and lands, rotation of crops, etc., farmers read ing and writing and thinking and voting intelligently; such farmers as these are prosperous producers of wealth and happiness, and are the strength and grandeur of permanent governments. Let the blessed work of making such farmers go steadily and lasting ly onward. And perhaps for us at least, the deadly crowding into towns and cities will cease, and our fright ful death-rate no longer alarm us. If the numerous reports, written and verbal, are true, the great num ber of schools in the land have had most successful sessions and closings. That is most encouraging. Every thing that the schools and educational agencies can do to make men and women better and wiser, is necessary. The brighter and better the citizenry, the sweeter and more happy will be homes, grander and more blessed the phurch, and stronger and more pro gressive the state. The late commencements of the State Normal school here, and Liv ingstone College were among the most notable in their histories. The two institutions are doing very ex cellent work, and are preparing to accomplish very much more. They 'are of inestimable good to this com munity ; and I say nothing of what they have done and are still doing for the states through the persons whom they have graduated. Salisbury, N. 0. NOT RIGHT. The South Mississippi conference has held six annual sessions and fails each year to get out minutes. What is the hindrance? We raise about $60 from the public, more than enough to print minutes, but the presiding elder, for a good name, and one or two men, come together and pay to the secretaries and com piler from one to fifteen dollars and then one of them jumps up and moves that each pastor raise in 30 days $1.00 and give it to his presiding elder for minutes. The presiding elder gets about one-half of his pastors to pay the one dollar; the other half do nothing; and this ends the minute question. Some of the pastors would say something, but the presid ing elder promises if they kick against anything he does, he will fix them when he goes in the bishop’s cabinet. Says he will send them back home to mash clods. My friends, there is too much un derground work done. I asked a member the other day for 10 cents to pay on publishing minutes and he said that he was tired giving every year and then not see any minutes. He refused. Look from Memphis to New Orleans and right down the Mississippi river: you can’t find a Zion church. Why? Because the P. E. will not go to a place for less than $10. I am the only man in the Mississippi bbttqips. J have 26 members, and my sepond year here I collepted pn general funds $12 50; received on salary, $11T.25; paid P. E. $41; raised $79.80 on building; donations, $7.25; paid pastor, $13; to tal $2701 80. We hope the bishop i yjll visit here. There are thousands of our people who have never sppn a bishop. $ev, Hugh Hamner, M. D. [If what you say abopt the prejp'c} ing elder is true, he ougnt to cgase his threats. No man, should be a presiding elder who threatens to get even with his ipep wben be gomes tp assist the bishop to ipake opt the appointments, —Editor.] THE TAMPA JDISTRICT. lots From tbo Land of Flowers—Suc cess of the Work. VBY BEV. J. N. CL :NTON, A.. B., P. E. The South Florida Annual Confer ence, set off from she Florida Con ference during the administration of Bishop Lomax, has begun her seventh year under Bishop C. R. Harris, D. D. Although this conference is classed as entirely a missionary Con ference, yet she far excels the mother conference in raining Connectional claims and building churches. Bishop Lomax, t ie pioneer Bishop of South Florida, still lives in the hearts and memory of our people and is talked of much as the working Bishop of Zion. But the indefatigable Bishop Harps, who would, if possible, have a college buijt and operated in every conference in Zion, and who can think out and lay more, plans for in dustrial education i n one day than can be executed in a century, breaks the record of all predecessors in Florida. He has visited, mo 'e churches in the State in two wee rs than all other Bishops in as many years. In the vicinity of Phosphate Mines, near Wade, Florida, the name and face of Bishop Ha rris are familiar to the hard toilers and laboring men who love to worship in Zion. On the little Alafia ai.d at Ft. Meade and Homeland as well as along the banks of the beautiful Alachua Lake, the dear Bishop and the mission preacher could be seen wending their way to some little backwoods chapel where never the foot of h Bishop had trod; while women and children looked and wondered an they saw for the first time a living active Zion Bishop. Bishop Harris eaisily makes friends with every one whom he meets, white or cblored, and h s lectures and ser mons are still spoken of in highest praise by all who have heard him. It demonstrates most clearly that with a fair measure of health and strength, the Bishop is particularly fitted and best adapted to build up this Florida work. 1UC JJlOllUjJ U.lULiC LU Ultf UUUtU Florida Conference unfavorably im pressed with the character and ability of the Florida mi listers; made so, no doubt, by the aiundant correspon dence had with some whose object it was to ingratiate themselves into the confidence and alfections of the Bish op to the detrimc nt of the work and the prejudice of others. Hence, an army of transfers had about-faced, and looked toward the South, es pecially the'land of flowers, with their gospel guns loaded and ready to follow in the wake of the Bishop at his behest. But did they come? Why did they rot come? We cer tainly need strong, able, intelligent Zion ministers in Florida; men who can organize societies, build churches and support themselves by teaching school or otherwise, while planting Zion in this broad land of ours, We need good men, God-called men, willing to make a sacrifice of time, intellect, moiiey and labor to plant Zion in this truly missionary field, as we are doing, in a State the fairest of all in the sisterhood of states. That 'the opinion of the Bishop as to the; ability and zeal of the Florida boy s has been decidedly changed, v/e judge from the fact that he has doubled our assessment with a reasonable e* pectation that the amount asseasj^ will be raised; said amount being fully 50 cents for each member of every church in the bounds of our conference. We will raise it without a doubt and will claim a place in this respect by the side of the Philadelph a and Baltimore and New England annual Conferences. The Fampa district of South Flori da A-ueual Conference is in a good spiritual condition- Mapy of the churcheB are having spiritual awakenings. There have been ac cessions to the churches and the financial work of the ministers is most flattering. Rev. R. R. Frederick, at gissimmee, fla., ig doing r ipely, having organized both a junior and senior V. 0. E. So ciety in his pbqrch. Rev. Frederick having foee# apPft^nke4 to preach the annual Christian Endeavor sermon at the district conference, Snnday gchool and y, C. $>• convention to it> will be stimulated and materially advanced. Rev. Wiley We.lker, pastor at Alafia and Homeland mission, is doing a splendid work this year. A fine new edifice will be built at Home land and the church at Alafia, will be remodeled and beautified. Sister Arnold, one of the oldest Zionites on' the Alafia with her husband, is a tower of strength tc Rev. (Walker in rapidly pushing forward his church wotk at this place. Rev. L. G. Brook ns, lately trans fejred from the Tennessee conference, has caught the spir.t of the Florida boys and is doing remarkably well at Bartow, Fla. He will be one of the teachers employed in the city public school this fill, should he be successful in passing in the June ex aminations. He has organized a miesion in East Bartow and is meeting with success. Thene are the kind of transfers Florida oeeds. All who come to assist us in building up and spreading Zion are thrice welcome. All others need not apply. Rev. A. Jackson at Myers, Fia., writes us that he has organized a Varick C. E. Society, established and set up an Odd Fel ow’s Lodge, and with these forces e cpects to build a church for Zipn in the very near future. We shallot: with you, Brother Jackson, immediately after our dis trict conference an 1 see why we can’t organize a society under Zion’s ban ner with the necestiary complement of officers to hold the property you pro pose to erect for Z on. Rev. W. J. Sanders at Tampa, Fla., is wide-awake and hard at work on the completion of the newly erected parsonage. Rev. danders 4has saved already this year to the trustees twenty five dollars which heretofore was paid for rent of parsonage. By the assistance of that zealous and in dustrious local preacher, Brother G. W. Lucky, Rev. Sanders will erect very soon, a fine new belfry to his chuiich, reaching sixty feet from the ground and measv ring twelve by fif teen feet at the base. Rev. Sanders is an original Florida Zionite and is Rev. S. W. Cunningham, the pas tor of SimmoDS Hammock and Pl^nt City circuit, is now called the South Florida “Revivalist.” The great revival-just closed at Seffner, Fla., was crowned with'abundant and un precedented succf ss. Bethel church and the Baptists claimed many ac cessions on account of this revival, but Zion received the major portion of the converts. Such a spiritual awakening the people say was never known at Simmons Hammock before. Rev. Cunningham has organized;, at Lakeland, Fla., and visits his people one Sunday in each month and through the weeb when' convenient. He is determined, to build a church by the next annual conference at Lakeland. Bishop Harris seems to have awakened rew life and inspired our Florida ministers to new hope and greater zeal than ever before. All of them are meeting with reason ble success. Dr. G. W. Maize at Key West, Florida, is decidedly in the lead of all other denominations at this place. He has already raised and paid one hundred dollars on the principal debt and pays all current expenses as they become due. The Sunday-school has been reorganized under the newly elected superintendent, Brother Mur ry, and with Mrs. M* A. Bryant at the head of his able and effioient corps of teaoher^ Zion Sunday-school is the model school of the Island. It is very amusing to see how every other school waits to see what Zion will do on Ehster and Children’s Days an4 now that the Y* C. E. Society ia_ organised, what will the other churphes do? '(‘Let Zion's . watphpaen all awake and take the] alarm they give,” etc. Rev. Dr. G. W. Maize sells the Stab at Key West and it goes like hot cakes. I cannot see why he doeg not order a double quantity. Let the people have our paper, especially now, since the. Editor has ceased to publish sd modi useless end personal am mg the brethren, so our religious organ, and o a majority "of its ninisters would rather ipal Ad for discussio: damaging so diegnati readers. munications from oor leading men and Bishops of our Church on live topics and matters of general inter est. We are watching Bishops Hood and Pettey and their conferences, who are demonstrating hoto nearly possi ble it is to raise 50 cents per capita General fund. Gainesville, Fla. \ ZION’S PROGRESS. This is my first article. Zion is not dead in Texas. Although our work is missionary in this State we propose to make Zion a great church. Our outlook is bright. Our preach ers should fight sin. It will occupy all of our lime doing so. This world must be brought to God. I am a trueZionite. Kev. J. W. Whiting, P. E. Baileyville, Texas. Rev. J. T. Matthews who was sent to us last December from the Genes - see conference by Bishop Walters understands how to work for God and Zion. He is indeed a gospel minis ter and an all-round man. In the six months he has been here he has remodelled the church which is now the finest little church here. He teaches the members that they must be loyal to the general and local church. He is the right man for us. Norfolk, Va. A. F. Gusson. Bishop C. R. Harris looked well and acted wisely when he sent us as pastor Rev. S. M. Charles who is a power in the pulpit and a good Sab bath-school worker. His revival resulted in 35 conversions and sever al additions to the church. Our Pre siding Elder T. F. H. Blackmau "of Tennessee is a Paul in the ministry. Our pastor’p wife is a great help to him in church work. Mr. Editor, the Stab is a fine paper. I love it because it is a Negro paper. This is my first article. * Mary E. Burgin. The appointment of Rev. R. 6. Smith is proving a success. Rev. J. Hooper, our presiding elder, is well beloved and a convincing preacher. His quarterly meetings held here are grand. Resolutions of condolence relative to the death of Brother John Wilier of Best chapel, and brother Geo. Jones of St. Jamesjehurch, were read showing great sympathy for the bereaved and ordered to be printed in the Stab. Whereas, it has pleased our heavenly Parent to take from our ranks Brothers John Willer'and Geo. Jones, resolved that this quarterly conference and said churohes bow in submission, and that we extend to the families our sympathy. Signed: E. W. Fields, John Richardson, Thos. 0. White, Larry Simmons, H. S. Kemp, Jane Fields, Rev. R. G. Smith, pastor, and Rev. J. Hooper, P. E. Pollochmlle, N. C. This is a mission point which I have in Albermarle. Notwithstand ing all the disadvantages surrounding us, Zion here is coming to the front. We are ereoting a building for the Lord which will be a credit to Zion. We have a small membership, but they are up and at work. It would be well for the OenneotioB to help this point. We had a splendid quar ter in February. The Lord stepped into His chariot and rede into our midst, I do net think that the Cen tral North Carolina Conference has a circuit or station that can beat such quarterly meetings as we have. While I was looking for my Presiding Eld er J. H. Mattocks, in stepped the young hero, Rev. S. J, Hargrave, A. M. The Presiding Rider was siok and could not came. On the Sabbath he preaohed on, ‘.‘And there earns a leper to Him be seeching Him.” His.sermon was log ical and well seasoned with grace, I have a growing Sab.hath-sehool. The Ladies ${, and P. Missionary So ciety is still at work. At 7 p. m. Rev. Hargrave preached on, “4nd there was war in heaven." He got on one qf bis spiritual horses and car ried us into glory in our imagination and pictured out to ua Lugger and the army of rebellious angels fighting against God; how God sent Hia Son to hurl him out of heaven, etc. It was a great sermon, well delivered. DOTS FK02IE_ ALABAMA. Third North Alabama District Coming To The Front. BY BEV. S. P. COLLINS, P. E. Our district is coming to the front. Rev. A, J. Warner, the “Swamp Air geJ,” is pastor at Birmingham. He is burning the ground all around him, and robbed the devil of many souls before !ae went to the Bishops’ meet ing and since he returned. Rt. Rev. J. B. Small, D. D., came to this dis trict and preached soul-stirring ser mons in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. They were the hind to take deep root and bear good fruit in every sin ner’s mind. They were full of con solation for every heart that bleeds; full of invitation to Christ and not to creeds. Rev. Warner is preparing for a rally to raise a thousand dollars in June. The church is in a gospel blaze. Tuscaloosa, Rev. T. H. Tipton, pas tor. He is a son of thunder and has made great improvements on the church and parsonage. They do not look like the same places. He h a good financier and expects to make a fine report on all Connectional claims next conference. He is a transfer ; this is his first year and his people love h.m. He is preparing for a rally to raiso five hundred dollars to pay off the debt of the church. Jerusalem circuit, Rev. T. R. Gaines, pastor. He is the coming young man in "Zion, surpassing his last year’s record. He has paid off the debt of the new church he built last year. Little Center is collecting general funds monthly and pays the presiding elder nicely. This is his fifth year and the people say they want him five years longer. Jasper circuit, Rev. N. R. Rhodes, pastor. He is a sky-rocket preacher and singer. He has ceiled the church, paid off the debt, has his work in good shape, and has taken in some 30 members. All the people of the -a little town seem to love him. He % will make a good financial report this year ; much better than year. Castle Hill circuit, Rev. George Bolling, pastor. This is his first year and he is working hard to bring his churches to the front. He is a Chris tian gentleman. -L>aji*a uuapei circuit, nev% A. U. Cornelius, pastor. He is working hard to make a success. He has a noble people who own land generally and are doing well. His peopTg lore him. Woodstock circuit, Rev. R. Steel, pastor. The church here is under a mortgage, the membership is small, and the pastor is having a hard time. I don't know how we will get out. He is doing all he can to save the church and he has suffered this year in this poor place. Bessemer circuit, Rev. Paul, Brim age, pastor. He is trying to build a new church at Bessemer. I think he will succeed. This is his first year and he is doing well. Woodlawn circuit, Rev. T. H. Jones, pastor. The church here is under a mortgage, the membership is small, and the pastor is having a hard time. I* don’t know how we will get out. He is doing all he can to save the church and has suffered this year in this poor place. Payette circuit, Rev. A. A, Wil liams, pastor. He found this work in a had condition. When he was appointed to it in December last he went to work in earnest and repaired the church at Fayette and bought lumber to build a new church at Da vis Creek and finished the church at Berry's station. Rev. Williams is 63 years old but still in the ring. East Birmingham, Rev. J. A. Walls, pastor. This is his first appointment. He is doing good work, has a fine Sabbath*school and the ohuroh is growing nicely. West Tuscaloosa mission, Rev. I. Fluellen, pastor. He is rnnning & revival and having quite a success. North Birmingham, Rev. L. H. Hurst, pastor. He is doing all he can to make improvement In his mission. Mt. Nebo circuit is moving along nicely, and we are determined to help take the world for Christ. The people here are very kind to us, having reBently banquetted ue, ; us one hundred pounds of A.D,J
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 1, 1897, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75