Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / Aug. 18, 1898, edition 1 / Page 2
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TOUSSAINT L’OUVERTURE.' A MOST REMARKABLE CHARACTER COMBINING SIMPLICITY AND MYS TERY. The Negro race is not rich in great names, measured by the stand ard by which individuals in strong er races have achieved g/eatness. But there is one great name of which it may boast with pardona ble pride—a blest heritage, an in spiration to the present and to future generations, to which they i may always point with absolute confidence in the genuineness of its greatness and its fame—Tous saint L’Ouverture. He was human, and therefore fallible; but his errors of judg ment were overshadowed by his unparall&lled successes. “In the imminent deadly breach” he was vain, self-assertive and self-reliant. He believed implicitly in the abil ity of the blacks, of whom he was a typical representative, to suc cessfully maintain their reputation for intrepid courage as soldiers and their honor as men. He was the soul of honor. Possessing the docility land gentleness o:: a lamb, he had the daring and courage o^a lion. He combined within him self the elements of the trained diplomat, the dash of the bold war rior, and the foresight and sagac ity of the experienced statesman whom questions of great pith and moment, neither appalled nor dis BY BRUCE-GRIT. mayed. tie was simp icity ana mystery combined. Up to his fiftieth y jar he had known comparatively nothing of either war or books, or civil or political government. The neces sity which called him into prom inence |and which culminated in placing his name among those of the world’s greatest heroes and statesmen, also blazed t ie way by which be was enabled to vindicate the Negro by a career of useful ness and service to black humanity oppressed which has since chal lenged the admiration of the Ne groes’ worst enemies. His unpar allelled successes in batlle, his con summate skill in attack, his scru pulous love of fairness, his keen sense of honor and his large hu manity have all conspired to disarm the Negroes’ critics and traducers and to elevate him to a commanding position among Ihe world’s greatest, noblest and pur est characters. There is something ir the history of the life of this man that places him at a disadvantage with those with whom he contended for su premacy in the struggle which resulted in the birth of a new nation. He was a slave. He was ignorant; a neophyte in the arts of war and statecraft. And hereir is the cause of the amazement a ad surprise which his skill in war and his Wis dom in peace excited among the civilized nations of the earth, f God takes the foolish things of this world to confouad the wise. The career of Toussaint L’Ouyer ture was but another example of God’s mysterious power in shap ing the destinies of a nation which was conceived and born amid the stress of war and baptized in the innocent blood of its he roic founder and sponsor. His life went out on the 27th of April, 1803, in a dun ^eon cell to which he had been consigned! by the order of Bonaparte, whose secret antipathy to the “First of the Jtflacks” is well known. On meeting the commander of the Hero, man of war which was to convey him to the castle of Joux in the East of France and to his death, he observed: “In over throwing me, yon have overthrown only the trunk of the tree of Negro liberty in St. Domingo. It will rise again from the roots, because they are many and have struck deep.” To Caffarelli Bonaparte, Aide De Camp, who was sent to him on numerous occasions while he was in Paris, to question him about a large amount of treasure he was said to have buried, the only answer that could ever be obtained from him was, “ I have lost some thing very different from such treasures as you seek.” When this disgraceful importunity was found to be in vain, he was conveyed to the Castle of Joux by the orders of Bonaparte and plunged into a dungeon whose floor was covered with water. An English historian, in speak ing of L’Ouverture, says: “ He is a remarkable instance of genius exhibiting itself in the Negro race, although, as in most other cases, having to contend with circum stances very inconducive to the free growth either of the moral qualities or the intellectual facul ties of the mind. Among the in dividuals of the African race who have distinguished themselves by intellectual achievements, Tous saint L’Ouverture is preminent; and while society is wanting for evidence of what the Negro race at large can do and become, it seems only natural to build high hopes upon such a character as that of the man who was as a Dictator and a General, the model upon which Napoleon formed himself/ who was as inclined to peace as re nowned in war, and who will ever be regarded in history, as one of the most remarkable men of an age teeming with social wonders. Every Negro schoolboy has read Wendell Phillips’ beautiful tribute to L’Ouverture, and Wordsworth’s magnificent lines: “Toussaint, the most unhappy man of Whether the whistling rustic tends his plough Within thy hearing, or tbou liest now Buried in some deep duneeon’s earless den; O miserable Chieftain, where and when Wilt thou find patience? Yet die not; do thou Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful brow; Though fallen thyself, never to rise again v Live and take comfort. Thou hast left behind Powers that will work for thee—air, earth and skies; There’s not a breathing of the common wind That will forget thee—thou hast great allies; Thy friends are exultations, agonies, A.nd love, and man’s unconquerable mind.” Albany, JV. Y. Rev. J H. MauleyD. D., who was appointed to the Old Ship A. M E. Zion church of this city about four months ago, has increased the value of the Old Ship church property over $5,000. The once dilapidated church is now one of the most beautiful edifices in the city. Never in the history of Montgomery has there ever a Negro preacher come to this city and marshalled the colored people in the right direction in so short a period of time. In the short space of four months Manley has made himself in Montgomery one of the most influential colored men in the city. His financial management of this old historic church has made for him a namq.—Montgomery {Ala.) Advertiser. IN THE WEST. A STRONG APPEAL IN BEHALF OF OUI FINE CHURCH. BY REV. W. H. GOLER, D. D. ■ — Editor Star of Zion: The Iasi copy of the Star reached me in St. Louis, Mo. I came here in July to assist Rev. 3T. W. Puryear, M. D., who was in charge of the Washington Metropolitan A. M. E. Zion church of this city. His health had been poor for some time; but it was thought that a rest for a few weeks was all that was needed to', restore him tc health. To our great surprise, however, as well as great grief, he passed away on the day of our arrival. Bishop Clinton requested me to hold the charge until a pastor could be secured fcrit. Dr. John F. Moreland has been appointed here and will enter upon the duties of pastor about the 10th. This church is a magnificent gothic structure, built of brick with stone front, measuring 50 feet by 106 feet with massive tower 60 feet high. The building is finely fin ished and tastefully furnished. It has all the modern improvements and a seating capacity of 800 on the main auditorium floor, and 370 on the galleries. There is a large vestry with class rooms and other apartments. This church was originally built by that earnest and energetic worker in Zion, the matchless re vivalist and sweet singer. Rev. J. M. Washington, who under great disadvantages and much self-de nial, purchased the ground, and marked off the dimensions for the building. It was subsequently ex tended and improved bv Rev. Dr. J. P. Thompson to its present magnificent proportions. The cost of this church jn its present im proved state was $30,000. The membership now is about four hundred. They have struggled for over six years with this heavv debt and accruing interest. Each succeeding pastor has been more or les^ successful in meeting cur rent expenses, paving: the interest and now and agra n, something on the principal, until they have reduced the main-debt to $17,500. They are now being pushed for the payment of th s amount? $5,000 must be raised within a few months to save this church to the mem bers and to the Connection. There are no better working:, or more loyal people anywhere than the members and congrega tion of this particular church; but they have been struggling for a long: time and are becoming ex hausted. The opportunities for making money are not as favora ble with them as formerly, and the creditor is urging them, to pay. Now what can be done to bring some help to this point? They must have some assistance from some quarter, if this property is to be saved to them and to the Con nection, and the assistance must be speedy. Dr. Moreland, who comes to take this charge, is very resourceful and a good financier, but he will need help in this emer gency. What means can we adopt to raise $2,000 in ninety days? Can not our home mission and church extension boards offer some relief? Or can we nob do ^something as churches and as individuals to save this property? Bishop G. W. Clinton is greatly perplexed over this matter. He has called and there has been com paratively ro response, but we must respond. We must by some means save this property. Can not our preachers be prevailed up on by those who have the over sight of them to make some sacri fice, in coming to the rescue here? The matter might be brought be fore some of our congregations who could well afford to give an after collection of from $2 to $25. Numbers of our ministers might make a contribution to this cause of from $1 to $10 or more, and thus raise in very much Jess time the $2,000 out of the $5,000 so ur gently needed. The effort on our part would be encouraging, help ful and lasting. It may be true that we all have our hands full with the debts on our churches at home, but, never theless, it is of great importance that we save this church. We must retain all we have our hands on in the West. We are behind to some extent, in this section of the country and we cannot afford to part wuth anything. Several of our Bishops are acquainted with the condition of this church, and no one of them more than Bishop Lomax, who was exceedingly pop ular as an earnest and untiring worker during his supervision of the work on this district. St. Louis, Mo. A GRAND TIME. BY M. W. DACUS. Zion here is still up and doing with such raen of God as Rev. N. H. Dacus as pastor, and Rev. T. A. Weathington, presiding elder, at its helm. The work is destined to he the greatest and most successful in all of its existence. Our third quarter has just ended. We are indeed proud of our Pre siding Elder. It must have been a divine revelation that God handed down to Bishop Lomax that cause d* him to send us Dr. Weathington and Rev. Dacus. The first thing they did when they came here, finding the church wrapped f,nd tied up in debt, and the matter put in the hands of the attorney for collection, was to call their congregation together and pledge to suffer with them till they overcame their enemies, which they did without even com plaining. We feel now that our heads are above the waves and we are marching victoriously on. Dr. Weathington gave us $18 of his assessment to help us out, and Rev. Dacus contented himself with what he could get. In the quarterly conference Rev. M. M. Rankins with the Mt. Olive circuit met with us and we had a grand time. A distinguished visitor, Eev. Elliott, D. D., of the C. M. E. Church, formerly of Tennessee, but now of Haynes ville, was with us. He delivered a fine address. Rev. Rankins re sponded to him in a lovely and Methodist ic way. Sir, I am so jubilant over Zion’s , great men and men of the race. East. West, North and South I see able sons of Ham rising out of darkness despite the potent pow ers of ignorance, prejudice and su perstition with which they have to contend. We are determined with theii aid to see that sin and ignorance are dispelled. I congratulate you and Dr. Blackwell on the improvement of the Star, It is a fact that you are the right men in the right place and we are proud of you and will do all we can to help you. Accept $1 sent you as a donation to our Church o::gan. Don’t fail to send the Star regularly. We miss its bright rays. Haynesville, Ala. WHAT ? HOW ? BY C. R. H. Dear Editor: Yesterday at a teachers’ institute, I heard soniei! thing which suggests the above v caption. The instructor was ex emplifying a review lesson in ge ography. Writing the words “What?” and “Where?” he wrote underneath each word a few names of capes, island, cities, etc. and called upon members of the institute to answer the several question, applying the hints he had given on teaching history id connection with geography. This morning, I thought similar questions might awaken the read ers of the Star somewhat as the institute was aroused by those of the teachers’ institute. I com mend them to the various district conferences and Sunday-schooL conventions, which are held in ac cordance with our Church law, and within whose province such llidti U\jUV/I1 uHow I learned to He thought it a good % j.au^ciitv 1UUWU, each reader of the Star might re solve himself into an institute with his reason as instructor, and con science as learner. Under the first word I would like to write, “Preaching.” Some years ago I asked the then Editor of the Star to get Bishops Moore,\' Jones and Hood to write a sympo sium on preach.” idea, but the suggestion was not carried out. I shall always feel that Zion has thus lost a vast amount of benefit. Let every preachc:r in Ziwi ask himself, “What is preaching How should I preach? What is the object I propose to, accomplish in every sermon ? How can I best attain that object?” If we shall be honest with ourselves, true to our Lord, and earnest in asking and answering such questions, what a rich harvest may our con gregations reap as a result of theses heart questionings ! Another word I would like tq writer 4 ‘Christian. ” It may * be' more important than the first, be cause it applies to a larger number of readers. Yet another is “Church mem ber.” The list might be extended indefinitely, but the instructor can easily stop when his object is gained, viz., intense thinking upon vital topics. So I stop. Salisbury, N. C. The Star of Zion, of last week, showed the good looking faces of nearly all the members of its force, from “devil” up, including those of several nice looking ladies. It was well done.—Africo Amer ican Presbyterian. The Star of Zion is now an eight-paze I paper, 18x13 inches and presents a mag-1 nificent appearance; the type is new, full and clear, and the paper as a whole tempts one to examine and read its col umns. It unquestionably is well edited and is Churohiological to kill. If we were disposed to criticise its contents, we would sav, it is too Churchy. Every denominational organ should sustain the bonoY.of its Connection, but so many little flings and digs do ho good. Tbe| time and labor thus spent, if employed in lifting up abroad Christianity, would be so much more profitable to the cause of Christ, and to the betterment of man. Nevertheless, the Star of Zion is one of the leading papers of our race.— Voice of Missions. [When Bishop Turner who edits the above named paper stops such fellows as Henderson :'rom slurring Zion we will quit our flings and 1 digs.—Ed.]
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Aug. 18, 1898, edition 1
2
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