Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / Aug. 18, 1898, edition 1 / Page 3
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DR. DAY’S MOTHER. BY MRS. BISHOP C. C. PETTEY, [CONTINUED FROM LAST ISSUE.] Intellectually, morally and spir itually, he stands a living statue: yea, a colossal monument erected by the indomitable will, the inde fatigable energies, and Christian prayers of that sainted mother, who stamped her impress upon his youthful bro\f. Mrs. Eliza Day was a member of old John .Street church, the mother church of Methodism in this country. She belonged on the class of Stephen Dando, and was a special friend of Rev. Mel ville Cox, who was sent from John Street churcH to carry the ligat of the gospel to the Dark Continent. She often repeated his dying mes sage—“Let a thousand fall before Africa be given up.” Wheel the question of slavery and freedom was agitated in the M. E. Church, Dr. Day’s mother unequivocally supported the anti-slavery views of Rev. Orange Scott, in the Gen eral Conference at Cincinnati. Believing that a greater work in a broader field awaited her, Mrs. Day withdrew from old John Street church and joined the A. M. E. Zion Church, and as the apostles gathered around the house of Mary >■* Mark and made it a great center r for prayer-meeting, so the founders of our great Connection congregat ed at the home of Airs. Eliza Day, and made it a place for both, class and prayer-meeting. Impressed with the Christian piety and zeal of his own dear mother and the fathers of Zion who gathered around her, William Howard became a disciple of Var ick, and in early boyhood labored assiduously for the Church of his choice. It was his mother’s earn est desire that he should become a missionary abroad; but le pre ferred being a missionary at home. To know of the success achieved by him along this line, you have but to consult the history of Zion, which wrould be incomplete with out due reference to his life and ] o Krkvc 1 Dr. Day’s mother early espoused the anti-slavery cause, when it was personaliy dangerous to life, to so ally one's self. fc>he attended t nearly all of the meetings during those dark days when W illiam Lloyd Garrison was toe represen tative of the slave, aided by sucO <- men as Lewis and Arthur Tappan f and Davkjl Kuggles, the practical head of the movement and also keeper of the the anti-slavery of fice. More than once Mrs. Day came ijear being killed as missiles were hurled at the speakers upon the platform, as they advocated the freedom of the slaves. During the ten days ani nights y when the; blood-thirsty mob crazed with rage held possession of Mew < York City, the abolitionists loudly • asserted their undying devotion to the cause, which they espoused: prominent among them was Mrs. Lliza Day. As in astronomical phenomena there appear to be silent physical • agencies with which we have no p acquaintance, which give shape and guidance to these solar neighbors of great magnitude, likewise in the intellectual and moril world, there appear to be hidden forces whose amnities attect the lives of certain individuals, when by. the providence of God they are called upon to rise and lead great reforms essential to human happ: ness. 1 The true key to this silent, yet potential force is found in the un written history of the lives of the mothers of these intellectual stars. As an index of this fact, we point you to the Presidents of the Uni ted States, and the character and virtue of their Christian mothers. W^e now possess the secret of Dr. Day’s greatness, whose mother said, “Before you w*ere born, William Howard, I consecrated you to the work of the Lord.” It was this silent force of early impressions which acted as the motive power, and stimulated him to deeds of valor and'courage, be coming a heroic leader, worthy of such a mother. The greatness of Dr. Day is but the reflected wavelets of his moth er’s cherished aspirations, hopes and prayers. Newbem, JV. C. BIG AND LITTLE MEN. BY REV. R. D. DAVIS. Never before in the history of fame has there been so much said about the big man, nor has the lit tle man made himself so officious.' Looking into the face or mirror of the past, present and future dis pensations, it is clearly demon strated that every age has had its big and little men. There is a mighty stirring and hustling among the big and little men. Big men are seeking all the big offices. Of course they are right, for a big man won't tit a lit tle office. A little man in a big office looks out of place. Give some big men all the big offices and everything that's a go, and they won’t be satisfied. Adam was a big man at one time. He held all the big offices in the world and that, too, in the time of peace; but strange to say, he was not satisfied with his lot nor his share of offices. I have often asked the question, What does it take to constitute a big man i Some say a plenty of money; some,a plenty of ambition; some, ability and honors, such as A. B., A. M., D. D., LL. D., etc. If you have ail these earthly hon ors and have not Christian graces and charity, you are a little man. But if you have all the honors and also have charity you are a big man, and God, heaven and earth rejoice, and the devil and his fol lowers become angry. A big man is he whose life-work is established by Christian charac ter. There is not a better repre sentation on earth than our hon ored Board of Bishops, General Officers, ministry and laity. A little man is he whose life-work is characterized by deception, preju dice and false statements. i)r. J. M. Henderson is a little man. Bishop Walters, a true and tried representative of the A. M. E. Zion Church, overhauled Hender son exalting himself and making a false statement and held right still until Dr. J. W. Smith, the quill driving Editor of one of the lead ing journals of the age and the idolized organ of our Church, hur riedly came and knocked him dead as a door nail, and friend Cham bers, better known as “Cannon Ball,” made him rusty as iron. Belmont, JS. C. Rev. John H. Love, of Newbern, N. C-, will celebrate the anniversary of St. Peters church September 14-18. He is meeting with splendid success and is studying hard and developing into a fine preacher. TUSKEGEE (ALA.) DISTRICT. BY REV. L. B. PETERSON, P. E. My district has the appearance of a new field. It is the second district in the Alabama Confer ence, and covers the same terri tory that was occupied by the Ope lika district. Such is the progress of the district since we toak charge. Six new mission points have been established where Zion previously had none. Old houses of worship have been improved in many places, with some new ones built, while still others are making prep aration to build. Two1 new par sonages are in course of erection, one of which is so near completed that the preacher and family are iu meir comioriaoie none. Rev. D. W. Wright, Auburn, Ala., our Sunday-school worker, is progressing finely. The young men in town and country attend the Sabbath-school better now than we have seen them for years. It is to be attributed to four things: (1) to the fidelity of ,the pastor; (2) to the efficiency and deep in terest of the superintendent and teachers; (3) to the very excellent ly gotten up literature that comes to us from Zion’s Publication House at Charlotte, N. C.; (4) to an increasing desire for the floods of literal and spiritual light that pour into our Sabbath- school each week from the above named de partment. War is on hand and the times are hard, but we don’t believe that the receipts of our Easter of fering of this year will fall any behind those of last year. The Tuskegee district has the fewest appointments but she reported ahead in raising general fund in 1897, and she expects to occupy the same place in 1893. Our Star readers tender thanks to Editor J. W. Smith, D. D., for his very newsy eight-page paper. Long may the Star live and shine into every Afro-American home in the land. The ardent seeker after the in spired truth among the ministers of this district, read with great in terest and profit the discussion be tween Bishop C. C. Pettey, D. D., and Rev. Jno. A. D. Bloice on the subject of “Biblical Episcopacy.” Zion is proud of < her eminent scholars. We have completed the second round on our district, and the out look for the future is in all re spects good. Rev. B. M. Gudger, is pastor of the Tuskegee station. This is the Elder’s second year here, and he has succeeded very well. He raised more general fund last Fall than has been raised for many years. The frame part of a very desirable building for a parsonage is now standing on the church ground, as the effect of the pastor’s labor. He commenced his protracted meeting this week Vvith a very en couraging outlook for success. Rev. D. W. Wright is pastor of the Auburn station He eminent ly stands high. His great work has been mentioned, by the Bishop who called to see him a few days ago. When he called his people together last Winter to consider the matter of building a parson age we were present and were among the first to -ay down a half dollar for the purpose. Rev. Joe Goode has charge of the Notasulga circuit. He has made a very good impression on his people. He never fails to keep in remembrance that each member is due fifty cents general fund for this year, and it must be paid, or else under the law they will lose their membership. Rev. J, W. Booker is pastor of the Tallasee circuit. This is one of the leading circuits in the Ala bama Conference!, as it is com posed of some of Zion’s best peo ple. The main church of the two that form the circuit is at Tallasee, a very enterprising town. It is destined to become one of the largest cities in t ie State. Here we shall hold our ensuing district conference, October 12, 1898. This place is reached by the Mont gomery and Tallasee Railroad and by the T. I\ and W. if no other way can be found. Rev. J. W. Booker has teen given a very warm place in :he hearts of his people. Our last information of him was that he is rallying to raise money to pay off the debt that hangs over the Mount Zion church. He raised On Easter Sunday $2.15. Rev. W. M. Jacobs is in charge of the Little Zion circuit. This is his first year here and his people had gone to wmrk by the second quarterly conference and put a new suit of clothes on their pastor. Some improvements have been made on several lines. New lamps, window lights, steps to the building and a number of acces sions to the church, show up the work. We have a large and thriving Sabbath-school at this point, but we failed to get the amount for Easter offering. [continued in next issue.] AUGUSTA (GA.) DISTRICT. BY REV. R. S. SINGS, Pi E. Vox et pr eaten'ea nihil populi, vox Dei. Mount Zion station, Augusta, Ga., Rev. R. I. Apostle, pastor, is in a flourishing condition. He is doing all he can to bring his people to the light. Smith's Chapel circuit, Rev. J. E. Springs, pastor. He is a com ing young man and is carrying his people with him and is loved by them. He ha s organized a V. C. E. Society with 65 members. Green Grove circuit, Rev. N. McCollough, pastor, is moving along nicely. He lost his wife the ^8th of June. She was a true Zionite and left several children. May the Lord be with him. Mt. Double circuit, Rev. J. H. Huston, pastor. He is doing all he can to enlighten his people, and I believe he will succeed. Eullwood circuit, Rev. Mc Wharton, pastor. He is a young man and is getting along nicely. I believe he will come to the front on all lines. Dents circuit, Rev. Dent is in charge. He is a good pastor. He is caring for his peopie and has bougnt land to build a new church. All of the lumber is living on the land. NOTICE. The district conference will con vene at Green Grove, August ^4, lsyy. All of the preacners are expected to be there according to law. All local preachers expect ing to go any further in the call ing, come oe time. The Sunday scnool convention will convene witn the district conference the ^7th. Ail superintendents are re quired to bo present, and a dele gate and 75 cents is expected irom each school. Dazy boys, drag for general fund. Girard, Ga. TOPICS OF THE TIMES. BY REV. W.' H. DAVENPORT.* Those sages on “the other side of the fence” who see the wis dom of maintaining a fight be tween the only really responsible Negro organizations in the world, and who have breathed out murmurings against the Editor of the Christian Recoi'der because of his reluctance to be effusive to the detriment of the race, and have therefore questioned his Con nectional loyalty, either do not know Dr. Johnson or are mistaken as to what constitutes loyalty. If there be disloyalty in him, be has a poor way of demonstrating it to * the people to whom he may be in clined. If he is disposed to fel lowship with his neighbors, his accusers should expect him to in dicate it in some other way than by trying to knock us into the dark abyss of forgetfulness. John son is more honest than Coppin, less bitter than Henderson and Astwood, and is as loyal to Bethel as Bishop Walters is to Zion, And Bishop \\ alters has conceded sev eral things to our sister Church in the presence of his own congrega tion, whereas from the other side in the same community we have received innuendo and sneers from the Episcopal-gallery-performer, whose fame is built upon his rela tion to an ox-cart. The Zion Church has a mission to perform, and is trying to per form it. It does not envy the blusterings of profound shallow ness, and holds in utter contempt those who insinuate that the ninth commandment is useless and should therefore be nullified. Zion is not Roman Catholic. It has no vicar bishops nor archdeacons; but it is not worried over this conclusive evidence of its inferiority. It is going on in its simple and quiet way, preaching the gospel of the kingdom somewhat effectively, thereby giving disquietude and unrest to those “superiors” who are so far above us as to tie obliv ious of our existence. The Zion Church will continue in its course i of righteousness, and however strong the temptation might be to roast a heifer to celebrate a cock-fight, it will not be swerved from its proper and commendable course. Camden, N. J. THE STAR OF ZION. The Star of Zion certainly shines! Its issue of July 28th is par excellent and should be read by all of the people. Our own people would lind large en couragement in its mechanical appear ance, its literary finish, and our white fellow citizens would be compelled to rub their eyes to see whether they were trust wo thy or not. There are many tine half-tone portraits in the paper, be ginning with the handsome editor, Kev. J. W. timith, D.D., whose distinguished bearing and thoughtful countenance suggest thj| possibility of the excellent woik that he is doing for his denomina tion and his race. Dr. G. L. Blackwell, the Business Manager of the Publication House, suggest the careful business man who is making the Star shine with me chanical excellency, standing as he does behind a score of competent workmen and women of the race, many of whose faces radiate from the Star. We could write a column on this spe cial number for it is worthy. But as space will not permit, we say to our friends and patrons that a subscription to the Star of Zion would prove a paying investment. We congratulate our breth ren and rejoice with them in their emi nent success in journalism.—Charleston (S. C.) Inquirer.
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 18, 1898, edition 1
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