Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / Sept. 29, 1898, edition 1 / Page 6
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ODDS AND ENDS. i THINGS WHICH HAD BETTER BE ( CONSIDERED. BY REY. J. H. MCMULLEN Our good friend Fonvielle has put every thoughtful reader of the Star t o thinking along lines which the Church would do well to consider, by calling atteation to the fact that our laymen are not recognized in the distribution of positions in the gift ol the Church as they should be ; and Rev. George B. Walker, of Ken r tucky, suggests to Brother Fon f vielle that not only are the laymen of the Church ignored in these things but that the ministers who were born and raised up in Zion, made it what it is, are constantly set aside for the interlopers from oth er denominations whom the Bish ops bring in and give the fat of the land. As Prof. Fonvielle stated, I fear this is only too true. What is the result? This: There is not a col ored denomination of worshippers possibly in America which lias so many churches bordering on dis loyalty—not willing to be gov erned by the rulers of the C lurch —as Zion. Name every one of these churches if you can, and four out of every five have in time been pastored by some of these preach ers coming from other Churches to Zion. No minister leaves a Clurch where he is doing well and nit un der a cloud of some sort, to go into another unless he has truly outgrown the Church tenets or creed. And with colored minis ters all believe about the same creed. Therefore when one chang es from one to the other denom nations; he either desired tc have his own way where he was or he sees that he had better get away before he is expelled. Our Bishbps think they a :e do ing big things by taking them in; * and in they come and on they go to our best churches. What fol lows? This unruly fellow know ing nothing about our Church law goes on disregarding the law and telling the people how suci and such a Church does, and soon you have a Church which says “We don’t believe in taxation; we don’t believe this and that, and we will not do it. The bishops want too much. It’s all the time money, money.” All this has come about by allowing these interlopers to come in and imbed themsel res in the minds of our strongest churches. There is only one of two things true. To receive them is either an acknowledgement that our own men are inferior, or that there is no regard whatever paid to char acter, the latter too often being only too true. At this writi ng, in our leading churches representing the different sections of our coun try with but one notable exception —Mother Zion, New York—new and strange pastors fill our pulpits who have only recently left some other Church because they either had to do so, or because they were disposed to have their owr way. How long, O Zion! how long shall this be? No other denomination does this; but as upon the wom an ordination question we lead even if everybody else criticises us. * * * * It appears to me that there are some articles or rather some as sertions made by some persons— aotably the one by Rev. E. Geo. Biddle—which disgrace the pages of our Church organ and reflect ] upon the sense of our Church. If ever an article was written which emanated from the brain of a crank—such as the one who assas sinated the Empress of Russia—It must have had in it just the senti ment encouched in Rev. Biddle’s article. If such talk or writings characterize a sanctified and holy man, it is very fortunate for Chris tianity that there are but few holy men. Let us all conclude hereafter to use chaste language in the expres sion of our thought. The contro versy between Rev. W. H. Snow den, P. E., and Dr. John E. Price on one side, and Bishop J. W. Hood, D. D., on the other, is the style of writing the Star needs. Well, says one, ‘‘Consistency is a jewel.” Alright, did I not say let “us” “hereafter” write clean arti cles?, I am included in “us.” Where is your argument, brother ? I love the title given me by the head of the Church, “Young Mas ter.” The master must give or ders. See? I am with you, Brother Fonvielle. Harrisburg, Pa. MR. DANCY WANTED. ' Hon. John C. Dancy delivered the annual address at the opening of the Colored Fair at Rock Hill, S. C., last October. Some of the best white men have asked that Mr. Dancy be requested to come and address us again this year. They believe that he is the finest Negro speaker that ever came to that town. The whites say that the effect of his speech is still felt there, as it has brought about a better relation between the whites and blacks. He will be invited to come. The friends everywhere will leave nothing undone to make the Fair a grand success. All kinds of mechanical and agricul tural products will be displayed. The dates of the Fair are October 25, 26, 27 and 28, 1898. All en tries must be made October 25. Reduced rates on all roads. Hope to have fine representation from Charlotte and other cities.—M. D. Lee, President, Lancaster, S. C. BRIEF NEWS. BT REV. W. S. COOPER. We were favored with the pres ence of Bishop G. W. Clinton Ju ly 31st. We had a splendid au dience. His address to the Sun day-school was timely. At 11 o’clock he preached a masterly sermon from Gal. 6 :7. He has been justly styled the “silver tongued pulpit orator,” and the impression made is simply phenom enal. At the close of the sermon 6 persons came forward and united with the church. And a collection of $2.55 was raised. We hastily devoured the good things brought out by the kind sisters at Pope and were then driv en in the direction of the Court land church where the Bishop was slated to preach at 3 p. m. Here we were greeted by the pastor, Rev. L. D. Jones. The Bishop preached to a dense audienice. His sermons are all practical and never fail to impress the people. One member joined the church and more than $6 00 was raised. The Bishop says he is much impressed with my work. Courtland, Miss. ZION SAFE. N THE HANDS OF HER GENERAL OFFICERS. — REV. W. W. MATTHEWS. Zion, the great Church in which [ was born and cradled, has ever been my choice. For every effect there must be a cause. Well, the firs: cause of this effect of choice with me is quite natural to illustrate. Every boy that has a principle according to that of humanity has within him a superior degree of parental af fection for his mother in prefer ence of any one. It is because she is his mother, the one who gave to him birth. She always cares for her own son as no one else would likely do; hence, her influ ence over him stands supreme. The<? same that is true; of mother and son in this case is also true of Zion and myself. There is still another effect not only binding me so closely to this grand Church, but also making the most wonderful impressions upon the entire world It is Zi on’s present system of government and Church polity, and the great progress she is now making. Do you realize how this progress goes on so nicely? I do. Her several interests have been for several years been and are to-day placed in the hands of trustworthy men with tact and ability. They are such men as Dr. W. H. Day, Zion’s general secretary, and Dr. J. W. Alstork, her general stew ard. These two men who have been standing at the head of the financial department cjf the Con nection for years ha\fe by their honest and fair dealing with the Church done honor to themselves and won the highest respect of the whole Connection. So I can say every night, “Now I lay me down to sleep,’’ for title financies of Zion are safe in the hands of these two generals. The next department is the Publishing House, the Varick three story brick building in Charlotte, N. C. This department has gained glory and independence by the wise and able nianagement of Doctors G. L. Blackwell and J. W. Smith. The last General Con ference on sending out these two commanding generals placed upon them no greater restr iction, as I so understand it, than their hon esty and good judgment, (of course no one to my knowledge ever questioned them along' this line,) and they have conquered for Zion at Charlotte as Dewey did for the United States at Manila. The American warriors ha/e with the big guns of the Navy h onored the stars of the Union flag. Smith, with many heavy strokes of his fiery pen, has made Zion’s worse adversaries honor the Star of Zion. Blackwell, with indefatig able zeal, has hoisted, the entire department so high that the high est honors come to it from all Then in the hands oil these two heads the publishing department of the Church is absolutely safe. The Quarterly Review is safe in the hands Hon. John 0. Dancy— the great layman. The Book Concern in New York City, now under the’ agency of Rev. J. S. Caldwell,, is in safe hands, if not in a safe place. Zion is willing to trust tho man con nected with this department at any rate, but will talk about the “place” at the next General Con ference. 5 I The Varick Christian Endeavor Department, under the control of Rev. J. B. Colbert, A. B., has de veloped beyond 1:he expectation of his most sanguine friends. The erudite Rev. B. F. Wheel er, our Educational Secretary, is worthy of all the good that may be thrust upon him by the Con nection. Colbert and Wheeler are alright. Zion’s statistics are safe in the hands of Dr. J. H. Anderson, the greatest Negro statistician. Four among :he most talented and distinguished women of the race are carefully looking after our Woman’s Home and Foreign Mission work, namely: Mesdames K. P. Hood, M. R. Morris, S. E. C. Pettey and M. E. Harris. I cannot in detail speak of each one of our General Officers, but they all have the high respect of the Church, I believe. I am sure they have mine. But I cannot close without a word for Livingstone College, the great pride of the lamented J. C. Price, D. D., who was the great est orator and benefactor of the race. Few were his equals, none his peers, or ever will be, I am afraid. I am glad to learn that this great institution of ours is succeeding so admirably under the conduction of the faithful and learned Dr. W. H. Goler. Of course there a ways ha.ve been some doubting Thomases, and al ways will be; but thank God, Liv ingstone is safe in the hands of Dr. Goler. There are others whom I did not mention, but the future as well as the 'present is shining so brightly before us that I close by saying Zion un questionably is safe in the hands of her General Officers. Little Rock, Ark. HAVING GRAND SUCCESS. BY REV. J. E. SPRINGS. A few words about the Smith chapel circuit. 1 have had a grand revival; 35 converts,and have add ed 80 to the church. I had with me Rev. R. S. Sings, P. E., of the Augusta district, and Rev. P. B. Simpkins, who preached at my old home in Pinevil e church, where I was sent from to the South Geor gia Conference in 1896. This makes two years for me here. Last year I built a church at a cost of $600. In Zion this year I have organized a V. 0. E. Society and a good Sabbath-school. The good people of this vicinity say I have had the best meeting here since the earthquake. The white people are stirred up. I closed the,meet ing with 100 mourners. The brethren begged me not to stop, but I had been holding meeting six weeks and was broken down. Mrs. S. L. Springs, my wife, and six children are well. Look out, hoys! Hold the fort for I am coming. Jesus is leading me, and by His grace and help of the good people, I will raise all the law calls for. I am glad to see Zion alive here. If we had a* little money in the W. H. and F. M. Society to help Zion down here, she could be something. We pay to that society every year. We need more ministers down here. These people are in need of them and school teachers in Zion. I pray God the time will soon come when our Living atone students will come South. Girard, Ga. ONE’S OWN FAULTS BY C. H. WETHERBE. It seems to be a deep-seated trait of human nature to delight in the exercise of viewing the faults of other people, with two eyes wide open, while one’s own faults are mostly out of the range of one’s own vision. I know a minister who is expert at detecting the faults of every body who comes within the range of his observation. Concerning many members of his own church he says that they have but little spirituality, and of course he can not see any spirituality in the most of members of other churches, be longing to other denominations. Then* too, he quickly discovers faults in other preachers’ sermons. He says that they lack thought* they are weak in structure, they are poor in delivery. He also ob serves that nearly every Christian is selfish; whenever they do any good thing there is a selfish motive behind it. And yet it is the de cided belief of those who know the man quite well that he is ex ceedingly selfish, and also very faulty in many other respects. What he greatly needs to do is to make a daily practice of looking at his own faults, and then, in view of them, refrain from being so uncharitable towards other faulty ones. There is great meaning in the apostle’s word: “Consider thy self.” If we would keep in the habit of considering our own in firmities, how frail we are, how often we blunder, how frequently we act inconsistently, how selfish: we are, we would be more likely to be less harsh in our judgments, of others than we generally are. Of course we cannot avoid seeing faults of others; and the faults of some are more conspicuous than are the faults of others ; yet it by no means follows that we should allow^ourselves to parade the* faults of others among those in the com munity who would use those faults, against the faulty ones and dam age their influence, especially if the faulty ones be trying to live Christian lives. Indeed, even though some of the faulty ones be not Christians, but are trying to be honest and useful people, their faults should not be dwelt upon and paraded about. Such a prac tice injures the one who engages in it. Remember that if a certai n per son come to you frequently, tell ing you the faults of others, he will make a practice of telling your faults to others. Be in the good habit of speaking of the best traits of others. Holland Patent, N. Y. ■*» ■■ ..r.;T CONFERENCE STEWARDS. Conference Stewards will please not send me personal checks for general fund, as it puts me to un necessary trouble to send them back for collection, which usually takes four and six days, thereby delaying monthly payments sev eral days. It will be better to > send all money through postoffice money orders. This is the safest and quickest way; therefore send all money by postoffice money or der, and oblige, J. W. Alstork, General Steward. Montgomery, Ala.
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 29, 1898, edition 1
6
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