Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / Nov. 10, 1898, edition 1 / Page 2
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
DOUGLASS MEMORIAL CHURCH AND PASTOR. -V BY BISHOP GEO. W.\ CLINTON, D. D. Mr. Editor: Your many read ers have heard of this church and pastor before in these columns; but there are features about them worthy of special note to which I wish to devote this article. Through jthe kind and urgent so licitation of Elder Corrothers, it was my privilege to spend several days in Elmira, embracing the; lat ter part of August and the first of September. This was my third visit. Whoever goes to Elmira once will be delighted to return, if his lot be cast among such friends as I have met upon each of my three visits. me great, cnanges wmcn nave taken place since I first visited Elmira during the pastorate of that grand and good man, Elder M. H. Ross, and my former rela tions with Elder Corrothers, when he was but a youth in South Caro lina, caused me to make a study of the man and a close observation of his work. The observations made and the information gained have prompted these lines which I hope may prove a stimulus and inspira tion to others of our brethren who are striving to build up Zion in different parts of the land. When I first visited Elmira, Zion’s forces were worshipping in a small frame church near the A. M. E. church, and raising money to purchase another lot elsewhere. Instead of that frame structure and upon the same spot Zion now has an elegant and imposing brick church, with modern improve ments, well furnished and finished, having piore than double the seat ing capacity of the old church. This change has been wrought in three years under the pastorate of Rev. Corrothers. This splendid church bears the name of the la mented | race-leader and champion of human rights, the ate Hon. Frederick Douglass. Every one who sees the building and who knew the great man in whose hon or it was named, will say that this is a fitting monument to a noble The structure is but part of the achievements of Rev. Oorrothers. The membership which has al ways had some of the best people of Western New York in its make up, was small, and laboring \yider many disadvantages. The origi nal Zion church across on another corner, used by another denomina tion, was seemingly more prosper ous, and the death of DrL J. P. Thompson so soon after taking chargej and other hindrances dating back nearly a quarter cf a century or more, made the work a task of no small proportions. With these difficulties confronting him, Elder Coi’rothers went there as Bishop Walters’ appointee and took up the work. Thajt small membership has been more than trebled, while the church has become one of the most potent spiritual factors of the city. Hundreds of persons have found this ddifice to be none other than the house of God, the gate of heav en to their souls. These have not been confined to people of Negro extraction, nor to persons re garded as common peo [>le. Every phase and department of the church and its work have gone forward along the most healthy and substantial lines of progress. Elder Corrothers has also or ganized a promising little society at Horseheads where he has a small membership and flourishing Sunday-school. You ask how was this done?0 Did the pastor do it all? I answer the latter question in the negative. But to the form er I would say that a strong young leader who had faith in his God, faith in his people, and faith in himself was the master force which planned and largely executed the work which brought forth the grand achievements I have nar rated. I have known Elder Cor rothers from his boyhood. I re member his first effort to join the South Carolina Conference and his failure; and how he was encour aged by another young man and told not to give up, but to study, pray and work and come again. He heeded the advice given and went to the next Conference with two flourishing small societies, one of which was organized during the year, and would have grown into a strong church second to none in the State but for the failure of some one to recognize the young man’s worth and grasp the golden opportunity. Elder Corrothers is a man of limited educational acquirements, so far as the school and early training go; but he is a man of broad information obtained from hard study, extensive reading and constant association with men of culture and piety. He is deeply spiritual and intensely earnest. The Bible is his chief text book and vade mecum. When he takes charge of a church, he feels that he sustains a certain relation to the entire community, colored and white, and he labors in a way that all who come in contact with his work are made to enter into sympathy in a greater or less degree with his plans. This has been de monstrated South as well as North. He believes in live, practical and consistent methods of church work in harmony with the teachings and precepts of the Bible and old time Methodist customs. He dis cards anything bordering on the frivolous or worldly in Christian work, and tells his people that God is able, and will carry on His work to a glorious and triumphant success, even with a few, who adopt proper plans and stick to purely Christian methods. He opposes extravagance among his people on all lines, preaches against all frivolities, useless ex cursions, laxity in morals and Sabbath observance; but urges the people to be thrifty, economical, secure property, lay up something .in the way of a bank account and educate their children to the full est extent of their ability and op portunity. He gives the precept along these lines and sets the ex If called upon to epitomize my opinion as to the causes which make Elder Corrothers a success ful pastor and a strong religious factor in any community where he labors, I would give the following: (1) A man who is sound in his re ligious convictions and unwaver ing in his faith in the God of the Bible. (2) A man of high moral character, intense earnestness and a firm believer in the practice and efficacy of prayer. (3) A man who believes that the Church and the Christian religion are the most po tent forces in the world, and that all victories for good and God must be fought and won along the lines which these represent. (4:) A man of great faith} in himself as a man and servant of1 God, believ ing that he has a mission for and under God and cannot fail as long a§ God is with him!. (5) A man while opposed to extravagance in any form, yet believes that Christians should be models in all that is tidy in person and comely ] in apparel both at home and abroad. He fully illustrates this in his own life and example. (6) A man of great courage, and one who hesitates not toi present what he believes to a righteous and just claim to every pan whom he beleves to be able to as^st him in any way. As a rule he generally succeeds in making substantial friends among those who are best able to give him material aid; and he gen erally proves that such aid is wise ly bestowed. Through his efforts Zion Church and the Negro citi zenship of Elmira; N. Y., now have a standing nejver before en joyed. He is a power on his knees and a preacher of force and effectiveness, whosje sermons are always spiritual and practical. His home is a model one with an amiable wife and three children that make the home circle a place where not only the father, but all good people may find the lines fall ing upon them in a pleasant and congenial place. IN ITHACA. During the visit to Elmira, I spent two weeks at Ithaca, the guest of Rev. W. A. Fitch and es timable wife. It was a pleasure to meet our Educational Secretary and his admirable wife, each of whom contributed:: much to the happiness of myj stay. Elder Fitch, the pastor of Zion’s forces in the cultured city of Ithaca where Zion has a beautiful and strong church, is t-he right man in the proper place.] He is one of our most promising young men, a preacher of milch power, and a faithful pastor who always suc ceeds and builds. Dr. Wheeler is at the work for Which he is espe cially fitted in the presiding elder ship. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman and others were among those who placed me under special obligations to them while at Ithaca. Charlotte, N. C. points of Interest, i BY MACK C. ALEXANDER. We as Methodists are very strong in this section. Zjon1| flag is float ing as no other 0ag could do as long as a Zionite can. keep his bal ance. We are striving to lift our race in every way possible, and have to stop occasionally in our onward march of success and dis miss some of out number of the household of faith because they are so prone to efril. Remember that a stranger can do no harm to a. man who is at home. . O, that some people would learn to let o-;her people’s af fairs alone, and not meddle what does not meddle them. They would be happie r and wiser. Van Wyck, S. C. Rev. N.E.George,Georgians, Ala., says it seems as if the white people will never stop lynching Negroes; that a colored man was lynched near him September 24th. Rev. George must not be discour aged, for lynch law will be put down some day even if the Negro has to put it down. SILVER WEDDING. MANY FRIENDS CONGRATULATE BISH OP AND MRS. SMALL. Among the prominent social events in this city this season was that tendered Bishop and Mrs. J. B. Small last evening at their res idence, No. 5:56 East King Street, in honor of the twenty-fifth anni versary of their married life. The spacious parlor on the first floor, which for the occasion was converted into a reception hall, was elaborately and artistically decorated with a profusion of state ly palms and rare potted plants. The guests comprised a large nunr ber of Bishop and Mrs. Small’s friends, resident in this city, with a goodly sprinkling from abroad. The Woman's Christian Temper ance Union of York, of which Mrs. Small is an honored, consistent and zealous member, attended in a body. The vocal and instrumental numbers of the programme were among the pleasing features of the evening. Refreshments were served under the supervision of that prince of caterers, J. G. M. Brown. Bishop and Mrs. Small were the rec ipients of a large num ber of rare and costly silver sou venirs, tokens of the high esteem in which they are held in the commu nity in which they have for a number of years resided. The anniversary programme opened with a wedding march, by Miss Stella Tann, followed by prayer by Rev. Dr. Hubert pastor of Bethel A. M. E. church, after which Rev. W. H. Marshall, of Harrisburg, read an original poem dedicated to Bishop and Mrs. Small. The topic “Bishop Small as a pastor and preacher” was discussed by Rev. Clinton D. Hazel, of Pat erson, New Jersey. He spoke of the qualifications, duties and high responsibilities of the successful rvnolnv onrl v\i'OQor A rrnr\rl noc_ -- — I tor, said he, is a man of deep piety, for piety is the life and soul of pas toral fidelity. Again he should be a man of good nature and acquired ability anrt possessed of a judgment sound and reliable. All these traits and others not here enumer ated are embodied in Bishop J. B. Small. As a pastor his piety can not be questioned. His natural and acquired ability; his early ed ucation; his years of experience and natural judgment; his council to those who come under his sup ervision; his prudence in dealing with perplexing problems and the courage he demonstrated during the thirty years of his Christian ministry, place him in the front rank of successful pastors. These qualifications so well known in the Church gave him recognition and to its credit elevated him to the po sition of it 3 chief pastor. The nex t topic, “Bishop Small as a husband and lover of home,” by Rev. I*. J. McEntosh, D. D., pastor of A. M. E. Zion church, was a most happy resume of Bish op Small’3 noble Christian char acter as exemplified in his every day home life. Miss Ella J. Robinson responded to the topic “Rev. Mary J. Small as a youth and young woman,” giving in detail the successive steps that led to her conversion and sub sequent worth to the church and the world at large. Bishop Small in dosing spoke of the past twenty-five years as being the brightest in all his life; and \a how in truth Mrs. Small had been to him a wife and helpmeet, con tributing in no small measure to his success in life. Bishop Small has won the name of a Christian gentleman, is a brilliant penman, an accomplished poet, alnd reads several languages. Bishop and Mrs. Small leave on Friday evening for Mobile, Ala bama, where the anniversary in augurated last night will be con cluded on the evening of Novem ber 2nd, in State Street A. M. E. Zion church. They will be accom panied by their daughter, Miss Julia L. Small.—York {Pa.) Daily. PROUD OF HIM. BY MEMBER. Presiding Elder S. fc. Birch more held the first quarterly con ference for this year here July 26th, and was much pleased with the many improvements which had taken place since the new pastor Rev. J. H. Young had been with us. The church is greatly pleased with him. He is already popular with colored and white here. We are pleased with his excellent wife. At the quarterly conference the treasurer reported received from all sources the first quarter $58.00. A C. E. society has been organ ized, and we have a new choir of nine voices with Mr. Elijah Aus tin as chorister. It is already a great attraction to the church. Bishop Hood and wife made us a brief visit not long ago, and we all enjoyed them with us. The church has received a new coat of paint since Elder Young has been with us; in fact, he so licited the money for paint and put it on himself with very little help from any one. He also built a nice kitchen, a room which we needed very much. In years that the church here we never before pastor to do such woi is not a successful year will not be his fault. Great Barrington, Mass. the twelve has stood lad such a k. If this with us it WHAT JESUS IS ABLE TO DO. BY REV. T. H. SCOTT. Able even to subdue all things unto Himself. Phil 3:21. Able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always hav ing all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. II Cor. 9:8. Able to keep you from falling,^ and to present your faultless be- y fore the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. Jude 1:24. Able to succor (re ieve effect ually) them that, are tempted. Heb. 2:18. Able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him. Heb. 7:25. Able also to perform what he has promised. Rom. 4 21. Able to make him sjtand. Rom. 14:4. Able to keep that which 1 have committed unto Him. tl Tim. 1:12. Able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32. Able to doexceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. Eph. 3:20. Believe ye that I am able to do this. Matt. 9:28. Middletown, Pa.
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 10, 1898, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75