THE
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AFRICAN M2THODIST
EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
Charlotte, N. C., Thursday, January 1, 1903.
Vo I XXVI
No. I
SHAKING THE Pl_UM TREE
_
Conservatism Heritage.
BY REV. E. D. W. JONES. D.D.
That 1 may be clearly understood |
and the influence of my articles
may not be steered from their in
tended course by the diplomatic
contributions of my friends with j
whom I have reasons, as directed ;
l>v God and the conscientious duty
1 owe to my Church, to differ, I
present the following:
Let no man misunderstand me
and doubt my sincerity, and God
will judge and coming years will
estimate both the righteousness
and expediency of my course.
(’onservatism does not mean how
litvle we can do, but how much we ,
c an do, and do well,safe, profitable,
if indeed our action should con ,
template the overthrow of our ,
Church system in its entirety, as at
present operated, and the result of
the change would speed the cause
of Christ and increase the powers
of the usefulness of the Church in
saving humanity, our action would j
not be the unreasonable auarchial [
revolutions of the radical, but the |
diplomacy, the wisdom of a well i
directed, yea, heaven-inspired
leader who saw the needs and con
ditions of his cause and set to work
to meet them.
it is true that our deliberation sat
our last General Conference were
conservative when we elected one
Bishop, as well as conservative at
Mobile when we elected three, not
so, however, because of the number
in either case, but because at the
times mentioned it was all that
the Church could beneficially do
with her other departments crying
for much needed and immediate
legislative provisions.
The building of the Publication
House at Charlotte for a time so
shocked the contending sentiments
of our Zion, who thought of no
greater improvement in its publi
cation interests then the continual
resuscitation of a dilapidated Book
Concern in New York by injecting
appropriations at nearly every
meeting of our Boaid of Bishops
or General Conferences, that that
intrepid, perserving, tenacious Dr.
Blackwell went on building
through blood and flame, criticism,
predilections of bankruptcy,
(backed by the far-seeing Bishop
Lomax whose conservatism as ex
lained above is doing as much as
we can and do it well, and who has
brought to Zion Connection as
much in the field of a pioneer as
any man living and developed as
much as any man dead) nearly
went to the wall before the astound
ing and startling predictions of
timid and unprogressive men.
We put more money in the Book
Concern by our conservatism dur
ing all of its years of dependent
existence,without a single murmur,
than these two giant creators dare
expend in building the Publishing
House with all manner of abuse
and suspicious allegations.
What is the historical result?
The Book Concern fostered by con
servatism as heretofore understood
as niggardly frugality is dead, and
very dead, while the Publication
House founded and nourished by
the conservatism which means ag
gressiveness with wisdom, ad
vancement with knowledge of fu
ture requirements, as necessities as
estimated by present outlooks and
circumstances—lives the pride of
the Church and the glory of the
whole race. This was indeed the
conservatism of that ranking im
mortal Dr. Price, who gave us Liv
ingstone College in its magnifi
cence, not relying upon the then
present ability of the Church to
support his mighty endeavor, but
depending with absolute faith and
foreknowledge in and of his educa
tional plant, that it would increase
the possibilities of our Zion and
send out influences whose labors
fv.id energies would by far compen- !
sate the Church for its expendi-[
tares; he built, he acted and stood
with unflinching confidence in
God and his cause amid the
schemes and scathing sarcasm of I
the General Conference at New
Berne, a Samson not to be bound
to grind out the corn but to arise
and bear away in honor the gates
of Gaza.
It is indeed painful in these days
of days of increased opportunit y,
when the very spirit of the age dic
tates a forward movement in the
Church unlike any endeavor of the
past, to see men who profess to be
the successors of the fathers, stand
in the gatewayof the Church’s prog
ress and bar her forward tenden
cy. I can well see how men of years
of toil, sacrifice and successful la
bors, and who are left by Provi
dence to care for the heritage that
they with co adjutors who have
crossed the flood made and handed
down to us, can counsel now to de
velop only what you have, and not
move from your present habita
tion, because they have indeed a
jealous and just regard that their
creations may reach the height of!
their ambitions while they live. I j
say, however, that if this same pol
icy had prevailed in the activity of
their days, Bishops Clinton, flood
and Lomax would not have driven
so furiously through the South,
Bishop Jones and Moore would not
•have rode so fearlessly through
other sections, and Zion, that now
stretches herself in proud and
sweeping array, would have been
confined to the narrow limits of
New England, Pennsylvania and
part of New York.
What I contend for is that th*e j
same policy inspiring the fathers ,
to massive undertakings in the for
mative period of our Zion, to give
us this heritage that we now enjoy,
to likewise actuate us to create
something ourselves like they did,
and give to the generations follow
ing as the result of our labors and
superior advantages a heritage to
develop and to care for. We are de
veloping what we did not plant ;for
the sake of the Church and posteri
ty let us plant something that oth
ers coming after us may find tasks
as mighty and equally as produc
tive of good.
If we are ever to take other sec
tions of this great country for Zion,
than what we now have, to say
nothing of her acquired territory
why not start in our lifetime, now,
and thus give to ages with our en
larged forces greater chances of
useful energy than what we had
when we emerged upon the field of
activity? Are we timid of the stu
pendous task that God has so
plainly placed before us? What
estimate will posterity place upon
us for our beneficence to them?Howr
will they judge our energies? We
have all to boast of in what others
have founded; we have but little
to anticipate from our own present
day exertions. &
in keeping with these views, “I
honestly and sincerely repeat that
“sink or swim, survive or perish,”
I register myself in favor of what
I formerly wrote as to the legisla
tion of the next General Confer
ence.
St. Louis, Mo.
___._
tssmn
Please Explain.
^BY REV. P. H. WILLIAMS.
In|“Searchlight Scenes,” I no
ticed that Dr. J. H. Anderson said
“The rabble in the Church has
nearly spent its force.” Are we
to understand that the loyal men
of the Church who have expressed
themselves on Connectional mat
ters, are the rabble? An expla
nation is in order, Doctor.
Ithaca, N, Y.
Recorder J. C. 'Dancy is making a
good record.—Washington Bee.
DR. W. H. GOLER’S.
flanagement of Livingstone Col
lege.
BY BISHOP J. W. HOOD, D. D. LL. D.
As President of the trustee
hoard of Livingstone College, it
may not be considered out of .place
for me to say a word respecting
President Goler’s management of
the institution.
From the beginning of the work
there, it has been my rule to make
occasional visits; beside at the
time of the annual meetings of
trustees. I have studied the prog
ress of the institution most care
fully am. ,’’i1 deep interest. There
have been times since Dr. Goler
took charge that were most trying
After the General Conference of
1896, by its unfavorable legisla
tion; at one time the college real
ized from the appropriation of six';
thousand dollars less than two j
thousand At this time had a man :
of less ability and less means been
in charge, the college would have
closed. He was compelled to take
a thousand dollars of his own
money to keep it running.
Din ing his administration he has
largely reduced the indebtedness
of the college and improved it in
every way. At the clo.-e of the
year 1901, for the first time in the
history of the institution, the
teachers were all paid in full for
the year’s salary.
1 be last session had nearly 3oO
students, and this year bids fair, to
exceed that number. The Connoc
tion ought to be proud ©f this in
stitution, and of this truly great
man at its head. The college under
his management is not only a credit
to the Connection, but to the race
as well. There it stands within the
incorporate5 limits of the city of
Salisbury. It has been there for
twenty years, and yet the Mayor
of that city said at the last com
mencement that during his admin
istration he had never had a stu
dent before him for any miscon
duct, and so far as be knew that
had been the record through all of
these years. What have those to
say to this who claim that it is a
waste of money to establish these
institutions for the education of
the Negro?
Dr. Goler is an untiring worker,
and impresses the idea of work
upon all who come in contact with
him. The students from this insti
tution go out with the impression
that they must do something.
The moral and religious tone of
the school excells any that I have
known of; it is seldom that you
meet a student there who is not a
professor of religion.
Here the co education of the
sexes has had unquestioned success
The State Board of Examiners, if
they had chosen to do so, could
have learned that in 20 years there
had never been a single trouble in
this school on that score. _
The school has one advantage
however. It is managed by the
black man who feels an interest in
the institution for its own sake,
and that alone. There is no poli
tics in it, and they expect no
money out of it. They are in it
with the hope of benefiting the
race, and making them useful cit
izens. They can and do study the
characters of the persons em
ployed in the school at close range.
They can get the best that the race
affords, and none other need ap
ply. .. .
I have said there is no politics
in it, and may add that we have
not been limited by denominational
lines. Methodist, Baptist, Episco
palians and Presbyterians have all
been employed. If a mistake should
be made, it will not take long to
tind it out, nor a great while to
apply the remedy.
Fayetteville, A. C.
Paid Each One—Thanks.
BY REV. J. S. CALDWELL, D. D.
A* General Steward, I take this
method of expressing1 my grati
tude to the Bishops, ministers, and
lay members of our beloved Zion
for the hearty support which they
have given the Financial Depart
ment during the year just closed.
We have been enabled by the help
of Gotl and the agencies just men
tinned, to make full payment to
all the claimants upon the General
Fund, for the year ending De
cember 31st. This resud must be
pieadng to ad lovers of Zion, as it
breaks all previous records.
About one year ago 1 asked for
the co-operation of the ministry in
the work of gathering finances for
the development of our work. This
co-operation has been given un
stintedly. To be able to pay
Livingstone College the full ap
propriation of $6000,00, the Bish
ops and General Officers about
§20,700.00, with the many other
miscellaneous claimants, is a cause
for rejoicing throughout Zion.
Most of the Annual Conferences
made decided increase in the col
lection oT General Fuud. Among
these may be mentioned the old
North Carolina Conference, pre
sided over by Bishop T.H. Lomax,
D D., and the South Carolina,pre
sided over by Bishop J. W. Hood,
D.D. ,LL. D. In this connection, 1
wish to make a correction in jus
tice to the West Alabama Confer
ence presided over by Bishop J, B.
Small, D. D. In my June report,
we showed that the Conference
raised last year less than $2000.00,
when they had raised a little over
$2000,00 They have gone ahead
of even these figures this year.
In starting out in the new year
we would ask for the hearty sup
port and co-operation of all, to the
end of obtaining even better re
sults in this new year than in past
years. I wish to ask the Bishops
and Presiding Elders to see to it
that the names, addresses and as
sessments of all pastors are sent to
me by Conferences at once. Don’t
fail in this, as we cannot give
credit to the pastors in their proper
places unless this is done.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Has Done Wonders.
Rev. G. L. Blackwell and his
flock of the A. M. E. Zion church,
Philadelphia, are having a jubilee
and mortgage burning this week.
Reverend Blackwell has done won
ders during his pastorate at Big
Wesley.” He has not only paid
off the debt and administered
faithfully to the flock under his
charge, but has been a positive
force in the community for the ad
vancement and uplifting of his
people. All enterprises and move
ments for the betterment of the
condition of the race have had his
hearty co-operation and support.
We congratulate him upon the
great success he has achieved.—
Philadelphia Odd Fellows Journal.
In the art of knowing when it i3 his
cue to talk, and when to holi his peace,
John 0. Dancy stands at the head of
his class.—Colored American,
flUST STAND TOGETHER.
SAYS BISHOP ALEXANDER WALTERS
IN RICHMOND.
Associated Press-Dispatch.
Richmond, Va. — ‘ P i ST h t for
your rights and do not sutler your
selves to be disfranchised,” said
Bishop Walters, of New Jersey,
(of Zion A. M. E. Church) to a
great audience last week Wednes
day night. The bishop referred to
the movement which had been
started through John S. Wise,esq.,
of New York, to have declared il
legal the new constitution of Vir
ginia. He said:
“We are contending under God
for legal rights, every one one of
them, and we should boldly say so.
The duty of the hour was to press
this fight, and every Negro who
has a drop of manly blood in his
veins will come up to the colors.
“The republican p a r t y has
turned its back upon the Negro.
There will be no peace as long as
injustice reigns in the land, as it
does. As long as there are “Jim
Crow” cars for your refined and
cultivated wives and daughters, as
long as there are midnight assassi
nations. and as long as there are
discriminations against the Negro,
the Negroes must stand together;
they must insist on the Southern
representation in Congress being
cut down. That will reach the white
man and help your case. God re
moved President McKinley.. God
| was displeased and called him
home. He raised up a man to take
his place in Mr. Roosevelt, I know
Mr. Roosevelt, and I say to you
that he is a brave, courageous man.
The politicians may head him off
sometimes, but he will help you.
Brave Words.
FROM A NEGRO BISHOP.
Bishop Walters remarks, which
we clipped from our evening con
temporary and re published else
where in this issue, must be a stern
rebuke to those sycophants who
exhibit the grossest cowardice
every time they are opportuned to
express themselves on the race is
sues. Of course the Bishop does
not mean a resort to arms in the
contention for our rights, but from
honest convictions of what we
know and believe to be right, there
can be no hesitancy, no retreat, no $
middle ground, but an onward
charge. Those who differ from us
may be ever honest in their con
victions, still it is not impossible
that they are in error, and who is
to recognize it? The white man is
a brave man, and manhood is ad
mired even by cowards. Mr. Jef
ferson said, “If you make your
self a sheep, the wolves will eat
you,” and the lamblike manner in
which the big Negroes have been
expressing themselves has sapped
all the manhood out of their fol
lowing till they are incapacitated
even to arouse race pride and loy
alty to respect any effort of their
race, fully believing the Negro in
capable of doing any of the lofty
things usually done by white peo
ple.—Columbia (S. C.) Southern
Sun.
Mr. Sidney E. Justice, our energetic
pressman, and wife were the guest of
Mr. Tncmas Moultrie and Mrs. Julia
Robinson in Greenville, 3. C., during
the holidays.