Newspapers / The Star of Zion. / Oct. 1, 1903, edition 1 / Page 1
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W THEOFFICIALORGAN OFTHE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH Vol XXVI Charlotte, IN. C.,Thursday, October i, 1903. No, 41. CHURCH EXTENSION FOOD, Victory for God and Zion AH Along the Line. TO THE CHURCH, The true heroes of the cross and the true Zionites are manfully standing by their guns and taking hold of the Church Extension cause with grit and determination that say, ‘‘The thing must go.” The church is becoming generally aroused to its own and best inter est. and the brethren are doing well all along the line. Every where there is a general increase. The talks, addresses and sermons by the pastors on Church Exten sion work are beginning to tell, and the people are becoming thor oughly informed concerning the work. We are now preparing to send out our By-laws and other Church Extension literature that will fully inform the brethren con cerning our department and ita op eration. Up to date, the First and the Eighth Episcopal Districts are way ahead in raising Church Extension money. The New York, New England, Central North Carolina, Philadelphia-Baltimore a n d the Allegheny-Ohio Conferences, lead all the other Conferences, with a number of Conferences following close behind. If the increase made by the Kentucky, Missouri and the Allegheny Ohio Conferences con tinues, the last of January will make the first named Conferences take a lower rank, possibly with the exception of the Central North Carolina Conference which will also meet before the first of Jan uary . New York, the Mother Confer ence, to date, leads every Confer ence in the Connection. How long sihe is going to hold this posi tion, we are not able to tell. At present, Philadelphia, (Wesley Church), Wilkes Bar re, Fa , Cam den, N. J., Fayetteville., N. C., Worcester, Mass., Asheville, N. C., are the banner charges of the Connection, The Kentucky, Missouri and Al legheny Ohio Conferences all doubled their collections. The anniversary collection of the Alle gheny-Ohio Conference is the larg est we have had this year, and ex cells any we had since we have tak en the office, except that of the New England Conference at Hart ford, Conn. We are greatly in need of $2,000 to save four churches and to pur chase one in a city that will make Zion shout from the St. Lawrence to the Gulf and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. We must have this $2,000 at once, or our oppor tunity is gone. Will every pastor in Zion lift the Church Extension collection and forward the same at once? Will our noble Bishops and Presiding Elders urge the brethren to lift the above named collection? Brethren, do not let this opportunity slip out of our hands. Let every Zionite awake and rush to the rescue We have just helped three more churches, and are only waiting for the money to come in to help oth ers ‘‘You give it to us and we will give it to you.’" By special rt quest we have post poned our report by Epi-copal Districts and Conferences until af ter the meeting of all the Fall and Winter Conferences. Then we promise a full report. The Bishops, Presiding Elders and pastors are doing well in /ral* lyinor to the support of the depart-, ment. It is now only a question of time before the department will be a perennial fountain to our be loved Zion. Presiding Elders and pastors, please do not fail to see that a Church Extension collection is raised in every charge. In a few days we will start South and hope to meet as many of the Conferences as possible. The Ken tucky, Missouri, and the Alleghe= ny-Ohio were great Conferences, and tried to set the pace for the Connection. I certainly never en joyed myself better and had more encouragement than I had at these Conferences. We are praying the blessings of Almighty God upon every minister of Zion; and from the bottom of our heart we thank you for what you have done, and again ask you, in the name of God and Zion, do not fail to lift a col= lection and send it in at once. You are doing well, and God will bless you. Remember that we need your prayers as much as your money. Yours for God and Zion, W, H. Coffey, Secretary Church Extension. Philadelphia, Pa. The Foreman a Printer. BY A- R. MOORE I was the recipient of two blot ters, a iob gotten up by Mr. A. A. Underwood, foreman of the A. M» E. Zion Publication House, and I taae this opportunity to say just a few words relative to his ability as a foreman. I have worked un der hiru a> a “typo” for three sue cessive years. Therefore I know whereof I am going to speak. The job to which 1 have referred is very unique. It shows that a skilled hand was the originator, It also displays taste for colors and fonts. Mr. Underwood is an intelligent, unassuming, a n d above all, a Christian gentleman. His knowl edge of the trade has been proven, in many instances, to be excellent. As a pressman, he is very hard to beat. He is one of Tuskegee’s boys. Hence his success Anybody sending work to him may rest assured that he will give the very best satisfaction. Mebarry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn. Notice. BY REV. J. T. MCMILLAN, P. E. Tne Tuskegee district confer ence will convene at Borom church Thursday, October 29th, 1903, at 10:00 a. ra. During the sitting of the conference a special effort will be made for Greenville High school and the A. M. E. Zion Publication House. Pastors and members of the Tuskegee district, please gov ern yourselves accordingly. Bishop Harris’ Appointments. OCTOBER. 3-7 Knoxville, i'enn , No. 122 Geor gia Si. 8 S)Uth Rockford, Tenn. 9 Straw Plains, Tenn 10-12 Sind Sp'ings, Tenn 13-20 Knoxville, Tean , Blue -Ridge Annual Conference. 112 Mildred St., Montgomery, Ada G. R. Harris. It is by prayer we invite God to come in to occupy His throne; and w'hen He is in, prayer is inevitable —James Stalker. i SHAKING THE,PLUM TREE. Why Oppose Dr. Smith? BY KEY. E. D. W. JONES,D. D. Tae standing committee of oppositio n in Zion Church.is wholly and woefully without an issue that caa even be given the s’ighte9t notica, and it is not sur prising that they should chase shadows and greedily grab at straws. Tae unjust fight against Dr. Smith is becoming more pronounced every dty from this source, which bat proves that the for mer mighty efforts to create sentiment against him in voluminous contribu tions to the Star were dismal failures. The conqueror never howls; it is the de feated tnat puts up a pitiful wail; an 1 the s lence of Dr. Snith unier fi ;e speaks his assurance of victory, whi e the ceaseless lamen ationsof his would be traducers show that they are smart ing under the anticipations of iaglori ous failure. It is encouraging, however, that the more bitter the fight becomes, the great er the determination of the rank and file of the Church to crown Dr. Smith’s successful career with the highest hon or in its gift. Neither God nor humani ty will keep long silent under persecu tion. Tnus Paul’s halt on the way to Damascus and the civilized world’s rush to Drey fuss on Devil's island prove this. Truthfully, Dr. Smith is being un mercifully persecuted, and the Cnurch which believes in fair play to every man, has risen in righteous but sullen indignation against “man’s inhumanity to man.” The only grave crime that I have com muted, -which also makes me the object of sneering attack, is to take a decided stand for Or. Smith, and in every re ply to the Pium Tree articles you can see evi iences to stab Dr. Smithy-set It is generallyadmitted thao the desper ation of the opposition has reduced them to such weakness that their pres ent pierile writings do not sustain their former reputations as cool thinkers and convincing reasoners. Such strides from lofty churchmanship to peanut politics to crusn a worthy man has so disgusted us that we would refrain from giving cause for further expositions of little ness but for the fast that some one in Zion must defend the weak and curb toe strong against oppression. Dr. Smith nas not asked us to say anything in his defense, nor boom him. He does not Know what articles I writen until they reached the Star office. I have my con victions like other men concerning Church matters, and the rightand cour age to express them. Neither Smith or Caldwelf is using me as a tool any more than they are using thei? opponents or accusers as tools. Since Dr. Smith is be ing wickedly attacked for the purpose of killing his influence so that the road may be clear for the favorites of the op position, and as he should he treated as fairly as any other man who has aspi ration. I take the liberty to register me protest of a host of Zionites wno do not enjoy this ung idly methou. l'ne only uung that Dr. b nitn has done is to s.and like the candidates of his opposers, as a candidate for the ,b shopric with a host of friends prais ing hiua and wishing him success. The very individual, who would rather be in heaven than si* on the bench with him, is doing tne same thing himself for an other candidate ihat he himself brought out, and ne has snrewdly used his gol den opportunity by replying to the Plum l'ree, and violating the General Conference order which he strenuously objects to the ministers and laymen vi olating, to boom his “chief ana favorite candiaate ’for the bishopric, oy intima ting tnat he possesses better qualities lor the office than any mau in the Churcti. That is a big thing to say, con sidering the thousands of pas ors we have. It looks uke a refl ictiou, invidu ous comparison, upon the abilities of other men. We see no condescension, humiliation n ;r financial sacnfiee in giving up the the presiding eldership in me New York Cmfereuce to tase the pasto ate of a great church like Mother Zion. It is a stepping up instead of stepping down The only diffsreuce i.i tne b oming of the two cases is, this Episo.jyate oni. fly b mins his can lidate, and in uhurca in general booms Dr. Sini.h. Tnis is what maddens tt\e oppo sition This is no: the first time that this same Bishop, vno destitute of argu ment sneeringi> compares metoJonan’s gourd, ncl t up other men as only “ii<.” for C iurcb hjnors, and said men, as a result of sucn comparison, have gone down to defeat. If the ridiculous com pari ons anu reflections are to continue, the candidate who in qualities is put abofe every man in the Church snould leap from the load and throw himself in iiae .viih ihe men who mate under divine direction the officers of Zion Church. Why under different pretexts and ex cuses try to kill off D:. Smith in order to land some fivorite? Tie general Church can see through it. Smioh is as able and worthy in every way as any who are being mentioned or pushed for episcopal honors. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “All the people cannot be fooled all the time.” A maj >rity of the Bishops have openly declared them selves for Smith; the majority of eon' ferencss that have met have endorsed him, and as I hear from the field, nearly every Winter Conference will give him their support next May 1904. You need not make any calculations now from conditions existing before the last General Conference. All things nave changed. Every department is in a fl mrishing condition. Tue Publication House that came up to Washington beg ging for relief from financial depression will come to St. Louis with a neat bal ance on hand. The Stab. that was al most collapsing in 1900 is on the wiags of prosperity. The financial depart ment at Philadelphia will come to St Louis with accessions that will surprise the Church. Widows and Orphans will be reported as having been aided who never received before a dollar. Super annuated preachers have drawn from our general Exchequer. The Connec tion with its high monetary standing ha3 been able to negotiate a seven thou sand dollar loan on our Chicago proper ty. The Church Extension department has rolled up its thousands; salaries have been arranged and expenditures wisely made ; while Livingstone College which was on t le eve of closing up be cause of threatened resignations, if speedy relief was not provided, has un expectedly leaped into the vanguard of glorious prosperity, and Dr. Goler, a conservative of conservatives, is so sure ^pf the ability of the Church to keep up its steady and onward march and meet its increased obligations, has already started his petition on the way for an increased appropriation of four thou sand dollars. Not a single argument used in 1900 about the ability of the Church can be used in 1904. Therefore the opposition to electing bishops mu3t indeed be personal. Why oppose Smith? What has he done? Are you against him because he has pastored successfully every charge that he has ever held? Are you against him because he has stood unharmed the terrible siege of a long candidacy in which everything has been brought to public view? Are you against him be cause he has been as great an Editor to and fbr Zion, as Dr. Buckley has been for the great M. E. Church? Are you against because he wrote the life and published the Sermons and Addresses of Bishop fones? Are you against him be cause he has in connection with his edi torial work pastored and built one of the finest brick church edifices in the South? Are you against him because he hai raised all oi his general claims? Are you against him bee ruse he is a sober, industrious, painstaking, able, pious, whole-soul gospel minister? Are you against him because he ably defended the Church agains§ the attacks of Dr. J. M. Hendtr-on and others? Tell us and if you cm satisfy u$ with fact, not fiction, then we will consider your objections, and your * private ap peals,” with flattering promises, to de sert him. St Louis, Mo. Bishop J OCTOBER. 4, Perry, 5, Gathrlt “ 6, Shiloh, '‘ 7-12, South Me A. I is ter Annuil Cmfer ence. 13, Oklah >in i City, O. T. TEXAS CONFERENCE. 14, Calvert, Texas. 15, Jerusalem, “ 16, Anderson Chapel. 18, at 1L a. m., Hearne, Texas. 18, “ 8 p. m., Pettey’s chape!. 19, Waco, Texas. 20, Stoneham, Texas. 21, Navesota “ LOUISIANA C INFERENCE. 22, Gipson, La. 23, Petteys chape’, New Orleans. 24, Mandeville, La. 25, Baton Rouge. La. at 8 p. m. Address from September 28 to Octo ber 5th, Guthrie, O. T. From October 5th to 12th. South McAlister I. T. From October ]2 to 18th Hearne, Tex. From 18 to 21, Navesota, Tex. From 21 to November 10ch, Montgomery, Ala. Tue popular ear weighs what you are, not what you were.—Quareia. CURRENT TOPICS. Concerning the Zion Churches at the National Capital. BY REV. R. S RIVES, D. D. I wou'd not force an article upon the Star at present but for the fact that the Zion Cnurch has some interests in the Capital City, and because our inter ests here «are not wholly neglected by those to whose care they were commit ted. I feel it proper, therefore, that some one should make known the very excellent work being done by Revs. F. A. Wallace, L. W. Kyle and Logan Johnson. Many doubted the possibility of Bro. Kyle's success when he was app >inted on account of suns complications known only to a few persons. But and because it is not my purpose, nor do I ttiink it necessary, thereiore, I will say nothing of the conditions when Bro. Kyles took charge. Rev. Kyles has the physiognomy of a stubborn or bull headed, dogmatic ruler, fhese charac teristics he found the only armor for the battle confronting nim on taking charge of John Wesley. Bearding the lion in his den, breaking the horn of the unicorn and bringing order out of confusion, lifting the church to hope and establishing confidence, he now is known and regarded as one of the most lamb-like and prince of pastors. He is an ideal pastor, a wise, sagacious manager, and withal a fine gospel preacher. His charge is increasing" in membership. His services are attrac tive and increafingin interest ever and anon. Rev. P. A. Wallace came to Metropol itan church, D St. S. W., at a time and when circumstances challenged the courage of the timid. Bat he happened not to be so timid nor easily discour aged* He took his 230 pounds of avoir dupois manned by his herculean brain or intellectual force and started out with so much pretension that those who thougut he could not succeed, like Saul among the prophets, are now shouting his praises. We do not nor would not offer one word that might reflect in any degree upon his predeces sor, but the people say they have never had such crowds, nor has the church, enjoyed such spiritual and financial prosperity since the days of Dr. Dyson. It rejoices my heart to see our "Zion walking abreast and keeping pace with the spirit and motion of Christianity in. this great city. Wallace like Kyles is a preacher of the first order. Rev. Logan Johnson has had charge of Trinity mission for the past six or seven years. He works for the United Slates Government and hence his abil ity to hold on and do the great work already accomplished by him. But the Trinity mission has rea'ched a stage in its history upon which its rise or fall must terminate. Bro. Johnson mav not have the temerity to say so, but I do say that unless the general Church in tervenes, we will lose one of the bright est prospects ior a first class station we have ever had in this ci y. Trinity mis sion must nave six thousand dollars (#6,000) dollars. The people have pur chased and nearly paid lor a splendid plot of ground, but they nave su nearly exhausted their strength, that it is like a man who has fallen overboard and swims to the shore, but who has not the strength to grasp a rope, though it be within his reach. I suggest that the general Church out of the. General Ruuds or aay money in sight advance t> this mission six thousand dollars. To my mind six thousand dollars in the es.aoiishment of a first class church here just now will pay better than the election of two bishops, while I am not opposed to that number. If we wish to keep abreast with the times and show that wre are progress ing, the election of two bishops^would indiciteour condition. Bat I believe cne presen„ bench can do the work, or the men who would be elevated could be of greater service in the pulpit pas turing the flocx than they would as they increased the overseership by be ing put on the bench. As I see it, the Zion Church never needed so many strong pastors as she does to-day. I believe the demand for commissioned officers of the second and third rank is infinitely greater thaa that of the first; therefore, I hope not to be understood as being opposed to any man or meas ure that may enhance the Redeem r’s kingdom as represented by the great A. M. E. Zion Church Washington, D. C. Mrs. E. D. W. Jones left Thursday nigut for Hartford, Conn , to visit her parents. Her son, Dancy, actonpa nied her.—dt. Louis Palladium.
Oct. 1, 1903, edition 1
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