Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / March 4, 1920, edition 1 / Page 2
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LIGHT ON DARK CORNERS. By Rev. T. H. Jones, D. D. As we approach the shadows of the General Conference our anxie. ties as to the probable outcome of needed legislation. Our interest anu desires for the best grows deeper and more expansive. Much is being said about the qualification of men for the Bishop ric, pensions for widows of General Officers increase in Bishops’ and General Officers’ salaries,'' the Ter, centenary and other matters of vital importance; all ,of which must be prayerfully considered, and we trust will be rightfully acted upon. But there are three subjects ol deepest interest to the permanent welfare of our Zion that should claim no second place in the legislation of the next General Conference, and the entire delegation should vie with each other to see that they are prop erly acted upon. I refer to the Church Extension and Home Mission Department, with ows and fljphans of deceased minis ters, and a department for superan nuated ministers. The last mention ed claims "the burden of this arti cle. We have written on the Church Extension and Home Mission De partment and shall write on the wid ows an dorphans later. Our Zion is more than a century old, and as a distinctive race organ ization has made marvelous progress along many lines. But one blot upon our past history is that we have giv en such little consideration to our veteran retired ministry,, as is evi denced in the small amounts being paid to them annually. Some receive a little more than others if they hap pen to belong to a large and chari. table Conference. But at best the ' amounts paid will scarcely average fifty dollars a year. And then the shade is darkened when we note how few of the men of our ranks pass from the battle front with life yet visible in their heroic forms. They usually tug on with the load, fight on at the front until they fall in the shafts of death. Hence the super, annuated roll never runs very high. The question comes forcibly to us here—Why is it that we have done so little for our retired ministers'^ hm Bishops a stipulated yearly1 salary i It is small, by no means enough, yet we are not ashamed to publish the amount to the world. Why have we done so little for our retired minis, ters. Is it that we have lost love for them in their old age and declining strength? Is it because we are in. sensible or disappreciative or tnen sacrifices? Not this at all. It is nei. ther of the above mentioned, but the truth is that in our rush to put through other matters we have over looked or undervalued the impor tance of special legislation for them. But we should see to it at the forthcoming General Conference that special legislation be enacted in the interest of superannuated ministers aside from that of widows and or phans. There should he legislation tnat will immediately increase the relief to them from fifty to one hundred per cent and that within the next ten years a department sufficiently strong to pay them a salary of at least from two to three hundred dol. lars annually. We should remember that we are traveling the way of our fathers ana some of us will reach the station which they have, and we will have to step aside from ministerial activ. ities, or be pushed aside to make room for progressive youth. If you have failed to do your duty in leg. islative sentiment and activity, a day of opportunity will have passed from you and your voice will scarcely be heard. No difference how proficient for the office of a Bishop in the Church of God, we can not by legis. lation attain to that lofty rank; then legislate for ■'he minister in the low. er rank as well as for those in the higher rank. Suggestive Legislation. We d,o not see that the amount designated for the support of retired ministers from the General Claims budget can be increased; nor do we have any desire that an increase be made to meet the above suggested increase; but we can give the Church and the world a chance tc help these fathers happily and com. fortably pass their declining years 1)7, First: Legislating a day or seas.: o-, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year, when an offering shall he tak. en throughout the arena of our Church for this fund, and that a spe. cial secretary be chosen to operate the department for two quadrenni. ums without salary, until said de. partment shall be deemed self sup. porting. His business would be to receive and aisburse the fund, de. velop sentiment, and keep the de. partment before the Church as oth. er secretaries are doing. A Department of the Genera Church, its Bishops, and Presiding Elders and pastors behind it and forcing it as they are other inter, gsts of the Church is bound to sue. eeed. No day will appeal to true laymen and lay women and thoughtful min. isters than such a day, and would without any doubt be a success. Secondly: The Tercentenary mon. ay designated for this department should after going to the General Treasurer, be sent to the Secretary of this Department for disbursement A certain per cent of this amount should remain in the treasury to constitute a sinking fund so that the Department may get a substantial foundation for this movement. I have not attempted to give this plan in detail as it is in my mind. Of course if the idea is appreciated by the General Conference constitu. ency as it should be, a committee will w'ork out the surface details. We simp’y here attempt to arouse a deeper interest in the superannu. ated ministers, and suggest a fun. da-mental plan for its operation. I hope that the Bishops will see their way e’ear to recommend the establishment of such a distinct and separate department as this General Superannuated Ministers’ Depart, ment with a Secretary-Treasurer, and a Committee on Plans, etc. A soldier in God’s army is not to be considered of less importance than the soldiers in common military life of the country. The captains in the several armies and regiments of the Lord should be especially cared for; and legislation like this is one sign of our sincerity in the cause of Chris, tianity. Men who have braved the firing line, tramped through cold as well as heat; through raim snow and "sleet; men"who have swallowed the bitterest doses of imposition and hate of objectors to Christ and his teaching; men who have prepared, the way for those who follow from the higher ranks; men who have moved forward until their hearts, were sick their feet were bruised and sore,’until their strength gave' way and they were forced out of the lines, and sent home to die, need special legislation in their behalf. “Awake thou that sleepeth and Christ shall give thee light.’’ Let us help them to feel comforted in their last years because of tangi. ble legislation and tangible help, that the Church appreciates their sacrifice and service.’’ My next article will be in the in. terest of the widows and orphans of the ministry. Clover, S. C. bishop iTEE’S appointments. March 7.8. Worcester, Massachu setts. March 14.15, Waterbury, Conn. March 21.22, New Bedford, Mass. March 28, 11 A. M.( Rush church, New York City. April 2nd, Hilliard’s Chaipel, Mont, goiiiery, Alabama. April 4 Dedication Old Ship. April 6,’ Mid'Year Conference and Tercentenary Rally, Mt. Zion, Mont, gomery, Alabama,, April 8, Meridian, Miss. April 9,. Jackson, Miss. April, 11.12, New Orleans, La. April 13 Mid Year Conference and Tercentenary Rally, Ponchatou. ia, La. April 14.15, Mid year Conference and Tercentenary Rally, Canton Miss. Dear pastors: Let us “go over the cop'’ by a good margin. Now, going over the top means getting more than your proportion, and remember that vcu row as you work successfully. Finally, “Don’t fail.” Where to address mail: . Alabama: April 1.5, 106 Cleveland Avenue, Montgomery Alabama. Louisiana: April 6.10, 2716, Bel. mont Place New Orleans, La. Mississippi: April 1114, Canton, Mississippi. ; THE EAGLE’S ALARM PROM AR KANSAS._MY COUNCIL EXPE RIENCES. measures AND MEN. By Rev. c. W. P- Mitchell. Having been rushed so as not to have time to Jieep up any regulai correspondence through The Star of Zion, and feeling that I.had no mo. nopoly of the columns of our well, edited church organ, I have not as. saulted it with an article for quite a while; but if leave will be granted me at this time, I shall sue for space Jto say affirmatively a ^eW things about the Connectional Council and other things which I trust will be of interest to the many readers through out the length and breadth of our Zion. Agreeing that the Council is simply a general meeting of the “celebreties” of our Church, I feel safe in saying that our last Council was the greatest of Zion’s “celebre ties” ever recorded in Council form because of the aggressiveness of the spirit of the men who met in Pater, son in Co'uncil session. They were there from everywhere—from the tar.pits of North Carolina, the foun. daries of Indiana, the summer re sorts of Michigan, the ship.wharves of Louisana, from Massachusetts , Missouri, New York, Tennessee, Con. nectieut, Arkansas, well from every where. They had come with a vis ion that means a greater day for our Zion. * The Church had been asked to raise four hundred thousand dollars in its Tercentenary campaign drive; but these men and women had such, “pep” in them to say, instead of four hundred thousand that we raise one million dollars. This drive is now on, and the amount asked and ifiore should be raised as a fitting expres sion of our gratitude to Almighty God for the blessings we have re ceived through our presence in this country. Let us put this drive “over the top” that the needy causes for which this money is being raised can be taken care of and the Church pushed forward toward greater achievements. The delegates have all been elected who are to compose the General Con. ference. It may be said that the last General Cqn|^||^did its work sc easy coininS before that boW^had ween threshed out through the columns of The Star, and the Quarterly Review before the assembling of the solons in Louis, ville. I am therefore confirmed in my opinion that if the important measures ^coming up before the en. suing General Conference could be discussed in the paper prior to our assembling in Knoxvlle in May i ‘’would greatly facilitate the business of that session. With this in minti I will offer the following sugges tions as matters for consideration. First; The Districting Committee should be separate from the Episco. pal Committee. Because of the knowledge of the Bishops concerning the field they should serve on the Districting committee and serve as a guide in their work of redistricting the Church. Second: The Episcopal Committee should be one on which the Bishops should not serve. The Committee should not be coerced by their pres, ence. What does it matter where the Bishops serve? Their salary will be the same, and their office' is for life Let the Committee appoint them tc districts where in their best judg. ment they can do the greatest amount, oi good for the race anc Church. The Districts should be sc arranged as to have the Conferences contiguous. This suggestion shoulc be considered by the Districting Committee. No Bishops’ Receipts should be used after May 1920. In Louisville the Bishops recommended that there should be no Bishops’ receipts, fought through a resolution that the Bishops should give receipts for fif ty per cent of the General Glaims anc the pastor should send the other fif ty per cent in cash with the receip forthwith to the Financial Secretary The Conference adopted this resolu tion yet it has never been in opera tion. Now I am willing to agree witl the Bishops that there should he n< more Bishop’s receipts. The Western Star of Zion shoulc be in circulation. The West shoulc not be deprived of the only Depart ment dedicated to its upbuild anc development. There seems to be s marked disposition on the part o the Church to count the West unde \ serving and ita development of such a doubtful prospect until the only Connectional investment toward Sts upbuild is the lives of a few of its ministers who with their families are out here trying to hold the lines safe for our Zion, and trying to push her borders to further distances. It was argued in 1912 that we needed The Western Star and therefore it was created. It was argued again in 1916 that the necessity for it had grown to such proportions that it should be put on par with the Star of Ziorff and it was done. Now because its editor elected to serve the United States as an army chaplain rather .than serve his Church as editor of a much needed weekly periodical, and forsook his position in tne Western Publication House for the honors of the Western Front Battlefields; it is now argued that the Western Star of Zion is not a necessity. It seems that the office was made for the con. venience of one#man rather than for the development of the Church. If the West ever needed a, piaper it needs it today; if it does not need it today it did not need it in 1912 or 1916. In 1916 the Church said that it needed a Legion of Finance. Now that the Secretary of that Depart, ment has been called to the great beyond, some are arguing that this| Department is no longer a necessity in the Church. When will Zion cease her folly and fix a definite program and stick to it? When will she put her right foot upon favorit. ism, and her left foot in the clear where all of her sons can see her in the light of • equal rights for all and special privileges to none?” Is there 'a royal house in Zion from the solemn pales of which men for offi. cial preferment are to be selected.' Does certain sections make one ah alien in the commonwealth of Zion? Must one hail from certain quarters in the Church in order to be worthy of official consideration in the Church? Is Zion so badly put to it for man power until when an office is made \acant because of choice or death that a department must be abolished for the lack of some one to fill the place? Many sections of our great Church join me in asking these very pertinent questions; ami] if these Departments' are “abolished then Zion will ^ on si de red *»s an. swering these question in the af firmative. What will Zion say? What wilL Zion do? Let the General Con. ference answer. It is a fact that Zion has held too closely to her ‘‘guardian rock”—1 the Atlantic Coast line. Her failure to expand throws all of her work in ,developing the West up to future planning. Her Church population is now leaving the Blast and comingj Westward to he housed by other de_| nominations. Twelve years ago il j came to Arkansas and seeing our needs in these neglected fields I he.1 gan to sound the alarm, but Zion would not hear. But some one may' say, she is waking up now. But she is almost too late. "Just as she has conducted hersel toward her advantages in the West, she is conducting herself toward her; advantages in Africa. To make ourJ selves, a stronghold in our father.i land Zion needs a resident Bishop1 in Africa. Dr. Crooke should h< j elected Bishop and sent to Africa at] once. The field needs c'ose episco-j pal supervision. Why should Zion falter on this proposition and wait until the cay of visitation has pass.' ed. “Awake O Zion, put on thy strength. Put on thy beautiful gar. ment O Jerusalem.” Dr. C. L. Alexander is one or me . most progressive pastors in our Zion and it was my pleasure to Visit him on my return from the Council and : spend a week with. Mm and his gooc j s people. Dr. Alexander was making ! some extensive repairs on his church which w;hen completed will add both < beauty and convenience. He is a , tireless worker and a successful man, ager. His people love him, and me; . city of Petersburg counts nim a mom j ; its most constructive citizens. His good wife and refined family add . much to his success. Dr. Alexander . is at present the Secretary of Zion’s i Financial Legion^ and if letained ana i a greater degree of definiteness be given his department in May, he will [ do a great service fo-r the Church l through this department. This is one of the departments for which the i Church feels it has no need. One is i forced to wonder why was it created r in 1916? What successful turn ha| . Zion made during these four ysars in the course of her finance that mates this department an aimless venture in the affairs of the ehureh? Certainly Zion’s reserve funds have not increased until we have money enough to meet her ever increasing demands. Then why abolish a de_ partment that is calculated te in. crease Zion’s financial capacity t Bosh! It’s all stuff. The fact is that the department was created to meet the demands and fill the desire of one man for official preferment; now that he is gone there is found n« further need for the office. Retain the office and give Dr. Alexander a chance to develop it and prove its necessity. The campaign of Dr. J. B. Colbert for the Bishopric seems to be taking on the form of definiteness to the de. light of his many admirers through, out the West. His friends scattered throughout the Bast have seemingly discovered the elements of merit in him, and with a pronounced pro. gram which closely studied forecasts success. Dr. Colbert has made great sacrifice for the Church, and might have been Bishop long ago had there been enough Western voting strength to have given prestige to his cam. paign. It is to the delight of his. many friends in the West that he is receiving some support from the other sections of the Church and without a sudden change he will be a candidate to be reckoned with in Knoxville. The happy advantage of being able to swing around gives men who are aspiring a chance to be observed by those who as delegates will make Up the General Conference. Through this medium Dr. E. D. W. Jones has impressed his fitness for Episcopal honors upon many, and from what is said in the many write.ups his elec, tion is almost assured. Dr. Wallace also made favorable impressions* while Dr. Wood is the choice of the whole Church. So the bulletin board reads: ‘‘Wood first. Who next^.’The observer answrers who? There is something strange about the Editorship of The Star of Zion Two years ago everybody was ready to throw Dr. Anderson out of the office window, but there has been a decided change in the sentiment of the Churciv Everywhere they are ^ing: “Le£f X>r. remain. “You can bear men everywhere ®rais_ ing him for his wise Editorials. Well, Doc, hold tight, and don’t go to sleep on your job, for our Lord, said: Woe unto you when all men speak well concerning you.” 2905? Ringo Street, Little Rock, Ark. 1)R. E. W. SHAW PRAISED. Our noted and widely 'known and read Kon. John E. Bruce, ‘‘Bruee; Grit,” has th- following to say ha ene. of our prominent exchanges: ‘‘I do not p«irsc'na'iily know Dr1. Shaw who is a candidate for the Secretaryship of foreign missions of' the A. M. E. Zion Church but I have^ heard Bishop Alexander Walters,, who in his life time, was my warm, personal friend, speak of Dr. Shaw ia fulsome phrase, as a clean, cap. able1, courageous Christian gentle, man, who was worthily g.nd accepta. biy representing the Zion Connec. tion in Africa. i think that this is a. pretty strong endorsement . of Dr.. Shaw. B’shop Walters never slob, be red over men, never wasted words on incompetents. He knew a reas. man when he saw one. And he was glad and happy to give such men the benefit of whatever influence he possessed to aid them in getting up in the world. From a picture I have seen somewhere of Dr. Shaw, I un. der'stand- why- the 'Bi-shop ""thought and spoke so highly of him. He is a man of fine personality, a man 01 purpose and possesses excellent men. tal ability. If I were going to pick ut a candidate for Missionary Sec. retary I would unhesitatingly pick out Dr. Shaw because of a firm eon. viction I have that he is exactly the man for that office. The fine, strong ly marked face bespeaks the self.eon. trolled Christian gentleman and well informed scholar—the very type of man needed by the American Church in Africa? because the African on his native hearth is muck more ad. r ■vanced in matters spiritual and tem poral than he is generally gives eretfit for. I trust Dr. Shaw vjiH he •letted to this 'office.’’
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 4, 1920, edition 1
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