THE OFFICIAL ORGAN Of THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH.
number one
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1921.
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VOLUME FORTY-FIVE
DR, W. H. GOLER’S MATCHLESS EULOGY.
Friend of Many Years Pays John C. Dancy Suitable Tribute
and Delivers Profound Sermon,
Dt- Goler’s sermon-and tribute to Dr. Dancy (a .triend of
xnany years), was characterized as adequate, discriminating,
pathetic and eloquent. His text was from the 4th verse of the
39th Psalm: “Lord, teach me to know mine end, and the
measure of my days what it is, that I may know how frail 1
am.”
He began by saying human life alternates between sunshine j
✓and shadows. The spring of laughter is placed hard by thej
fountain of tears. The merry music of marriage bells is soon
followed by the dirge of death. Today from the heights of hope,
from the consciousness of present blessings and pleasing
prospectsi, we sing with the Psalmist, ‘‘The Lord is my Shep
herd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters...
My cup runneth over.” Tomorrow from the valley of despond
ency, disappointment, ‘bereavement, misfortune and sorrow,
we recognize the soul cast down and disquieted, and bid it
seek relief and solace by hanging its hope on God.
/He showed that this petition of David did not imply,
and it should not be inferred, that David desired to know
how long he should live on the earth, or what should be
the circumstance or condition of hi® removal. The, inter
pretation should he rather: Lord impress upon me the
brevity, the uncertainty of human life; and inure me
to make the preparation for that after-life which awaits
me—which awaits all. .
He then went on to show that "fyhile death is solemn,
it is alsioj natural. God has appointed to all once to die,
that so far as death concerned the separation of soul
and body it mattered little, Taut since there ‘ik a life
after death, since death does not destroy, and since,
that after-life is to consist in pain or felicity according
to jthe ifoenor, of our lives here, it is of the greatest im
portance, how we use our time, our talent®, our oppor
tunities here. We should give the diligence which makes
for a safe calling and a sure election. We are told there
is no repentance in the grave nor pardon offered to the""
dead.
After discussing fully and freely the fact that death -
does not destroy, and the bountiful provisions that God
has provided in that better world, he went on. to show
that there is a silent power in the life of a good man, the
influence of which is not confined to his immediate sur
roundings, but is exerted upon the age in which he lives
and the ages following. We have lived our lives in vain,
if at its close we discover no substantial giood done;
if we have contributed nothing to the favorable mem
ory of men; if we have bound up no broken heart; if we
have dried no weeping eye; if no word from our lips
has lifted a drooping head; if our hands have never
ministered to suffering nor ‘‘plucked from the heart a
looted sorrow.” The life just closed was full of deeds of
mercy, of sympathy and love. John C. Dancy first saw
the light in Tarboro, North Carolina in May, 1857, in
the cruel slavery days, born in bondage, yet, thanks Ibe to
God, so near the close of the vile system as to have little
or no influence on the life of this talented boy. He was
bom under the favorable surroundings of a Christian
home. His father was an humble, honest, upright church/
going man, his mother a rare example of Christian piety.
They early instilled in his youthful mind, those prin
ciples, which subsequently developed that manly bearing,
that strong character, that geniality and pliability of dispo
sition, that sweejtness and evenness of temper, that elevation,
dignity and beauty of soul, which captivated those who came
within the circle of his acquaintance, and made him every
where a favorite. He was always and easy the centre of our
gatherings:, our safe, strong and able representative. He was
warly identified with the Church, sought and found salvation
in the crucified Redeemer when a child, joined the church and
served it faithfully to the day of his death, not only as a re
sourceful and forceful lay member, but as our brightest and
most accomplished representative in various circles. -~
■Others are to tell you how distinguished he was in letters,
how he paved his way in politics, what distinguished places
of honor and Urust he held in the state and general govern
ment, how creditably and with wihat fidelity he filled them,
what an entrancing orator he was, how sweeping, convincing
and logical were his arguments, etc. But his greatest distinc
tion is that he was a good man, and that goodness was nowhere
more manifest than in the tenderness of his heart, in his
devotion to friends and in his love for the Church. See how
this devotion to God and duty acts and reacts; see how conta
gious is this influence and example: every member of his fam
ily* is an active and useful member of the church, some hold
ing places of prominence and trust in distant state®. His own
life was busy and active.
But in the midst of his busy activity and usefulness: disease
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THE FAMILY’S TESTIMONIAL.
The family of the late John €. Daency wishes to express their
sincere thanks and appreciation to the relatives, friends,
church organizations and societies: |tor their many kindnesses,
sympathies, and beautiful floral trfjputes, at the death of our
jeloved husband, father and brothe^r Our earthly circles seem
to bp growing smaller and our -Heavenly circles broadening
rapidly; and were it not for Faith in the gospel and the prom
ises of eternal life we could never keep up and carry our bur.
dens here on earth. During the last'days of his illness he thus
expressed himself to some devoted friends: “I have fought and
won out here, and I expect to win o$t there.»’ His beautiful life
and many good deeds will linger forever in our memory.
His wife,
Florence V. Dancy.
Washington, D. C.
JOHN C. DANCY AS A GENERAL. OFFICER.
By W. J. Walls.
Sunset is the omen of a sunrise, falling blossoms announce
the taste of coming fruit, the breaking egg opens the way for
the song of the lark, and the death of a great man is the shake
of the liquids of life’s deeds into the solid of an immortal in
fluence. “Their works do follow them.”
There are many phases of greatness in the life and character
of John C. Dancy; hut in his religion he was at his best. In
faith he was as simple as a child, in churchmanship “he seemed
at home where angels dwell.” For forty years he was intimate
ly associated with the Connectional matters of the A- M. E.
Zion Church and for thirty-six years he was a general officer.
In 1885 when he was chosen Editor of The Star of Zion by the
Board of Bishops, with Dr. J. C. Price he formed that great
‘‘duo”-of the first general officers who went on the field to
aid in establishing the general departments. To him and Dr.
Price is justly accorded the credit for giving his Church its
first great impulse towards Conneetionalism against Localism.
With the bishops and heroic souls they lead out in connecting
many links of material and moral resources into a chain of
scientific spirituality and an expanded and specified application
of Christianity under Ethiopia’s stewardship.
His travels throughout Europe and America, his fellowship
at ease with the masters of learning, with the captains of state
craft, and wise intimacy with eminent apostles and humble
disciples of his own race and of all others, prepared him to
HON. J. C. DANCY PASSES AWAY.
if-"*
W. J. Trent.
On© by one they take their way across the great divide and
we are left to mourn their loss and cherish their, contribution
to the race’s standing in the great wide world. When the news
was flashed over the wires that Hon. J. C. Dancy was no more,
men and women who havo known him intimately for many
years, felt sad at heart in the passing of a true friend. It was
the writer’s privilege to have known Mr. Dancy for many
years. He. was a student at Livingstone Co®ege, Salisbury,
when Mr. Dancy was first appointed collector of customs at the
port of Wilmington, N. C., and was present at the big recep
tion given him in the college chapel. This was in 1890 during
the administration of President Benjamin Harrison.
Mr. Dancy was of that group of men who gave much time
to politics. Some people call them politicians!, and here of late
years a set of thoughtless people among us delight in putting
all the woes of the race at the door of this group of men. How
often have I heard some would-be leader begin his addres® on
the race problem by attacking the Negro politician on the
whole, how they have run us in the ditch and caused all
of our rights to have been denied us. This is not true. I
dare say that there has been no other group of men that
has stood up for the manhood of the race in places where
they could have easily crawled, than this same set of men
we call politicians. Some make the charge that these
men are after positions in the government. Why not be
after them? Is it a crime to aspire to high position®, of
trust and preferment in the government? If so, then the
Negro is not the only man who has committed the crime.
Why should he not aspire to the positions of a govern
ment he has helped save and make with his muscle,
brain and blood? We ought to begin to think for our
selves some time.
Mr, Dancy was a .Christian and loyal churchman to the
day of his death. Some men, when unknown to the world
and without influence in it, hasten to the church and sit
close in the “amen corner” and are willing not only to
make a financial contribution, but to serve in any way
possible the forces offrignteousness, (but when they get
up in positions of honjor and tfust in the world, and feel
that they can walk alhne, then it is “goodbye” church,
and goodbye” to righteous and correct living. They
think they can leave Goa out of their program and get
by; but just turn over a few pages of history—either sa*
cred or profane—and find the sad answer. It comes for
ever ringing down the centuries, “in the long run it is
well with the good, in the long run it is ill with the
wicked. ’ ’ The man of whom I write attended every Gen.
eral Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church during hia
lifetime, and helped make its laws. Not only did he dp
this, but was active in the local church of his choice. And
the people did not forget this. He was the first layman
editor of The Star of Zion, the chief organ of the denom.
ination. He was for many years editor of the Quarterly
Review, and, at his death, was a general officer in the
Connection.
He was recognized by the national leaders in the Re
publican party. Upon occasions, during the National Re.
publican conventions, he seconded the nominations of
Gen. John A. Logan at Chicago in 1884, and that of Hon*
John Sherman in 1888. Hon. Fred Dougiass- declared his
speech seconding the nomination of Mr. Sherman as one
of the heat he had heard; ex-Goveraor Foraker, who also
spoke, declared it ‘‘timely, able and brilliant.*’
Mr. Dancy was twice appointed collector of the port of Wil
mington, N. C., the last time serving under President William
McKinley, He had for a number of years the position of re*
oorder of deeds in the District of Columbia. He woe an orator
that had the oratorical temperaihent His rich tenor voice
could fill the largest auditoriums and sway the most cultured
audience as well as the masses. He and Dr. J. C. Price, that
prince of orators, toured England together and now he is no
more. The race has1 lost a real Christian leader and the Church
a trusted friend. He was born in Tarboro, N. C., May 8, 1867.
speak oiut their hearts ’ last word on whatever subject he chose
to discuss. The confidence which he inspired in every rank of
the ministry and laity was concretely manifest in that he was
chosen for twenty.seven years successively to serve the Church
as an editor- .
Bishop Hood’s history says1 of him: “When be took charge
of The Star of Zion it was an obscure sheet, but the brightness
of his Editorials soon brought it into National prominence, and
today it is considered one of the leading journals of the race.
In 1872 hie resigned to succeed Rev G. W. Clinton as Editor of
the Quarterly Review who succeeded him as Editor of the Star
of Zion. As Editor of the Quarterly Review he sustained hi»
reputation of being naturally adapted to journalism.”
While Mr. Dancy was an expert at the pen and a master of
English, and was gifted in a voice and' personal magnetism
that made him an idol of the race and an object of admiring
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