Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / July 21, 1921, edition 1 / Page 1
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L ^ 1 TtiE OfFICIAl ORGAN OFTHE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CIUIRCH NUMBER IVER4BL£ CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1921. VOLUME FORTY-FIVE ly race. old men. He was deep the conditions of his to have done so he could have made his race the stepping stone to fame and wealth, but it was his choice to advocate social justice and political rights. To this end he labored to the day of his death- He was an ardent advocate of a deeper, spiritual awakening in the church. His life’s work was to keep the spiritual fires burning even in the humblest church in his Episcopal dio cese He was a great preacher—deep and learned. He swayed men and women at his wrill with his eloquence. He had his convictions but was broad enough not to fall out with and hate a man because he differed with him He was approachable and sympathet ic with the humblest. Sometimes men disliked him for what they believed * i -: : -. stood him better they loved him the more. Twenty-two years ago he in sisted that the writer of these lines come back to the church of his mother, from which he had drifted in boyhood. He promised to ever be our adviser and friend, and though we often clashed and differed in mat ters of small moment, there was no bitterness or rankling of ill will- We are bowed in sorrow and feel the loss of a true friend. God grant that the church pray the prayer of guid ance of a divine hand to those of his loved ones, and that his place be filled as acceptably as he filled it. Peace to his ashes. The Mid-Year Meeting of the Blue Ridge Conference. At a call from Bishop L. W. Kyles nearly all the pastors of the Blue Ridge Conference met in Southside Avenue A. M. E. Zion church, with Dr. W. M. Anderson, pastor, in the City of Asheville, N. C-, May 3-4. The Bishop eloquently outlined the Procedure of the meeting. He deplored the fact that he had not been able to make a single episcopal visit in the conference since his assignment over it, yet he hoped the seasoned and tried men of the conference had done their duty as they had understood it. Rev. E. M. Strong, of Waynesville. Rev. G. W. James, of Weaverville, and the Bishop all preached strong ser mons to the delight of all. The meet ing was saddened by the announce ment of the death of Rev. J. B. Mil ler, one of its strong young men. He was a splendid preacher, of lovable disposition, loved and respected by all. The reports irom tnose oi me pas tors present was a pleasant surprise to the Bishop, and the splendid dis bursements to the needy churches in the conference have done more to strengthen the Tercentenary cause than all the educational propaganda that could have been launched. Bishop Kyles has walked right in to the hearts of the men of the Blue Ridge Conference, and his splendid personality is being indelibly stamp ed upon both ministry and laity. It is now being evinced that his will is the men’s pleasure, and the Blue Ridge conference 'is advancing foy leaps and bounds. There are many strong men in this conference; in fact the percentage of strong men in ac cord with the views of the Bishop compares favorably with some of the — irger_^ Terences. Rev W. M. An '©vorend S J. Howie ^purgeop, M J. Horne, E. L. Leake,, J W Hen C. Van Hook, >C. C Mar Simmons. G. W. Griffin, tienny, W. R. Lovell an 'adgett These compose the ^ en of the conference, hut ■ ounger set sdch as Revs. --— ,on; E. J. Ellis, W. L. Wilkey, T. E. John '"Hark, J. H. Davis and / We would not ignore ( m, one of the oldest "A" , ’ '«tat erence, nor Rev. of the youngest. Ti — — ;__.hg good, and will swer at roll call with round reports.' But best of all they wilt report many souls converted and added to the church, and the church has been strengthened wherever they labored. A GentenaHan. It was the pleasure of the writer Shaking the Plum Tree. CONFKREMCES AND things E. D, W_ Jones. conferences are oyer and reporters have up. It is therefore not repeat the facts and Published by those was to correspond wit but to make a few hoipeful! observations. reforril is, breeder of dis content, namely the Bishop’s table has gone .and gone forever. Not in a single soring conference we visited nresided over by the late Bishop G. W. Clinton associated by Bishop G DR. GEORGE L. WHITE Who fell asleep, May 16th, 1921, at Newbern, N. C. in the midst of suc cessful work of building the church. Rev. J. S. Shaw is now finishing the task. Dr. White pastcred a number of our leading churches. He was a man of electric and laconic eloquence and held unprecedented attention and fol lowing in his charges. -to administer the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to one Sister E’iza Scruggs, who boasted of being 106 years old. She was in possession of’ her mental faculties, could walk spryly and remembered many things that happened a third of a century before the civip war. She was a marvel indeed. She walked without assistance to the Communion altar and bowed with tears in her eyes, and took the Lord^s /Supper with | the congregation. Her younger son, Brother Chas. Scruggs, was touch ingly tender and attentive to her She lives at Sugar Fork N. C. The quarterly meetings at this point on the Franklin circuit were indeed a great success due largely ' to the untiring efforts of the pastor, Rev. W. C Van Hook, who made it so pleasant for the Presiding Elder. He is highly respected and greatly be loved by the people. A1! the men of the Asheville district seem to vie with each other in showering cour tesies on their Presiding Elder, mak ing him love them more than ever. Rev. Mrs. V. R. Robinson. This good, woman is not only the conference evangelist, but is at the head of the W H and F. M. Socie ties. She is moving heaven and earth to eclipse all past efforts to arouse a deep interest in the' missionary endeavors, backed u,p by such strong young women as Mrs. Meg, Gray, of Dillsboro, N. C., of the young women, and Mrs Hattie R. Henderson of Morristown, Tennes see of the Buds of Promise. The6e good women are endeavoring with (Continued to page 8.) L. Blackwell in New Jersey; tin Philadelphia and Baltimore and th New York conferences presided ove by Bishop J. S. 'Caldwell, the New England by Bishop W. L Lee; did that old table show its hideous face. It has been consigned to the rubbish heap there to remain until it finally goes back to things forgotten, Th General officers and members of the conference collected all the money and the bishops presided and really and actually superintended the work It looked like great business houses to see the nten who had wrought, wit pad and pencil giving credit to their fellows and attending to the affair of thefr own conferences, ftfot a dollar was misplaced. Zion was no ruined. The dignity of the Bishop was enhanced and men. and peopl were happy to see the day dawn when all orders and classes did their work according to law and not ac cording to whims. Very few had tim or disposition to idle their days away on the outside add at places of amusement for these Bishops had arranged to keep every man Dusy in the conference room. Our Senior Bishop J. S Caldwell went a step -forward and had the auditing com mittee, made up entirely of conferenc members, gather in all the finance from the different collectors, verify their reports and then turn money and receipts over to the conference finance committee for proper dis tribution. < It is generally known that this method is just what the men have been clamoring for years and for the first time in twenty years we - never heard a complaint or murmur against this rule of law. May that old table that has been the cause of more grumbling and suspicion both on the part of the clergy and laymen than anything else in our Zion never come back in a single Zion conference but that the men who raise the money and care for the connection’s interest du ring the year be thought and found able to care for its proper handling at the Annual conference. > This course adopted by our Bishops of th Spring conferences at least gave us the assurance that we were a part of the great church and that we could have the honor and duty of attend ing to the business of our own An nual conferences. At these comer- : ences the movements were so quiet, quick and orderly that much time was given to preaching and '“'the dis cussion of important religious affairs Every day at 12 o’clock, big here to-fore Sunday preachers like Drs. Goler, Alleyne, Walls and Hannum poured forth the message of the Gos pel of the Son of God in spirit, fervor and power. I have never seen so many happy preachers in all my days in Zion. Happy that at last their ability and love for the proper care of the church was recognized Happy because they were treated like seasoned men and not like children and novices. Hap py that all had found each man his place and each was filling it to the glory of God and the extension of our be’oved Zion. . Compliments weye npxuerpus and profhse on Dr. Goler‘s illuminating aind encouraging financial report pub lished in the Star and the good days that we have longed hoped for an prayed are upon us in every depart ment of our church work. Nothing is so helpful and inspiring as to let us all know about our financial collec-1 tions and distributions. Dr Gcrter himself is so happy over the favor with which his services met, and over the fine showing that the church is making financially that he is proud to publish broadcast its wonderful achievements. Surely G'od is with Zion ' > The Star of Zion is increasing it circulation among the laity. Dr. Wall keeps ever after the thousands h< lias in mind who must (read oui great connectional organ. When he enters the conference rooms he be gins to build up the subscriptio among our members and more Zion people are reading the Star today than ever in its history. In passing we note that he well fills the place of his predecessors as ever ready in brilliant responses an$ sweeping oratory He has a splendid person f ity, Winning style, , profoundly thoughtful, well read and magnetic presentation. We looked for Dr. J. W. Martin in our round of visitation but he was in other parts bending himself to the load and finally put in appearanc at the little Michigan with flying colors, giving a fine account of th workings of his department. Dr. Whitted. whom to know well is to love dnd respect, was earnestly pre senting the claims of the Brother hood One remarkable advancement' the lirdjthethood has made under the efficient control of this business head is, that he has taken it out of the realm of perpetual controversy and continual complaint. Men pay the assessment now without grumb ling because they have confidence in the man at its head and the institutio itself: Dr. Whitted too, is a connec tiohal man and has his eye on ever nook and corner of this bread Zion, spies out its weak spots as well as strongholds and seeks then, by sup plying material and men, to save th day* check harmful influences and build up the grand old church. (Continued to page 8.) A Bigger and Better Zion. The strength of the nation is some times measured by its natural re sources; but the great world war demonstrated that the dynamic of any nation is determined by its ability to develope and maintain man nower. The nation that ie making tt^ossi ble for its boys and girls to live in a land where love of home and country is the first lesson taught; and purity of life and living with examples of justice and truth help us to them as the highest ideals of character will in the time of need Snd itself possessed with that man power which will be able to safeguard its best interest at all times. The highest and best ser vice that one can render to his coun try, is that which comes from the best life that one can live. Poets and philosophers. may have with indul gencies reached admirable heights, hut by a chase and virtuous career con secrating all their powers to the devel opment of their God given talent, their flight would have been much higher and their service to mankind much greater. Our love of home and country demands of us the best that we have for its defense even to the laying down of our lives if necessary and then we have only given eur highest and best devotion. If our hpme and nation demands the best wtr have, our God will *«cep nothing less. The Churfch of Jesus Christ of Which we are a part is mak ing the same demand of us; are we giving it? By Henry J. Callis, D. D. We cannot have a Bigger and Bet ter Zion if we do not place before otar boys and girls the highest ideals and make it possible for them to attain those ideals; Zion’s biggest and best men and women must come from those who love Zion more than any earthly joy. As I write, ^ am thinking of the early struggles through which God has brought our Zion; and the sacri fices made by the fathers and mothers and the full measure of devotion of those who have fallen asleen in re cent years. It is true we have still e strong and brave men in whom we have faith and for whom we are praying. But we would be very un ! wise not to realize the disadvantage to which our Zion is put in the loss of 1 the services of those who have passed into the great beyond. In these times of stress and strain when every tribe and group that has any organized power is asking the question, who will go for us? we cannot help see ing and feeling the need of Bishop Alexander Walters standing in the very thickest of the fray pointing the way with faith in God and the race; a Bishop J. W. Hood, whose wise coun sel could be sought at all times; a Bishop J. W. Alstork whose strength of will and purpose of heart made him the admiration of that section in our Zion where he so gallantly gave the last full measure of service and de votion to God and Church; and that prince of Bishops, G-. W. Clinton, the/ star in Zion that went down just h few days ago, whose form still lingeji in our sight, whose words we still hear and whose acts we still see. These like many others whose namesN could here be called were lives of ser vice that have helped to build the kingdom Of God on earth. As the years come and go the work of the Church of Jesus Christ grows larger. The Church has always had a social problem* but today it is de manding more of the Church than ever; it is imperative that members of Christ’s church today lift high the standard of social purity in order that as soldiers of Jesus Christ they may be fit to fight. The economic condition of mankind is asking the Church how * (Continued to page h)
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 21, 1921, edition 1
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