THE 56TH 8E3SI0N OF THE LOU
ISIANA CONFERENCE.
By M. S. Berry,
The Louisiana annual conference
convened with Tasker chapel A. M. i
E. Zion church in Ponchatoula, La.,
on November 16th to the 20th, 1921,
with Bishop P. A. Wallace, A. M.,
D. D., presiding. He is the bishop of
the eighth Episcopal District.
The conference opened with nearly
all of the ministers and delegates
present. At 10 A. M., the Presiding
Elder Rev. D. J. Adams, lined hyatn
“And are we yet alive^ ’’etc., sod it ;
was sung with a spirit by the confer- I
ence. The Scripture lesson was read j
from the Psalm of David and it was I
deeply commented upon by the bish
op. Prayer was offered by the P- E.,
Rev. D. J. Adams, D. D., after which
the second hymn was sung led by
Rev. A. James.
The bishop introduced Rev. A.
Beckham to preach the annual ser
mon for the conference. His text was
taken from the 1st chapter of St.
John and the 9th verse, and from this
text he preached an interesting and
inspiring sermon.
The conference was then organiz
ed.
Mrs. Ada F. Reid was elected sec
rStary; Rev. A. Shinn, D. D., statis
tical secretary; M. S. Berry,.reporter
to The Star of Zion; Mrs. Bertha
McKay, reporter to the Seer; Rev.
A. Beckham and S. Miles, marshals.
The bishop then delivered a fine'
address on his trip to the European
countries and the Ecumenical Con
ference. This address was fine. Also
45 minutes each morning was taken
up in lecturing to the conference on
his trip to Europe.
All the ministers with churches
made good reports.
On Wednesday night we -were
blessed with a sermon delivered by
Rev. G. W. Lee, pastor of Big Zion
church in Roseland, La. He announc
ed for his text Isaiah 30: 27, and from
this text he preached a good ser
mon.
Thursday was devoted to collecting
personal taxes and hearing reports
from the lay delegates. All with the
exception of a very few asked for the
return of their pastors.
Friday night was given to the
women. A spicy program was ren
dered and Rev. Draper preached 'a
fine missionary sermon. Collection
$150.00.
Sunday was a high day in Zion.
Rev. H. M. Reid, pastor of Tasker
chapel spared no pains in making
everything pleasant. At 9:30 A. M.,
the- Sunday School was conducted by
the district superintendent, Brother
M. S. Berry. At 11:30 Bishop P. A.
Wallace preached a wonderful ser
mon and . ordained Rev. J. C. May
field and Rev. I. C. L. Robertson el
ders.
On Sunday night the appointments
were read by the bishop as follows:
New Orleans district, Presiding
Elder Rev. D. J. Adams.
'Pettie chapel, H. M. Reed; Timothy
Mission, S. L. Brown; St. Mark, E.
Dilon; Tasker chapel, J. H. Hall; Al
stork Mission and Natalbenna, I. C.
L. Robinson; Claborn, A. D. Jackson;
Boekham chapel, C. H. Wright; Zion
Believer J. S. Calahan; Covington,
: I. C. Calahan; Gibson, W. McWat
son; Goslen Mission, A. F. Goslen;
Mt. Peleor, S. Preston; Kennored,
Fred Collins; Baton Rouge, W. M.
Turner; Manderville, L. Walker;
Wallace Mission, J. C. Mayfield; Sli
dell, S. Miles; Madisonville, W. H.
Hill; Over the Lake Mission, E. Sea
more.
District Officers.
President W. H. and F. M.. society,
Mrs. L. B. Thornton; secretary of the
Y’s, Mrs. R. C. Pierre; superinten
dent of the Buds, Alice Haynes; dis
trict secretary, Ada F. Reed; district
superintendent of the Sunday School,
M. S. Berry; President of the V. C.
E., W. C. Davis.
Roseland district, J. W. Gravis,
Presiding Elder.
Big Zion, A. Shinn; Butler’s chapel,
G. W. Lee; New Hope, H. Bell; Trin
ity, H. L. Davis; Ard chapel, H. L.
Davis; Pleasant Valley; A. Beckham;
Camp 15, J. G. R. Singleton; Kent
n wood, S. M. Washington; Magno
lia Mission, J. M. Draper; New Star,
H. Bell; Zion Hill; Jas. McCoy; Me
Comb, H. Washington; Crier chapel,
Jas. McCoy; HolmVille, A. Beckham,
Osyka Mission, G. B. Curry.
District president of W. H. and F.
M. society.; Buds, B. E. Me
Kay; secretary of Y’s, Mrs. Clara
CrummioiJ; superintending of -tie
Buds, Willie Calahan; Sunday School
superintendent, H. C« Carter; V. C.
E., .,_ Collier; secretary, Sister
Annie Curry.
The next session will be held at
Butler’s chapel A. M. E. Zion church,
Amite, La., November 15, 1922.
Ponchatoula, La.
THE WORK AT ST. JOHN A. M. E.
ZION CHURCH.
By Rev. Dennis S.. Blackwell.
The old historic St. John is mov
ing right along with one of the best
set of members in all Zion. We did
not only raise our Publication House
money, but we sent in our general
claims, and on Monday the second
we observed the emancipation cel
ebration. A large gathering com
posed of some of the leading talent
of Gates county, common laborers
and farmers, teachers and ministers
was present, and a most excellent
program was rendered. It was cold,
but people came from far and near.
The old Virginia conference has
changed her date from November to
July the 19th and will convene with
St. John A. M .E. Zion church, Sun
tury, N. C.
We have organized and started off.
Our Sunday School is graded with
more than 200 scholars, 20 teachers
and a regular training class. We have
teachers’ meeting every Tuesday ev
ening. Beside the regular school we
have a cradle roll of 39 babies. Mr.
J. M. Beamon is the efficient super
intendent.
Our church is also organized. We
have 3 classes or departments. We
practically run two churches in one.
Our church is called a bee-hive.
Our minor or juvenile church with
64 children as members of that
church from 9 to 15 years old are all
at work. We have 24 class leaders
in the main church and 5 in the ju
venile. Bach church has its own offi
cers.
The people at Sunbury are big
hearted. We have a seven room par
sonage well furnished.
The loyal trustees have raised pas
tor’s salary to $1,200.
We keep up our current expenses
and have paid for our new $000.00
pews. We rejoice to say the church
is moving on.
Sunbury, N. C.
UNION OF COLORED METHOD
ISTS.
By Rev. J. T. Moppins.
On February 8, 1922 the College
of Bishops of the A. M. E. Zion
church will meet in winter session at
Montgomery, Alabama. We are in
formed the bishops of the A. M. E.
and C. M. E. Connection will meet
at the sam.e time and place. We
presume from the joint call or no
tice published in the general organs
of the respective Connections that
the subject of organic union between
these bodies will occupy supreme
place in the plenary sessions at Mont
gomery. It is not definitely known
whether there will be representatives
and privileges outside the inner cir
cle; therefore it seems befitting that
we who are deeply concerned should
at least make public our positions.
The writer enjoys the pleasure of
personal acquaintance with most of
the leading spirits in these Connec
tions and has somewhat of an idea
as to the programme and ambitions.
We feel justified in saying that to our
honest opinion neither of these Con
nections can put forth real, tangi
ble, material or moral grounds based
on logic for. the continual separation
of these Churches. It is even now be
ing said that a few ambitious, self
willed men are hindering and ob
structing organic union (between these
Connections of Methodism. Is it true
that the Colored Methodist organiza
tions comprising nearly two millions
of members and adherents are with,
( out sufficient moral force and faith
to overcome a few wilful men caring
only for themselves and a few false
friends? Are we as a church ready
for the leadership of Jesus who is
the head of the church? Have we ar
rived at the point where we must
make a public confession that after
almost a hundred years of continuous
effort we are no nearer the hill-top
of vision than our grand-fathers were
when they talked union and practiced
isolation? Can we give any'just rea
son for this overlapping and almost
criminal waste of the Lord’s money,
contending and contesting for first
f >
place among the worldly minded
people while the real cause of Jesus j.
Christ suffers defeat right-at our
doors? We can build or purchase
great buildings within a block of each
other and suffer honorable old age
to die of need in the center of the
block between, untouched and friend
less. We send two fullfledged pastors
in a community where only one can
be cared for decently, thereby over
taxing a credulous people with bur
dens we know they are unable to
bear. We take advantage of Insur
rections in local congregations, where
worldly minded people, led on by)
the evil spirit, seek to destroy the |
good of other days whenever it fails
to serve their selfish purposes and
aims.
With organic union all of this will
ultimately pass and true mission
workers will take the place of min
isterial black-mail. Hospitals we will
. have and paid deaconesses to visit
the sick. The blind man will have an
other chance at Christ on the public
highway, and the real pastor, God
jsent, will have time to read his Bi
ble before he ascends the pulpit.
With organic union public speak
ing in assemblies concerning our rel
ative strength as a distinct organiza
tion will give place to an honest and
honorable survey of our resources.
With organic union we are assured
of a real theological seminary from
the star^ also a mission training
school. '
With organic union we will carry
the cross to foreign lands under one
banner. There will be no Zion Meth
odist church of God, no African
Methodist church of God, and no Col
ored Methodist church of God spread
out before the heathen mind de
manding that he make a choice.
Finally, the only way to unite is to
unite! When the pastor at Bethel, In
dianapolis, Ind., is sent to Metropol
itan St. Louis, and Metropolitan is
sent to St. John, Montgomery, Ala.,
we will be on the direct road to or
ganic union. But so long as Bethel
pastor opposes organic union on the
ground of his ambition for general
office and the same thing of Metro
politan we will get no where.
May God give to the church and to
the ministers within the spirit of the
great baptizer, who said to his fol
lowers, “I must decrease, He (Christ)
must increase.” Alas!” we have not yet
discovered the fine art of taking sec
ond place, even for Jesus Christ, the
Master of life.
St. Louis, Mo. "
THE 52ND ANNUAL SESSION OF
THE FLA. CONFERENCE.
By Dr. J. S. Nelson, P. E.
The 52nd annual session of the
Flonda conference convened in Big
Zion church on Wednesday, Novem
ber 9 th, 1921, with Rt. Rev. P. A.
Wallace, A. M., D. D., presiding bish
op of the eigh h Eeisc-.pal District
in the- chiir. Thi opcn.ng hymn was
led by Dr. M. Rankin, P. E. Scripture
lesson was read by Dr. J. S. Nelson
—the 12th chapter of Romans. Pray- j
er. Dr. J. H. Hall led in singing
“There is rest for the weary.” At
11:00 A. M., Rev. G. W. Powell was
appointed to preach the opening ser
mon which was enjoyed, by all. The
bishop arose and made some timely
remarks and urged the members to |
cooperate in making the conference
a success. The bishop proceeded to
organize the conference. Prof. Aaron
Brown was chosen as chief secretary; j
" Rev. D. W. Tillman, statistician; Dr.
J. S. Nelson, reporter “to The Star of
Zion and daily papers; Miss Annie
Brewer, reporter to the Seer; Miss
€. E. Baker, the bishop’s secretary.
We then had the administering of
the Lord’s Supper. Dr. Nelson led in
singing, “I heard the voice of Jesus
say.” etc. Dr. W. W. Matthews, sec
i retary of Mission's, was introduced
! to the conference. He gave us a new
1 vision on mission work. Dr. Matthews
is the right man in the right place.
The general routine of business was
then taken up. Ttr gpF’e of the dull
times each pastoF made a splendid
report. Dr. M. Rankin^ presiding el
der of the Pensacola district, gave
gAod account of his work. Dr. J. S.
Nelson, P. E., of the Milton district,
made a fine report of his work.
The conference was well attended
each day. Every preacher who
preached seemed to be at his best.
On Friday night the missionary la
dies gave us a fine program.- Dr.
Matthews is a live wire in* Zion. He
knows how to handle mission work.
The bishop told us of his trip to
.•’: . .r~ . - . ' & ,'
London which was much enjoyed by
all. Dr. Matthews also told of his. trip
in a very pleasant way.
Sunday at 11:00 A. M. the bishop
preached a wonderful sermon from
the text Matthew 14th chapter and
4th verse. He proved himself a work
man for God. Bishop Wall ice is a
great leader of men.
At 7:30 P. M. Dr. W. W. Matthews
was appointed to preach. The doc
tor’s text was found in, I Samuel 17th
chapter, 39th verse. All present en
joyed the interesting discourse.
. Prof. Aaron Brown is a strong lay
man in our Zion. He is making th'
V, C. E. go. This was one of the best
sessions we have ever held.
Appointments.
Dr. J. S. Nelson, P. E. of the Pen
sacola district.
Big Zion, Dr. G. W. Johnson;
Houser chapel. Dr. J. M. Cornell; Mt.
Mariah, Rev. H. Graves; St. Mark,
Dr. M. Rankin, Muscogee, Rev. W. M.
Sias; Quintett and Powelton, Rev. J.
W. 'Wlilfiams; M411vie|w, Springhill
and Olive, I Knight; district pres
ident W. H. and F. M. society, Mrs.
G. W. Johnson; secretary of Y’s,
Mrs. Elizabeth Graham; superinten
dent of Buds, Mrs. Rebie Robinson.
Rev. C. M. Joshua, A. B., P. E. of
the Milton district,
Rev. W. K. Killingsworth, Isaiah
chapel; Rev. McHenry Yentee, Ed
ward chapel; Rev. L. W. Rice, Es
cambia chapel; Rev. E. E. Scott, j
Woodville and Haynes Mission; Rev.
W. M. Renzie, Holts and Miligan;
Rev. I*. W. Parham, Caryville and
Bonifay; Rev. E. M. Sherfield, Homes
Valley; Rev. I. F. Bell, Panama City;
Rev. E. L George, Tallahassee; dis
tirct president of W. H. and F. M.
society, Mrs. Perly Kelker; secreta
ry of the Y’s, Miss C. E. Baker; su
perintendent of the Buds, Miss Lot
tie Scott.
Pensacola, Fla.
SEED THOUGHTS.
By Rev. N. T. Hunter, Pastor of St.
Paul A. M. E. Zion church.
Church extension is divine. It is
God’s ideal thought. It is God’s per
ennial stream to bless mankind. It
has two meanings; the first is ex
pansion, spreading out, going for
ward, planting the visible kingdom
of God among men. The church is the
visible kingdom of God.
Secondly, it means to perpetuate,
keep alive what you have—let not
the fire go out on the hearthstone—
to improve, rebuild. Expansion and
perpetuation of the kingdom of God
are inseparably connected with the
salvation and well-being of mankind.
All of God’s laws and commandments
have come to us through the church',
and perhaps the greatest manifesta
tion that God has made of Himself
has been in and to the church. This
sometimes was to an individual re
presentative of His church; at other
times to the church itself. The smoke
of Abel’s sacrifice is still ascending.
Enoch is still walking with God. The
sound of Noah’s hammer in building
the Ark to perpetuate the church is
still heard. The marching forth of
the sons of Noah to preserve the
name of God and to extend and per
petuate His church has not ceased.
Abraham, leaving his home and go
ing forth into, a strange land is not
forgotten. Jacob is still contending
for a blessing, and the place is still
named Bethel—House of God. The
' burning 'bush is still on fire. Mt. Si
nai has not forgotten the great con
ference between Jehovah and Moses.
The thunder has ceased, the light
ning disappeared, and the smoke van
ished, but the footprints ofxthe di
vine apd the human are s£ill there.
The Shekinah is still hovering over
the ark of the covenant. The wings
of the. cherubim are still touching
the walls of the inner and outer
courts. The bells upon the skirts of
the sons of Levi are still crying:
“Holiness unto the Lord";” and the
tambourines beaten by the daughters
of Levi are still echoing: “The Lord
God dwelleth here and this is His
holy temple.” The manger in the sta
ble of Bethlehem will never be for
gotten. The Judean hills are still
echoing: “Glory to God in the high
est, peace on earth, good will to
man.” The command is still ringing
over the land and sea: “Go ye into
all the world and preach my gospel.”
Jerusalem’s Pentecostal showers are
still being poured out upon the na
tions and the tongues of fire are still
speaking, Constantine’s cross is still
appearing in the heavens, and the
church is reading, “By this sign we
shall conquer.” -
Nineteen hundred and twenty-two.
is written over the door of the temples
of the A. M. E. Zion ehurch, and out
of that door oomes a long line of he
roes: Bishops J. S. Caldwell, G. L..
Blackwell, L. W. Kyles, W. L. Lee..
G. C. Clement, J. W. Wood, P. A„
Wallace. Then come our general offi
cers and pastors. I must stop. The-,
host is too numerous to name, but.
they all have one object. It is not.
written on paper, but deep in their
hearts with'the blood of Christ, “The
extension of the A. M. E* Zioix.
church.”
The A. M. E. Zion church exten
sion means to extend the Zion churcha
into countries, villages and towns and:
cities where we have no churches
it means to perpetuate the A. M. E..
Zion church by paying off debts, re
building and building churches where?
we are already established, and.
hence it is the most important work,
in the church, because it is extend
ing the visible kingdom of Christ,,
and ought to have the first attention:
and care. It is divine, and he who*
helps in this work is a co-worker
with Christ in extending the king
dom of God. Saving souls and build
ing churches are the highest and best,
work that a man can do in this life,,
and, possibly, there is no better
work in the life beyond. No money isi
better spent and will produce better
results than when given to extend,
the kingdom of Christ, to build
churches.
We are hete located on 12th and
Spring Streets in the city of Little
Rock, Ark., and we expect to buildf
magnificent church and ask for the
Board of Bishops in 1923 at St. Paul
A. M. E. Zion church.
Yours for God and the uplift of hu
manity.
Little Rock, Ark.
ECHOES FROM THE LAND OF“
THE SKY—PARAGRAPHIC COM
MENTS ON THINGS IN GENER
ALf ETC,
By Rev. E. M. Argyle, B. D.
Reminiscences.
Looking back over the year 1921^ *
one can but scarcely keep back it,
sigh of relief. As we begin, to enum
erate the trials and heartaches, the:
clouds and shadows, the disappoint
ments and moments of utter dis
couragements all rushing up behind:
us, seemingly to remind us of what
yet awaits in the New Year, but as.
these hazy clouds roll away in the:
distance, we grasp a new hope, and
behold a new vision and OHr hearts '
bound with new energy, and the soul
sings a new song, from which we?
catch new inspiration, and enter
the New Year with a new jubilance.
But only the man or woman who
has absolute faith in God can look:
forward with new jubilance. There
may be joy in anticipation of accu
mulation of many of the good things
of life by the sensual minded. There
may be hopeful anticipations of suc
cess by the business man. There may
b.e some men and women who antic
ipate achieving greatness and win
ning a place in the limelight of the
public. But there is no joy likt that
of a true .Christian who knows that
his heavenly Father will not only
take care of, but provide for him, so
with this assurance of Christ as our
leader we start down the trail to the
grave with Christ as our leader^
trustful, hopeful and believing.
MEN.
We have been wondering for tuit»
a while of the possibilities at our
next General Conference. We might,
attach a new title to those who stand
to fore and most mentioned, “Who*
is who and why?” It is our purpose
-to write a series of articles under
this New Caption later on, not as
boomlets—far from any intention to
boom any special class or set of men
for office in the church; hut since
men have laudable ambitions that
would embarrass them personally to
launch their own campa^gn^, and
since some of them are my personal
friends, and since we have no aspira
tions to go to the top—for as I am—
laboring in the trenches among the
meek and lowly—I really have a
chance of being saved when my la
bors are ended; but should I get up
higher, I might catch the prevalent
distemper of sordid greed and ava
rice, and -in the scramble for popular
ity—and wealth—finally be lest.
From such “Good Lord, deliver ns.”'
(Continued to page 3)