Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / Nov. 30, 1922, edition 1 / Page 7
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HISTORICAL ADDRESS.—RE-OP. ENING OF ST. PETERS A. M. E. ZION CHURCH, NEW BERN, N. C., OCT. 1, 1922. By Hon. W. W. Lawrence, LL. D. f -- Worthy mistress of ceremonies, presiding elder, pastor and mem. bers of St. Peters A. M. E. Zion church,—greetings: It affords me one of the great pleasures of my life to be assigned the pleasant duty of delivering the historical address on this occasion, the re.opening of the old mother church in this south land. We oon_ gra'tulate all the members and friends, both white and colored who have made it possible for this beau, tiful interior of our church, maiding it second to none in Zion connec. tion. We can all unite with Emerson in singing: “Walk about Zion and go round about her, Tell all her towers, tell the towers thereof; Mark ye well he^ bulwarks, consider well her palaces That ye may tell it to the generations following; For this God is our God forever, He will be our Guide, even unto death. Praise ye the Lord, praise ye, the Lord for evermore. ” Then again when he sings: “The Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort her waste places. And make her like Eden, like the gar_ den of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein. Thanksgiving and the voice of mel. ody; Joy and peace shall dwell in thee; Zion City of our God, Joy and peace shallidwell in thee." On the 20th day of January, 1864, Rev. James Walker Hood, our late senior bishop, came to this city, he having been assigned to this work by Bishop J. J. Clinton, D. D., who j was in charge of this mission field. I This was during the civil war, amd in ! the wake of Generals Burnside and Sherman’s armies. At that time he found us worshipping in old Andrew chapel with the white congregation!, they holding service in the morning, and we holding service in the after, noon the same having been carried on for more than 40 years before that time. Bishop Hood succeeded in getting us to unite with the A. M. E. Zion connection. The M. E. church (white) however, enter*. 1 their protest, and with the white bishop endeavored to hold this which consisted of St. Andrew chapel and the parsonage on New Street near the Frog pond. The case finally went before Geineral Burnside, who Wag in charge of the military forces at New Bern. When the decision was handed down through the military cbainnel it was in our favor, stating ' that in as much as both the white people and the colored people had worshipped in St. Andrew chapel for a number of years prior to the J war and as the white people had moved their place of worship and the colored people had continued to wor. ship there, that they were the lawful owners. This decision held good but the whites continued the legal battle for this property until after we had built this St. Peters church, and after I was elected trustee, a prop osition came to our board, that since they had assisted us in building our church and we had no further use of . Sf. Andrew chapel asj a place of wor. ship, and in order to be in a position to sell and give a good and clear ti_ tie if w<e would sign a quit.claim deed to them for St. Andrew chapel, they would sign the same to us for the parsonage property which was done, and we both sold the property, and both congregations were benefitted. Rev. W. H. Thurber finished our new church and it was dedicated in 1865. General Conference was held in 1888 at which time Revs, C. C. Petty and C. R. Harris were elected bish ops after that famous speech of Dr. J. C. Price was made which carried the General Conference by storm, and caused the election of these two bishops. Rev. C. H. Smith was our pastor at that time ^nd placed the seats in the gallery and made other improvements in order to entertain the General Conference. ’ N Rev. W. H. Thurber was reap, pointed to St. Peters church and served us well. He was the president of the E, N.C. Oriental Fair Associa tion and your humble servant' was secretary, and we succeeded in get. ting an appropriation of $600.00 each year. He died while serving us and was followed by Rev. H. C. Phil lips during whose administration Dr. J. C. Price, president of Living, stone College, and also Prof. J. L. Battle of the same college, died. However, he was in the mail service at the time of his death. Rev. R. S. Rives followed Rev. Phillips, and built our parsonage in 3 months being assisted by your humble servant who superintended the work. Rev. Rives was followed by Rev. J. H. Love, D. D. During his administration the present center tower of the church was planned and built, he having drawln the designs. He served us for four years. During his adminis tration Rev. Dr. Wm. Howard Day, general secretary, and Prof. Nobles at Livingstone College, died. Rev. Love was replaced by Rev. S. B. Gas kill, who served us faithfully one year and was followed by Rev. J. Harvey Anderson? who had a sue. ceessful rally raising $2,000.00, and in this rally your humble servant won a silk hat. He raised the highest amount—$200. Dr. Anderson com pleted the lecture room and paid the church outy of debt which amounted to $2,800.00, and did much construe, tive work. He was followed by Rev. B. F. Wheeler, I>. D., who was a great theologian and financier, and who had been a strong candidate for the office of bishop, but failed in be. ing elected, and no doubt, this con. tributed to his premature death, v^hich occurred during his first year of pastoring our church. Rev. Rich, ard Sawyer filled out his unexpired term. Rev. W. H. Chambers, D. D._ was appointed the next year and served for two years. He aso was a great theologian and evangelist. He held several good revivals. He was j followed by Rev. R. A. Carroll, D. D., who served us for two years and ! at that time we needed a strong and i brave man, as the 7th Day Adventists I were trying to take our membership. However, he was master of the sit uation. He was the first to attempt to rebuild St. Peters, and he 1 pur. chased a car load of bricks, and fin. ally became discouraged. He was fol. lowed by Rev. C. D. Hazel, D. D., who undertook to lead us to the promised land or a brick church and with Bishop Walters and a strong board of trustees by his side he 'suc ceeded in landing us into a brick edifice. We say, all honor to Dr. Hazel. He was followed by Rev. W. H. Reddick, who, with the ushers’ board, lowered the concrete floor in tne lecture room and also built the steps. He was followed by Rev. W. H. Wetherspoon, D. D., who was a great preacher and who installed the I $3,000.00 pipe organ. He also had a grealt rally in which your humble ser vant raised $400.00 and was present, ed with a $35'.00 watch chain. He was succeeded by Rev. K. T. Thompson, D. D., who is a great financier and has nearly doubled our collections, put in a $2,000 heating plant, remodelled our church and it is now a place of beauty the work having been done by F. E. Ander son, a trustee and contractor; R. L. Gardner, a leading carpenter and other workmen of our race of whom we are proud. . Now we sing: “Heavenly dwelling rich thy treas ure, Oh! How sweet thy hallowed peace, These are blessings without number Every sorrow here shall cease. Heavenly dwelling, may we meet thee, May we join the happy throng, Then our voices there shall greet thee, Then we’ll sing the rapturous song, of Moses and the Lamb.” New Bern, JJ. C. NOTICE Please serve this notice through your paper as an inquiry. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Rev. G. W. McMillan or any of his people, please do me the kind ness of writing Rev. B, N. Hennig. ham. at 417 Chess Streeit Coraopolis Pa. The writer is a nephew of Rev. McMillan. Signed: E. McMillan. RESOLUTIONS FROM STATE ST. A. M. E. ZION CHURCH. Whereas: It is an accepted fact that the next General Conference of the A. M. E. Zion connection, when assembled ih Indianapolis, Ind., in May 1924, will elect one or more men to the office of bishop; and, Whereas: These men must be min. isters of the gospel, consecrated in character ripe with experience meL f 5 low in charity, holding the confidence of their colleagues, and possessing unusual piety. Coupled with these qualities should be a high degree of scholarship, a thorough knowledge of theological training, and convincing forcefulness as a preacher. Along with these characteristics should be blended strong ability along financial limes, plus the power to lead and di rect men in their church activities, and, Whereas: State Street church of the city of Mobile, Ala. has a man at the present time as its pastor, who is the symbol of all the virtues above enumerated, and having implicit faith and confidence in him as a man and Christian, therefore, be it, Resolved: That we, the officers qnd members of State Street church herewith assembled in a business meeting at the church, on this date, do endorse and recommend to the forthcoming General Conference the Rev. W. D. Speight, D. D. for the office of bishop. Be it further* Resolved: That we do pledge to work and pray incessantly for the re_ alization of these resolutions. Be it further, Resolved: That we do petition the ministerial and lay delegates of the West Alabama conference, and all the conferences of the state of Al abama, of the Zion connection to col operate to elevate this native Alaba. mian to the position which he so rich, ly deserves. Mobile, Ala. JOTTINGS FROM GRIFTON CIR. CUIT GRIFTON, N; C. By Rev. D. J. McDowell, Pastor. Dear Editor: Success was enjoyed in celebrat ing the 27th anniversary of Zion Temple A. M. E. Zion church, which began November 6th to 12th—with seven preachers seven sermons for seven nights with seven queens and each member of the church to pay $1.27. Drs. A. J. Kelly, J. E. Hold. er S. R. Walker, E‘. F. Rollins S. ’ >! T. Moyle (white), C. W. Browir'and Rev. H. Hopkins preached strong sermons to the delight of all. We raised $213.68 and added three to the church. The public collection was $9.09. God be praised for.our success. Miss Beulah Raspberry was crowned queen. We have a loyal set of mem. bers on the Grifton circuit. Tarboro, N. C. , ' BRO. GEO. HENDERSON PASSES AWAY. By A. B. Moseley. Scarcely had the echo of Bishop Kyles in reappointing us to the pas. toral charge of the Cleveland circuit died away when we were called to Cedar Grove church to perform the last sad rites over Brd. George Hen derson, who departed thlis life Tues. day,’ November 21st., 1922. ‘ Young Henderson was only a lad of 18 summers yet noted for his firm, ness of purpose and largeness of heart. Hie was a very quiet and modest young man. He was a mem ber of Cedar Grove A. M. E. Zion church and Sunday School, also a member of the usljer board of the same church. His funeral was conducted from the above named church on Thurs day, November 23rd by the pastor. He was very popular in the commun ity in which he livedj which was greatly evidenced by the large num ber who attended his funeral. He leaves a mother, two sisters^ one brother, a grandfather and grandmother and a stepfather to mourn their loss. Salisbury ? N. C. NOTICE. - * ■ If you want your minutes on time always deposit a part of the money. You are aware that we must meet expenses. If this is done there will be no delay in the completion of the work. In preparing the copy for the minutes be sure and write* on only one side of the paper. A. M. E. Zion Publishing House. Going to Build a Church? Latest Church Plans Send for Free Samples State Denomination and'Price of Church W. A. BAYFIELD & CO. Church Architects BIRMINGHAM, - ALABAMA Mention This Paper I NOTICE.—i-THE HEART OF THE LESSON. Lee’s Pocket Commentary on the International Sunday School Lesson, for 1923. Price 35c, postage 2<v— when sent in single copies. The new Commentary contains the lesson text and maps of Old and New Testament countries. ' How many copies, may I send yon for your officers and teachers? Send in your order by return mail. Get a copy of “Building the Sermon** a simple and comprehensive work for both the beginner and advanced student or preacher. Sernf all orders to J. Francis Lee? Box 1093, Charlotte, N. C. MALE HELP WANTED. MEN WANTED.—For detective work. Experience unnecessary. Write for details explaining guaranteed positions. J. Ganor, Former Govern ment Detective, St. Louis, Mo. 80UTHERN RAILWAY 8CHE0ULE. Passenger Train Schedules. Arrival and departure of Passenger trains, Charlotte, N. C. Lv. |No.| Between 2? j Atlanta-B’gham 3t)i Wash.-New Y’k 32|Wash.-New York. 15|Atlanta-Danviile ■ 5|Columbia.I 86 12|Taylorsvllle.... I 11 No. ”30 29 31 43 ’38 (Wash-New York 138|Wash-New York R’hmond-Norfk B’gham-N. OTns CTrnbla-Chals’n Winston - Salem G’ville-W’minsT G’bf>"o-Danville -, C’luinbia-A’g’sta 8 :20al 16|Taylorsville .. .. 10:12a| 36INew York-Wash 9:25a 137IAtlanta .. 37!Atlanta-N. OTns 10:37a 4:25a 11:30a 37 137 11 30 114 9 48 45 32 Ar.. 12:65a 3;l5a 7:10a 11 -2*Jp 9:l#a x8:00a 10;»C* 10 a 5a 10:06a 12 :35p» 12:45** 4 :I*p 7:2«g 35 138 38 1ST S:Mj» O-OOp t:»9 U 4;58* B:Sf* 44 G’boro-Danville. 14fSalisb’y,. W4nst’n Barber, Moores vllle. Norfolk- Richm'd Atlanta .. .. x—Daily except Sunday. Through Pullman sleeping car serv ice to Washington, Philadelphia New York, Richmond, Norfolk. Atlanta Birmingham, Mobile. New Orleans. Unexcelled service, convenient schedules and direct connections to all points.' Schedules published ns information and are not guaranteed. CITY TICKET OFFICE 207 West Trade St Phone 20 PASSENGER STATION, West Trade Street. Phone 417, R. H. GRAHAM Division Passenger Agent Phone 3800. Branch 7 / rhe “QUALITY” Preparations known throughout the United States and Foreign countries for the good they do!
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 30, 1922, edition 1
7
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