THE OFFICIAL ORGAN Of THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
r i ’ \
NUMBER SIXTEEN
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1921.
VOLUME FORTY-EIGHT
THINKING THINGS
THROUGH.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
MATTERS—SOME QUES
TIONS ANSWERED.
By Bishop L. W. Kyles, D. D.
The sounding of the gavel at In
dianapolis' at ten o’clock Wednesday
morning, May 7, 1914, will bring to
gether the most interesting, thought- j
ful and progressive group of men and
women ever assembled in an African
Methodist Episcopal Zion General
Conference. The questions to be de
cided by this law-making body are
perhaps the weightiest and most far
reaching in effect of any questions
which have engaged the attention of
previous General Conferences. The
delegates have all been elected and
have had ample time to “think things
through. ’’ Will this General Confer
ence take advantage of the opportu
nity to regulate its machinery for
the new tasks of the new day, or will
we trudge along in beaten paths,
clinging to the antiquated methods
of the past? Time will tell.
Present Restlessness And Its Cause.
In an article appearing in The Star
Of Zion recently we are told that the
process of fermentation going on in
the Church today is but the result
of a recurring habit on the part of
the men to demand changes every
four years as they approach the Gen
eral Conference. Is this statement
correct? The fact that the restless
ness . of today is different in charac
ter degree and effect from the
restlessness which has preceeded any
General Conference in recent years
leads us to doubt seriously the cor
rectness of this statement . Why may
we not as well conclude that the dis
content with present conditions and
the demand for changes in our regu
lations are signs of growth and de
velopment .
The correspondent informs us that
the Church has made progress, that
no changes in our system are neces
sary except ‘‘perhaps a little,” that
we should serve the traditions of the
past and worship ancestral leader
ship, that the landmarks of the fath
ers are sufficient, and that we should
close our eyes to the worthy exam
ples set by other denominations T
am frank to acknowledge that the
Church has made some progress . But
the question is not whether the
church has measured up to its oppor
tunity and meet the increasing de
mands of the new day. I am as frank
to confess that improvement of the
method for the conduct of the Church
has not been commensurate with its
growth in intelligence and the awak
ening which has swept over it. We
have failed to furnish opportunity for
the exercise of the gifts and graces
of the Church, and an outlet for its
pent up energies. These things ac
count for the agitation of the pro
gressive element and the restlessness
which is pervading the Church.
(Continued to page 5)
Just a Word—But as To
Candidates.
By W. J. Trent.
As one follows the articles of The
Star from week to week, he finds
much space given to the candidates
for the different positions in the
Church. Bach writer of course, has
his preference, and is very anxious
to see his friend go over the top.
And while this is true, we ought to
have in mind first of all, “Can he fill
the hill?” Oiir first objective ought
to be the good of the whole Church,
and our second: “Who is the best
man for the position that must be
filled?” In other wards the man and
'Woman of ability, not only to do the
job, but to be able to do team work
as well. This is 'very important at
LOOKING FORWARD.
By Bishop G. C. Clement, D. D.
Some recent statements, proposi
tions, predictions, etc., appearing in
The Star of Zion call for a little in
vestigation, perhaps. Several months
ago we suggested certain lines of ac
tion looking forward to the continued
growth of our Zion. We say contin
ued, for there is a reason. The pres
ent quadrennium has seen the largest
growth in the history of our Church
since the era of Reconstruction. We
must keep on. Somebody sent out
a call for restoring confidence. When
and where and by whom was it lost?
It looks as if it will be foolish, a
waste of time and money, to say the
least, to call the whole Church in del
egated assembly to Indianapolis for
legislation, since already General
Conferences have been held at Rich
mond Charlotte, Montgomery, and
New York. So we have been duly
and truly informed. No official roster
or list of members has been furnish
ed to date, but it seems we are only
to have a ratification meeting at In
dianapolis . It is to be regretted that
the whole Church must bear the ex
pense of holding a General Confer
ence at this time,- when already sec
tional General Conferences have de
cided what must be done. Maybe the
real General Conference will be for
given for presuming to assemb’e May
7,— anyhow, those of us who hare not
met elsewhere will be permitted to
know what has been ordered at the
several and sundry sessions above
mentioned.
Tbe number or Disaops, ana who,
they are to be. a1 so, will po longer
be an open question. There are five
to be elected and the several Gen
eral Conferences have named the
men. Of course these brethren vni1
hrins: their robes with them- Will
they get a chance to wear them?
Two hundred and sixty delegates
must answer this affirmatively.
Does the Church need five bishops?
A large majority of those' we have
consulted think that four will be
enough and to spare. Some Sail at
tion to the fact that we had eleven
at the close of the last General, Con
ference. They forget, that only ten
districts were provided, two afflicted
chief pastors being given one between
them. It was further agreed that
the conferences assigned the two la
mented bishops should automatically
go to certain others in case of death.
All know what happened. Not only
two. but four of our board were called
to their great reward.
For three years seven bishons
have guided our Zion through the
hazardous period of post-war rest
lessness and the great migration.
! Zion has not lost a member, but has
aaired thousands. We do not claim
that seven bishops are sufficient, for
they are not. We need more. The
present board would break fearfuUv
under such a load during another
quadrennium. Three new men would |
be amply sufficient, if it were not for j
our increasing foreign interests. Per
(Continued to page 5)
this sthge of our growth. We have ■
outgrown the individualistic stage of
our development. Big business found ]
this out in its way of doing things
long ago, and the Church must prac
tice it more and more as the pro
gram of the whole denomination is
being made up- No.t *so much that
some one man may stead out in a
little space by himself, but that all
work together for the glory of the (
kingdom. There is «room enough for
all and .work enough 6r all.
Of course the question of charac
ter and fitness must he the sina qua
non, gs Zion Church half always stood
four square for; the highest type of
character. And/ then we ought not
to bar any candidate from the race
simply because/we think that he has
(Continued :to ipage 8)
1 WALKING ABOUT
ZION.
DEVOTIONS AND DEPEND
ENCE UPON THE DIVINE.
By Bishop J. S. Caldwell, D. D.
Mr. Editor: i
I cannot free myself from the
thought that a word about the reli
gious / side of our program at the
forthcoming General Conference
might not he put of place. I am
mindful at the same time of the
fact, that the General Conference is
called to hear reports, enact new
la\vs( amend old ones, and to elect
officers. I believe none of this will
be hindered> but rather all helped
if we keep in mind that all of this is
done to th8 end of building the King
dom and glorifying God.
I have during all of my public life
in the Church, been intensively in
terested in the devotional side of our
public meetings, no matter by what
name such meetings are called. At
two of the pr&ced'ng General Confer
ences we succeeded in getting the
Committee on Program to add ten
additional minutes each day for de
votional services. This time was
largely given to song and praiee ser
vices. The Committee on Program is
allowing thirty minutes at the In
dianapolis Meeting, and giving this
time at the close cfithe morning ses
sion instead of at the opening as here
tofore. This is done to give every del
egate in attendance;, an opportunity
to be at the devotional services. The
morning hours in' advance of th
regular session ar^jttsually devoted
to the meeting of special delegations,
caucus and committee meetings, thus
you see the almost impossibility of
getting the members out of these
meetings in time or even in a frame
of mind to participate with any profit
to devotional exercises. Every mem
ber will, or should be in "his place
and in readiness for the devotional
exercises at the noon hour.
There has always been, and I sup
pose always will be those among us
who attach little importance to the
idea of divine aid in helping to
shape and carry out the policy of
our endeavor in public assemblies
(Continued to page 5)
I -
! Bishop Blackwell’s
I Remarkable Statement.
' A CHALLENGE.
By Rev. T. J. Moppins.
; In Bishop Blackwell’s letter, which
appeared jn The Star of Zion, issued
April 3rd the good Bishop writes a
deserving compliment of the edito
rial quality and success of the Editor
of the Star. To this we beg to add
our humble “Amen,” and ‘‘right you
are.” The good Bishop must be given
credit for frankness. In this he sus
tains his reputation among his breth
ren as saying what he thinks if he
says at all, sayi g it in a manner not
, capable of difficult interpretation. The
Bishop is not in favor of more laws.
He might accept certain regulations.
He then makes the impression that
to make more laws for Rie guidance
and directing of the affairs of the
3 Church will amount to nothing should
(Continued to page 8)
RESURRECTION
JEAN WILLA HOLMES
Old Ship A. M. E. Zion Parsonage
Montgomery, Ala.
RESURRECTION.
. An amarillo richly bloomed
Above the spot where, long entombed.
Its bulbs had silent slept
Until sweet April made soft call
And hung the sunlight in her hall—
Then forth .they crept.
A butter-fly sped past on wing—
A gaily painted, velvet thing
With winsome turn.
It graceful rose to take its throne
Beneath £ honey blossom dome—
To queen from worm!
A blooming tree, the loveliest sight!
So full of green, and flaked with
ihite,
Cast cooling shade.
A miracle had spring performed
On victim, long bv winter stormed,
And art portrayed.
' )
A laugh'ng song the waters sang,
That in the ears of Nature rang,
Who listened, glad;
For it was she who silenced them
When they were chanting winter’s
hymn ,
Too deep, too sad!
An ice-bound, stubborn heart unseal
ed,
And smiling love Was there revealed
To longing eyes.
Oh, other hearts entombed in fear,
In sorrow, hatred, malice—hear:
’Tis time to rise! —J. W. H.
GENERAL CONFER
ENCE HOROSCOPE.
By Bishop G. L. Blackwell.
General Officers’Work.
If all the general £und and all thei
benevolences are sent to the financial
secretary to be divided, and sent to
to the general officers once in three
months, what would the general offi
cer of a given department at a $2060
salary (as proposed) have to do dur
ing the quarter? Say for instance,
take the half quarter immediately fol
lowing the General Conference and
the quarter beginning with July, what
would he receive from the clearing
house even for his salary much less
money for his department? It must
be remembered that salaries are paid
first, and jf the bishops are precluded
[ from collecting and receipting for
general fund (as is proposed), then
they must be paid first according to
'the present law. So with twelve
I bishops, as is proposed, at $3500 or
$3600 each, it would take all the mon
ey, general fund and benevolences,
to pay the bishops, certainly from
June to October of every year. Then,
what would the general officers, thet
schools, the superannuated ministers;
and others do? They would either have
to go without any pay or borrow
money to live on at six per cent and
perhaps a bonus. This would work a
hardship on them, and the benefici
aries of their departments would
suffer. Then, too, the proposed clear
ing house plan would leave the gen
eral officers, all except the financial
secretary, without an appeal. It
might be said that he should go out
and hustle, but should he go out
among the brethren he would be
handicapped in his appeals since no
part of the money j-aised by his in
fluence can be paid over to him by
the pastor he ,visits. But you say let
him hustle otherwise and replenish
his treasury; but this has never been
done to any large extent by any gen
eral officer since we have been pay
ing them living salaries, and you n°od
not expect others to do so, for human
nature is about the same in new offi
cers as that in old ones. We can make
the system bring the money if we
will, as at present, apportion so much
to be raised for a certain benevolence
and let it be sent directly to the
office.
In that case the, officer will have
an appeal and a chance to hustle- He
can. help the pastor raise the quota
for his. department, and perhaps in
duce him to do a work of supereroga
tion. This is about all of the hustling
any general officer has done or will
do. Just imagine a general officer re
ceiving only'about $25 for himself
and .about one hundred dollars for his
department from June 1 to September
30! This is about all he could expect,
for the salaries of seven bishops
would have to be paid from January
1( 1924, and the salaries of the new
bishops from June 1. And if the
bishops are prohibited from receiving
and receipting for general fund, then
they will contend that their salaries
be paid in full at $300 per month
each. In that case the financial sec
retary would have to go in the mar
ket and borrow sufficient money to
pay them, saying nothing about the
salaries of the general officers. He
may not want to do this, but you
will find that he will have to do it
or the bishops and general officers
will have to meet and change the
system when it collapses.
Why Rob the General Officer?
There are suggestions offered to ilk*
crease the salaries of the general of
ficers. I am not opposed to that pro
vided th& proposition carries to in
crease the salaries of.bishops. But
upon what ground is the general offi
cer’s salary to be increased when you
take away from him a part of the
(Continued to page 5)
subscribe
art*
E NOW FOR THE DAILY GENERAL