! < ?zi4
THE
©,uabrennial Hfcbress
OF THE
ffitsbops of tbe H. E. Cburcb
»
— —TO THE
£
GENERAL CONFERENCE,
** gj\;
CONVENED IN
TOUimngton, 1R. <L, flDa^ 4tb, 1896,
i /-
Read by BISHOP BENJ. W. ARNETT.
THE
Sluafcremual Bfcfcress
OF THE
Btsbops of tbe H. (JNS E. (Eburcb
TO THE —
GENERAL CONFERENCE,
CONVENED IN
TOUmmoton, 1R. <L, 4tb, 1896.
Read by BISHOP BENJ. W. ARNETT.
INDEX.
Salutation 9
Congratulations 10
Necrology 13
The Episcopal Dead 14
The Publication Department 16
Higher Literature 20
Repository 21
Review 22
What Others Think 25
The Southern Christian Recorder 27
Missionary Department 28
The Mite Missionary Society 30
Financial Laws 33
The Financial Department 36
Educational Department 39
Endowment Day 42
Payne Seminary 43
Ministerial Education 44
Educational Progress 45
Union Seminary 48
Recommendations 48
Sunday School Union 49
Receipts and Expenditures of the Sunday School Union £2
Corporate Wealth 53
Church Extension 54
Things to Remember 55
The Seed Time 5^
The White Ribbon 59
Christian Co-operation 60
Christian Endeavor 61
Is the Young Man Safe 62
Our Young Women 64
Mite Missionary Conventio-n 64 A
"The Voice of Missions" 64 D
" Light and Love 64 D
The Twentieth Century 65
False Accusation 65
Divorces 66
The Hymnal 66
Parliament of Religions 68
Pedology 70
Membership 71
Pastors 72
Presiding Elders 72
Episcopal Districts 73
Foreign Missionary Work 83
Open Fields 88
Three Bishops 88
The Methodist Church and the Race 88
Centennial Celebration 91
The Harvest 92
THE QUADfcEflfllAIi ADDRESS
OP THE
BISJ40PS OF TflB A. Jrt. E.
SALUTATION.
Dear Brethren, Jlembers of the Twentieth General Conference of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Greeting :
Grace, Mercy and Feace from God our Father, and from
the Lord Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Ghost, the
Comforter and Guide of our Fathers, in the night of their
bondage, and our church in its infancy, our Shield and
Buckler, our help in the ages that are past, and our hope
for years to come.
We feel a deep sense of gratitude to Almighty God for His
manifold blessings toward us, He has wonderfully pre¬
served our lives and watched over us and cared for us, and has
continued to furnish life, health, food, shelter and raiment
for our bodies, knowledge for our minds, and the grace of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for our hearts. For these
blessings and all others, we thank our heavenly Father
who has led us by His counsel and protected us by His
omnipotent arm; to Him be the glory for the victories we
have won, for the golden harvest we have gathered, for the
success that has attended the preaching of His word, and
for the answers to the prayers of our Fathers in preserving
our Country and its Institutions.
We meet as veteran soldiers of the army of the living
10
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
God, to recount the weary marches, the days of hunger and
nights of thirst, the struggles on many a field, and to testify
to the power of the Captain of our salvation.
Let us review the past history of the Church, confer as
to our present duty and future action, consult the Guide book
of Pilgrim man, and then let us persevere until we shall
have gained the victory.
Brethren, let ns wait on the Lord and get onr orders ac
from His own lips, and then let us pass them from delegate
to delegate, and they pass it from church to church. In
short, let every man put 011 the whole armor of God and
fight the good fight of faith, laying hold 011 eternal life.
CONGRATULATIONS.
Dear Brethren:—We congratulate you as citizens of
the commonwealth of humanity, that we live in an age of
religious liberty and toleration; an age of comparative theol¬
ogy, which has summoned the correlative forces of religion
before the bar of Public Opinion thereto establish their claim
to the right of public confidence and favor. I11 every contest
whether at home or abroad, it has been demonstrated that
Revealed Religion is superior to Natural Religion in giving
the true conception of God, His nature, attributes, and rela¬
tions to the physical, spiritual and intellectual world,—the
origin of matter and mind; the origin of man, his duty and
destiny; the origin of evil, its effects upon the physical,
intellectual and spiritual man; the remedy for evil; the orig¬
inating, meritorious and receiving cause of salvation.
The co-ordinate forces of Christianity were never more
united than at this time; there is a general spirit of co-opera¬
tion 011 the general lines of evangelization; the Evangelical
Alliance of the world is bringing about a denominational
reciprocity of respect and brotherly love. There is a greater
unity of action on the great subjects now than has ever been
before. Never in the history of the world were the auxiliary
forces of the Church of God so active and so efficient. The
BISHOPS OF THE A. AT. E. CHURCH.
11
Missionary Society, the Sunday School, the Bible Society,
the Tract Society, and Religious Press are furnishing the
world with a living ministry and an open Bible.
The strength of the Church is seen in its power and num¬
ber of the subsidized forces of Christianity, which contribute
directly or indirectly to the support and spread of the Gospel
of peace and goodwill. In fact, they modify our social,
religious and political life; build up or destroy political par¬
ties; found institutions of learning, harness the secular press
which furnishes Christian literature for the poor; organize
the womanhood of the race into an army to light the foe of
home and country; call young men and young women of
all denominations to meet beneath the shadow of the cross to
declare war against the social evils of the day, and finally to
encourage denominational loyalty.
We have great reason to rejoice that we live in this won¬
derful age which furnishes us with so many opportunities to
do good and to work for the elevation of our race and the
salvation of mankind.
THE OPEN FIELDS.
You will accept our hearty congratulations as a part of
the family of Wesley on the wonderful success that has
attended the progressive movements of the sons of Wesley,
Asbury and Allen. The M. E. Church and the M. E. Church
South are marshalling their forces to bring China and Japan
under the influence of our christian civilization; British
Methodism has captured Australia, has emancipated the Fiji
Islands and are stationing the watchmen of Zion along the
borders of Egypt and the Holy Land; Canadian Methodism
has captured the North American Indian, who has thrown
down his tomahawk and scalping knife and now smokes his
" Pipe of Peace " beneath the shadow of the cross.
My Brethren, we congratulate you that all the fields of
labor have not been let by Providence; but there is a Mace¬
donian cry coining across the sea from Africa calling on us
12
THE (JUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
to come over and occupy the land; calling lis to come with
our name, our history, our trained and tried men, and organize
the intellectual, moral, religious and commercial forces of our
a?icestors. We have letters and petitions in our possession
asking this General Conference to make provision and come
and answer the prayers of our brothers and our sisters.
Brethren, we trust that you will take such action as will
strengthen our Foreign work. Ilayti and San Domingo
want to feel the influence of our church: they call " come and
help us!" The new horn freedman of South and Central
America are calling us to come and deliver them from the
power of Roman Catholicism and ignorance.
THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH.
God has given Ilis Church into the hands of Elisha; the
demands of the age and the duties of the hour are asking,
" what will they do with the mantle of Elijah ? "
The members of the church below and the saints above
are saying, 0 what will they do with the mantle of Elijah?
Jesus Christ who purchased His Church by Ilis own
blood, by the opportunities presented, repeats the refrain :
"what will they do with the mantle of Elijah ? "
The Iloly Ghost whispers to every heart — "what will
you do with the mantle of Elijah?"
Honored Brethren:—It is with joy and thankfullne'ss
that we look in the faces of the members of this General Con¬
ference; when we think of the future of our Church, Race
and Country, we rejoice at the presence of so many young,
intelligent and consecrated men,— men who are putting on
the harness of governmental responsibility, the bow of hope
and promise arch the pathway of your future success. While
we are sitting in this magnificent temple, the true and tried
members of our Zion are praying that God may guide us in
our legislation, and the world is saying : " what will they do
with the mantle of Elijah?"
And when the judgment is set, and all nations and kin-
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E CHURCH.
13
dred and tongues shall appear before the great Assize, and
all men will stand before the Judge of the quick and the
dead, each member, pastor, officer, presiding elder, general
officer and bishop will be asked:—"what did you do with
the mantle of Elijah ?" And if we have performed our
duties honestly and faithfully,—if we have opened the waters
of the Jordans of opposition, God will say to each one of us:
" Well done! well done, good and faithful servants, you have
been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over
many things. Enter into the joy of th v Lord." " Thou
didst endanger thy life on the coast of Africa; now enter
into my kingdom! Thou didst break the bread of life to
the hungry; now partake of the ambrosial fruit and drink of
the wTaters of life! Thou didst leave thy home, kindred and
friends; thou shalt meet them and part no more."
NECROLOGY.
As we look over this audience, we miss the familiar faces
of many who had graced the highest councils of the Church
for a quarter and a half century. We miss some men that
the church and the world had loved to hear, honor and
obey; they are no more; they have completed their task;
their labors have been rewarded and have entered into life
eternal, and have left us to lead on the moral, religious and
educational forces. It is impossible for us to catalogue the
illustrious dead; but we all miss the venerable Thos. W.
Stringer, the founder of our work in the Mississippi Valley.
When about to leave us, August 1893, he said: " Brethren,
heaven's just a mile away !" And he was not; for God took,
him. We will take suitable notice of other members of the
last General Conference at our Memorial Exercises.
We will notice their life, work and triumphant death;
we will give them a Christian Soldier's burial. We will hang
the lamp of hope 011 the portals of their tombs, that we
might clearly see our way to the gates of Immortality.
u
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
THE EPISCOPAL* DEAD.
A
Bishop John Miflin Brown, D. I)., I). C. L., was born at
Odessa, Del., September 8tli, 1817. Died at Washington,
D. C., March 16tli, 1803. Aged 75 years, 6 months and 8
days. Buried at Washington, D. C., March 20th, 1893.
Served in the ministry 57 years, 3 months and 1G days.
Bishop 24 years, 9 months and 18 days.
Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne, D. D., LL. D., was
born Feb. 24th, 1811, at Charleston, South Carolina. Died
Nov. 29th, 1893, at Wilberforce, Ohio. Aged 82 years, 9
months and 6 days. Buried Dec. 5th, 1893, at Baltimore,
Md. Licensed to preach in 1837. Served 56 years. Bishop
41 years, 6 months and 16 days.
Bishop Thomas M. D. Ward, D. D., was born Sept. 28th,
1823, at Hanover, Pa. Died June 10th, 1894, at Jackson¬
ville, Florida. Aged 70 years, 8 months and 12 days. Buried
in Washington, 1). C., June 14th, 1894. Entered the ministry
Aug. 1843. Served 50 years, 10 months and 10 days. Bishop
26 years and 12 days.
Bishop Alexander Washington Way man, D. D., was
born Sept. 21st, 1821, at Tuckaho, Md. Died Nov. 30th, 1895,
at Baltimore, Md. Aged 74 years, 2 months and 8 days.
Buried at Baltimore, Md., Dec. 4th, 1895. Served in the
ministry 56 years. Bishop 31 years, 6 months and 7 days.
B
Total ages of the four deceased Bishops,
303 years, 2 months and 4 days.
Average :—75 years, 6 months and 16 days.
C
YRS. MOS. DAS.
Total Ministerial Service, - 221 1 26
Average Ministerial life, - - 55 3 14
Total Episcopal life, - - 123 10 23
Average Episcopal life, - - 30 11 20
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
IS
Thus, these Fathers of the Church, were abundant in
labors and full of years. I know of no parallel in the modern
church. They were pioneers in the work of race elevation
and of race redemption. They honored Religion by their
blameless lives and strengthened the church of their choice
by their earnest, zealous and consecrated work. The eleva¬
ting influences of their lives, has for the third of a century
been the one potential factor in shaping the destiny of half a
million people, and their names, fame and worth are the com¬
mon heritage of Methodism and Christianity and will be
guarded and kept by the African Methodist Episcopal Church
as a sacred heirloom for a hundred generations.
Respect for the Dead is a pervading instinct of our com¬
mon humanity; it has been cultivated by all the races and
nations in ancient and modern times, in some form or other.
Consequently where we find a hamlet of living men, we will
find a hamlet of dead men ; a village of living men, a village
of dead men; a town of living men, a town of dead men ; a
city of living men, a city of dead men ; between the two there
is a constant communication; the living of to-day bury their
dead, return to their home to be borne the next day by loving
hands to the " City of the dead." Each generation buries its
predecessor; and they in turn are buried by their successors.
So in families, in State and in church, the change goes on
and on until the living become the dead. The minister
(Pastor) buries his members, the Presiding Elder in turn
buries the Pastor; the Bishop buries the Presiding Elder;
and finally all survivors of the flock are called upon to honor
the memory of their Chief Pastor. The sacred trust is left to
the faithful discharge of affection and friendship. We are
glad that a good man's fame and memory are not left to the
sole guardianship of those who knew and loved him in life;
there is something in the helplessness of the coffin and the
sepulchre that appeals to the better nature of man ; so that
discord and passion and the conflict of individual interest
16
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
retire in silence from the presence of the Master of unnum¬
bered generations.
By the death of four of our Chief Pastors and General
Superintendents of the work of God during the past Quadren-
nium , we are brought face to face with a duty and rensposibil-
ity that will require calm deliberation, mature thought and
an implicit reliance on the Great Head of the Church that
the result of our deliberations may guide us to loftier heights
of purpose and effort, and inspire us with a fresh zeal and
devotion for the cause for which our honored dead worked so
nobly, and for which Jesus died.
Measuring time by years, these men lived an average of
seventj^-five years, more than the average allotted to the gen¬
erations by our beneficent Creator and Father; but the true
length of life is best measured by its usefulness, goodness and
intelligence, for he lives most who thinks most, feels the nob¬
lest and acts the best. Applying this standard to our illus¬
trious and honored Fathers ; who can measure or will attempt
to measure or estimate the length of their years or the end of
their days? They have won a place on the roll of human
immortality; all coming ages are theirs ; time their spacious
vestibule, and Eternity their temple of Praise and Honor.
THE PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT.
The Publication Department is the oldest in the church.
Bishop Allen and J. Tapseco printed our first Discipline in
1817, a 16mo of 102 pages.
In 1818, Bishop Allen, Daniel Coker, Jas. Champion,
compiled and printed a Hvnin book of 280 pages; lGmo., con¬
taining 314 hymns.
In 1822 the first General Minute was printed containing
the proceedings of the Baltimore, Philadelphia and New
York Annual Conferences.
In 1832 Be v. J. M. Corr was elected General Book Stew¬
ard. Published an edition of the Discipline.
BISHOP HENRY M. TURNER, D. D., LL. D.
Born in Newberry, S. C., February 1st, 1833.
Ordained Bishop, May 20th, 1880.
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
21
" Among the prominent objects of our enterprise which
3all for iinmediate and particular attention, is primitive Chris¬
tianity as was understood to exist in the Methodist Church
m Mr. Wesley's day; a vindication of the rights and priv¬
ileges of our Church in all its bearings in this country as
African Methodists, its episcopacy and doctrines, holding up
to the observance of our Christian brethren, regardless of
color, the importance of union among us, not only as Meth¬
odists, but as worshippers before the same Lamb in whose
blood we are washed; the extension of the Redeemer's king¬
dom among our brethren of color in this country, who are
still perishing for the want of an opportunity of hearing his
sacred word to their advantage; the importance of turning
the attention of our brethren to the land of our fathers—the
millions of souls who are enshrouded in midnight darkness
under heathenish superstition and idolatry—that the prayers
of our brethren may ascend to the ear of the Lord, that he
may in mercy raise up some of our young men and prepare
them to carry to Africa's shore the glad tidings of. salvation,
that the sunbeams of the morning may burst forth with its
radiant light upon these benighted regions and dispel the
shades of ignorance, superstition, idolatry and death that now
lays them prostrate in the dust; the necessity of contributing
to the education of our pious young men who may be called
of God to the work of the ministry, that they may be able to
study unembarrassed to show themselves approved of God,
workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth."
REPOSITORY.
The " Repository of Religion and Literature " was pub¬
lished in Indianapolis, Ind., the first number is dated April,
1858 and continued until 1864. Rev. Jno. M. Brown was
Editor with the corresponding Editors. This was the second
effort of the church to furnish the race with the thoughts of
the leading men and women of the race.
The General Conference in Baltimore 1884 made provis¬
ion for the establishment of the A. M. E. Review and elected
Rev. B. T. Tanner, Editor. His experience as Editor of the
Christian Recorder gave him peculiar fitness for his new
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
duties. The Review took its place with the other Reviews of
the world and lias held its own as an exponent of the thoughts,
hopes and aspirations of the Negro on five continents. In
1888, Rev. L. J. Coppin was elected by General Conference to
succeed as Editor. He has kept up the reputation of the Re¬
view and manifested a scholarship and business capacity
creditable alike to his church, race and profession.
The following is a Summary of his Report and recom¬
mendation :—
REVIEW.
Baltimore, Md., Jan. 15th, 189C.
second quadrennial statement of the editor and manager
op the a. m. e. church review. '
To the Bench of Bishops of the A. 31. E. Church:
Rev. Fathers in God:—I have the honor to present to you
this my second quadrennial statement as Editor and Manager
of the A. M. E. Church Review.
The object of this publication may be thus briefly stated.
First. To give recognition and opportunity to the men
and women of our race variety who have talent as writers.
2nd. To place in the hands of our people in general and
our ministers in particular, a higher class of literature than is
found in the ordinary newspaper.
3rd. To give to the world our best literary products and
thus show the advancement that we are making in literary
pursuits. We have endeavored to avoid sectarian or other
discussions that would have been offensive to a part of our
people; and have thus striven to make the publication a
popular family journal. At the same time, our columns have
been open to persons of every religious sect, or political opinion.
We have also endeavored to strike the golden mean be¬
tween the Secular and Religious. The following list is a
BISHOPS OF THE A. 21/. E. CHURCH.
L>3
Fair sample of tlie kind of subject matter tliat we Lave pub¬
lished :
1. The Elements of National
Strength.
2. Happiness from Intellectual
Conditions.
3. Christ the Vine Stock.
4. The new Language or Volopuk.
5. Industrial Education.
G. Tariff Reform.
7. Brazillian Freedom.
<S. Ministerial Influence.
9. African Methodism.
10. Melcliiezdek.
11. Russia's New Literature.
12. Biblical Research.
13. Church Architecture.
14. Heredity and Character.
15. Fermented Wine on the Com¬
munion Table.
16. The Hope of Africa.
17. Building Associations.
18. Civil Rights.
19. The Afro-American Women.
20. Liberia and her Mission.
21. Our Episcopacy.
22. Mob Violence.
23. Life Culture.
24. Sunday School Work.
25. The Study of Universal History.
Beside sucli practical subjects, which are suited to the
average reader, we have kept always a sprinkling of class¬
ical topics, discussions on higher education, poetry, higher
criticism, biography and symposiums on various subjects.
Each edition contains a portrait as a frontispiece of some
prominent man or woman among ns and occasionally illus¬
trations occur elsewhere in the book.
Our exchange list consists of many of the leading literary
and religious publications of the Anglo-Saxon people, hence,
our mission has not only been one of education among our¬
selves, but one of information to those who without this
medium, would have been the more ignorant of our social,
religious, and literary advancement.
Besides a large number of new and previously unknown
writers, we have secured from time to time contributions
from men and women of national repute. Among whom
may be mentioned:—
Dr. Ed Blyden, the late Ered Douglass, Dr. Alex Crum-
mell, Prof. W. S. Scarborough, Hon. D Augustus Straker, Mrs.
Josephine Turpin Washington, Mrs. E. E. "W. Harper, Mrs.
Ida B. Wells Barnett, Mrs. J. Silome Yates, Con. T. McCant
Stewart, T. Thomas Fortune, Hon. John S. Durham, Mr.
24.
THE (JUADREXNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
Isaiah C. Wears, "Win. Hannibal Thomas, Mr. Archibald
Johnson, Prof. Orishatukeh Fadumali and Trof. Booker T.
Washington. Nearly all of our Bishops from Bishop Daniel
A. Payne to Bishop Jas. A. Handy and including them both
have contributed to our columns; Bishop Tanner, the first
editor, being a frequent contributor. These with a host of
others of both sexes within and outside of our church, from
Europe, Asia, Africa, Bermuda, llayti, the West Indies, and
almost every part of the United States, make up our list of
contributors.
Our subscription list varies. The largest edition was
thirty-two hundred, and the smallest two thousand. In these
oppressive times, when the majority of our patrons cannot
secure the necessities of life, it is exceedingly hard to keep
our department in anything like a healthy financial condi¬
tion, and keep the subscription list up; and yet our last edi¬
tion was twenty-one hundred, and present indications are?
we shall be unable to till the demands made upon us during
this quarter.
During the twelve years of the existence of the Review
the department has not received any financial aid, and has
not brought one penny of indebtedness upon the church, but
has been absolutely self supporting. If it is said that the
editor of the Review receives a salary from the church, the
same must be said of every minister who is employed by the
church.
Our editor has to solicit and examine all contributions;
attend to all the correspondence of the office; do the most of
the clerical work of the office, including the book-keeping; read
proof, collect all the money for running the department, and
travel about eight months in the year to solicit subscribers.
If this amount of work wTere not done by the editor the pub¬
lication would either have to be suspended or else, like every
department of the church not subsidized, ours would be
involved in debt.
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
25
WHAT OTHERS THINK.
Since we began publishing tlie Review in 1884, a number
of literary publications varying in size and merit liave come
into existence and passed away. But we stand till to-day,
and are acknowledged by all, to be the leading literary
publication by our people in the United States, and so tar as
we know, in the world. That this claim may not seem an
ideal boast, we quote a few out of many clippings in our
possession.
" The Contents of the January Number 1805, of the A.
M. E. Church Review, show the high character of this paper,
especially the articles on Higher Criticism; the Roman
Coena; the Shakesperian School of Ethics; Alexander
Tope and Heredity. The time is past for the literary and
educational work of our colored brethern to be patronized
with an encouraging smile. It commands admiration by its
own merit.'''—Canadian Review.
Referring to a recent number, The Bi-monthly of the M.
E. Church South:—after citing every article, closes up by
saying,—" This is by far the ablest number of the very cred¬
itable quarterly of our African brethern that has fallen under
our notice."
Colored American, Washington, D. C.:—The Review is
the very best literary effort published by negroes any where
in this country, and its corps of correspondents are among
the brightest intellects of the Negro race."
The good accomplished by the A. M. E. Church during
the last twelve years of the publication of this journal, is
simply inestimable. It is more than the most sanguine
among us could have even hoped for, and has been a genuine
surprise to the outside world. The Hon. Fred. Douglass, in
an autograph letter just before his death writes as follows:
" I fully recognize the great work you are doing with the
Review, and am surprised by the literary ability you are
bringing to light. I hardly seem to be living in the age so
near my slave life for that was dark indeed."
This letter came unsolicited and unexpectedly, and is the
26
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
endorsement of one whose opinion upon public questions was
then being sought by the people of two continents. Having
achieved such splendid victory and having been so helpful to the
race and to mankind, any change of operation that would hinder
the good work would be a serious blunder quite unworthy the
Church that projected' the plan. Our best work has not been
done; we have but gone far enough to discover what is pos¬
sible. The scores of books and magazines which come to our
tables for review cannot receive proper attention with the
editor absent from the office so frequently and at such long
periods and yet without this absence from the office the Re¬
view would have long ago suspended for the want of means.
The talk frequently indulged in about merging the Review
into some other department, is suicidal. The result would be
deterioration, loss of caste and final death. To use the
vigorous language of St. Paul, it would be beginning in the
spirit and ending in the flesh ; a backward step, which in the
present state of our development, would do us untold harm.
The great religious denominations about us find it necessary
to select their very best man for this important post, and sur¬
round him with the very best facilities for carrying 011 the
work. If the A. M. E. Church, after twelve years of success¬
ful effort against great odds, finds that it is not equal to con¬
tinuing the work, it will be far more honorable to retire from
the field and give the work over to other hands, than it will
be to cripple the effort and cause it to die by degrees.
Personally we had great pleasure in doing the work.
Though hard and exacting, it has been to us a school of
experience. We- feel to be placed under lasting gratitude to
the church for trusting us with a post so responsible, and for
kindly help and co-operation during two consecutive terms of
office. We have done the best we could with limited oppor¬
tunities; we have rendered faithful, if not efficient service;
the result of our work is before you for your inspection. If
in making up your address to the general church you find it
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
27
worthy of your approval, we feel that we have not labored
in vain.
Having heard the statement of the Editor and Manager
of the A. M. E. Review, we are pleased to congratulate the
Church on the work accomplished during the present quad-
rennium. He has done well and deserves of the Church its
thanks. After having carefully and prayerfully considered
the subject, we recommend that the editorship of the A, M.
E. Review continue separate from that of the Christian
Recorder, but that the Review Editor be the Book Editor of the
A. M. E. Church. We further recommend that the General
Business Manager publish the A. M. E. Review in common
with the Christian Recorder and other Church publications.
It is highly gratifying to learn of the very high stand
the Review has taken on the great questions of the day. It is a
beacon light for the race, and well deserves the support of the
General Conference. We cannot afford to lower our colors
in the pursuit of the duties of the hour.
The Rev. II. T. Johnson, D. D., Ph. D., was elected
editor of the Christian Recorder in 1892. He reports his
work as having been satisfactory. He has exercised his tal¬
ents in giving, the church what the age demands, a newspaper
to speak for the whole people before the bar of public opinion,
demand the rights and defend the doctrines of the church, the
liberties of the people and the honor of the nation.
We call your attention to the editor's recommendations
and trust that the duties of the editor and the manager will
be so clearly defined, that there can be no mistake as to the
authority of the one or the duty of the other
THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN RECORDER.
Rev. A. M. Green, D. D., editor and manager of the
Southern Christian Recorder will give you his report, which
we hope you will consider and take such action as will make
this paper what was intended when it was purchased. It
is THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
was hoped that it would be a mouthpiece for the ministry, a
sentinel on the southern wall of our beloved Zion, a watch¬
man in our doctrinal towers, the trumpeter to warn the peo¬
ple of danger, and the herald of peace and goodwill between
man and man, race and race, and church and church.
There is a wide field for this messenger of the Gospel of
the Son of God, and we trust that you may be wise in your
legislation in relation to this important interest.
MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT.
The Missionary Work of our church may be considered
under two divisions; the unorganized and the organized.
The unorganized may be dated from 1784-5. When Rich¬
ard Allen returned from the Christmas Conference at Balti-
mor.e, December 25th., presided over by Rev. Dr. T. Coke and
began his evangelistic work in Philadelphia, Pa.; which work
caused the first trouble with the colored members and
finally culminated in the orgnization of an independent class,
November, 1787, which became the " mother of the a. m. e.
church" and all other independent and inter-dependent
Negro churches.
Daniel Coker was the first Missionary Preacher in Balti¬
more; Father Spencer, Wilmington, Delaware. The final
results of these pioneer missionaries was the organization of
the A. M. E. Church, April 9th, 1816. Then we had for a
number of years Conference Missionaries.
In 1840, the General Conference commissioned its first
General Missionary, William Paul Quinn, who was sent out
to organize churches, open temperance socities and to estab¬
lish schools for the children. The result of his work produced
a new era, so that when he reported at the General Conference,
1844, at Pittsburg, Pa., a new spirit came over the confer¬
ence, and they made provision for organizing missionary
socities in every church and in every conference.
The Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Society was
then organized and has continued until this day.
MskoPs op thP a. M. e. church.
From 1844-1864 the Parent Society was under the control
of the Baltimore Annual Conference; but in 1864 the Board
of Managers was enlarged and the Corresponding Secretary
elected in the person of John M. Brown.
The southern field was opened, 1863, and missionaries wei'e
sent to organize churches. Rev. J. D. S. Hall and Jas.
Lynch were the pioneer missionaries to the South land; they
were soon followed by Revs. Jas. A. Handy, Jas. H. A. John¬
son and T. G. Steward. As the worlc'proceeded Rev. H. M.
Turner took charge of the forces in Georgia; Rev. R. II. Cain
in South Carolina; Rev. G. W. Brodie in North Carolina;
Rev. Chas. 11. Pearce in Florida and under the leadership of
Bishop J. A. Shorter the work spread into the Mississippi Val¬
ley, and Bishop J. P. Campbell carried the Episcopal banner of
African Methodism and planted it at the Golden Gate on the
shores of the Pacific.
The following summary will give some idea of the finan¬
cial progress of the missionary Department:
J. M. Brown, - 1864—1868, - - $ 5425 65
J. A. Handy, - 1868-1872, - - 9317 32
G. W. Brodie, - 1872—1876, - - 6556 42
R. II. Cain, - - 1876—1880, - - 5947 80
J. M. Townsend, - 1880—1884, - - 34811 83
J. M. Townsend, 1884—1888, - - 19001 09
W. B. Derrick, - 1888—1892, - - 25675 47
W. B. Derrick, - 1892—1895, - - 30250 00
Total $136,985 58
The above figures represent the amount paid into the
general treasury of the Missionary Society and is about forty
per cent, of the missionary collection. The sixty per cent, or
$202,463,37 was retained by the annual conferences to assist
in the home missionary work which gives us a grand total of
$337,438.90.
This amount has been laid on the altar of missions during
thirty years. The annual conferences have had another
30 THE QUADRENNIAL ADbRESS OP THE
source from which they receive money to assist in carrying
on the home work, viz : The twenty, (20) thirty, (30) and
forty, (40) per cent, of the Dollar Money. The following are
the figures:—
Burly and Embry, 1872—1880, - - $ 27,913 56
B. W. Arnett, - 1880—1884, - - 54,510 51
B. W. Arnett, - 1884—1888, - - 73,227 18
J. A. Handy, - 1888—1892, - - 187,772 45
J. II. Armstrong, 1892—1893, - - 36,211 91
J. II. Armstrong, 1893—1894, - - 39,438 33
J. II. Armstrong, 1894—1895, - - 34,400 00
J. H. Armstrong, 1895—1896, - - 36,000 00
Total, Per cent. - 489,473 94
Total, Missionary - - 337,438 98
Grand Total, - - $826,912 89
This gives the amount expended directly and indirectly
in the mission work since 1864.
The report for the missionary department from 1892-1896
will he seen in the figures and facts given in the report of
Secretary W. B. Derrick, D. D., who has done a good work
in arousing the people to a sense of their duty to the sacred
cause of missions. He has sent money to the African
work and assisted the Presiding Bishop in his marvelous work
on the coast.
THE MITE MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
In 1874, the "Woman's Mite Missionary Society was or¬
ganized for the purpose of assisting in the missionary work.
They have been very successful, and are still doing good ser¬
vice. It was through their efforts that Bishop Shorter was
enabled to carry on the work in Ilayti and Santo Domingo.
By their efforts the work in Sierra Leone, Africa, was res¬
cued from an untimely death; and with their co-operation,
we will assist in the redemption of Africa. Without them
hlSttOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
3l
"we cannot do much, but with them and God we can do all
things.
The Society will present to the General Conference an
enlarged plan of operation—one looking to an Annual Confer¬
ence Mite Missionary Society, composed of representatives from
the local societies, and the presidents of the Conference Mis¬
sionary Society become representatives in the parent (H. and F.
Missionary) Society, thus making a complete chain, each link
depending upon the other.
The following will show the amounts collected by this
organization since 1874.
1874 to 1876, $ 627 29 1884 to 1888, 1963 27
1876 to 1880, 1705 75 1888 to 1892, 2565 95
1880 to 1884, 1869 93 ,
Grand total,
In 1892, the Ohio Conference met at Lancaster, Ohio,
Bishop D. A. Payne, presiding. Rev. John Coleman offered
the following resolution:
" Whereas, The General Conference has ordered the estab¬
lishing of Auxiliary Societies to the Women's Mite Mission¬
ary Society in'all our churches;
Therefore, Be it resolved, that each pastor be required to
proceed immediately after entering upon his work to organize
a Mite Missionary Society in all the churches under his
charge, where there exists no society.
Resolved (2d.) That a convention of said societies be
called to meet at Columbus, Ohio, July 3d, 1893, and that
each society send one delegate with report of all the doings
of said society. Signed,
John Coleman,
. Jno. W. Gazaway,
Chas. Bundy.
After some discussion the resolution was adopted with
the hearty approval of Bishop Payne.
The convention met at St. Pauls', Columbus, Ohio, July
32
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OP TIIE
3d, 1893, 2:30 p. m., Bishop Payne conducting the religious
exercises.
Mrs. Emma Ransom was elected president of the first
session, and a president was elected for each session of the
convention.
Mrs. W. T. Anderson was elected secretary. Thirty-
two societies answered the roll call. $81.66 was collected.
Mrs. Lucy A. Collins was elected permanent president,
and a full corps of officers.
lievs. J. II. Jones, W. J. Johnson, J. M. Gilmere, W.
II. Coleman, C. W. Dorsey and others were present, and
assisted in the organization.
Mrs. Fannie J. Coppin and Mrs. Amanda Smith were
among the visitors and did much good by their presence.
The first annual meeting convened at St. John's A. M.
E. Church,/Cleveland, Ohio, Juty 5th, aijd continued until
the 8th, 1894.
The session of the convention was pleasant. Mrs.
Bishop Tanner came as a fraternal delegate from the parent
society. The following distinguished personages were present:
Bishops II. M. Turner, B. T. Tanner, and Drs. W. B. Der¬
rick, W. D. Johnson, C. S. Smith, W. II. Brown, C. Asbury,
and others. Bishop Arnett was absent by reason of sickness.
Forty-two societies reported total money collected dur¬
ing the year from all resources, $517.67.
The convention held memorial services in honor of their
founder — Bishop I). A. Payne; and adjourned after having
accomplished much good.
The second annual meeting convened at Wylie A. M. E.
Church, July 4th and continued in session during the 5th,
6th, and 7th.
Mrs. L. A. Collins was absent on account of sickness, and
Mrs.Grace P. Offer was elected president.
Fifty-two societies reported at roll call, and ninety-one
(91) members answered to their names.
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH
33
The sessions were profitable and. the papers and address¬
es excellent.
Total money paid into the treasury $652.22.
Raised for contingent expenses, $113.28.
Making a total of $765.49.
Dn Derrick was present, also Presiding Elders, Brown,
Asbury and Drs. Ransom, Bently, Ross, Lowery, Morris, C.
H. Brown, D. F. Caliman.
The convention closed and everybody w^nt away having
a deeper interest in the cause of Christian Missions.
Since the close of the convention, the treasurer has
received $200. This makes the total of $1,482.16. This
shows that if the church was properly organized, we
would have, at least, eleven times the amount raised in the
Third District, for eleven of the twelve districts could raise
that amount or more. If they only raised as much as the
Third District in two years it would be $16,303.76, and the
quadrennium would be $32,607.52. It is our opinion that if
the women were properly organized, we would raise $50,000
in the next quadrennium.
We trust that the women will be encouraged in their
work by this General Conference and the church in general.
FINANCIAL LAWS.
1817. The Discipline of 1817, page 188, on raising a
General Fund for the Propagation of the Gospel, is as follows:
" Every preacher who has the charge of a circuit, shall
make a yearly collection, and, if expedient, a quarterly one,
on every congregation where there is a probability that the
people will be willing to contribute, and the money so col¬
lected shall be lodged in the hand of the steward or stewards
and brought or sent to the ensuing Annual Conference.
Second, That an annual collection*shall be made at every
Annual or General Conference for the above purpose."
34 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS Ot THE
Section IV makes provision that tlie profits on all books
published shall go to the support of the traveling m.iniscers.
Two book stewards were provided for, all to be paid out of
this General Fund.
1832. The General Conference of 1832 continued the
old law and made provision that the General Superintendent
should receive $25.00' at each Annual Conference that he
attends, and his traveling expenses, and that this expense
should be made up on the circuits and stations by the
preacher. It was further provided that the Assistant General
Superintendent should have his traveling expenses paid on
attending at any Annual Conference.
The Philadelphia Conference was given charge of the
Book Concern at this meeting.
1840. The General Conference of 1840, adopted the
General Financial Plan, and made provisions for a general
collection for the purpose of raising an outfit for the Bishop's
immediate supply, to enable him to employ all his time in
traveling throughout the connections unencumbered. The
preachers were recommended to take monthly collections
br voluntary contributions for the General Book Steward.
1844. The General Conference in 1844 provided that " it
shall be the duty of every preacher having a charge to do
all in his power to make a collection of Two (2) Cents per
month from each member at the end of each month or quar¬
ter for the purpose of raising a fund; half of which is to be
applied to the relief of the distressed itinerant superannuated
and supernumerary preachers' and bishops' salaries; and the
other half to create a fund or capital for carrying on the
measures of the Book Concern. Such collections to be for¬
warded, at least, quarterly to the General Book Steward."
The Geueral Book Steward was authorized to publish a
magazine, monthly. ^
This General Conference provided for the organization
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHORBH
35
of an Annual Conference Missionary Society. The head¬
quarters of the parent society was to be in Philadelphia.
Auxiliary Societies were to be formed among the laymen for
the purpose of assisting the parent society. A public collec¬
tion was to be taken up at every Annual Conference for the
purpose of missions.
1848. The General Conference of 1848 re-adopted the Gen¬
eral Financial " Two Cent Money," one half to go to the
Annual Conference and the other half to the Book Concern.
The District Book Steward was to receive six per cent,
of all cash received in order to encourage him to work. A
provision was adopted to take up a general collection through¬
out the church.
The Missionary Section was re-adopted.
1852. The General Conference of 1852 re-adopted the
"Two Cent" Money Financial Plan; provided that the
Bishop should have $200 per year, traveling expenses, board,
fuel and house rent; it also made the same provisions for
married preachers. It made provisions for a General Book
Steward, Editor, Committee, Treasurer, Secretary and Gen¬
eral Book Agent. All were to receive their pay from the
proceeds or sale of the book.
1856. The General Conference of 1856 re-adopted the
General Two Cent Law; provided for the expenses of the
wife and children of a preacher and bishop. It also made
provision that at the close of a General Conference, the bal¬
ance in the hand of the Financial Committee shall be paid
over to the General Book Steward to pay for the printing of
the minutes of the General Conference.
1860. The General Cenference of 1860 re-adopted the
General Laws without any special modifications.
1864. The General Conference of 1864 continued the
general collections; requested the Annual Conference to .set
a specific day to raise the collections within its bounds.
Annual Conference Missionary Societies were authorized to
36
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
fix the annual dues, which was fixed by a majority of the
conferences at $1.00 Provisions were made to elect a Corres¬
ponding Secretary to take charge of the general missionary
work of the church.
The Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Board was
reorganized, and Rev. John M. Brown was appointed corres¬
ponding secretary of the society; Rev. J. F. A. Sisson was
appointed agent to visit various churches and collect mission¬
ary money. During this quadrennium a new activity was
given to the missionary work, and as the army advanced on
the South our secretaries and missionaries followed and
organized and re-organized societies and missionary societies.
So that where ever the American flag, representing freedom
and union was unfurled, the African Methodist itinerant
unfurled the banner ot the Cross, representing manhood and
Christianity.
During this quadrennium Bishop D. A. Payne returned to
Charleston and re-organized African Methodism in the home
of Bishop Morris Brown.
THE FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT.
1808. At the General Conference, convened at "Wash¬
ington, D. C., 1808, it was provided that each preacher should
collect one dollar ($1.00) from each member per annum; that
twenty-five (25) cents of the dollar be sent to the general
book store; that twenty-five (25) cents be sent to the treas¬
urer of Wilberforce University; and that fifty (50) cents be
carried to the Annual Conference.
This was the beginning of what is now known as the
"Dollar Law."
The Financial Department was reorganized in 1872 by
General Conference at Nashville, Tenn. The Rev. J. II. AT.
Burly was elected Financial Secretary and reported at Atlanta,
1876,
BISHOP WESLEY JOHN GAINES, D. D.
Horn in Wilkes County, Ga., October 14th, 1840.
Ordained Bishop, Mav 24th, 1888.
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
37
RECAPITULATION.
1876. Total Dollar Money, J. H. W. Burlv,
1880. « " J. C. Embry, "
1884. " » B. W. Arnett,
1888. " " B. W. Arnett,
1892. " " J. A. Handy,
1896. " " Jan. 1 J. H. Armstrong,
95,553 93
99,999 42
175,253 45
229,013 85
313,341 44
335,231 66
Grand Total, - $1,248,393 75
We call your attention to the partial report of the Finan¬
cial Secretary. He speaks there of his department.
We give you the total amount by districts, calling your
attention to the fact that the total amount connot be given
in the first district as the ISTew Jersey Conference has not yet
convened; in the second district, because the Baltimore and
Virginia Conferences have not met; in the eighth district,
because the Florida Conferences have not had their sessions,
and in the tenth district on account of the Louisiana Confer¬
ence not having convened.
First District,
Second "
Third "
Fourth "
Fifth "
Sixth "
,353.61
22,935.48
14,443.32
10,614.51
24,672.38
87,186.30
Seventh District
Eighth "
Ninth " -
Tenth "
Eleventh " -
Twelfth "
Total,
- 31,621.69
- 22,106.96
38,282.30
- 35,866.71
14,385.05
- 2,763.35
$335,231.66
The Conferences which have not met, gave us last year
about $15,000. Should we receive the same this year, which
completes the Quadrennium, we will have a total of
$350,231.66.
Taking this into consideration, and as you are aware of
the condition of the country, and the almost universal de¬
pression in the financial world, would but convince us that
the Dollar Collection in our church is more popular than ever-.
From a business standpoint, the maintenance of our gen-
38 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
eral departments is one ot the most prominent features of tlie
church, and our collections and disbursements show our
ability to carry on the material government ot the church.
According to our present law, the above amount should
be divided as follows:—54 per cent, or $180,125.00 to the
Financial Department; 6 per cent, or $21,913.80 to the
Church Extension Department; 40 per cent, or $140,002.00
to the Annual Conferences.
If we consider the liabilities of the Financial Depart¬
ment, making an estimate for the salaries of ten Bishops, for
the quadrennium, we shall have $80,000; for the present staft'
of General Officers, $47,800. Total for salaries, $127,800,
leaving a balance to the Department of $01,310.88.
I think with the increased interest, all things being equa
in the next quadrennium, we may confidently expect to so
increase the collection that we will secure an amount sufficient
to meet all the current expenses, for which this Department
is responsible, or in other words, we may reasonably hope for
$400,000, during the next quadrennium.
\\re have paid up to date, from our 54 per cent, to the
Publishing House, $5,702.40 which, including the $10,140 paid
for salaries of officers who run this department, we have
given for the support of the House, $10,140.40. We do think
that this amount invested in the Publishing House, directly
or indirectly, as a capital should yield a profit. But we can¬
not expect satisfactory' results without systematic application.
We have paid to the Metropolitan Church at Washing¬
ton, $5,220, but this amount has only reduced the bonded
debt, $4,000, the Department having paid $1,220 interest.
Yet we have received nothing by which wTe could recover
this amount, if the principal creditors foreclose the mortgage,
the notes being cancelled, before they reached our hands. To
me it is apparent, if the Metropolitan Church is to be saved,
the Connection must pay the principal indebtedness.
I would hazard this suggestion —Why not transfer from
BISHOPS OF THF A. M. E. CHURCIL
39
this department this obligation, and place it with the Church
Extension Society ?
If necessary supplement the Church Extension Treasury
from this department, with the amount required by the Phil¬
adelphia Trust Co., for annual payments, instructing the
society to pay or buy these notes, without cancellation, thus
securing to the connection an indisputable claim upon the
church.
We have paid for the maintenance of the Educational
Work, $12,361.99 and if we add to this amount the salary
paid to the Secretary, we shall have given the total amount
of $17,781.99 to the support of this work. When we add
about $23,000, disbursed for the same purpose by the Annual-
Conferences, from the 40 per cent, we shall have the very
respectable sum of $40,781.99. This amount does not include
what has been given by the Ninth District during the last
two years from the 40 per cent., for this department has
received no official report from this district for that time, of
the percentage.
We cannot help but think that some change is necessary
in the Educational Department, and that there might be a
more systematic application of the money accruing from the
dollar collection for this purpose.
The Financial Secretary, Rev. J. H. Armstrong, has
done a grand work in his department, and deserves the good
will of the church for his wise, economical and successful
administration.
EDUCATIONAL. DEPARTMENT.
Louis Woodson, of the Ohio Conference, offered the first
resolution on the subject of education in 18—,
The resolutions were sent to the Baltimore, New York
and Philadelphia Conferences and adopted, pledging the
church to the support of education and temperance.
The subject was discussed in the pulpit by ministers and
40
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
by laymen, and was finally crystalized in the organization
of the Union Seminary in 1847. The Soutli having been
opened to the spelling book and Bible, various schools were
organized throughout the ehurcli.
The General Conference of 1876, at Atlanta, Ga., pro¬
vided for the organization of a General Educational Board,
whose duty it was to supervise the educational work of the
church. Rev. J. C. Embry was elected Secretary of educa¬
tion. His administration was wise, economical and honest.
The General Conference of 1880, at St. Louis, Mo.,
elected Rev. B. F. Watson Commissioner of education. lie
carried on the work for two (2) years and finally resigned.
The Genera] Conference of 1884, at Baltimore, Md., re¬
organized the whole educational system on a plan proposed
by President S. T. Mitchell. The connection was divided
into four educational districts; a secretary was to be elected
to superintend the work of each district; Rev. W. 1). John¬
son was elected General Secretary, to work under the control
of the General Educational Board, and to give inspiration
and direction wherever needed.
A general educational day was provided, called " Endow¬
ment Day," giving the whole church an opportunity to con¬
tribute to the sacred cause of Christian Education. The fol¬
lowing figures will give you some idea of what the church
has done. We will give you a comparative table by districts,
and Dr. W. D. Johnson the General Secretary report will
show the magnificent work accomplished since 1884.
amount of moneys raised for education by the african m.
e. church in ten years, from 1884 to 1894.
First District, - - $36,099 68
Second District, - - 33,114 21
Third District, - - 4,552 71
Fourth District, - - 5,903 21
Total, . $79,669 81
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
41
Twenty-five per cent, to Gen. B'd Ed. $2,484 38
By Conferences to Schools, 13,024 76
Subscriptions Secretary Education, 6,677 13
By Financial Secretary,
13,106 92
Total
35,293 19
By Schools themselves,
$387,629 44
By Donations other than acc'ted for, 17,000 00
Total, - -
404,629 44
Grand total
$519,592 44
We would recommend that the general educational sys¬
tem of the church remain intact. It has been tried and not
found wanting. It has commended itself to those interested
in the work of Christian education. It has been adopted in
a modified form by a number of the leading denominations;
and wherever it has had a fair trial it has worked well.
Under it we have done more for the cause of Christian edu¬
cation than in all the history of the church. The only thing
we see to make it more efficient, :s to so adjust the educa¬
tional districts that they will concentrate the local efforts of
our special denominational schools, and make, at least, in
each district one representative institution; for so long as
the moneys collected in our districts are given promiscuously
to the cause of education, it will be impossible to accomplish
the greatest good for the greatest number.
It is our opinion that no school should be established,
looking to be supported by the church, without first receiv¬
ing the recommendation of the conference in whose bounds
i't is located and the district board which controls the work
in that conference; and then it should have the sanction
the General Board of Education. We must do this if we
expect to make our educational work a success. One iiea.d
is all that is needed for one body.
Ultimate authority in organizing Schools should b§
lodged in the General Board of Education and tl^e general
Conference.
42
THE QUAbRENXL 1L ADDRESS OF TUG
ENDOWMENT DAY.
The Endowment Day ought to he continued. It lias
been a great benefit to our institutions of learning. It is
growing in popularity, and if properly fostered and encouraged
it will be universally observed. We want to emphasize the
importance of this day: It is the celebration of the prelimina¬
ry Proclamation of Emancipation by Abraham Lincoln, from
human slavery. In fact, this educational day is an altar on
which the emancipated sons and daughters of the race annu¬
ally lay their contributions for the emancipation of the
human mind from ignorance, and the human heart from sin.
This day ought to be to us what the Passover was to the an¬
cient Jews; we ought to make it a feast of holy Sabbaths
and a general Jubilee.
We would recommend that provision be made in the law
so that a part of every Dollar raised on this day shall bo
sacredly set apart and used for Ministerial Education, so that,
we might furnish a 1 rained and intelligent ministry to preach
to our trained congregations. The time has come when we
must be able to beget sons and daughters in our own image
and after our own likeness. We cannot succeed as a race nor
as a body of christians until our leaders shall have been
thoroughly indoctrinated into our laws, customs and habits.
This can only be done by maintaining the Schools where the
love of race and the love of God are both taught; where the
Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man are taught
by precept and example.
It should be the duty of each annual conference to estab¬
lish a Scholarship and to make the necessary appropriations
to sustain it in our Theological Seminary. This scholarship
should be supplemented by the Financial Board, so that each
year we would have a large number of trained men entering
into the active work of the Itineracy, thus giving strength,
aid and comfort to the home-trained men—that class that
Uo <innr> so much for the church, that have suffered priva-
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
43
tions and labored without compensation in all seasons that
the poor might have the gospel preached to them.
We are pleased to inform you, that during this Quadren-
nium the per cent, of applicants into our Annual Confer¬
ences is higher than that of any other period of our history.
We are not only receiving good and useful men, hut also
intelligent men. The time has come when we must demand
of every man gifts, graces, usefulness and intelligence; and
that in sufficient quantities to meet the demands of our con¬
gregations that have been trained in our common schools,
high schools, seminaries, colleges and universities. We must
go through and through, throw up a highway, gather up the
stones and lift up the standard before the people.
PAYNE SEMINARY.
We further recommend that ample provisions be made
for the support and maintenance of Payne Theological Semi¬
nary, which was established by the concurrent resolution and
consent of the Bishop's Council, the Trustee Board of Wil-
berforce University, the General Board of Education and the
unanimous concurrence of the Committee 011 Education of
the General Conference of 1892, which was unanimously
adopted by the General Conference and referred to the Gen¬
eral Board of Education and the Financial Board for its exe¬
cution.
Both Boards have done the very best they could under
all circumstances to carry out the plan of ministerial educa¬
tion, but they have not been able to meet all the demands of
the Seminary, consequently we have been financially embar¬
rassed and handicapped in our work. It will be the duty of
this General Conference to make such appropriations as will
enable the Board of Directors to have at least one hundred
(100) theological students in training to meet the demand of
our Home and Foreign work.
We are of the opinion that the District Secretaries
44
THE QVADRENXIAL ADDRESS OF TUB
should be elected by the General Board of Education, to
whom they should report annually, and at the same time be
ex-offlcio members of the General Board of Education. This
plan would strengthen the Board and concentrate the entire
work of the Church, provided that the District Secretary
shall be elected from his educational district.
It is argued by some that the "Secretary of Education"
ought to be abolished. We do not concur in that opinion.
What is needed is to define the duties of the Secretary, so
that he will become the educational head of the Church in
fact as well as in theory. He ought to be General Educational
Inspector, Counselor and Director, going from school to school,
delivering lectures to the teachers, instructing and inspiring
the students in the college, as well as fill a chair in our theo¬
logical corps.
It is a historical fact that we were the first in the histo¬
ry of this country to appoint an Educational Secretary for
the general church. Most of the larger denominations have
followed us, and now their educational work is presided over
by an Educational Secretary. It is too late in the day for us
to order a retreat, but "Forward!" should be our watchword.
MINISTERIAL EDUCATION.
That the moral and religious leaders and teachers of the
people should be trained, is self evident, and is in harmony
with the demands of the age, wise statemanship, and church-
manship, for as a disciplined army demands a disciplined
commander, so an intelligent and trained pew demands a
good, intelligent and trained minister.
The leaders of the A. M. E. Church from its beginning
recognized the necessity of an intelligent organization and a
wise administration of the laws, usages and customs of
Methodism; therefore, they have always in a greater or less
degree, encouraged and supported the education of the people,
and have been the pioneers of ministerial education, indus-
MStlOPS OF THE A. M. B. CHURCH. 43
trial training and normal schools, where some were taught
how to teach others.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.
1839. The First Episcopal Address on the subject of
ministerial education was issued August 1st, 1839, by Bishop
Morris Brown and Edward Waters and signed by George
Hogarth as general book stewart from Brooklyn, New York.
In the address they present the claims of the " aged, sick
and worn out traveling preachers," appealing for aid for them
in the time of their needs.
Then they use the following language in relation to the
educating of the ministers :—
" The claims of our young men, too, for aid to sustain
them wThile they are preparing themselves for the ministry
(that they may become- approved workmen in the Lord's
vineyard) are urged upon you, as the future prosperity of the
church and of generations to come is dependent upon the care
we now take in raising up suitable teachers for our people,
well qualified in every respect. We, therefore, sincerely trust
that you will unhesitatingly lend us your aid, dear brethren,
in this laudable cause, as it is no other than the cause of God."
1844. It is a very great pleasure for us to inform you
that the Rev. Matthew T. IsTewsome offered a resolution in
the Ohio Annual Conference, September 21st, 1844, for the
establishment of a school for intellectual and industrial
training.
The following is the report of the committee at the Ohio
Conference in 1845 :—
" We, your committee appointed by the Ohio Annual Con¬
ference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, met in
the city of Columbus, September 17th, 1844, to select a tract
of land for the purpose of erecting a seminary of learning, on
the manual labor plan, for the instruction of the youths
among us in the various branches of literature, science,
agriculture and mechanic arts, and also for those young men
who may desire to prepare for the ministry. Being destitute
of means to pay our traveling expenses to the state of Michi-
46
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
gan to seek its location, we have selected one in Franklin
County, state of Ohio, twelve miles west of Columbus and
two miles north of the National lioad, containing one hun¬
dred and seventy-two acres of land, which can be purchased
for $1,720, to be paid in installments.
M. T. .Newrum, }
Leavis Adams, > Committee."
Thomas Lawrence, J
1845. The subject of education was discussed before the
Baltimore and Philadelphia Conference in 1845, and the fol¬
lowing resolutions were passed:—
" Whereas, The sacred cause of education is of such vital
importance to the interest of the church in particular, and to
the world in general, that instead of being contented with
what little we have done, we feel it our duty to make new
and greater efforts to advance its cause among us in such a
way as will result in a general diffusion of its blessings among
our benighted race ; therefore be it
Resohwl, 1st. That we recommend to our ministers and
people the importance of holding a general convention in the
city of Philadelphia on the 30th day of October next, for the
purpose of forming a literary institution and devising such
other measures as will place the cause of education among us
on a solid and lasting foundation, so that all our people, in a
greater or less degree, may hereafter enjoy its benign influence.
Jlesoltrd, 2n<L That there be central committees formed
for the purpose of carrying into effect the object embraced in
the first resolution and that this committee shall have the
power to appoint Bub-committees in other places, for the pur¬
pose of securing a general attendance of all persons of influ¬
ence and means among us."
1845. The National Educational Convention was held
in Philadelphia, October 3d, 1845. Rev. Daniel A. Payne was
present, and used the following language in his address:
preamble.
" Whereas, The cause of education is of such vital impor¬
tance to the interest of the church in particular, and the work
generally, that instead of being content with what little we
have done, we feel it our bounden duty to make a new and
greater efforts to advance it in such a way as will result in
is hops op tub a. m. e. church.
47
the general diffusion of its blessings amongst our benighted
race; therefore,
Resolved. That inasmuch as there is being established a
high school in the western section of the Connection for our
special benefit, we hereby constitute ourselves, who are mem¬
bers of this convention, " A Parent Education Society," for
the purpose of aiding poor, pious and talented young men in
their preparation for the gospel ministry in that institution, or
such other institution as shall be selected by the persons
hereinafter appointed for that purpose."'
" Qualified candidates may be aided in each stage of pre¬
paratory eduction for the ministry; but, except in very singu¬
lar cases, 110 applicant shall be assisted in the first stage who
has not produced, from serious and respectable characters,
unequivocal testimonials of his hopeful piety, promising tal¬
ents and real diligence; nor shall any person be continued on
this foundation whose instructor or instructors, except in
very special cases, shall not annually exhibit to the directors
satisfactory evidence that in point of genius, diligence, literary
progress, morals and piety, he is a proper character to receive
aid from the sacred funds; in addition to which each benefi¬
ciary, after his admission to any college, shall annually exhibit
to the directors a written declaration that it continues to be his
serious, purpose to devote his life to the gospel ministry in the
African Methodist Episcopal Church."
John M. Brown a student in Oberlin College, wrote from
there to the magazine, urging the necessity of education, and
used the following language :
" The various resolutions on the subject of education,
passed at preceeding annual conferences, should be put in
action, for until there is action on the subject it will be im¬
possible to accomplish anything.
Literary institutions should be selected by our confer¬
ences, to which those of our young men whom we shall here¬
after choose as candidates for the ministry may be sent, that
they may become prepared for the work.
I want to see our young men come up filled with the
Holy Ghost and cultivated minds. They must .build up the
foundation thus laid by our venerable fathers. The names of
those noble-hearted pioneers will long be borne 111 mind.
Generations yet unborn will call them blessed. Three years,
48
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
I think, with proper attention on the part of the student, will
accomplish this. Will our brethren act upon this important
point without delay? Try, dear brother, and urge it upon
them; for I consider it the mainspring of all our future
actions and the life of our church."
UNION SEMINARY.
In 1847, the Ohio Conference opened the first public
school of the race in Columbus, Ohio, in the month of Sep¬
tember. Rev. John M. Brown was principal and Miss
Frances Ellen Watkins, assistant principal. They continued
their work for several years. They were the pioneers of all
the negro teachers in the church schools whether by white or
colored. It was the first school where our girls were taught
domestic economy, and our boys handicraft.
The ministers and members of the Ohio Conference sup¬
ported this school from 185G to 18G3; they also co-operated
with the M. E. Church in controling and supporting Wilbor-
force University.
The year 1803 is the beginning of the epoch of freedom
of tlie American Negro. It is also the beginning of the edu¬
cational epoch of the A. M. E. Church. W e took charge of the
educational ship and have succeeded under God in bringing
it to this General Conference without the loss of-a man or
sail. Every interest has been preserved, and every^Histttu-
tion still lives. It is true some rested on boards and some on
broken pieces, but they have all reached the shore.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
After considering the subject, we recommend that the
education of the ministry of the church be placed under the
general supervision of one of the bishops who shall have full
power to see that the course of study laid down by the Gen¬
eral Conference be pursued by the probationary members of
the various annual conferences, and to organize and superin¬
tend the primary work of the theological training in our
BISHOPS OF THE A. M- E. CHURCH.
49
Several institutions and Payne Theological Seminary. He
also sliall superintend the English course in the various
schools, and when they shall have completed the said course,
he shall use his best endeavors to have them take and com¬
plete the higher and regular course, and graduate from Payne
Theological Seminary.
We would recommend that when a student has complet¬
ed the English Course in theology, that he receive a certifi¬
cate of proficiency and that diplomas only be given to one
who has completed the regular and full course.
We further recommend that a Correspondence School of
Theology be established in each Annual Conference, and that
semi-annual examinations take place at each District Confer¬
ence. These schools are to be established for the benefit of
those who cannot attend our institutions, so that if they can¬
not attend the Theological Seminary we shall bring the The¬
ological Seminary to them.
We trust that these recommendations will meet the
hearty approval of those who feel their responsibility to the
Church and its ministry.
The time has come in the history of the church and race
that a trained congregation or people' will not long follow an
untrained leader.
SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
The education of the children in the Sunday School is
a very important part of the work of the Church. One of
the reasons why the Church was ecclesiastically organized in
the house of Abraham was that he was to. covenant With God
that he would teach the laws unto the children: "Fori
know him, that he will command his children and his house¬
hold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to
do justice and judgment that the Lord might bring upon
Abraham that which He had spoken of him."
Jesus said unto Peter : " Peed my lambs."
50 THE (JVADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
Hannah Ball gathered the children together and formed
a class in the eighteenth century.
Robert Raikes organized the children in 1781.
Bishop Asbury organized the first Sunday School in
America in the house of Thomas Crenshaw in 1786. The
first convert was a colored boy by the name of John Charles¬
ton. He was a slave; he became a local preacher. Smith
Stead, a traveling preacher in the Methodist church, purchased
him and liberated him. After his liberation he removed to
the State of Ohio, joined the A. M. E. Church, became an
itinerant preacher, was a member of the General Conference
in 183G, and died in Pittsburgh, Pa., in the year 1838, in the
triumph of faith.
Richard Allen was a pioneer in the work of Sunday
Schools. As early as 179C, a day school and a night school
were maintained by the members of Bethel church, Phila¬
delphia, Pa. It is a difficult matter to designate the oldest
of our denominational schools outside of Bethel. Our min¬
isters have always been progressive, and were the very first
of the race to adopt plans and agencies for its elevation.
In 1H74 the Rev. W. II. Coleman organized the first
Sunday School Institute at Felicity, Ohio.
In 1870 the General Conference provided for Annual
Conference Sunday School Institutes.
In 1880 provisions were made for Presiding Elders' Su"
day School Institutes.
Rev. C. S. Smith, in 1882, presented a plan for the organ¬
ization for a " Sunday School Union" ; the Bishops' Counci'
adopted it after mature deliberation, and appointed him th(
first Secretary. The wisdom of the appointment and th<
adoption of the plan have been demonstrated in the marvel
ous and monumental success of the department. No organ
lzed efforts of the Church have called forth so many encom
iums and congratulations as the work of its honored Secretary
They have all been well deserved and the Church is under
BISHOPS OF THE ,1. M. E. CHURCH.
51
lasting debt of gratitude to the man who conceived, organ¬
ized and developed a department to supply the demands of
the coming Church ; to furnish an original literature, lesson
leaves, aids to the study of the. Bible, golden texts for every
lesson of the year, and an exposition ot uniform lessons by
the Theological Professor of Payne Theological Seminary.
We call your attention to the following facts and figures
as presented by the Secretary in his Quadrennial Report, and
trust that you will consider them ar.d make such provisions
as will strengthen, this department and make it more
efficient.
52
THE (JUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
Statement of the Receipts and Expenditures of the Sunday-
School Union of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,
for the 10th, 11th, 12th and part of the 13th Fiscal
Years, from March 31, 1892, to Dec. 31, 1896.
TABULATED FROM THE RECORDS BY C. S. SMITH, SECRETARY
AND TREASURER.
Receipts for Fiscal Year Endinu
March ;>l, IS'.);?.
To Balance March 31, 1S92 $ 1 274 4ti
Business
Loans
Children's Day Money.
Expenses
Balance.
16 526 19
2 .">00 00
2 111 11
$22 -111 7<i
20 ;sr>o S3
f2 060 91!
Keceii*ts for Fiscal Yeau Ending
:il, l.v.il.
To I'alance March ::i, 1S93 f 2 000 !>;!
Business 17 2.">0 12
Loans 5 7."> ( 11
Childrens's Day Money 2 47.S 1)1
#27 5i:t i:j
Expenses 2:1 719 h8
Balance $3 793 55
Receipts for Fiscal Year Ending
March ::i, 1VJ5.
To Balance March 31,1N95 $ 1 20!> .15
Business for !) months 11 72K r>0
Children's Pay Money 1 HOI) 00
#14 7;!7
By Expense for nine months 6'IS .r>,H
Balance Dec. 31, 1895 $1 129 27
SUMMARY.
To Balance March 31,1S92
Business for :! years, 9 months
Children's Day
Loans
S 1 271 lf>
00 <H9 02
y OthS C)0
8 233 44
ST'J 212 52
l'>y Expense:! years, (J months 78 113 '2o
Balance Dec. 31,1895 $1 129 27
Total to Business for 3 years, 9
mouths of the present (^uadren-
iiium am 649 02
Total to Business for (^uadrenium
ending March 31, 1892 57 963 62
Gain $2 685 40
To Balaace March 31, Is'. 11 $ 3 793 55
Business 15 144 21
Children's 1 »ay Money 2 675 55
Expenses
Balance.
121 613 31
20 403 96
*1 21!
Total Receipts to Children's Day
for Quadrennium ending March
124 659 43
Total Receipts for the present
Quadrennium 9 065 60
Lws $15 593 S3
The above figures show that we have gained in receipts to the business for three years and
nine mouths 1.S5.4IJ over the entire receipts for the last Quadrennium, while on account of
division we have lost in Children's Day receipts $15,593 .S3.
The above does not include any account of the " Insurance Fund," as that will be reported in
a separate ttuteawut by the Local Board of Managers who directed its expenditure.
BISHOP BENJAMIN W. ARNETT, D. D.
Born in Brownsville, Pa., March 6th, 1838.
Ordained Bishop, May 24-th, 1888.
BISHOPS OP TUB A. M. E. CHURCH.
S3
The following figures show the power of
Child Organization from 1S.S4 to IS!)") :
1884 Children's Day Collection $ 2 278 G8
4 7G4 48
4 513 08
4 362 98
515 919 22
$ 4 040 98
6 043 70
7 523 68
7 051 28
824 659 64
$ 2 111 11
2 478 94
2 675 55
1 800 00
« 9 065 60
Church Extension Society 9 065 60
818 131 20
Grand Total Children's Day Collec¬
tion from 1884 to 1895 849 014 41
By Church Extension Society 9 644 47
Grand Total 859 288 94
The following will show the gratifying de¬
velopment of the Business of the Sunday
School Union from 1884 to 1895:
1884 to 1885 Business 8 629 13
1885 to 1886 " 2 831 50
1888 to 1887 " 8 147 19
1887 to 1888 " 10 397 00
Total $22 034 83
1S88 to 1889 Business 812 969 50
1889 to 1890 " 11 740 78
1890 to 1891 " 15 501 04
1891 to 1892 " 17 752 30
Total $57 963 62
1892 to 1893 Business $16 526 19
1893 to 1894 " 17 250 12
1894 to 1895 " 15 144 21
1895 to 1896 " (9 months) 11 728 50
Total 860 649 02
Grand Total $140 647 47
Grand Total Children Day 49 644 47
Great Grand Total $190 291 94
1885
1880
1887
1890
tt
<t
1891
it
tt
1892
it
• i
tt
1893
(C
tt
tt
1894
tt
t<
tt
1895
14
tt
tt
Total
CORPORATE WEALTH.
The Corporate Wealth of our Church has been largely
increased during the present Quadrennium. The loyal mem¬
bers have been impelled with a zeal, manifesting a liberality
hitherto unknown. They have made great sacrifices to build,
rebuild, to model and remodel, to furnish and refurnish their
places of worship in the most magnificent and elegant style.
Our pastors have been wise and progressive in their leader¬
ship in the temporal concerns of the Church. While we re¬
joice at these improvements, we caution our pastors and peo¬
ple to remember one of the cardinal doctrines of Methodism:
never go into debt without a probability of paying for what
you get. It would be better to worship God in a plain and
commodious house, without a debt, than to serve Him in a
fine house weighed down with a heavy debt. Our first house
of worship was built by Richard Allen and dedicated by Bish¬
op Asbury in 1794. The following table will show the won¬
derful progress made since then.
54
THE QVADRENXTAL ADDRESS OF THE
Number of Churches.
Valuation of Property.
1794,
1
$ 2,500
1816, -
7
. - 15,000
1826,
- - 33 -
75,000
1836, -
86
- - 125,000 •
1846,
- - 198 -
225,000
1856, -
- 210
- - 425,000
1866,
- - 286 -
825,000
1876, -
- 1,833
- - 3,164,911
1886,
- - 3,394 -
- 5,341,889
1888, -
- 4,009
- - 6,391,577
1890,
- - 4,069 -
- 7,772,284
1896. -
- 4,575
- - 8,650,155
r
A"
9*$ o+f*
CHURCH EXTENSION.
The last General Conference provided for tlie organiza¬
tion of the Church Extension Society. After its adjourn¬
ment the Bishops selected llev. C. T. Shaffer, Secretary, and
organized the same. His report gives the following results
of his very efficient labors. lie, Bishop A. Grant, and the
Board of Managers deserve the thanks of this honorable
body for the work accomplished.
RECEIPTS OF THE CHURCH EXTENSION DEPARTMENT.
1802-3, .... $ 4,851.77
1893-4, .... . 11,896.56
1804-5, 11,581.95
1895-6, May* itepzt&Zb, $C< ( * Z j}r320r34—•
Total, - >y $37,050.62 ^
Disbursements, - 31,537.21
t
Dec. 31, '95, balance in hand/ - - $ fi ll.^41 -
The final report of the Secretary will bring the figures
ciown to the end of the fiscal year.
The following figures will give a very gratifying condi¬
tion of the assets of the department, which are loans on
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
55
churches, schools, &c., $22,110.88, with a cash balance of
$6,113.41, which will be increased after the meeting of several
Annual Conferences and the final result in the Secretary's
report.
The Secretary has received from 34 Annual Conferences
$7,273.55 of the 10 per cent, of the 40 per cent, of the Dollar
Money.
"We recommend that the law be so changed that the
Church Extension shall receive 10 per cent, of the whole Dol¬
lar instead of 10 per cent, of the 60 per cent, of the Dollar,
believing that it will be for the best interest of the whole
Church.
We further recommend that the Church Extension Soci¬
ety shall hold an anniversary meeting during the setting of
each Annual Conference, in order to inspire the ministers and
inform the people of the object and aim of the Church Ex¬
tension Society.
We recommend that the salary of the Secretary of the
Church Extension be paid out of the treasury of the said
society.
THINGS TO REMEMBER.
Dear Brethren :—There are some things that we desire
to say through you to the ministers and members of the church
which relate, we think, to the success of the mission of the
church. In some places we find there is a tendency to un¬
derrate the prayer meeting,—$ tendency to rely on self rather
than on God. The lessons of the history of the church is
that the strongest men of the past were men of prayer,—men
who relied on the Divine arm. Daniel was a praying man;
Elijah brought fire from heaven by prayer; Paul and Silas
were reloaded from prison by prayer; Luther won his vic¬
tories by faith and prayer; the latter part of the year 1739
Wesley called a meeting of eight or ten persons to pray, and
the result was the organization of Methodism. In 1766
Philip Embry, Barbara Heck and Aunt Betty met in New
56- THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
York City to pray, and American Methodism was born. In
17GG Robert Strawbridge, Aunt Annie and ten others met on
Sum's Creek, Md., and the tree of Methodism was planted.
In 1787 Richard Allen and his associates were taken up from
their knees while at prayer; they left St. George that they
might build an altar where they could pray to God for the
deliverance of their brethren in bonds. God heard the
prayers of the Fathers; lie answered by His lightningin the
flames of war and the thunders of the artillery ; He answered
and the prison doors were opened, and the bondmen ai)d the
bondwomen walked out in the morning of freedom.
These sacred altars, with their perpetual fire, have been
committed to the ministry and members of our church. It
is the imperative duty of our ministers to see that the fires
do not go out; the members to see that the altars are not de¬
serted. We need no strange fires, and want no new altars.
Let us pray that the fire of the Iloly Ghost may fall upon
bishops, elders and members as it did on the day of Pente¬
cost, and let us go out from this place with "cloven tongues"
of fire, proclaiming the gospel of peace and good-will between
man and man, family and family, race and race, nation and
nation—between heaven and earth.
We would next call your attention to the
"class meeting,"
a weekly conference of the members, where the soldiers re¬
port at roll call; where the wounded are cared for, the sick
sent to the hospital, the well sent to the field to continue the
fight against the world, the flesh and the devil; the faint¬
hearted are encouraged; broken hearts are bound up; the
deserters are missed and their arrest ordered, and rescuing
bands are sent out to bring in the stragglers.
We cannot afford to do away with our class meetings;
they must be encouraged, the efficiency of the army com¬
mitted to our care demands a weekly inspection of the soi-
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
57
diers, his weapons and success. Let every body attend class
meeting.
We are sorry to say' that the
"love feast"
is not held with the same veneration and love as it was by
the pioneers of Methodism. We recommend that both min¬
isters and laymen return to primitive lovefeast, introduce
lovefeast tickets, allow none to be admitted save those who
desire to flee from the wrath to come. Let us have a judg¬
ment every quarter—a separate day. It would.be an object
lesson to saint and sinner. This is one of the sacred land¬
marks of the fathers, and should not be removed to satisfy
the cold, lukewarm and indifferent.
We call the attention of the church to the sacrament
of the
"lord's supper."
It is one of the most sacred of all the Divine ordinances.
There should be an effort put forth by the ministers and
members to make it a solemn feast, a consecration of life and
talent to the service of God,—a rebinding to the Cross at
Calvary; in fact a " Eucharistic feast."
We recommend the use of unfermented wine and un¬
leavened bread at the Lord's Supper. We must not allow
this feast to become common, but let it be celebrated as a
monumental testimony of the sufferings and death of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
"christian baptism."
The origin of baptism as a religious rite is lost in the
mist of antiquity. Ablution in some form was a universal,
oriental custom. In Egypt, Greece and Rome it was a prep¬
aration for prayer; among the Jews it was a sign of purifica¬
tion; John the Baptist said, "I baptize you with water unto
repentance; but there cometh one after me who shall baptize
you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." Christ, in sending
out his disciples, said: " Go ye into all the world, and preach
58 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
the gospel to every creature. lie that believetli anil is bap¬
tized shall be saved; but he that believetli not shall be
damned."—Mark 26 :15, 16. The commission to the apostles
is the commission -to every minister of the gospel to-day.
We are to preach it to every creature. We will not discuss
the four issues between the Baptists and the Pedobaptist in
this address; but it is the duty of every minister to present
them to his congregation, so that they may have an intelli¬
gent explanation of the Alethodistic idea on the following
questions:
First. What is the significance of Baptism ?
Second. Who are the proper subjects of baptism?
Third. What is the proper method of baptism ?
Fourth. Is baptism an essential pre-requisite to partici¬
pation in the Lord's Supper?
The members of our church have a right to expect of the
ministry to furnish answers to these controversal interroga¬
tions. In the name of the rising generation, we urge upon
the parents the necessity and duty to give their children to
God and the church, by Christian baptism.
We would suggest that this General Conference set
apart a Sunday in the year when all parents connected with
our church shall present all unbaptized children for Christian
baptism. " Children's Day " would be a good day to register
the infant members of the church and to gather the lambs of
the flock into the fold, where they would come under the
watch care ot the shepherds and receive instruction on their
duties to themselves, parents, society, country and God.
THE SEED TIME.
During the past Quadrennium God has wonderfully blest
the labors of our ministry and graciously answered the pray¬
ers of the taithtul, and many sons and daughters have been
born into the kingdom of grace and are now on their way to
glory.
The increase of our members has been greater than any
four years in our eventful history, for which let us all thank
God.
It is possible for us to give you the numbers who have
attached themselves to our church, but we cannot give you
any adequate conception of the joy that has been brought to
the hearts and homes of our people.
Our ministers went forth "weeping," " bearing precious
seed," sowed beside all waters, withholding not their hands
morning, noon nor evening, trusting God to send dew, rain
and sunshine; and the grand result has been glorious
" REVIVALS,"
sinners converted, backsliders reclaimed, weak-ankled Christ¬
ians strengthened, believers built up in the faith once de¬
livered to the saints.
We trust that before we leave this place that we will
have a tidal wav° of salvation that will baptize all our hearts,
and continue its flow until it reaches every minister and
member throughout the world.
The members of our Church are surrounded with world¬
ly customs and influences which are not in harmony with the
teachings of Methodism, nor with Christianity, as we think.
The world is trying to popularize and christianize dancing,
card-playing, wine-drinking and attending popular amuse¬
ments. We believe that the best interests of the young and
rising generation is to stand by the landmarks <f the fathers
and make no unholy alliances, compromises or affiliation with
the questionable and sinful habits and practices of the orld.
THE WHITE RIBBON.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organ¬
ized in Cleveland, Ohio, 1874, and is the sober second thought
of the Woman's Crusade. Its object is : " To unify through¬
out the world the work of Women in Temperance and Social
Reform ; to circulate a petition addressed to all the govern¬
ments of th§ world fer the overthrow of alcohol and the
GO
THE QUA D RE XXL IL ADDRESS OF THE
opium trades. Its methods of operation : preventative, edu¬
cational, evangelistic, social and legal. Their watchwords
are, "Agitate and organize," and their motto,- "For God and
Home and Native Lund."
We are in sympathy with this movement because we
recognize it to be an auxiliary to the Church in its efforts to
suppress the rum traffic. It has secured the passage ot laws
in almost every State of th#e Union, requiring scientific in¬
struction of the effect of alcohol upon the human system,
thus hanging the danger signal on every school-house, on
every home and on every college in the land, saying to com¬
ing generations "Drink water and live," or "Drink liquors
and you will die."
We recommend that our women form an alliance offen¬
sive and defensive against the common foe of the home and
society. Let our active, intelligent and consecrated women
join hands with this noble baud of reformers that they may
reap the benefits that will come to all by the triumph of the
principles advocated by this world-wide organization.
CHRISTIAN CO-OPERATION.
IIow to save our young people and converts to the
Church and Christianity has been a problem. We have had
many theories as to the best methods of solving it. The
Methodistic idea has been to organize and put them at work
and keep them at work, indoctrinate them in the class-room
and Sunday-school. This idea has taken a general form of
training the young Church or what is known as the " Chris¬
tian Endeavor Association," the " Young Peoples' Baptist
Association," and the " Epworth League." The Baptist As¬
sociation is purely denominational and semi-racial or Anglo-
Saxon ; the " Epworth League" is tri-denominational and
comprises the young people of the M. E. Church South and
a portion of the M. E. Church, the Methodist of Canada; there¬
fore, only three denominations control aud manage them. The
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
61
Christian Endeavor Association is a federation of Christian
workers, representing thirty evangelical denominations in a
world-wide brotherhood, recognizing the Fatherhood of God
and the Brotherhood of Man. They desire our fellowship, fra¬
ternity and co-operation. They have recognized our Church by
inviting our ministers and Bishops to preside at their meet¬
ings, speak on their platforms, and have elected one of our
Bishops member of the Trustee Board of the United Society
of Christian Endeavor of the World, thereby making us a
part of the corporate body and partners in this world-wide
endeavor to save men. This movement is a practical illus¬
tration of the gracious fact that Christian spiritual unity is
possible without absolute uniformity or centralization of au¬
thority. Spiritual unity cannot be gained by cold, formality
and formal fraternal resolutions, but must come by hand and
hand, heart and heart and face and face contact, such as is
given by the members of the " United Christian Endeavor
Association."
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
The Bishops' Council of 1894 recommended the organi¬
zation of Christian Endeavor Associations in all our church¬
es. We have many organizations which are doing a good
work in instructing our people in their Christian duties, each
one taking the following pledge :
PLEDGE.
" Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I prom¬
ise Ilim that I will strive to do whatever He would like have
me do; that I will make it the rule of my life to pray and to
read the Bible every day, and to support my own church in
everyway, especially by attending all her regular-Sunday
and midweek services, unless prevented by some reason which
I can conscientiously give to my Saviour; and that, just so far
as I know how, throughout my whole life, I will endeavor to
lead a Christian life.
As an Active Member, I promise to be true to all my
duties, to be present at and to take some part, aside from sing-
62 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
•
ing, in every Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting, unless hin¬
dered by some reason which I can conscientiously give to my
Lord and Master. If obliged to be absent irom the monthly
consecration meeting of the Society, I will, if possible, send
at least a verse of Scripture to be read in response to my
name at the roll-call." —
"We comfnend these facts to your deliberate judgments.
They are worthy of your consideration. We must do some¬
thing for our young people ; if we do not care for them some
one else will. Therefore, believing that the time has come
when we should make provision for the organization and
training of the young people committed to our charge, we
trust that this General Conference will not adjourn without
making ample provision to supply this pressing demand,
either by a close affiliation with the United Christian Endeav¬
or Society or by having a district denominational organization.
We are of the opinion that by uniting with the Christian
Endeavor Society that we can do more good than by a local
organization. In the first place, we become partners and
owners of all the property of that organization, and will be
benefited by the hearty co-operation of the active, intelligent
and good men of thirty denominations throughout the world.
Secondly, we will have the benefit of the cheap and ex¬
tensive literature.
Thirdly, It will enable us to co-operate with our friends
in obliterating the color line, strike a death blow at race pre¬
judice, and demonstrate our ability to perform the higher du¬
ties and enjoy the privileges of a Christian statesman.
IS THE YOUNG MAN SAFE ?
" Is the young man safe ?" was the interrogation of the
king, warrior and poet of Israel. The affection of a father
for his son was greater than his love for a scepter and tile
crown. If the young men are saved, there will be no trouble
with the old men ; for the habits and customs of youth are
hard to overcome and subdue in manhood or old age. There-
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
63
fore it is the duty of the Church to assist the parents in saving
our young men from the effects of ignorance, intemperance,
poverty and crime.
The Young Men's Christian Association was organized
in London, England, June, 1844, by George Williams a junior
clerk in a large dry goods house. ,
The first Association in America was established in Mon¬
treal, Canada, 1851, and the second a few months later in
Boston, Mass. This society has grown until it has belted the
globe. The membership of the American Associations is
245,809. One thousand four hundred and thirty-eight asso¬
ciations who occupy 284 buildings of their own, valued at
$12,591,000, and of a total net property of $14,208,043. Six
hundred and fifty-six libraries, containing 470,662 volumes.
They employ 1,279 general secretaries, among them one or
two colored young men. The current expenses for one year
in trying to save our young men was $2,334,881. Now, if it
requires the expenditure of this vast sum of money, energy
and prayer to save the young men, who have. had all the ad¬
vantages of hereditary influences and home culture, what
amount of work will be required of us to save our young men ?
It is the duty of this General Conference, and we trust
it will be its pleasure, to speak in no ambiguous terms of the
duties of the Church in relation to our young men. Make it
the imperative duty of every preacher having charge of a
circuit, station or mission to organize a Young Men's Chris¬
tian Association. Make it the duty of the members of the
Association to hold prayer-meetings from house to house, to
visit the prisoner in his cell and break the Bread of Life to
the poor and inmates of our asylums.
Dear Brethren, it is your duty to see that light-houses
along the coast of life be erected to prevent the wreck of our
young men. Heretofore we have furnished life-saving vessels
and wrecking crews who have allowed the young men to. be
wrecked and almost destroyed ; then they have gone to their
64
THE OVADRENNIAT ADDRESS OF THE
rescue and brought tliem safe to shore. What we need now
is more light-houses to prevent our young men from entering
the rapids that lead to destruction, then we won't need so
many wrecking crews in our winter revivals.
OUR YOUNG WOMEN.
What we have said about the "Young Men's Christian
Association" is equally true about the Young Women's Chris¬
tian Association. The work of this Association is four-fold:
Physical—Systematic training in the gymnasium, Health
talks and Holiday excursions.
Second. Social—Receptions and socials in homelike
rooms, Musical and literary entertainments, Helpful compan¬
ionships.
Third. Intellectual—Libraries and reading rooms, and
forming educational classes,
Fourth. Spiritual—Personal work, Evangelistic meet¬
ings,Bible training classes, Conventions for State and Na¬
tional Conferences.
This Society makes 110 distinction 011 account of race or
color, but all are invited to participate in its work.
It is of the highest importance that our Church should
take its stand in the interest of our young women—the fu¬
ture mothers and teachers of the race—for what our women
are the race will be.
The true standard of a people is measured by a virtuous
and intelligent womanhood; and the ideal woman is found
in the Church, the Sunday-school, the Day school and the
Home; therefore the Church must furnish the ideal woman
for society and the race.
The General Conference has a larger constituency of no¬
ble self-sacrificing women than any other deliberative body of
Negroes in the world. More of them depend for their moral
and religious training upon the bodies represented in this
General Conference than upon any other bodies representee]
by the race.
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 64 A
MITE MISSIONARY CONVENTION.
The First Connectional Convention of the Woman's
Parent Mite Missionary Society convened at Bethel church,
Philadelphia, November 7th, 1895, and continued in session
until November 11th.
Opening religious exercises were conducted by Bishop
B. T. Tanner, D. D.
Mrs. S. E. Tanner, President of the Mite Missionary
Society, presided with grace and dignity. Her address to the
Convention was able and comprehensive.
Mrs. Bishop Turner, Mrs. Bishop Wayman, Mrs. Sarah
J. Early, Mrs. G. T. Radcliff and Mrs. Josephine Baltimore,
acted as Vice-Presidents.
Secretaries were: Mrs. S. J. Anderson, Mrs. Isabel Tem¬
ple, Mrs. Mary C. Beckett, Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum and Mrs. D. S.
Bentley.
Treasurer, Mrs. Mary A. Campbell; and Assistant Treas¬
urer, Mrs. Gracie P. Offer.
Bishop A. W. Wayman and Bishop B. W. Arnett were
present during the session.
Addresses were delivered by Mrs. S. J. W. Early, of
Nashville, Tennessee, and the first woman of the Race to
graduate from Oberlin College. She delivered several very
able addresses.
Mrs. Amanda Smith, the only woman of the Race who
has labored on four continents as an Evangelist, charmed and
electrified the large audience with the gospel of peace and
good-will towards all men. - v
The address of Mrs. S. J. Anderson was a revelation to
many. Mrs. G. T. Radcliff delivered several stirring addresses.
There were many of the active workers present; and among
them were Mrs. Bishop Wayman, Mrs. Doctor Bentley, and
64B THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
Mrs. Aldridge, Baltimore, Jones, Beckett, Shaffer and Palmer ;*
Mrs. Bishop Campbell, Mrs. G. P. Offer, President of the
Mite Missionary Society of the Third District, and many
other persons participated. The meeting was a Pentecostal
feast,—an object lesson of the ability of our women. They
clearly demonstrated the progress made by the race.
Bishop Way man complimented the Convention for the
order in despatching the business.
The proceedings of the Convention will be presented to
the General Conference for its concurrence.
Mrs. Fannie J. Coppin, chairman of the Committee on
Constitution, presented the following amendments, which
were unanimously adopted:
amendments to the constitution of the parent society.
.Amendment 1. There shall be an Auxiliary Branch So¬
ciety organized in every Conference throughout the Connec¬
tion, which Conference Branch shall report Quarterly through
its Corresponding Secretary, to the Parent Society, according
to the By-Laws for Auxiliaries, stating the number of its
Auxiliaries, the work accomplished by them, the moneys re¬
ceived from them, and other matters of interest.
Amendment 2. The President of each Conference Branch,
shall be Vice-President of the Parent Society and whenever
possible, shall be present at its meetiugs.
Amendment 3. Each Conference Branch shall organize
its own Auxiliaries and shall have charge of them, requiring
Quarterly Reports from them, according to the By-Laws for
Auxiliaries. Each Conference Branch shall also have charge
of its own home work. The moneys of the Society to be
divided in the same proportion as the Missionary money of
the Church, viz: Sixty per cent, for Home Work, and Forty
Bishops of the a. m. e. church 64 C
per cent, for Foreign Mission Work. The forty per cent, for
Foreign Missionary Work to be sent to the Treasurer of the
Woman's Parent Mite Missionary Society, located in Phila¬
delphia, Pa.
Amendment 4. The Parent Society shall call a Confer¬
ence of all the Auxiliary Branch Conference Societies, once
every four years, in the month of November, preceding the
Quadrennial Meeting of the General Conference of the A. M. E.
Church. At this Conference, reports ot the W. II. and F. M.
Societies of the A. M. E. Church shall be laid before the
body, with suggestions and recommendations as to its further¬
ance and support. The place for the holding of this meeting
to be hereinafter stated.
recommendation first, or petition first.
It is recommended that the Parent Society shall elect a
Secretary, whose business it shall be to see that reports from
the Conference Branch Societies and other matters of interest
relating to the Women's Missionary Work, shall from time
to time be published in the columns of the Christian Recorder.
Respectfully Petitioned, An Amendment: That the Quar¬
terly Report of the Conference Branches of the W. P. M. M.
Society shall be included in the Report of the Presiding El¬
der, tor information and to perpetuate history.
recommendation second, or petition second.
It is recommended that a representative from the W. P.
M. M. Society shall from time to time meet with the Men's
Board of Foreign Missions, to the end that there may be a
better understanding of their work in the Foreign field and
for what part of it the Women are especially responsible. A
lack of definite knowledge concerning these facts has been a
64 D
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
great drawback to the success of tlie Women's P. II. and F.
M. S. of the A. M. E. Church."
The Convention was a grand success and will long be
remembered by those who participated in its proceedings, and
those who witnessed the exercises and enjoyed the speaking
and singing. It was apparent to all observers that all our
women wanted was an opportunity to exercise their gifts,
graces and usefulness.
We trust that this General Conference will give the sub¬
ject due consideration, and act as their godly judgment may
dictate.
" THE VOICE ON MISSIONS."
" The Voice of Jlission.s," a monthly journal edited and
published by Bishop II. M. Turner, is one of the literary en¬
terprises of our Church, having for its great object the devel¬
opment of the Missionary spirit at home by the diffusion of
valuable and reliable information gathered from the Foreign
field. While the " Voice " is lifted up like a trumpet in plead¬
ing for the conquest of the World for the Redeemer, it at the
same time gives no unmistaken sound as to our duty in the *
u Redemption of Africa"—the " Dark Continent,"—a subject
apparently so dear to the hearts of many.
"LIGHT AND LOVE."
u Woman's Light and Love for Heathen Africa," published
by Mrs. Lida A. Lowrey, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Miss Emma S.
Ransom, Cleveland, Ohio, commends itself to the Church.
It is the first effort of the women to conduct a Missionary
journal. It has been an eminent success, and is destined to
do much good in giving Missionary information and uniting
our women in their efforts for the evangelization ol Africa
and the establishing of Protestantism in the West Indies.
We trust this publication will be fostered by the Church.
BISHOP BENJAMIN TUCKER TANNER, D. D. LL. D.
Born December 25th, 1835, at Pittsburgh, Pa.
Ordained Bishop, May 24th, 1888.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
We are nearing tlie portals of the twentieth century.
Four annual revolutions and the quadrenniuni of the wheel
of time will bring us into the presence of its duties and, re¬
sponsibilities ; each to take his place in the new century ac¬
cording to his merits in the work in the nineteenth century.
Individuals and organizations will make their historical re¬
ports.
AVliat a grand report will the sons and daughters of Al¬
len and Brown, Quinn and Payne, Campbell and Wayman,
Shorter and Ward, Carr and Gross make to the Keeper of the
Record of the new-born Century! They will say :
" What troubles have we seen,
What conflicts have we passed ;
Fightings without and fears within,
Since we assembled last!
But out of all the Lord
Has brought us by His love I"
We will be called upon as an organization, to join with
the heirs of our Christian civilization in celebrating the nine¬
teen hundredth anniversary of the birth of the King's Son,
the Prince of Life and Glory ; lie who was to reign from sea to
sea and who was to inherit a crown and sceptre of the uni¬
versal empire of jeligion, morality and knowledge.
FALSE ACCUSATION.
There have been serious charges brought against our race
by men who profess to be our friends ; others have been
brought by men who make no pretensions to a friendship for
either religion or the Negro. He has been charged with ig¬
norance, immorality, indifference and disregard to the mar¬
riage vow, and professing a religion without morality. And
some have gone so far as to say that he is worse ofl today
than he was in slavery; that freedom has been a curse instead
of a blessing, and liberty has become lawlessness. The moral
and religious teachers of the people have been charged with
66 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
a lack of the true conception of human duty and responsi¬
bility. These are serious charges; but as representatives of
the people in all conditions of life, we deny the false and
slanderous accusation against the virtue of our women and
the manhood of our men and speak from personal knowledge
of the moral and social condition of the people, and affirm
that the ideals of the leaders of the people are as high as the
ideal life of their neighbors, and that their practical life is
more in harmony with the Ten Commandments, the Golden
Rule and the life of the Man of Sorrows and the humble
Nazarene, than those who are bearing false witness against
their neighbor without any personal knowledge of the charges
alleged.
DIVORCES.
You will be called upon during your deliberations to give
utterance to the position of the Church" on the subject of
Marriage and Divorce. It is our deliberate judgment that
we should take a firm stand on this subject. Stand where
the Church has stood during her existence ; stand where our
fathers stood on the subject, and abide by the consequences.
Let us by our action here strengthen the foundations of the
hymeneal altar, binding husbands and wives with bonds so
pure and strong that they can only be broken by death ; they
can be separated but not parted, but be one in responsibility
and one in destiny.
THE HYMNAL.
A Methodist preacher is expected to be able to pray,
preach and sing. One of the peculiarities of the Methodist
Church has been utilization of song in the work of saving
souls. " Sing in the spirit and with an understanding," has
been the counsel, advice and command from the days of Wes¬
ley until now.
The preface to our first Hymn Book in 1817, printed by
Bishop Allen and Jacob Tapsico, has the following:
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
67
" Having become a distinct and separate body of people,
there is no collection of Hymns we could with propriety
adopt: however, we have for some time been collecting ma¬
terials for the present work. * * * * *
In our researches we have not passed over a selection of
hymns because esteemed and used by a particular denomina¬
tion, but have endeavored to collect such as were applicable
to the various states of Christian experience. * *
We exhort you to retain the spirit of singing, always
recollecting that it is a part of Divine worship, when the
spirit and the understanding are united. It is believed to be
a service acceptable in the sight of God and beneficial to the
souls of the people."
These are the words of the committee.
Daniel Coker,
Richard Allen,
James Champion.
We have had several editions of our Hymn Book print¬
ed. In 1891 the Bishops' Council which met at Macon, Ga.,
appointed Bishops T. M. D. Ward and B. T. Tanner a com¬
mittee on " Hymn Book and Hymnal." They authorized Dr.
J. C. Embry to compile a Hymn Book, which he has doi^e,
and it is used throughout the Church.
The Bishops' Council of 1893 added Dr. J. C. Embry
and Prof. Jno. T. Lay ton to the committee on Hymnal and
authorized them to make a compilation of Hymns and Tunes
and report the same to the Council.
In 1895 Bishop B. T. Tanner reported progress. Bishop
Ward having died, Bishops Gaines and Arnett were added to
the committee and empowered to continue and report their
work to the Bishops in time to present their work to the Gen¬
eral Conference. For we feel that the adoption of the Hymns
of the Church is just as much the work of the General Con¬
ference as the making of the laws to govern the Church.
We hope your Committee on Ilymnal will act so wise that
the Church will not need another Ilymnal for half a century.
68
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
Our hymns should be as permanent as our doctrines, and
should pass from one generation to another, and our tunes
should bind and cheer the hearth and home, the living and
dying for an hundred generations.
We call your attention to the report of the Committee
on Hymnal and Hymn Book.
PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS.
According to the resolution of Dr. J. T. Jenifer at Gen¬
eral Conference, passed in 1892, authorizing the Bishops to
make such arrangements as were necessary to have the
Church represented in the Parliament of Religions and by
holding a Denominational Congress, Bishops B. F. Lee, Jas.
A. Handy and Rev. T. B. Caldwell were appointed General
Committee to carry out resolution. Bishop B. W. Arnett
was appointed Geueral Manager and Chairman of Committee
011 Programmes. Arrangements were made and our Church
was represented in all the Religious Congresses and Parlia¬
ment. Mrs. S. J. W. Early and Miss llallie Q. Brown were our
representatives in the Woman's Worlds' Congress; in the
Congress of Atrican Ethnology Bishop II. M. Turner and Dr.
J. T. Jenifer delivered addresses and Bishop B. W. Arnett
presided, while Papers were read by Profs. W. !3. (Scarborough,
Dr. II. O. Tanner and Bishop B. T. Tanner.
Bishop W. J. Gaines and I. W. L. Roundtree represented
us in the World's Temperance Congress. At the World's
Educational Congress we were represented by President H. T.
Mitchell, Tres. II.T.Kealing, St. George P. Richardson, Miss
Annie Jones and others.
At the Congress of Missions we were represented by Dr.
W. B. Derrick, R. A. Graham, G. W. Gaines and others.
The Congress of the A. M. E. Church was attended by
all the Bishops and General officers, Presiding elders and lay¬
men from all sections of the Church. The addresses deliver¬
ed and speeches made have been compiled and are now in the
hands of the General Business Men^ger for publication, We
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
69
hope tliat this General Conference will make ample provision
to give this valuable literature to the world. Other Con¬
gresses have published their proceedings and are looking for
ours. May they never be disappointed !
The Missionary Congress of the A. M. E. Church was
held Sept. 23rd, 1893. Bishop Turner presided. Addresses
were delivered by Bishops Way man, Tanner, Ilandy, Grant
and Drs. Johnson, Coppin, Smith and others. Drs. Beckett,
"W atson and Professor Layton charmed the world with their
Songs of Praise.
One of the special features of the Missionary Meeting
was the address delivered by Mrs. L. M. Montefor, a lady
who was born in Jerusalem. The venerable, now sainted,
Bishop D. A. Payne was present at all our Missionary Meet¬
ings. •
At the opening of the Parliament of Religions Bishop B.
"W. Arnett delivered one of the Welcome Addresses on Sept.
11th and presided over the Parliament of Religion, Septem¬
ber 15th.
The celebration of the issuing of the Emancipation Proc¬
lamation by Lincoln was under the control of the A. M. E.
Church. Addresses were delivered; a Souvenir volume was
presented to the lion. J. M. Ashley, in the name of the Afro-
American League of Tennessee; Master Daniel Payne Ar¬
nett represented W. II. Young and presented the volume in
the name of the coming generation, to which Mr. Ashley
responded.
Addresses were delivered by Rev. J. R. Slatterly, of the
Catholic Church, and by Bishop B. W. Arnett. The venera¬
ble Bishop Payne presided at this meeting.
The Church owes a debt of gratitude to Hon. C. C. Bon-
ney, chairman of the Committee of Religious Auxiliaries,
and Rev. J. II. Barrows, chairman of the Parliament of Re¬
ligions, for the impartiality shown and the cordiality exhibited
to our Church and its representatives. In the official volume
of the proceedings of the Parliament of Religion, they did
70
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
for ns what they did not for any other denomination : they put
in the photographs of our twelve Bishops. This gives us a
place in the history of the religious world that no other de¬
nomination enjoys. We think that much good was done for
the race at the Parliament of Religions. Many of the foreign
representatives met for the first time represer tative men and
women of the race. We gave each of the foreign represent¬
atives a copy of our Discipline, Hymn Book, Bishop Gaines'
History of the South, Dr. Embry's Digest, the Quarto-Cen¬
tennial of the South Carolina Conference and the Budget of
1888.
Never in all the history of the Church did it do a great¬
er service to the race than by its participation in the Religious
Congress and Parliament of Religion.
PEDOLOGY.
Richard Allen was the first Race Leader to organize the
Sunday School for the children. The first school was taught
in Philadelphia by Thomas Miller, in the A. M. E. church,
March, 1795. The work of child-training has continued and
increased in importance ever since.
The Sunday Schools of our Church are in a very prosper¬
ous condition. The uniform Lesson System has been almost
unanimously adopted. The preparation of our Lessons is
the work of the Faculty of Payne Theological Seminary.
The Secretary of the Sunday School Union has very wisely
united these two departments of Church work. We trust
that the bonds that bind them now may be strengthened, and
the union made permanent.
We congratulate you upon the evidences of progress as
seen in our Sunday School Teachers. The Minutes of the
Sunday School Institutes will show their ability. The Papers
read, and discussions upon the same are very commendable.
Many of our Schools have adopted the graded system,
and graduate the students when they complete a Course of
BISHOPS OF THE .1. M. IS. CHURCH.
71
Bible Studies and Normal Training. This is known as the
" Cincinnati Plan;" they having been among the very first
to graduate a class. This is one of the solutions of wbat we
will do with our young people in the Sunday School,—put
them oil a course of systematic study and hold before them
the incentive of graduation.
We call your attention to the meeting of the Internation¬
al Sunday School Convention to he held in Boston, in July,
1896, and also to the World's Sunday School'Convention to
be held in London, England, Jul}T, 1897. We trust you will
make ample preparation to be represented by some of our
most intelligent young men and young women. We should
not allow any of these organizations to meet without being
fully represented.
MEMBERSHIP.
We are pleased to note the improvement of the member¬
ship of our denomination and the adherents to our Church,
The uniform testimony of Presiding Elders and Pastors is that
there is a marked change for the better in the home, social,
and church life of those committed to our charge. The social
standard is higher than ever before ; the line between the
good, bad and indifferent is more sharply defined than at any
time in the history of the race. Public sentiment is becoming
more severe on evil-doers, and crime ceases to be condoned.
Everywhere the people are following closer in the footsteps
of the "Nazarene," and obeying the. advice and command
of the "Carpenter's Son."
The increase of our membership from June, 1894, to
June, 1895, was 44,400.
The intelligence of our members is demonstrated by their
avocations and professions. They occupy every position in
society; they are filling with credit places of trust and emol¬
ument in the Municipal, County, State and National govern¬
ment, and are serving their race and country at home and
abroad,
>?2 the} quadrennial address of the
We have at least 599,450 communicants and 1^798,350
adherents.
PASTORS.
The Ministers of our Church have never labored harder
than they have during this Quadrennium, and they have
never done more good to our race and country. They have
given inspiration and hope to the fainting and despondent;
they have opened the prison doors of despair and emancipa¬
ted the children of sorrow. They have hound up the broken¬
hearted, united separated families, opened a highway from
the home to the church and school-house, given strength and
courage to the weary pilgrims, announced the fiery judgment
to the wicked and presented the Balm of Gilead to the sin-
sick and repentant, wiped the crystal drops of dissolution
from the brow of the dying, and pointed men and women to
"the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world."
They have been true to the trust imposed upon them; have
preached the word without favor or affection, and have been
recognized by the wise, intelligent and good as the true min¬
isters and interpreters of Nature, the Word, Providence and
Revelation. "Pure and undefiled religion," Christian educa¬
tion, Christian morality, Christian temperance and Christian
missions have been their theme, their song and tlieir prayer ;
like angels in the vision of the Revelator, they have gone
from city to city, village to village as missionaries and heralds
of peace and goodness; and above all they have been supreme¬
ly loyal to Truth, the Church and their God.
PRESIDING ELDERS.
We desire to express our high appreciation of the work
of the Presiding Elders of the several Districts. It is hard
to estimate the great services they have performed for the
Church, and it is only God who can tell what they have suf¬
fered while attending the various missions, circuits and sta¬
tions of the various districts. Cold, hunger, rain and sun¬
shine have been their constant companions. There are 184
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
73
Presiding Elder Districts in the Connection. They held 184
District Conferences this year, or 536 during the past Quad-
rennium. They have held 530 Sunday School Conventions
and Institutes; 4,325 Quarterly Conferences* every three
months, or 17,300 every year, or 69,200 for the Quadrennium.
They have held a total number of Conferences and Conven¬
tions since your last meeting amounting to 71,266. And yet
there are some who will say there is no work for the Presi¬
ding Elder to do. But with an open Bible, a loving and
consecrated ministry, a wise, active and judicious Presiding
Eldership we can take the world for Christ. "We recommend
that hereafter it be understood that Presiding Elders are ap¬
pointed annually as the Pastors are appointed, and may be
changed at the end of the year as Pastors are changed; and
at the end of four (4) years they shall return to their Pastor¬
ate, except in special cases to be determined by the Bishop
and needs of the work.
EPISCOPAL/ DISTRICTS.
In reviewing the work committed to our care, we now
call your attention to the work of the Episcopal Districts:
Bishop B. T. Tanner was assigned to the work ot the
First Episcopal District, May, 1892, which is composed of
Philadelphia, New Jersey, New England and New York Con¬
ferences. He has been enabled, by the blessing of God, to
meet $11 of his Conferences and visit many places in his Dis¬
trict. The work has prospered financially and spiritually.
There has been an increase in all the collections, local and
general, and he reports that his men have been generally
faithful and successful, and deserve well of the Church.
The Bishop of the First Episcopal District is President
of the Board of Publication. During this Quadrennium a
new building has been erected, new presses put in, and the
whole furnished and arranged.according to the most approved
methods for practical business. Three of the General De¬
partments find their homes in that building.
74
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF TUB
We congratulate you and the Church upon this substan¬
tial improvement.
Bishop W. J. Gaines was assigned to the Second Epis¬
copal District, 1892, composed of the Virginia, Baltimore and
North Carolina Conferences, but by order of the General Con¬
ference he organized Western North Carolina Conference in
1892. The work has prospered as never before. The men
have been diligent, faithful and successful. The. Bishop has
impressed his personality upon minister, member and friend,
" from the mountain to the sea;" he reports great success
at Kittrell Institute and commends the claims of that Insti¬
tute to the favorable consideration of the General Confer¬
ence. On the death of Bishop J. M. Brown, March 16, 1893,
Bishop Gaines was given the Kentucky and W. Kentucky
Annual Conferences until the setting of this General Confer¬
ence. He reports the work as succeeding and the men as
having been faithful and true to their vows to God and man.
The School at Ilarrodsburg has had the support of the two
Kentucky Conferences. Many churches have been remodeled,
repaired, rebuilt and refurnished. Many debts have been re¬
duced and some have been paid oft"; and many souls have
been added to the Church.
The illustrious and venerable D. A. Payne was assigned
to the Third Episcopal District, composed of Ohio, N. Ohio
and Pittsburgh Annual Conferences. He completed the
rounds of 1892 and 1893, and was assisted by one of his col¬
leagues. At the close of the second round, he was making
preparation to go to Florida and spend the winter, as was his
custom. He went to Xenia and caught a cold, and in a few
days after, he completed his earthly pilgrimage and departed
for his Heavenly home, November 29th, 1893, at 5 minutes
past 2 p. m. He died " full of years," honored and beloved
wherever known, and will be known to posterity as the
pioneer educator of his race and an apostle of domestic
education.
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
75
One of the peculiarities of the Third Episcopal District
is that it is the seat of one of our oldest institutions of learn¬
ing—Wilherforce University—and also Payne Theological
Seminary.
These Institutions require a portion of the time of the
Presiding Bishop. From their foundation, they have had the
watchful care of Bishop Payne and Bishop Shorter, who
acted as fathers and god-fatliers.
The ministerial appointments in the Ohio and North Ohio
Conferences are made so as to accommodate the largest num¬
ber of Theological students. The following figures will give
you some idea of the progress and development of Wilber-
force University and Payne Theological Seminary.
Bishop Payne was President from 1863 to 1876, a period
of 13 years. The enrollment of students was 1,554, an aver¬
age of 119.54. Total money raised $92,784.92, an average per
year of $7,137.30.
Bishop B. F. Lee was President from 1876 to 1884, a pe¬
riod of 8 years. Total enrollment 1,176; average enrollment
147 per annum. Total receipts $79,202.80; average per an¬
num $9,990.35.
Rev. S. T. Mitchell was President from 1884 to 1895, a
period of 11 years. Total enrollment 2,037; average 141J
per annum. Total receipts from 1884 to 1895, $192,122.56;
average of $17,466.04.
Grand total receipts from 1863 to 1895, $364,114.22; aver¬
age for 32 years of $11,378.56.
Total receipts from the Normal and Industrial Depart¬
ments from 1887 to 1895 was $92,509.47.
Total receipts for Payne Theological Seminary from 1891
to April 1st, 1896, $17,054.82,
76
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
RECAPITULATION.
Grand Total, Wilberforce University, - $364,114 22
<' " Normal Department, - - 96,009 47 •
" " Payne Theo. Seminary, - 17,054 82
Great Grand Total, ------ $477,178 51
Bishop A. W. Wayman was appointed to the Fourth
Episcopal District, May, 1892, composed of Indiana, Illinois
and Iowa Conferences. As was his custom, he visited mis¬
sions, circuits and stations throughout his district, encouraging
the people, calling sinners to repentance and building up
believers in the faith. He was permitted by a kind Provi¬
dence to hold all of his Annual Conferences and prepare his
work for the General Conference. lie attended the Mite
Missionary Society in Philadelphia, November 7th to 11th,
then went into Winter quarters to await special orders. On
November 30th, 1895, at 9 a. m , he received special orders to
report at Headquarters. " And he was not, for God took
him/' And the intelligence was borne on the wings of the
wind from sea to sea that Bishop Wayman was dead.
Bishop -T. A. Handy was assigned to the Fifth Episcopal
District, composed of the Missouri, N. Missouri, Kansas and
Colorado Conferences, which covered the States of Missouri,
Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, Utah, and the Territories
of New Mexico and Arizona; a vast field, sparsely settled, but
abundant in material wealth and future possibilities. The
work in the District is better to-day than it was at the last
General Conference. One of the principal difficulties sur¬
rounding the District was the ,very heavy debts that were
on a large number of the leading churches in each of the
Annual Conferences; but by the almost super-human efforts
of the ministry and people the churches have been relieved
in a great measure and have a possibility of becoming eman¬
cipated in the near future.
The ministers and laymen of the district have nobly stood
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
77
by the Western University. One portion of the building has
been completed and is occupied by a School; the debt has
been reduced and is now under the control of the very able
and efficient Board of Trustees. You will be called upon to
assist this very worthy Institution. The moral and intellec¬
tual status of the people of the district has improved under
the fostering superintendency of the Bishop and the loyal
support of ministers and members.
Bishop A. Grant was assigned to the Sixth Episcopal
District. It is composed of the Georgia, N". Georgia, Macon,
Ga., Alabama and the N. Alabama Conferences; and by the
authority of the General Conference of 1892, he organized
the Central Alabama Conference. The Lord has wonderfully
blessed the labor of His servant; churches have been built,
sinners convicted, mourners converted and saints confirmed
in the faith. The ministers have increased their diligence,
renewed their vows, redeemed their pledges, and with an un¬
precedented devotion to their sacred trust have excelled all
former years in bringing a bountiful harvest of success to this
General Conference. And when you hear the detailed ac¬
count of the wonderful work in this District, you will say that
" Marching has been done" by the Georgia Regulars and the
Alabama Invincibles. Not only has Bishop Grant brought
the work you gave him with an increase from 30 to 60 and
100 fold, but he has brought other work committed to his
care stamped with the same success as that of his own. Min¬
isters and members of both Districts deserve the thanks of
this General Conference. Morris Brown College has been
cared for; Edward Waters College has received aid and com¬
fort and stands out as one of our intellectual beacon-liglits.
The ministers and laymen of the Sixth District wTere so
well pleased with the labors of their Bishop that they grant¬
ed him a vacation and furnished him with the means to visit
the Old World, to stand by the cradle of Methodism, to preach
in Wesley's pulpit and to visit the graves of the pioneers of
Christianity in earnest.
78 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
The Payne High School at Selma, Alabama^, has contin¬
ued its career of usefulness; is doing much good in Central
Alabama, and deserves encouragement and support.
Bishop M. B. Salter wdTs appointed to the Seventh Epis¬
copal District, composed of South Carolina and Columbia., S.
C., Annual Conferences; but by the authority of the General
Conference of 1892, he organized the N. E. South Carolina
Conference, and added a new star in our denominational firm¬
ament. He has brought new life out of the work by his vis¬
itation to remote parts of the District, where no Bishop had
ever been to impress himself upon the life and character of
our members and adherents.' This District was visited by a
severe earthquake, August, 1892, and many thousands of our
members lost their property and many their lives, and our
churches swept away by a flood or crumbled beneath the
earthquake's trend. But out of flood and earthquake success
has attended the administration of the newly-made Bishop of
the l'almetto State.
Allen University passed through a fiery ordeal. Dicker-
son Hall and the chapel were burned to ashes and the students
and teachers were thrown out to contend with the difficulties
of the homeless and houseless. Some lost books and clothes,
but under the wise leadership of the Bishop, order was brought
out of confusion, and Arnett llall was occupied and partially
finished and furnished and forms a permanent home for the
students of the Institution. You will be called upon to lend
your aid to this meritorious and deserving child of the Church.
Bishop Thomas Myers Decatur "Ward was appointed
to the Eighth Episcopal District, composed of Florida,
East Florida, South Florida and the Bahama Islands. lie
moved on his work and gave immediate supervision to it and
impressed himself upon the Church and the community as
only he could do. His imperial will and poetic genius found
a hearty response in the hearts of the people who were sur¬
rounded by the orange, magnolia and jesamine. Every inin-
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
79
ister felt that he had a leader; every Church acknowledged
him as their commander; every man and woman felt that he
was their brother; the children looked to him as their father,
and the citizens saw in him the embodiment of true citizen¬
ship, a worthy exponent of manhood Christianity.
He visited many places in his work, commanded the peo¬
ple to repent, pray and believe. He visited one of the Dis¬
trict Conferences ; returned home and felt unwell during Sun¬
day, went to bed, bade his family " Good night," closed his
door after him and was seen no more; for on the night of
June 10th, 1894, God sent His. chariot for him, and he was
not. No one knows the hour of his departure. Like Dr.
Coke he left the world unseen, save by the angels who guard¬
ed him for threescore years and ten.
Bishop A. Grant, who assisted him, was given charge of
the work by the Council of Bishops, and he will report the
same in detail.
Bishop Benjamin W. Arnett was given charge of the
Ninth Episcopal District, composed of Arkansas, S. Ar¬
kansas, W. Arkansas, Indian Territory, Mississippi and N.
Mississippi Annual Conferences; and by the authority of the
General Conference organized the Middle Mississippi Confer¬
ence at Yazoo City, Mississippi, Feb. 1st, 1893.
He held his first Conference at Guthrie, Oklahoma, and
continued to superintend the work until December, 1893. On
the death of Bishop D. A. Payne he was transferred to the
Third Episcopal District, and the Ninth was given to Bishop
II. M. Turner.
The work in the District has prospered. Many churches
have been renovated and rebuilt. The cause of education
has received new impetus. Bethel University was changed
to Shorter University, aud the educational work in the State
of Arkansas is in better condition than it has ever been be¬
fore.
80
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
Tlie J. I\ Campbell College at Vicksburg, Mississippi, is
one of the promising Institutions of our Church, and by wise
management will exercise a great influence over the people
in the Mississippi Delta.
The T. W. Stringer Academy at Friars' Foint, Mississip¬
pi, \\Tas the partial gift of the local trustees and a memorial
offering by the Graiid Lodge of Masons of the State of Mis¬
sissippi. You will be given a complete report of this import¬
ant gift to our denomination.
The Indian Territory has established and is maintaining
the Sisson Industrial and Agricultural School. The Indus¬
trial branch is taught at Muscogee, Indian Territory. The
Agricultural Farm is on Bluecreek, Indian Territory. This
school is of great importance to the children of the new-born
freedmen; they do not get any benefits of the Indian Funds;
they suffer greatly ior proper facilities of education. We
trust that something will be done to assist this school and
perpetuate the name of one of our illustrious missionaries.
Bishop B. F. Lee was appointed to the Tenth Episcopal
District, composed of the Texas, W. Texas, N. E. Texas, Cen¬
tral Texas, Louisiana, N. Louisiana and California Conferences,
and by the authority of the General Conference, organized the
Puget Sound Annual Conference. These Conferences cover the
States of Louisiana, Texas, California, Washington, Oregon, Ne¬
vada and Idaho, and a portion of British North America. This
District embraces more territory than the K ingdom of Solomon,
and God has given the Bishop health and strength to visit his
work during this Quadrennium. By his instructive lectures
and Gospel preaching he has aroused the people to take a
deeper interest in the cause of education and temperance,
and has induced many to join the army of right against wrong.
His Presiding Elders have been to him what Aaron and Ilur
were to Moses : they held up his hands while executing the
Law, while the Pastors have walked with him up the mount
of Transfiguration, where the Law, Gospel and Prophet met
together, and the voice from che cloud of history has been
BISHOP ABRAM GRANT, D. D.
Born at Lake City, Florida, 1848.
Ordained Bishop, May 24th, 1888.
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
81
heard to say: "These are my beloved sons in whom I am
well pleased!"
Paul Quinn College has had the benefit of the experience
of the Presiding Bishop. The Theological Department has
been especially organized, and a system of Theological corre¬
spondence, corresponding with our Itinerant Course, instituted.
The president will give a detailed account in his report.
The men of the District, the people of the District, have
a higher conception of their duty than they ever had before.
The fraternal relations between the denominations is now
cordial and pleasant. Conference reciprocity has been ex¬
changed by Bishops and Conferences, and the seed sown
during this Quadrennium, if properly cultivated, will yield a
rich harvest for God and the Race.
The Harper Institute at Baton Rouge is making a noble
fight with prospects of succeeding, because the ministers and
members of the Louisiana Conference have resolved that it
must succeed and shall not be lost.
The Delhi Institute of N". Louisiana Conference will be
reported by its President. Its success and prospects will be
given, and you will be enabled to see what your duty is to
this school.
Bishop John Mifflin Brown was appointed to the Elev¬
enth Episcopal District, composed of the Kentucky, West
Kentucky, Tennessee and West Tennessee Conferences. He,
entered upon his work and visited many places; lectured and
preached to the people, laid plans for the beginning of a new
era of educational work in the District, had he been spared
to carry them out. He held one round of his annual Con¬
ferences, but at the beginning of his second round of visita¬
tions, he was taken ill and had to be taken home, where he
bravely contended against the disease that was preying upon
his system. He, was brave, cheerful, hopeful and confident;
met the last enemy without dread or fear, and conquered death
on the 16th day of March, 1893, at 12 o'clock, high noon, at
his home in Washington, D. C., surrounded by his wifQ and
children and a nupaber of the brethren,
82
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
The Bishops appointed Bishop Wesley J. Gaines to su¬
perintend the work in Kentucky and West Kentucky Con¬
ferences. Bishop M. B. Salter was appointed to superintend
the Tennessee and West Tennessee Conferences. He has la¬
bored very faithfully in this new field; sowed good seed
which will, no doubt, yield an abundant harvest. A large
number of members have been received, church debts re¬
duced, long-standing churches finished and dedicated. 'The
ministers have been united and have started in a forward
movement to support the Turner Institute at Shelby ville,
Tennessee.
Bishop Iienry McNeil Turner was appointed to the
Twelfth Episcopal District, which consists of Michigan, On¬
tario, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, San Do¬
mingo, Hayti and Deinerara Annual and Missionary Confer¬
ences. He entered upon his work, labored incessantly night
and day, traveling on land and sea, to superintend this vast
field. He has made two visits to Africa and has greatly
strengthened the work on the " Dark Continent. " He will
give you the details of his visits and the benefit of his expe¬
rience, that you may wisely legislate for this future garden-
spot of African Methodism.
December, 1893, at the death of Bishop Daniel A. Payne,
Bishop H. M. Turner was appointed to take charge of the
Ninth Episcopal District, to relieve Bishop B. W. Arnett,
who was transferred to the Third Episcopal District to suc¬
ceed Bishop D. A. Payne.
Bishop Turner has labored hard and faithfijlly in theNinth
District. He has held several Ministerial Institutes and has
given new life to the Mite Missionary Society among the
women. There have been many members received into the
Church; the cause of Christian education has been carried
home to minister and members, so that the watchword in the
District is: "We Must Educate ob, Perish !"
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
83
The Home work of the Twelfth District is in good
condition, spiritually and financially. The member's have
not increased so fast, because there are only a few persons of
our race in the territory of the Twelfth District. We now
have the pleasure of presenting a " Birds Eye View" of the
Missionary work under the general supervision of Bishop
Turner:
FOREIGN MISSIONARY WORK.
We have examined the Missionary Department and re¬
viewed its financial progress; we now call your attention to
the occupied and unoccupied missionary fields of the Church.
Africa is the largest and most important of the fields that lie
before us. First, because of the number of persons involved
in the work; second, on account of the relationship that ex¬
ists between our race and the inhabitants of the " Dark Con¬
tinent;" third, because our Church is better adapted to the
redemption of Africa than any other organization. "We have
the largest and most perfect organization among the darker
races for the moral and religious training of the people, there¬
fore more will be expected of us than from those who are less
favored.
The African work divides itself into three parts:
First, The Liberian.—April 17th, 1878, Bishop John M.
Brown and Rev. A. T.. Carr organized a Liberian Mission
church, in Morris-Brown A. M. E. church, Charleston, S. C.;
Rev. S. F. Flegler was appointed pastor; Clement Irons and
Scott Bailey, local preachers and class-leaders; trustees, Clem¬
ent Irons, Scott Bailey and JohnBatiest. Thirty (30) members
were enrolled. They sailed on the barque " Azor," April 21,
1878, Easter Sunday, for Monrovia, Liberia, where they landed
after forty-three (43) days voyage, and were received by the
President and officers of the Government, and, by permission,
were allowed to worship in the Seminary with the M. E.
Church, for several months.
A few months after their arrival, a Station was organized
84 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
at Brewersville, and was called Bethel. Elder Fleger labored
for tliree (3) years and returned home, and left the work in
charge of S. J. Campbell and Clement Irons.
The Liberian Government gave us-100 acres to establish
a School and Station.
The Liberia Missionary Conference was organized by
Bishop II. M. Turner, November 23rd, 1891, with two
(2) elders, eight (8) deacons and three (3) evangelists;
six (6) mission-houses, four (4) local preachers, three (3)
exhorters and two hundred and eight (208) members. This
work has taken new life since the last General Conference;
and all that is needed is to hold up the hands of the men who
are carrying the banner of our Christian civilization, and
giving aid and comfort to the "Lone Star Republic." The first
boat built to ply on the St. Paul River and carry the Gospel,
was built by Clement Irons, a native of South Carolina.
Providence appears to be on our side; the United States Gov¬
ernment has appointed one of our ministers to represent the
General Government at the Court of Liberia, and we are
pleased to say that the Minister-resident and Consul-General
has not forgotten that he was a minister of the African Meth¬
odist Church, and that he owes allegiance to a human and a
Divine government. The details of the work in Liberia will
be given in the report of the President of the Missionary
Board.
The Second Field is the " Sierra Leone" Conference.
" Sierra Leone," a British colony, was originally founded as
an asylum for Africans who were bought tor rum and money
or captured by violence by white slave-traders. The slave-
ships in which they were imprisoned were caught on the high
seas by British cruisers and they were returned to their nat¬
ural freedom in this colony. The Church Missionary Society
labored for the salvation of Africa; their first mission was
established in 1816. The Rev. J. R. Frederick, of the New
England Conference, ^as appointed to Africa by Bishop J,
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
85
A. Shorter in 1886. He sailed from New York the same year
by way of Liverpool and arrived in Freetown, January 2nd,
1887. He was cordially received by members of the Countess
of Huntingdon Connection, who desired to be united with the
African Methodist Episcopal Church. A very large number
of his congregation were the descendants of the Nova Scotians
who landed on the coast March 28th, 1792. After spending
some time in completing the preliminary arrangements, the
members were transferred to the A. M. E. Church, which has
given us the first piece of property, purchased in Africa, for
church purposes. Thus Providence has given us a high honor
ar?d great responsibilities as well, for we own the first land
purchased for church purposes in America, Hayti, San Do¬
mingo, Demerara and the Dominion of Canada. This work
under the superintendence of the Rev. J. R. Frederick has so
grown that in 1895 we had nine (9) mission stations, five (5)
ordained ministers, two (2) unordained, nineteen (19) local
preachers and exhorters, and three (3) evangelists, six hun¬
dred and seventeen (617) full members, two hundred and ten
(210) probationers, four hundred and eighty-seven (487) in¬
quirers. Grand total 1314, with total adherents other than
members. Total 1811. Grand total of 3125. Six churches,
two .school houses and two mission houses. Total value of
churchy school and mission property |25,150. It is impossi¬
ble for us to convey to you the benefits that our organization
has been to ^ Jividuals, families, Freetown and the surround¬
ing country. raster Sarah Gorham, the consecrated and devo¬
ted missionary., _abored in this field, did much good, laid her
life upon the altai and became a martyr for the redemption of
Africa. The noble and heroic women of our Church are
building a Memorial Church (in Africa in honor to this first
Woman Evangelist of \he A. M. E. Church, who laid down
her life for the sacred cause of Christian Missions. Sister
Gorham has become the Mother of Christian martyrs in Sierra
Leone. Presiding Elder Free erick will give you a detailed
report to the members of this General Conference.
86
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
The Third Field is that part of Africa that is unoccupied
by our Church. We have letters and petitions from the
Gold Coast and South Africa, calling us to come and
organize the A. M. E. Church. The communications will be
laid before the committee, and we trust that our action will
be such that some of our young men will take up our banner
and that of the Cross and plant them on the ramparts of su¬
perstition and sin in " Darkest Africa," and with trumpet
tones bid the children of the tropics to "Rise and shine/'
for their "Light has come!"
The West Indies.—The Mission work in Hayti was be¬
gun by our fathers as early as 1824, when Richard Robinson
and Scipio Bean were ordained to preach the Gospel to our
brethren. The work has continued until this time—contin¬
ued with varied success. Br. J. M. Townsend revived tlio
work during his administration and built an iron church.
Rev. C. W. Mossell and wife "labored faithfully, rebuilding the
old walls, and the inhabitants rejoiced. Five young men
were sent to Wilberforce University to be educated and re¬
turned to assist in the development of their country. The
Rev. S. G. Dorsey has charge of the work as Superintendent
of Education and Missions. He has been very successful;
he has built a parsonage of eight (8) rooms, a school house
17x45, bought a horse and buggy to enable him to travel to
other missionary points. He has collected and expended to
May, 1895, $14,234. He has also received a number of mem¬
bers, established day schools in several places. We are under
many obligations to President Hypolyte and the Haytien gov¬
ernment for the courtesy shown our missionaries and the sup¬
port given our work. We should take cognizance of their
support by passing suitable resolutions and conveying the
same to them.
San Domingo.—There is something very inspiring in the
name of " San Domingo." It occupies a unique place in the
history of the New World. History tells us that Christopher
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
87
Columbus built the first fort and laid the foundation for the
first town in' the Western hemisphere on this' historic island.
Slavery was introduced on the island; the Red man was its
first victim; the Caribbean soon fell before the ravages of
hunger and toil; Negroes were substituted in 1501 for the
weak Caribbeans. The French National Assembly abolished
slavery, May 15th, 1795. Napoleon I. attempted to re-estab¬
lish it, but he failed through the bravery of Toussaint L'Over-
ture, the hero, warrior and statesman. What Toussaint left
undone, Desalaincs completed and no slave has breathed on
that island since, and tlie voice, of the slaveholder has been
silenced forever. The governments of Hayti and San Domin¬
go have been endeavoring to demonstrate the ability of the
Negro for self-government during a period of eighty (80) odd
years. The Independent Governments have been recognized
by all civil governments. What these governments are in
the political world, the A. M. E. Church and her leaders are
to the Christian world: each striving to demonstrate the Ne¬
gro's ability to organize, support and defend their govern¬
ments and institutions. Therefore there is an intimate rela¬
tion between the Independent Governments of the Antilles
and the A. M. E. Church. The government in San Domingo
has recognized this fact during this Quadrennium. Through
the good offices of the President, our property that was about
to be lost, has been restored, and our work is waiting for this
General Conference to touch it with the hand of wisdom and
power and start it on the errands of religion, mercy and love.
We call your attention to the report of the Superinten¬
dent of Missions in San Domingo, who will give a detailed
account of our work on this historical island.
The work in St. Thomas will demand your special atten¬
tion. The report of the Missionary will be laid before you.
The work on this island is too important to be allowed to
puss altogether out of our hands. Provision should be made
to have the work restored to its former relation to our gov-
crnhient as per agreement with the Danish government.
88
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
Demerara still lifts her hands and cries, " Come and help
us!" We trust that her prayers may he heard and answered,
and that the power and influence of our Church may be felt
by the inhabitants of British Guiana.
OPEN FIELDS.
We must make ample preparation—wise and judicious
preparation—to furnish means and men to occupy and culti¬
vate the open fields that lie waiting for us to send laborers in¬
to the Master's vineyard. God has given us great opportu¬
nities to do good; He has committed the destiny of untold
millions to our ministry to mould and shape into " vessels of
honor" or "dishonor." Let us, therefore, so legislate that it
will require centuries of the time of the coming generations
to complete the superstructure, whose foundation we lay by
the crystalization of the loyal wisdom of this General Con¬
ference.
THREE BISHOPS.
Feeling deeply the loss of our honored, revered and
illustrious colleagues,—and realizing the value of our inheri¬
tance and the magnitude of the work to be done in the tuture,
we recommend that this General Conference elect three (3)
Elders to be ordained Bishops; and that they possess the
Pauline qualifications of intelligence, goodness, experience
and usefulness,—a love for God and their fellow-men,—men
who know and who love our Doctrines, Usages and Discip¬
line, and are supremely loyal to our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, and from whose past career the Church would have
reason to expect a successful administration of its vast inter¬
ests.
TIIE METHODIST CHURCH AND THE RACE.
Of all the Protestant Churches, the Methodist was the
first to make special arrangements for the Negro's moral, re¬
ligious and educational training.
\
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
89
On November 27th, 1758, Rev. John Wesley rode to
Wandsworth and baptized two (2) Negro's belonging to Sir
Nathan Gilbert, Speaker in the House of Assembly in Anti-
jtia, British West Indies. He says of them: "One of them
is deeply convicted of sin; the other. rejoiced in God, her
Saviour, and are the first African Methodists I have known."
In 1759, Mr. Gilbert started a class among the slaves and
these two (2) colored women were the first to join; and from
this little band has grown " West Indian Methodism. "
The first class in America was organized in New York,
October, 1766, and consisted of the following persons: Paul
Heck, Barbara Heck, John Lawrence, Mrs. Embry and Betty
an African servant."
Robert Strawbridge formed a Society at Sam's Creek,
Md., in the latter part of the year 1766. There were twelve
(12) persons present, and one of them was Aunt Annie Sweitzer.
At the meeting of the Christmas Conference, December
25th, 1784, among those who attended the organization of
American Methodism was Harry Hosier and Richard Allen.
They were recognized as Local Preachers and trareled as Ju¬
nior Preachers through Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Del¬
aware.
In 1786, Bishop Asbury organized the first Sunday School
at Thomas Crenshaw's, Virginia. The first convert in the
school was John Charleston. He became a Local Preacher
after his conversion; was purchased by the Methodist Preach¬
ers and liberated ; removed to the State of Ohio; joined the
A. M. E. Church; was a member of the General Conference,
1836, and died in the full triumph of faith at Pittsburgh,
Pa., in 1838.
Richard Allen became a Missionary Preacher in 1785,;
labored in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The
Lord wonderfully blessed his work in St. George in 1785 and
1786. He oftimes preached three to five sermons in a day,
beginning at 5 o'clock a. m. His brethren flocked to his
90
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
standard, and St. George was crowded with the trophies of
salvation.
In November, 1786, forty-two (42) persons met Richard
Allen and organized a class. He became its leader, teacher
and preacher. It was the first time in the history of the race
oil the American continent where one of its own number be¬
came a leader of the moral and religious forces.
In 1787 Richard Allen purchased a lot on Sixth street,
near Lombard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to build a church
upon. He bought an old blacksmith shop, repaired it and
made a place of worship out of it. It was completed in 1794;
but before they entered the house, June 10th, 1794, they is¬
sued the following " Declaration of Independence, " which
was adopted by the unanimous vote of the congregation, as
follows:
"We consider every child of God a member of the mysti¬
cal body of Christ. * * Yet in the political government of
our Church, we prohibit our white brethren from electing or
being elected into any office among us, save that of a preach¬
er or public speaker."
They gave the following reasons why they had declared
for Manhood Christianity:
"Whereas, From time to time many inconveniences
have arisen from white people and people of color mixing to¬
gether in public assemblies, * * * we have thought it
necessary to provide for ourselves a house separate from
our white brethren: (1.) To obviate any offense or mixing
with our white brethren might give them. (2.) To preserve
as much as possible from the crafty wiles of the enemy our
weak-minded brethren, from taking offence at such partial-
' ity as they might be led to think contrary to the spirit of the
Gospel, in which there is neither male nor female, barbarian
nor Scythian, bond nor free, but all are one in Christ Jesus.
(3.) That we might the more freely and fully hold the faith
in unity of spirit and the bonds of peace together."
&1SU0PS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
91
After issuing this Declaration of Independence and pro¬
viding articles of incorporation, Richard Allen invited Bish¬
op Asbury to dedicate this new organization and Church to
the worship of Almighty God. On June 29th, 1794, Bishop
Francis Asbury, assisted by Rev. John Dickens, dedicated the
Churchandcalled.it "Bethel." The ground on which the
building stood is now occupied by " Betiiel Church, Phila¬
delphia," and the new organization began its semi-independent
career. Iiichard Allen was given charge and became the first
pastor of a Race Church of Protestant Christianity. He con¬
tinued to administer to the spiritual wants of the flock for
sixteen (16) years before another Race church was built, and
his class was nine (9) years old before another was organized
in the Methodist Church. His success was phenomenal and
was not confined to his own people, and when he broke the
Bread of Life it was partaken by the hungry of all races.
In 1793 a committee was appointed by the St. Thomas
Protestant Church, who invited Richard Allen to become their
pastor. He was the only recognized colored preacher in Penn¬
sylvania at that time.
Bishop Asbury, March 18th, 1789, makes the following
record:
" I received a letter from the African Preacher, Richard
Allen and Society in Philadelphia, giving me an account of a
revival of the work of God in the congregations of the Meth¬
odists in the city, amongst both white and black."
Richard Allen refused to become the pastor of the Epis¬
copal Church, because he said he was a Methodist and could
not be anything else; " for he was indebted to the Methodists,
under God. for what little religion he had; and being con¬
vinced that they were the people of God, he would not leave
nor forsake them."
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
In 1899 we will be called upon to celebrate one Of the
most important events that occurred in the eighteenth centu-
92
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
ry—the ordination of Richard Allen by Bishop Francis As-
bury—the day that he was set apart and consecrated to the
holy ministry of the Church of God. That day was the be¬
ginning of an epoch in the history of Protestantism, an era
in Methodism and a Golden Age in the commonwealth of
Christianity.
It was best fitting that this great honor should be con¬
ferred on one who was the pioneer in Race Leadership ; the
pathfinder, the opener, the Moses to lead his people from the
Egypt of ecclesiastical bondage to the Canaan of manhood
Christianity.
He was the first of his race to organize its moral and
religious forces; he was the first to originate a plan for the
release of his race and to execute the same. By the wisdom
displayed in laying the foundation of our Church, it has been
able to pass through four (4) distinct organic periods: The
Dependent Period, the Inter-dependent, the Semi-dependent
and the Independent, which began in 1816.
Richard Allen leads the procession of all the ordained
men of his race, and will stand at the head of the procession
for an hundred generations. We cannot do too much to hon¬
or his name, for after his call to the ministry he " grew and
waxed strong in spirit, and increased in wisdom and in stat¬
ure and in favor with God and man." Since God has given
us such a priceless heritage, let us make ample preparation
to celebrate the "Centennial Year of the Ordination of
the First Negro of Protestant Christianity!''
THE HARVEST.
The conflict for Manhood Christianity began in 1766, in
St. George's, Philadelphia, Pa. The armies of right and
wrong, justice and injustice, liberty and slavery, equal rights
and oppression, have joined issue in pulpit, platform and leg¬
islative hall. In every contest the banner of the Cross has
triumphed and the army of Zion has gained the victory.
Many question the propriety of the organization of racial
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 93
churches. We agree that such churches are not essential to
salvation, but we believe at the same time that they are esr
sential to the moral and religious development of a large
number of men and women who otherwise would have been
neglected.
The age in which we live demands answers to the ques¬
tions : " What have these separate organizations accomplish¬
ed ? What are the results of their labors ? What the har¬
vest of their fathers' sowing? What the gathering of corpo¬
rate wealth? What has been the accumulation of legislative,
judicial and executive experience in making and executing
laws, in planning, maintaining and organizing institutions for
charitable and benevolent purposes ?" The answer to all of
these questions is given in the history and achievements of
the A. M. E., the A. M. E. Zion, and the C. M. E. Churches.
They show what is possible for organizations controlled by
the race can do.
After our review of the marvelous growth and develop¬
ment of the Church of our Fathers, we can say of a truth
that " the Lord has done great things for us whereof we are
glad," and with thankful and grateful hearts magnify His
holy name.
The hand of God is visible in the organization and growth
of the A. M. E. Church. If ever a man were a child of Prov¬
idence, Richard Allen was one. Providence not only called
him, but he answered and performed well the duties assigned
him, and laid the foundation of an organization that has been
the pioneer in every effort for the liberation, education and
elevation of a long-oppressed and down-trodden race. He
was the Columbus in discovering the new and shorter route
to the enjoyment of religious liberty. He was our moral and
religious Mayflower, organizing the moral and religious forces
of the race and giving to his race the advantages of the prin¬
ciples of Plymouth Rock.
He was the first Negro on the American continent to con-
and dfiRirabilitv of organizing Day
94
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
Scliools, Night Schools, Sunday Schools and Churches with
the distinctive Race Leaders.
He was the first to conceive and lay out a plan for his
fellow countrymen to follow.
What Washington was in the struggle for American
Independence, Richard Allen was to the struggle for the
recognition of Manhood Christianity in the Negro.
He was the first Negro ordained a Deacon in the Meth¬
odist family in the world, and the first Negro Bishop of
Protestant Christianity.
He was trained by the Pioneers of American Methodism
and in the school of self-sacrifice and self-denial. His teach¬
ers were distinguished for their piety, learning and love for
God and man; while his classmates and companions were
eminent, learned, zealous and useful to their day and genera¬
tion. But not one of the illustrious band of Gospel ministers
accomplished more for the sacred cause of Christianity to the
poor than did Richard Allen. If one has any doubt as to the
amount of good accomplished by the distinctive Negro organ¬
izations, they will find full satisfaction by reading and con¬
trasting the organization purely Negro and those that belong
to other organizations, and are only semi-Negro organizations.
The distinctive Negro organizations as reported in the
Census of 1890:
" The numerical status of the Negro at the end of three
decades of freedom is as follows: W e find that the census
says of them, in the Southern States, that in 1840 the num¬
ber of negroes was 2,686,636 ; in 1850 the percent, of increase
was 21.6, with a total of 3,369,934; in 1860 the per cent, of
increase was 22.1, and the total, 4,018,389; in 1870 the per
■cent of increase was 9.9, and the total 4,242,003; in 1880 the
per cent was 34.8, and the total, 5,643,891. In 1890 we find
, the Negro is classed as follows : Persons of African descent:
Blacks, 6,337,980; Mulattoes (white man and black man),
996,989; Quadroons (mulatto and white), 105,135; Octoroons,
69,936, making a grand total of 7,470,040. The per cent of
increase in 1890 was 13.90, This makes an increase from 1860
ot' 3,451,651,"
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
95
If we increase as we have in the past, say twenty-five per
cent, on the present numbers, we will go into the twentieth
century with 9,337,560 men, women and children, all the child¬
ren of freedom ; only a few of them will have come from the
house of bondage. There is great hope for the race to-day,
with the advantages of training and culture that belong to all.
Let us examine the decades of religious development.
When the Negro was emancipated there were only a few dis¬
tinct Negro organizations, and they were confined to the North
and not to the South; but as the army pushed on toward the
South, the missionaries of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, and other followers of the flag, followed and organ¬
ized the moral and religious forces.
" The distinctive Negro organizations make the following
magnificent showing: Regular Baptists, A. M. E. Church',
Union A. M. E. Church, American Union Methodist, A. M E.
Zion, Congregational, Methodist, C. M. E. Church, Zion Union
Apostolic, Evangelical Missionary, and Cumberland Presbyte¬
rian. These have 19,859 organizations, 20,007 church edifices,
valued at $22,626,434, with a seating capacity of 5,802,314,
a membership of 2,591,129, while adherents and member¬
ship number 5,650,228."
These organizations are controlled and supported wholly
by the Negro himself, and are legitimate results of his own
labor since freedom.
The following denominations are colored organizations
in other organizations. They are controlled by white people,
but are composed of colored people :
" Regular Baptist North, Regular Baptist South, Free
Will Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Old Two Seed Baptist, Ro¬
man Catholic, Christian Connection, Congregational, Disci¬
ples of Christ, Methodist Protestant, Methodist Episcopal,
Lutheran S. C., Lutheran U. S. South, Independent Metho¬
dist, Presbyterians North, Presbyterians South, Reformed
Presbyterians, Protestant Episcopal, Reformed Episcopal.
Total denominations, 19; organizations, 4,713; church edi¬
fices. 4.139 : seating canacitv. 1.008.651 : valuation. $6,236.-
96
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
734; membership, 307,826; total adherents and members,
775,652."
" Uniting the two, we have a total in denomination of
29 ; in organization, 24,572 : in church edifices, 21,146 ; seat¬
ing capacity, 6,810,965 ; in valuation, $29,863,168 ; in mem¬
bers, 2,751,955 ; in members and adherents, 6,325,880."
These figures will show the result of three decades of the
organization of the moral and religious forces of the race.
The following wTill give an idea of what the Methodist de¬
nominations have done:
" The Negro Methodist churches have 12,434 pastors,
25,788 local preachers, 1,304,729 members, and 4,316,815 mem¬
bers and adherents. The total number of pastors, ministers,
and members is 1,352,951."
"The Negro Methodist churches have 13,923 Sunday
schools, 110,970 officers and teachers, and 950,047 pupils.
Church buildings number 14,850, while church and school
property is valued at $29,486,514."
"The Institutions of Learning in the Negro Methodist
Church, and used for the education of their children, num¬
ber 52. .The employ 375 teachers, and bave 10,556 students.
.Their school property is valued at $1,817,850."
This magnificent showing stands to the credit of the men
who planted the denomination trees and watered them with
their tears and sanctified the soil with their toil and blood.
What has the A.M. E. Church and other denominations
distinctively racial accomplished ? They have taught by pre¬
cept and example the doctrines of Moses, Paul and Peter.
Moses said : "And the Lord God said, Let us make man
in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, &c. So God created man in His own
image; ic the image of God created He him: male and fe¬
male created He them. And God said unto them be fruitful
and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have
dominion over the fish of the sea," &c.—Gen. 1:26-28.
Paul on Mars Hill, before the Supreme Court of Athens,
said;- "And bath made of one blood all nations of men for
BISHOP BENJAMIN FRANKLIN LEE, D. D. LL. D.
Born September 18th, 1841, at Gouldtown, New Jersey.
Ordained Bishop, May 19th, 1892.
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
97
to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the
time before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation that
they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him
and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us."
Acts xvi, 26-27.
Peter at Cesarea, in the house of Cornelius the Roman
centurion, said : " Ot a truth, I perceive that God is no res¬
pecter of persons; but in every nation, he that fcareth Him
and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him."—Acts x,
34-35.
Malachi, the last Prophet of the Old Testament, says:
"Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created
us?"—Mai. 2:10.
Jesus, the greatest of all Teachers, said: " Other sheep
have I which are not of this fold: them also I must bring;
and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and
one Shepherd."—John x, 16.
Again, He said: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations;
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost."—Matt, xxvii, 19.
God recognizes the unity of the races when it is said of
Him : " God so loved the world that He gave His only begot¬
ten Sou, that whosoever believeth in Ilim should not perish,
but have eternal life."—John iii, 16.
The universality of the Atonement is taught in the song
of the redeemed in Rev. v, 9 : "And they sung a new song,
saying, Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the
seals thereof; for Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to
God by Thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and peo¬
ple and nation, and has made us unto our God, kings and
priests, and we shall reign on the earth."
Also, in Rev. xxi, 24, the inhabitants of the Celestial
City are spoken of: "And the nations of them which are
Saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth
do bring their glory and honor unto it, And the gates of the
98
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
city shall not be shut at all by day ; for there shall be no niglit
there."
The sentiments of the founders of the American Repub¬
lic on the principles of the Fatherhood of God and the Broth¬
erhood of Man are expressed in the following words of the
Declaration of Independence: "We hold tliese truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowred by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights among which are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure
these rights Governments are instituted among men deriving
their just powers from the consent of the governed."
Again, we find the following in the dedication of the Con¬
stitution of the United States: "We, the people of the Uni¬
ted States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare, and tn secure the bless¬
ings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Bishop Payne crystalized the sentiment of all the dis¬
tinguished statesmen .and churchmen when he said : "God
our Father; Christ our Redeemer; Man our Brother." This is
the Official Motto of the A. M. E. Church, and her mission
in the Commonwealth of Christianity is to bring all denomi¬
nations and races to acknowledge and practice the sentiments
contained therein. When these sentiments are universal in
theory and practice, then the mission of the distinctive col¬
ored organization will cease. The following are some of the
specific things for the colored organization to do :
I. To organize the Moral, Religious and Educational
Forces.
II. To encourage the organization of the Social efforts,
the Mutual Aid, Benevolent and Christian efforts of the Race.
III. To support the Commercial, Agricultural and Finan¬
cial efforts of the Race.
IV. To train the members in the laws of Business and
Parliamentary practice in Trustee and Official Boards,
BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH.
V. To give them practice in application of the princi¬
ples of Government in developing and maintaining Institu¬
tions for the elevation of the Race.
VI. To give an opportunity to show by example what
is possible for the Negro to do for himself and others.
VII. To stand as a living protest against caste in the
Church, at the Sacramental Table and in the Ministry.
VIII. To give opportunity to individuals to grow and
develop into full rounded men, mentally, morally, socially
and religiously. To teach some how to organize and how to
command. .
IX. To give lessons of accountability. How to collect,
spend and account for the money. How to hold offices of
trust, honor and emolument. How to arrange the tenure of
office.
X. To teach the Race how to obey, honor and respect
.one of their own members, and how to select Race Leaders.
It makes them familiar with the needs of the Race and ele¬
ments of Race Elevation.
XI. To increase in the young men and women Race
Pride.
1. By preserving the biography of men of the Race.
2. By showing that we need not be ashamed of our
origin and ancestry.
■ 4. By showing that originally the Negroes were the
Leaders of Civilization.
4. That they were among the most active promoters of
Christianity.
5. That our night &f bondage has never been without
the star of hope.
XII. That our Moral and Intellectual Day has begun,
and that what has been, may be in the future.
XIII. We are to show by living example what may bfe
accomplished in our own line by putting ourselves in harmo¬
ny with our environments,
100
THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE
XIV. We are to hang tlie bow of promise over the
pathway of the retreating storm and clouds of Slavery, oppres¬
sion and poverty.
XV. We are to furnish the Race with an Anchor of
Hope that they .can cast into the deepest sea and which will
hold until every son and daughter of Adam has secured his
equal political and social rights.
XVI. We are to organize the moral and religious forces
of America and form an alliance, offensive and defensive, with
the Darker Children of Central and South America and, with
our united intelligence, experience, hope and faith, say to our
brothers of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, "United we
stand, but divided we fall." And then pursuing our onward
march for the Dark Continent, w7e will speak to the more than
two hundred million of men and women, bone of our bone;
'flesh of our flesh, and say to them, " Arise, and shine, for the
light of Civilization is waiting for thee."
XVII. The child is born whose grand-child will see the
realization of our most sanguine hopes of the darker races
of the world.
XVIII. What a grand sight to see the Grand Review
of the Moral and Religious armies; but we need not wait for
the review by our great-grand-children, but we will call the
armies led by colored men to pass before us that we may see
what we are doing toward the moral, religious and social
elevation of the Race.
XIX. The educational status of the Negroes and the
interest that the M. E. Church, M. E. Church (South) and the
Independent Negro organizations are doing towards the eleva¬
tion of the Race. One of the greatest problems of the day
is the Negro Problem. The men who are on guard as watch¬
men must lift their voices and blow their trumpets and give
no uncertain sound.
* i
Dear Brethren :—Having suryeyed the Field and exam¬
ined the Workmen and computed guy Harvest of Souls and
BISHOPS OF THE A.' M- E. CHURCH.
101
the ingathering of means of support of the Church of our
choice, we now commit to your keeping the honor and desti¬
ny of our organization. It is with you to say what will be
our ct»urse the next four years.
We assure you that we are ready and willing to co-oper¬
ate with you in adjusting and readjusting our laws to meet
the demands of our day and generation.
We trust that each of our hearts will say: "Direct us,
0 Lord, in all our doings, with Thy most gracious favor, and
further us with Thy continued help, that in all our work
begun, continued and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thy
holy name; and finally by Thy mercy obtain everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. And may the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son, Jesus
Christ, our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and
remain with you, always. Amen! is the prayer of
Henry M. Turner,
Wesley J. Gaines,
Benjamin W. Arnett,
Benjamin T. Tanner,
Abram Grant,
Benjamin F. Lee,
Moses B. Salter,
James A. Handy.
programme.
MONDAY, MflV 4tt?, 1896.
At 9 a. m. the Church will be opened to the Public.
9:30 a. m.—Meeting of the Bishops and Delegates in the Lecture Room
9:40a.m.—Procession to form and move to the Auditorium in the
following order.
1. Bishop H. M. Turner, D. D., LL. D., and Bishop W. J. Gaines, D. D.
2. Bishop B. W. Arnett, D. D., and Bishop B. T. Tanner, D. D.
3. Bishop A. Grant, D. D., and Bishop B. F. Lee, D. D.
4. Bishop M. B. Salter, D. D., and Bishop J. A. Handy, D. D.
5. Revs. E. J. Gregg and F. P. Greenlee.
GENERAL OFFICERS.
6. Rev. J. C. Embry, D. D., and Rev. W. B. Derrick, D. D.
7. Rev. H. T. Johnson, P. D., and Rev. L. J. Coppin, D. D.
8. Rev. J. H. Armstrong, D. D., and Rev. C. S. Smith, D. D.
9. Rev. W. D. Johnson and Rev. C. T. Shaffer, D. D.
10. Rev. A. M. Green, D. D.
ANNUAL CONFERENCES.
11. Delegates and Alternates of Philadelphia Conference.
12. Delegates and Alternates of Baltimore Conference.
13. Delegates and Alternates of New York Conference.
14. Delegates and Alternates of Ohio Conference.
15. Delegates and Alternates of Indiana Conference.
16. Delegates and Alternates of New England Conference.
17. Delegates and Alternates of Missouri Conference.
18. Delegates and Alternates of California Conference.
19. Delegates and Alternates of S. Carolina Conference.
20. Delegates and Alternates of Louisiana Conference.
21. Delegates and Alternates of N. Carolina Conference.
22. Delegates and Alternates of Virginia Conference,
23. Delegates and Alternates of Georgia Conference.
24. Delegates and Alternates of Florida Conference.
25. Delegates and Alternates of Pittsburg Conference.
26. Delegates and Alternates of Kentucky Conference.
27. Delegates and Alternates of Tennessee Conference.
28. Delegates and Alternates of Texas Conference.
29. Delegates and Alternates of Arkansas Conference.
30. Delegates and Alternates of Mississippi Conference,
31. Delegates and Alternates of Alabama Conference.
32. Delegates and Alternates of Illinois Conference.
33. Delegates and Alternates of New Jereey Conference.
34. Delegates and Alternates of North Georgia Conference.
35. Delegates and Alternates of N. Texas Conference.
36. Delegates and Alternates of Kansas Conference.
37. Delegates and Alternates of W. Tennessee Conference,
38. Delegates and Alternates of S. Arkansas Conference.
39. Delegates and Alternates of N. Mississippi Conference.
40. Delegates and Alternates of E. Florida Conference.
41. Delegates and Alternates of Columbia, S. C., Conference.
42. Delegates and Alternates of N. Alabama Conference.
43. Delegates and Alternates of N. E. Texas Conference.
44. Delegates and Alternates of Indian Teritory Conference.
45. Delegates and Alternates of W. Kentucky Conference.
46. Delegates and Alternates of N. Ohio Conference.
47. Delegates and Alternates of N. Missouri Conference.
48. Delegates and Alternates of N. Louisiana Conference,
49. Delegates and Alternates of Iowa Conference.
50. Delegates and Alternates of Macon, Ga., Conference.
51. Delegates and Alternates of Michigan Conference.
52. Delegates and Alternates of Colorado Conference.
53. Delegates and Alternates of Burmtida Conference.
54. Delegates and Alternates of Nova Scotia Conference.
55. Delegates and Alternates of Ontario Conference.
56. Delegates and Alternates of Hayti Conference.
57. Delegates and Alternates of San Domingo Conference.
58. Delegates and Alternates of Demerara Conference.
59. Delegates and Alternates of Sierra Leone Conference.
60. Delegates and Alternates of Liberia Conference.
61. Delegates and Alternates of W. N. Carolina Conference.
62. Delegates and Alternates of Central Alabama Conference.
63. Delegates and Alternates of N. E., S. Carolina Conference.
64. Delegates and Alternates of Middle Mississippi Conference.
™he Bishops will seat themselves on the platform and the Delegates in the
auditorium.
©rfcer of jErerctses.
The Conference will be opened by singing "Praise God from whom all
blessings flow."
1. Hymn, - Lined by Bishop H. M. Turner, D. D., LL. D
2. Prayer, -------- By Bishop A. Grant, D. D
3. Scripture Lesson, - - - - ■ - Bishop B. F. Lee, D. D
4. Singing.—" And are we yet Alive " - Lined by W; D, Johnson, D. D
5. Reading Ritual, ------ Bishop M. B. Salter, D. D
6. Prayer, - By Rev. W. H. Hunger, D. D
7. Singing, . By the Choir.
8. Quadrennial Sermon, - - By Bishop B. T. Tanner, D. D., LL. D
9. Celebration of the Holy Communion, conducted by Bishop J. A
Handy, D. D.
Recess until 3 o'clock to complete organization as per Discipline.
SPECIAL* SERVICES.
WEliCOME ADDRESSES.
Tuesday, May 5th, at ten o'clock, a. m.
1. Welcome Address on behalf of the State. By the Governor.
2. Welcome Address on behalf of the City. By Mayor, W. R. Harris.
3. Welcome Address on behalf of the Second Episcopal District. Bishop
W. J. Gaines, D. D.
4. Welcome Address on behalf of the North Carolina Conference. Rev.
J. W. Telfair, Wilmington, N. C.
5. Welcome Address on behalf of St. Stephen's A. M. E. Church. Rev.
E. J. Gregg.
P Welcome Address on behalf of the City Churches. By Rev. W. M.
Jackson.
RESPONSIVE ADDRESSES.
First.—On Behalf of the Bishops. Bishop A. Grant, D. D.
Second.—On behalf of the General Officers. Rev. J. C. Embry, D. D.
Third.—On behalf of the Ministerial Delegates. Rev. O. P. Ross, D. D.,
Mississippi.
Fourth.—On behalf of the hay Delegates. Prof. T. McCants Stewart,
New York.
MEMORIRIi ADDRESSES.
Wednesday, May 6th, at ten o'clock, a. m.
BISHOP JNO. M. BROWN, D. D., D. C. L.
Addresses by Bishop H. M. Turner, D. D., LL., D., and Rev. T. A. Thompson,
D. D., of Chatanooga, Tenn.
singing by the choir.
BISHOP D. A. PAYNE, D. D., LL. D.
Addresses by Bishop B. F. Lee, D. D., and Rev. Chas. Bundy, Cincinnati, O.
BISHOP T. M. D. WARD, D. D.
Addresses by Bishop A. Grant, D.D., and Rev. J. R. Scott, Jacksonville, Fla
BISHOP A. W. WAYMAN, D. D.
Addresses by Bishop J. A. Handy, D. D., and Rev. T. W. Henderson,
Indianapolis, Indiana.
a five minutes address on behalf of each episcopal district.
First District, Rev. J. M. Palmer, Philadelphia, Pa
Second District, ... - Rev. E. H. Bolden, Portsmouth, Va
Third District, - - - Prest. S. T. Mitcheli, L. L. D., Wilberforce, 0
Fourth District, ... - Rev. j. M. Townsend, D. D., Chicago, 111
Fifth District, Rev. C. W. Preston, St. Louis, Mo
Sixth District, Rev. C. L. Bradwell, Atlanta, Ga
Seventh District, - Rev. R. E. Wall, Columbia, S. C
Eighth District, Rev. T. W. Long, Florida
Ninth District, - Rev. T. H. Jackson, Hot Springs, Ark
Tenth District, - Rev. L. H. Reynolds, Galveston, Texas
Eleventh District, Rev. Evans Tyree, Louisvile, Kv
Twelfth District, - Rev. W. H. H. Butler, D. D., Detroit, Michigan
XTbe litany.
The Litany may lie used on General Conference, Annual Conference and •
such other occasions as may be deeemed necessary by the minister aid
the people in devotional services.
Minister.—0 God, the Father of Heaven; have mercy upon us miserable
sinners.
People.—0 God, the Father of Heave 1; have mercy upon us miserable
sinners.
M.—0 God, the Son, Redeemer of the world; have mercy upon us miser¬
able sinners.
P.—0 God, the Son, Redeemer of the world; have mercy upon us miser¬
able sinners.
M.—0 God, the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son;
have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
P.—0 God, the Holy Ghost proceeding from the father and the Son; have
mercy upon us miserable sinners.
M.—0 Holy, Blessed and Glorious Trinity, three persons and one God;
have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
P.—O Holy, Blessed and Glorious Trinity, three persons and one God;
have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
'M.—Remember not, Lord, £>ur offenses, nor the offenses of our forefath¬
ers ; neither take thou vengeance of our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare
t"hy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and
be not angry with us forever.
P.—Spare us, good Lord.
M.—From all evil and mischief; from sin; from the crafts and the assauits
of the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation.
P.—Good Lord, deliver us.
M.—From all blindness of heart; from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisv;
from envy, hatred and malice, and all uncharitableness.
P.—Good Lord, deliver us.
M.—From all inordinate and sinful affection; and from all the deceits of
the world, the flesh, and the devil;
P.—Good Lord, deliver us.
M.—From lightning and tempest; from plague; pestilence and famine
from battle and murder, and from sudden death,
P.—Good Lord, deliver us. ,
M.—From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion ; fr,om all false doc¬
trine, heresy and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt oi" thy
word and commandment;
P.—Good Lord, deliver us. 1
M.—By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation ; by thy holy Nativity and
Circumcision; by thy Baptism, Fasting and Temptation;
P.—Good Lord, deliver us.
-M.—By thine agony and bloody sweat; by thy crpss and passion; by thy
precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension:
and by the coming of the Holy Ghost,
P.—Good Lord, deliver us.
M.—In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our prosperity; in the
hour of death, and in the day of Judgment;
P.—Good Lord, deliver us.
M.—We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, 0 Lord God, and that it may
please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way.
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M—That it may please thee to bless and preserve all Christian rulers and.
Magistrates; giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truthj
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. ,
M.—That it may please thee to illuminate all our Bishops, Elders ai^d
Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy word; and that
both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and show it
accordingly;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people;
J*.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord,
10
M.—That it may please thee, good Lord, to send forth laborers into thine
harvest.
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to give all nations unity, peace and concord ;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That'it may please thee to give us an heart to love and fear thee,
and diligently to love thy commandments.
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace;
to hear meekly thy word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring
forth the fruits of the Spirit;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as
have erred, and are deceived ;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
t
M.—That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand, and to com¬
fort and help the weak-hearted and to raise up those who fall, and finally
to beat down Satan under our feet;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to succor, help and comfort all who are in
danger, necessity and tribulation;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to preserve all who travel by land or by
water, all women in the perils of child-birth, all sick persons and young
children, and to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to defend and provide for the fatherless
children and widows, and all who are desolate and oppressed;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors and slan¬
derers, and to turn their hearts;
F.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly
fruits of the earth, so that in due time we may enjoy them.
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—That it may please thee to give us true repentance, to forgive us all
our sins, negligence and ignorance, and to endue us with the grace of thy
Holy Spirit, to amend our lives according to thy holy word;
P.—We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
M.—Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us;
P.—Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.
M.—0 Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world;
P.—Grant us thy peace.
M.—0 Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world;
P.—Have mercy upon us.
M.—Glory be to th6 Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
P.—As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without
end, Amen.
NUMBER OF ANNUALi CONFERENCES AND
DELEGATES BY DISTRICTS.
FIRST DISTRICT. 1 SIXTH DISTRICT.
Conference.
Lay. Minisfl.
Conference.
Lay. Minist'l.
Philadelphia . .
. 2 . .
4
Georgia ....
. 2 . . .
10
New York . . .
. 2 . .
. 3
North Georgia .
2 . . .
9
New England .
. 2 . .
. 2
Maeon, Georgia
. 2 . . .
11
New Jersey . . .
. 2 . .
. 3
Alabama ....
2 . . .
7
—
—
—
North Alabama
2 . . .
4
8
12
20
Central Alabama. 2 . . .
6
SECOND
DISTRICT.
12
47
59
Baltimore . . .
2
. 4
DISTRICT.
SEVENTH
Virginia ....
2
. 4
N. Carolina . .
2
. 3
South Carolina
. 2 . . .
7
W. N. Carolina
. 2 . .
. 3
Columbia, S. C
. 2 . - .
8
— '
—
—
N. E. So. Carolina 2 . . .
7
8
14
22
—
—
6
22
28
THIRD
DISTRICT.
EIGHTH
DISTRICT.
Ohio
O
. 3
Florida ....
, 2 . . .
5
Pittsburgh . .
2
. 3
East Florida .
. 2 . . .
5
N. Ohio ....
2 . .
. 3
South Florida .
2
6
6
9
15
6
16
22
FOURTH
DISTRICT.
NINTH
DISTRICT.
Indiana ....
2
. 3
Arkansas . . .
2
6
Illinois
2 . .
. 3
South Arkansas
2
6
Iowa
2 . .
. 3
West Arkansas
. 2 . .
5
—
—
—
Mississippi. . .
. 2 . .
4-
6
9
15
North Mississippi 2 . .
5
Middle Mississippi 2 . .
4*
FIFTH
DISTRICT.
Indian Territory
. 2 . .
3
Missouri ....
2 . .
. 3
—
—
—
N. Missouri . .
. 2 . .
. 3
14
33
47
Kansas ....
2 . .
. 3
TENTH
DISTRICT.
Colorado . . .
. 2 . .
. 2
Texas
. 2 . . .
4
8
11
19
West Texas . .
. 2 . .
4
f
BISHOP MOSES B. SALTER, D. D.
Born in Charleston, S. C.
Ordained Bishop, May 19th, 1892.
13
Conference.
Northeast Texas
Central Tex as .
Louisiana . . .
North Louisiana
California . . .
Puget Sound . .
Lay.
2
16
Minist'l.
4
3
4
3
ELEVENTH DISTRICT.
Tennessee .... 2 ...
West Tennessee .2 ...
Kentucky .... 2 ...
West Kentucky .2 ...
26 42
8
5
6
3
3
20 28
Conference.
Michigan
Ontario . .
Nova Scotia
Bermuda . .
Havti . . .
San Domingo
Demerara .
Liberia . . .
Sierra Leone
St. Thomas
TWELFTH DISTRIC
Lav.
Minist'l.
20
20 40
RECAPITULATION.
Bishops 8
General Officers 9
Ministerial Delegates 239
Lay Delegates 118
Total
374
MEETING'S
OF GENERAL
CONFERENCES.
time of meeting
place of meeting.
bishop's presiding.
secretaries.
Confer¬
ences.
Minis¬
ters.
Laymen.
Total.
April 9-12, 1816
Organic Convention, .
Philadelphia, Pa . .
Bishop Richard Allen .
ordained April 11, 1816.
. 11 .
. . 5 .
. 16
Alay 1820
Philadelphia, Pa ....
Richard Allen
Richard Allen, Jr
2
. 12 .
6 .
. 18
May 1-11, 1824
Philadelphia, Pa . . .
Richard Allen
Jacob Matthews
. 3 .
. 14 .
. • 5 .
. 19
Alav 12-27, 182S
Philadelphia, Pa . . .
Richard Allen
Morris Brown, ordain¬
ed May 25, 1828 . . .
J. M. Corr ....
. 3 .
. 15 .
8 .
. 23
May 1832
Baltimore, Md
Morris Brown
J. M. Corr ....
. 4.
. J 5 .
9 .
. 25
May 2-11, 1836
Philadelphia, Pa ....
Edward Waters, Ordai
Morris Brown
ned May 8, 1836 ....
Geo. Hogarth . .
. 4.
. 17 .
. 13 .
. 30
May 4-14, 1840 Baltimore, Md
May 6-20, 1844
Pittsburgh, Pa
W. P. Quinn, Ordained
May 1-23, 1S48 Philadelphia, Pa .
May 3-20, 1852 New York, N. Y .
Willis Nazrey .
I Daniel A. Payne
May 5-20, 1S56 Cincinnati, Ohio .
TUav 7-25. 1S60
May 22-27, 1864
Pittsburgh, Pa ....
Philadelphia, Pa . . . .
Alexander W. Wayman)
Jabez P. Campbell . . J
Morris Brown
Edward Waters . . . .
AI orris Brown
May 19, 1844
Morris Brown
Wm. P. Quinn
W. P. Quinn
Ordained May 13, 1852.
W. P. Quinn
W. Nazrey
D. A. Payne
W. P. Quinn
\Y. Nazrey
D. A. Payne
W. P. Quinn
\V. Nazrey
D. A. Payne
Ordained May 16, 1864
Geo. Hogarth .
David Ware . .
M. M. Clark
Geo. Hogarth
Dayid Ware .
M. M. Clark .
A. W. Way man
E. D. Davis . .
M. M. Clark .
A. W. Wayman
E. C. Africanus
A. W. Wayman
J. A. Shorter .
G. W. Broadie .
A. \V. WTa3rman
A. Mcintosh .
A. W\ Wayman
A. Mcintosh .
John M. Brown
TIME OF MEETING
May *4-26, 1868
May 6-24, 1872
May 1-18, 1876
J Jay 3-25, 1880
PLACE OF MEETING.
Washington, D. C. .
Jas. A. Shorter .
Thos. M. D. Ward
John M. Brown. .
Nashville, Tenn . .
Atlanta, Ga . .
St. Louis, Mo .
H. M. Turner. .
\Y. F. Diekerson
R. H. Cain . . .
BISHOPS PRESIDING.
W. P. Quinn . .
D. A. Payne . .
A. W. Wayman
J. P. Campbell .
Ordained May 28, 1868.
W. P. Quinn . .
D. A. Payne . .
A. W. Wayman
J. P. Campbell.
T. A. Shorter . .
T. M. I). Ward
J. M. Erown . .
D. A. Payne . .
A. W. Wayman
J. P. Campbell.
J. A. Shorter . .
T. M. D. Ward
J. M. Brown . .
D. A. Payne . .
A. W. Wayman
J. P. Campbell.
J. A. Shorter . .
T. M. D. Ward
J. M. Brown . .
Ordained May 20, 1880.
SECRETARIES.
B, T. Tanner .
J.Woodlin. . .
W. S. Langford
J.H. A. Johnson
B. W. Arnett .
T. F. A. Sisson .
Jno. A. Clark .
B. W. Arnett . .
J. M. Townsend .
W. C. Banton . .
W. F. Diekerson .
B. W. Arnett .
J.H. A. Johnson
C. Asbury . . .
B. B. Goins . .
Confer¬
ences.
14
. 21
. 25
30
Minis¬
ters.
132
Laymen-
. 28 .
Total.
. 160
178
35
. 213
157
46 .
143
60 .
. 203
. 203
May 5-26, 1884
Baltimore, Md
R. R. Disney, Chatham,
Canada, received Sept.
4th, 1884, by Organic
Union of B. M. E. Ch.
with A. M.E. Church.
D. A. Pavne
A. W. Wavman ....
J. P. Campbell
J. P. Shorter
T. D. M. Ward ....
J. M. Brown
H. M. Turner
W. F. Dickerson ....
R. H. Cain
M. E. Bryant . .
C. Asbury ....
G. W. Gaines . .
R. Harper ....
C. P. Nelson . . .
B. B. Goins . . .
W. H. Johnson .
J. C. Brock . . .
J. F. A. Sisson . .
. 41 .
133 .
. 78 .
May 7-28, 1888
Indianapolis, Ind . . .
Wesley J. Gaines ... 1
B. W. Aruett {
B. T. Tanner (
Abraam Grant .... J
D. A. Pa3rne
A. W. Wayman ....
J. P. Campbell
T. M. D. Ward ....
J. M. Brown
H. M. Turner
R. R. Disney
Ordained May 24, 1888.
M. E. Bryant .
T. H. Jackson .
C. P. Nelson . . .
J. H. Collett. . .
B. A. J. Nixon . .
C. Asbury ....
A. M. Upshaw .
. 50 .
3 83 .
. 100 .
May 2-23, 1892
Philadelphia,Pa ....
Benj. F. Lee ^
Moses B. Salter . . . }
J as. A. Handy .... J
D. A. Payne
A. W. Wavman ....
T. M. D. Ward
J. M. Brown
H. M. Turner
W. J. Gaines
B. W. Arnett
B, T. Tanner
A. Grant
Ordained May 19, 1892.
R. R. Downs . .
B. A. ]. Nixon . .
J. M.Murchison .
M. M. Moore .
H. M. Cox ....
W. D. Chappell .
R. L. Beal . . .
J. R. Hawkins . .
. 50 .
225 .
. 100.
IS
BISHOPS A^D GENERAL* OFFICERS, 1896.
Bishop H. M. Turner, D. D., LL. D., Atlanta, Georgia. Twelfth and
Ninth Districts.
Bishop W. J. Gaines, D. D., Atlanta, Georgia. Second and part of the
Eleventh District.
Bishop B. W. Arnett, D. D., Wilberforce, Ohio. Third and part of the
Fourth District.
Bishop B. T. Tanner, D. D., LL. D., Philadelphia, Pa. First District.
Bishop Abram Grant, D. D., Atlanta, Georgia. Sixth and Eighth
Districts.
Bishop B. F. Lee, D. D., Ph. D., LL. D., Waco, Texas. Tenth District.
Bishop M. B. Salter, D. D., Columbia, S. C. Seventh and part of the
Eleventh District.
Bishop J. A. Handv, D. D., Kansas City, Kansas. Fifth and part of
the Fourth District.
Rev. J. C. Embry, D. D., General Business Manager, Philadelphia, Pa.
Rev. H. T. Johnson, D. D., Ph. D., Editor of "Christian Recorder,"
Philadelphia, Pa.
Rev. L. J. Coppin, D. D., Editor of "A. M. E. Review," Philadelphia,
Pa.
Rev. C. S. Smith, D. D., M. D., Secretary of Sunday-school Union, Nash¬
ville, Tenn.
%
Rev. A. M. Green, D. D., Editor of "Southern Christian Recorder,"
New Orleans, La.
Rev. W. B. Derrick, D. D., Home and Foreign Missionary Secretary,
Flusning, Long Islan 1, N. Y.
Rev. J. H. Armstrong, D. D., Financial Secretary, Washington, D. C.
Rev. C. T. Shaffer, M. D., D. D., Secretary of Church Extension,
Philadelphia, Pa.
iiev. W. D. Johnson, D. D., Educational Secretary, Athens, Georgia.
first educational district:
Prest. S. T. Mitchell, LL. D., Secretary, Wilberforce, Ohio.
second educational district:
Prof. J. R. Hawkins, Kittrell, North Carolina.
third educational district:
Rev. R. B. Brookins, Secretary, Tallehassee, Florida.
fourth educational district:
Rev. A. A. Williams, Secretary, Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
fifth educational district:
Rev. J. W. Braxton, Secretary, Kansas City, Kansas,
LIST OE DELEGATES TO GENERAL CONFERENCE
AS FAR AS REPORTED.
PHILADELPHIA.
DELEGATES.
J. A. Johnson . . . Germantown, Pa
J. M. Palmer .... Philadelphia, Pa
Theodore Gould . . Philadelphia, Pa
W. H. Davis . . . Philadelphia, Pa
LAYMEN.
W. H. Miller . . . Philadelphia, Pa
F. P. Mains . . . Philadelphia, Pa
NEW YORK.
DELEGATES.
R. H. Shirley . . . Coxsackie, N. V
J. M. Henderson . Brooklyn, N. Y
F. F. Giles .... Cambridge, Mass
LAYMEN.
T. McCants Stewart . Brooklyn, N. Y
Frederick Savage . . New York, N. Y
NEW ENGLAND.
DELEGATES.
W. H. Thomas . . . Providence, R. I
D. P. Roberts Boston, Mass
LAYMEN.
W. H. Thomas .... Boston, Mass
Thomas R Glasco . . . Boston, Mass
ALTERNAE LAYMEN.
J. R. Camon
W. H. Dickerson
MINISTERIAL ALTERNATES
R. F. Hurly .... Springfield, Mass
C. C. Felts, died February, 1896.
NEW JERSEY.
DELEGATES.
I. W. L. Roundtree . . Trenton, N. J
A. H. Newton .... Camben, N. J
J. S. Thompson . Atlantic City, N. J
LAYMEN.
Benjamin Ray . . Atlantic City, N. J
J. W. Shockley . . Asbury Park, N. J
BALTIMORE.
DELEGATES.
J. W. Beckett, H4.Central-st, Baltimore
Daniel P. Seaton . Washington, D. C
J. H. Collett, 1361 Calhoun, Baltimore
I. S. Lee, 18 Montgomery . Baltimore
LAYMEN.
John T. Layton . . Washington, D. C
John H. Murphy . . . Baltimore, Md
VIRGINIA.
DELEGATES.
A. L. Gaines Norfolk, Va
Elias H. Bolden . . Portsmouth, Va
W. H. Hunter . . . Annacosta, D. C
Geo. D. Jimmerson . . Smithfield, Va
LAYMEN.
L. R. Johnson .... Richmond, Va
Wilson F. Foreman . . . Norfolk, Va
NORTH CAROLINA.
DELEGATES.
W. H. Caphart . . Wilmington, N. C
E. J. Gregg .... Wilmington, N. C
J. W. Telfair . . . Wilmington, N. C
LAYMEN.
H. Brown .... Wilmington, N. C
J. A. Smith . . . Wilmington, N. C
WEST NORTH CAROLINA.
DELEGATES.
R. H. W. Leak . . . Raleigh, N. C
C. H. King Raleigh, N. C
F. P. Greenlea . . Wilmington, N. C
LAYMEN.
J. R. Hawkins .... Kittrell, N. C
G. A. Gerran . . . Greensboro, N. C
OHIO.
DELEGATES.
Charles Bundy .... Cincinnati, O
J. E. Gilmere Cincinnati, O
W. J. Johnson Columbus, O
LAYMEN.
Job B. Johnson .... Columbus, O
J. P. Maxwell ... - Wilberforce, O
ALTERNATE LAYMEN.
J. P. Shorter .... Wilberforce, O
ALTERNATE MINISTERIAL.
J. H. Artope Chillicothe, O
J. G. Mitchell .... Wilberforce, O
J. H. Jones Columbus, O
PITTSBURGH,
DELEGATES.
D. S. Bentley .... Alleghany, Pa
C. Asbury Pittsburgh, Pa
I. N. Ross Pittsburgh, Pa
MINISTERIAL ALTERNATES.
W. H. Brown . . New Brighton, Pa
W. H. Palmer . Monongahela City, Pa
Charles A. McGhee . . Scranton, Pa
LAYMEN.
Christian Patterson . Washington, Pa
Walter E. Billows . . Pittsburgh, Pa
LAY ALTERNATES.
L. H. Wright . , Cannonsburgh, Pa
Charles Hickey . . . Waynesburg, Pa
NORTH OHIO.
DELEGATES.
Thos. W. Anderson .... Toledo, O
R. C. Ransom Cleveland, O
Jno. W. Gazaway . . . Springfield, O
LAYMEN.
John W. Greene .... Cleveland, O
Samuel T. Mitchell . . Wilberforce, O
ALTERNATES.
George H. Price Dayton, O
INDIANA.
DELEGATES.
T. W. Henderson . Indianapolis, Ind
Alexander Smith . . Indianapolis, Ind
A. L. Murray . . . Indianapolis, Ind
LWMfcN.
W. F. Floyd . . . Indianapolis, Ind
A. Dumas Delany . . . Franklin Ind
ILLINOIS.
DELEGATES.
N. J. McCracken .... Quinry, III
J. S. Woods Quincy, 111
W. H. Chambers .... Quincy, 111
LAYMEN.
John Powell . . Illinois
John L. Turnbow Illinois
IOWA.
OELEGA1 ES.
J. M. Townsend .... Chicago, 111
S. A. Hardison .... Danville, 111
G. W. Gaines Chicago, III
LAYMEN.
John L Neal . . Minneapolis, Minn
J A. Harper, 2957 Dearborn, Chicago
MISSOURI.
DELEGATES.
C. W. Preston .... St. Louis, Mo
C. W. Lewis . . . Independence, Mo
S. J. Brown Springfield, Mo
LAYMEN.
J. H. Jenkins . . Independence, Mo
H. H. Bolton St. Louis, Mo
NORTH MISSOURI.
DELEGATES.
F J. Peck Quindoro, Kan
J. F. McDonald . . Macon City, Mo
C. R. Runyon .... Hannibal, Mo
LAYMEN.
W. B. Perkins
O. H. Winston
KANSAS.
DELEGATES.
Geo. H. SHnffer . . . McCluth, Kan
James W. WiJson . Kansas City, Kan
J. C. C. Owens .... Topeka, Kan
LAYMEN.
J. H. Glover
Ezekiel Ridley
ALTERNATE LAYMEN.
A. Allen
T. H. Johnson
MINISTERIAL ALTERNATES.
M. Collins .... Kansas City, Kan
A. M. Ward .... Burlington, Kan
N. C. Bruen .... Lawrence, Kan
COLORADO.
DELEGATE.
P. A. Hubbard Denver, Col
J. W. Sexton Denver, Col
LAYMEN.
H. C. Jefferson . . . Cheyenne, Wyo
P. E. Sprattling .... Denver, Col
GEORGIA.
DELEGATES.
R. R. Downs Savannah, Ga
T. N. M Smith . . . Savannah, Ga
S. D. Roseborough . . Cuthbert, Ga
E. Lowrey Albany, Ga
W. H. Wells .... Fort Gaines, Ga
J. A. Woods Waycross, Ga
I. S. Hamilton . . Hawkinsville, Ga
I. B. Lofton Columbus, Ga
W. D. H. Porter . . Thomasville, Ga
O. P. Sherman .... Savannah, Ga
LAYMEN.
D. J. Jordon .... Jacksonville, Fla
T. W. McCather .... Albany, Ga
MACON.
DELEGATES.
C. C. Cargyle Atlanta, Ga
W. Newman Macon, Ga
A. Cooper Americus, Ga
C. L. Bradwell Atlanta, Ga
K T. Boddie .... Fort Valley, Ga
W. C. Gaines Macon, Ga
R. L. Lawson Midway, Ga
A. B. B. Gibson Macon, Ga
E. P. Holmes Macon, Ga
L. H. Smith Savannah, Ga
D. J. Lawrence . . . Talbottom, Ga
LAYMEN.
A. W. Shaw
W. L. Hollis I.'
ALABAMA.
DELEGATES.
H. C. Calhoun
I N. Fitzpairick . . Montgomery, Ala
s. L Minis .... Montg >mery, Ala
J. M. Goodloe . . . Montgomery, Ala
A. W. Fickland . . Montgomery, Ala
I M. Harris . . Montgomery, Ala
M. Davidson . . . Montgomeiy, Ala
BISHOP JAMES A. HANDY, D. D.
Born in Baltimore, Mcl., December 22nd, 1826.
Ordained Bishop, May 19tli, 1892.
LAYMEN.
J. S. Morgan . . . Montgomery, Ala
Chas. C. tryer
NORTH ALABAMA.
DELEGATES.
T. H. Goodman
N. L. Edmonson
W. C. Ban ton
T. W. Coffee
NORTH GEORGIA.
DELEGATES.
E. W. Lee Macon, Ga
D. T. Green Atlanta, Ga
A. S. Jackson .... Cartersville, Ga
J. S. Flipper Atlanta, Ga
J. A. Lindsay Griffin, Ga
L. D Thomas Atlanta, Ga
R. M. Cheeks Rome, Ga
C. M. Manning . . . Washington, Ga
E. A. Shepard Marietta, Ga
LAYMEN.
Andrew Wright .... Atlanta, Ga
William Dunston . . . Newman, Ga
CENTRAL ALABAMA.
Rev. L. Gardner
F. B. Moorland
A. W. Atwater . . . Uniontown, Ala
A. A. Goodwin
R. D. Brooks
W. H. Mixon Selma, Ala
LAYMEV.
S. G. Jones
E. W. Stone Selma, Ala
SOUTH CAROLINA.
DELEGATES.
J. H. Welch .... Charleston, S. C
L. R. Nichols . . . Charleston, S. C
W. W, Becket . . . Charleston, S. C
S W. Bellamy . . Lincolnville, S. C
P. W. Jefferson . . . Charleston, S. C
W. B. Sterrit .... Charleston, S. C
S. Washington . . . Charleston, S. C
LAYMEN.
Z. D. Greene Georgetown
T. W. Price
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.
DELEGATES.
Hiram Young Almo, S. C
R. E. Wall Columbia, S. C
C. P. Nelson .... Columbia, S. C
G. T. Coleman . . . Columbia, S. C
R. C. Irwin
J. W.fLykes .... Greenville, S. C
C. L. Archey
D. T. McDaniel . . . Abbyville, S. C
LAYMEN.
J. W. Morris .... Columbia, S. C
C. H. Jones Columbia, S. C
NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA
DELEGATES.
W. D. Chappelle . . Columbia, S. C
S. F. Flegler Marion, S. C
J. C. Sampson .... Sumpter, S. C
W. M. Thomas . . Orangeburg, S. C
L. R. Miller
A. W. Haywood
J. A. Hunter
LAYMEN.
W. J Andrews .... Sumpter, S. C
T. T. Hilton
FLORIDA.
DELEGATES.
A. J. Kershaw . . . Tallehassee, Fla
Thos. Moorer .... Tallehassee, Fla
S. S. Herndon . . . Tallehassee, Fla
E. W. Johnson . . Appalachicola, Fla
J. T. Marks . ... Monticello, Fla
LAYMEN.
W. G. B Kinlowe, Appalachicola, Fla
R. W. Matthews . . . Pensacola, Fla
EAST FLORIDA.
DELEGATES.
S.H.Coleman, 1285King Roads, Jackson
John R. Scott . . . Jacksonville, Fla
D W. Gilleslee . . Jacksonville, Fla
A. B. Dudley Stark, Fla
T. F. Ganes Palatka, Fla
LAYMEN.
E. I. Alexander .... Madison, Fla
Jase McLean . . . St. Augustine, Fla
SOUTH FLORIDA.
DELEGATES.
G. B. Hills
M. M. Moore Orlando, Fla
S. H. Hadley
J. W. Dukes Herdan, Fla
A. A. Fleming
T. W. Long
LAYMEN.
A. E. Clark
G. C. Henderson . . Winter Park, Fla
MISSISSIPPI.
O. W. Childs . . . Port Gibson, Miss
J. W. Watson .... Grenada, Miss
W. R. Carson . . . Woodville, Miss
H. M. Foley Jackson, Miss
LAYMEN.
L. W. Manaway . . . Jackson, Miss
M. P. F. Williams . Brookhaven, Miss
NORTH MISSISSIPPI.
DELEGATES.
15. W. Lampton . . Greenville, Miss
J. Jones Forest City, Ark
D. M. Mitchell . . West Point, Miss
S. W. White .... Vicksburg, Miss
R. C. Holbrook . . West Paint, Miss
LAYMEN.
C. Banks
MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI.
DELEGATES.
W. F. Dangerfield . . Vicksburg, Miss
E. A. Carter .... Senatobia, Miss
J. H. D. Robinson . Yazoo City, Miss
O. P. Ross ...... Natchez, Miss
LAYMEN.
W. Burns
J. R. Burns
ARKANSAS.
DELEGATFS.
P. W. Wade .... Little Rock, Ark
T. C. Jones .... Fotest City, Ark
T. H. facks in . . . Hot Springs, Ark
J. M. Murchison . . Little Rock, Ark
J. E. Neal .... Jonesborough, Ark
J. W. Walker . . . Fort Smith, Ark
LAYMEN.
"W. E. Duncom . . . Forest City, Ark
J. R. RolTy .... Edwardson, Ark
SOUTH ARKANSAS.
DELEGATES.
H. H. King Pine Bluff, Ark
J. W. Whiteside . . . Pine Bluff, Ark
A. A. Williams .... Helena, Ark
E. Brown Camden, Ark
J. I. Lowe .... Arkadelpliia, Ark
F. Carolina .... Little Rock, Ark
LAYMEN
J. M. Alexander .... Helena, Ark
A. B. Crump .... Pine Bluff, Ark
WEST ARKANSAS.
DELEGATES.
J. M. Conner . . . Little Rock, Ark
W. A. J. Phillips . . Little Rock, Ark
W. H. Jones Prescott, Ark
S. Berrv Hot Springs, Ark
G. G. Bakes ... . Magnolia, Ark
LAYMEN.
S. T. Boyd Prescott, Ark
A. J. Moore .... Texarkana, Ark
INDIAN TERRITORY.
DELEGATES.
E. M. Argyle Guthrie, Ok
M. D. Brookins . S. McAllister, I. T
G. A. L. Dykes . . . Muscogee, I. T
LAYMEN.
J. A. Jarrett Guthrie, Ok
J. W. Hamilton . Oklahomo City, Ok
LOUISIANA.
DELEGATES
G. E. Taylor . . . New Orleans, La
J. D. Haynes, S. Water-st, New Orleans
J. W. Washington . Baton Rouge, La
T. A.Wilson, 316 Miro-st, New Orleans
NORTH LOUISIANA.
DELEGATES.
J. B. Webb Delhi, La
J. W. Elbert Royville, La
J. W. Lampton Delhi, La
LAYMEN.
E. W. Lindsay
A. Z. Jones
TEXAS
DELEGATES.
J. P. Howard .... Houston, Texas
L. H. Reynolds . . Galveston, Texas
J. G. Grimes .... Palestine, Texas
J. W. Rankin .... Houston, Texas
LAYMEN.
M. W. Lawson .... Willis, Texas
W. R Roberts . . . Palestine, Texas
WEST TEXAS.
DELEGATES.
B. W. Roberts . San Antonio, Texas
R. Deal .... Harris Springs, Texas
R. S Jenkins . . San Antonio, Texas
W. R. Beanier . . San Antonio, Texas
LAYMEN.
W. L. Jarmon
C. O. Hunter .... Bastrop, Texas
NORTHEAST TEXAS.
DELEGAIES.
William Leake .... Ennis, Texas
D. C Moody Dallas, Texas
C. A. Harris Mexia, Texas
P. C. Hunt Dillas, Texas
LAYMEN.
J. Lanier Corsicana, Texas
W. D. Cain Mineola, Texas
CENTRAL TEXAS.
DELEGATES.
A. G. Scott Houston, Texas
T. C. Denham Waco, Texas
J. R. Bryant Waco, Texas
LAYMEN.
H. T. Keeling \Vaco, Texas
B. F. Fifer . ... Hanover, TeAas
23
CALIFORNIA.
DELEGATES.
E. T. Cottman . . San Francisco, Cal
J. E. Edward s . . . . Oakland, Cal
LAYMEN.
J. W. Jordan
J. M. Bridges
PUGET SOUND.
DELI-GATES.
G. C. Clark
H. McKenna
LAYMEN.
J. E. Rushenbow
H. P. Laws
TENNESSEE.
DELEGATES.
J. A. Davis .... Nashville, Tenn
Bedford Green . . . Nashville, Tenn
B. A. J. Nixon . . Shelbyville, Tenn
T. A. Thompson . Chattanooga, Tenn
T. T. Gilmore . . . Cleveland, Tenn
H. D. Canadv . . . Nashville, Tenn
G. L. Tackson . . . Nashville, Tenn
S. R. Reid Nashville, Tenn
LAYMEN.
W. H. Key .... Shelbyville, Tenn
J. R. Fleming . . . Columbia, Tenn
WEST TENNESSEE.
DELEGATES.
P. W. Walls .... Memphis, Tenn
D. E. Asbury .... Memphis, Tenn
J. N. Abby Memphis, Tenn
W. A. Lewis . . . Memphis, Tenn
G. W. Porter . . . Clarkesville, Tenn
S. W. Walker . . . Clarkesville, Tenn
I AYMEN.
William Porter . . . Memphis, Tenn
A. R. Merry Jackson, Tenn
KENTUCKY.
DELEGATES.
J. M. Turner Fiankfort, Ky
A. H. Ross Frankfort, Ky
J. W. Frazier .... Frankfort, Ky
LAYMEN.
J. C. Jackson .... Lexington, Ky
WEST KENTUCKY.
DELEGATES.
E. Tyree Louisville, Ky
B. F. Porter Louisville, Ky
G. H. Burks Paducah, Ky
MICHIGAN.
DELEGATES.
B. F. Watson Detroit, Mich
J. D. Barksdale . . . Ypsilanti, Mich
LAYMEN.
John'Wesley Topp,322 Erskine, Detroit
C.A. Pinkney, 62 8th av., Grand Rapids
ALTERNATES.
C. W. Johnson . . . Ypsilanti, Mich
Jas. Butler .... Battle Creek, Mich
MINISTERIAL ALTERNATES.
G. A. Collins . . . Windsor, Ontario
A. Cottman . . Grand Rapids, Mich
NOVA SCOTIA.
DELEGATES.
Alex. Hersey . . . Woodstock, N. B
H. B. Brown . . . Halifax, N. Scotia
LAYMEN.
W. Jones .... Halifax, N. Scotia
N. Mclntyre, Woodstock,N.Brunswick
ALTERNATEL,
M. W. Lamson Nova Scotia
W. R. Roberts Nova Scotia
ONTARIO.
DELEGVTFS.
W. H. H. Butler . . . Detroit, Mich
W. P. Bradley .... Hamilton, Ont
Jas. Porter, deceased
SIERRA LEONE.
DELEGATES.
J. R. Frederick,Freetown,Sierra Leone
H. B. Parker . . . Kansas City, Mo
LIBERIA.
DELEGATES.
W. H. Heard, Monrovia,Liberia, W. A
A. L. Ridgel, Monrovia,Liberia,W. A
MINISTERIAL ALTERNATES.
T. W. Thurston . . . Brynmawr, Pa
BERMUDA.
DELEGATES.
C. W. Dunlap . . Hamilton, Bermuda
J. WT. Skerrett . Sheily Bay, Bermuda
LAYMEN.
B. Richardson . St. David's, Bermuda
C. Fubler . . . Hamilton, Bermuda
S^N DOMINGO.
DELEGATES.
H. C. C. Astwood . . Harrisburg, Pa
J. P. Sampson . . . Philadelphia, Pa
LAYMEN.
C. H. J. Taylor . . Washington, D. C
HAYTI.
DELEGATES.
John Herst, 1527 Jeff'sn,Baltimore,Md
T. G. Steward . . Fort Monsula, Mon
DEWERARA.
DELEGATES.
Reuben A. Sealy, Bridgetown, Barb'ds
John T. Jenifer . Washington, D. C .