Robert W. Woodruff
Library
EMORY UNIVERSITY
Special Collections & Archives
NO. I—THE PULPIT USED BY RICHARD ALLEN
MJ, 2—THE OLD CHURCH IN WHICH RICHARD ALLEN PREACHED,
NO, "-TK1 ^RESEN~ W? TJKTHEL.
AN OUTLINE
OF OUR
HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT
FOR
African.Methodist Churchmen.
MINISTERIAL AND LAY.
Iti (Hater Ijetical .form.
TWO PARTS WITH APPENDIX.
BY
B. T. TANNER, D. D.
Author of "Apology for African Methodism," " Is the Negro Cursed ?"
"The Negro's Origin," "'The Negro: African and American."
INTRODUCTION
BY B F. LEE, D. D.
President of Wilberforce University.
Oorvngrsi. ;SS4.
BY 3. T. TANNEF-
DEDICATORY.
m£n and the women
ok the
African Methodist Episcopal Churcii
who have firmly resolved
gou helping them
to makf. this "our father's church"
yet more acceptable to god
and precious to men
the author has the high privilege
of dedicating this
v'OLUMS
Our Fathers' Church.
We are the children of the Church
Our mothers reared by prayer,
The Church our fathers fortified
By faith and manly care.
Chorus
Our fathers' Church, our mothers' Church—
Is just the Church for me;
'Our fathers' Church, our mothers' Church—
Mine evermore shall be.
Strong are its massive gates and wide,
Its walls a tow'ring pile;
Alike impregnable to all
Who would its courts defile.
Num'rous its people as the stars,
As pledged in days of old;
And will be as the countless sand,
A number yet untold.
And stirred it is by lofty aims,
Of love t'ward man and God,
And will be till the world accepts
Messiah's staff and rod.
How glorious then this heritage,
Burdened with storied wealth,
Enriching us and all mankind
With life, and peace, and beaitfr.
Already 111 our youthful days
We children prize the gift
That comes with gracious promises,
Our trodden race t'-uplift.
As gnthered on this Children's Day
We at its altars vow,
T) mirk its bulwarks, tell its towers,
And hold our place as now.
PREFACE.
Conversing with Bishop James A. Shorter not many
months ago, the subject of Church troubles presented itself,
as the Bishop unfortunately had one of these sad episodes
upon his hand at the time.
" I am persuaded," we remarked to this real father in
God, " that not a few of these troubles find their occasion in
the prevailing ignorance of a very large per centage of our
people concerning both the history and the government of
our Church." His ready response was : " There is nothing
truer than that.'' To have the reader acquiesce, it is only
necessary for him to call to mind how we, in common with
all Methodist bodies, fill up our ranks. Unlike the methods
adopted by other churches, those of the Methodist faith may
really be said to largely fill up their ranks from the hedges
and highways of life. When the revival seine is cast into
the sea, how true is it that we bring up all manner of fiih.
Hitherto our fault has been that we have teemed to* act
upon the idea that " getting religion " and " accepting
Methodism " was one and the same thing. Now it should
never be forgotten that the two are perfectly distinct. Re¬
ligion comes of faith ; Methodism of reason. We embrace
religion at the command of God ; we accept Methodism as
the result of an intelligent persuasion that it suits us better
than any other form presented. We are supposing, of
course, normal methods to be in force. But we scarcely
need say that in, probably, the majority of cases, they are
not in force among us. God indeed converts the soul; but
when it comes to an acceptance of Methodism, without
possibly reading its creed, its rules and regulations, our
people ioin. That they should after find portions of it
6
PREFACE.
that they do not like is nothing strange. The fault is both
with them and with us. They should first have known to
what they were subscribing, while we should have insisted
upon them knowing.
All that we have written above, in one way or another,
was embraced in that talk we had with the venerable
Bishop of the Third Episcopal District; at the conclusion
of which we said : " Bishop, we are minded to write a cate¬
chism in which the history and government of our Church
will appear." He answered: "I wish you would." The
next day found us at work; and a recollection of the fact
that the laymen of the Church, through their intelligent and
loyal representative, John A. Sims, of Washington City, at
the General Conference of 1876, asked for just such a book
as we now assume to make, kept us at it until the work
was done.
And yet, we must confess that this " Outline " is alto¬
gether larger than we proposed making it when we began.
We may be said to have overshot the mark. We had in¬
tended to have addressed ourselves chiefly to the "Children
of the Church'' ; but, lo and behold, we have reached the
men and the women. But let not the little ones get out of
heart. They shall have an abridgment of this, in the
shape of a catechism, in which they too may learn of the
Church's rise and-progress, and also of its present ; for wo
expect great things of them in the future.
B. T. T., 2908 W. Park Avenue.
I'll i LA Delphi A, 14th December, i8Sj.
CONTENTS.
PART I.
HISTORICAL,
CHAPTER I.
PA.3E.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP 13
CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION 13
CHAPTER III.
FIRST CONFERENCES 18
CHAPTER IV.
METHODISTS—DISCIPLINE—HYMN BOOK 20
CHAPTER V.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD 22
CHAPTER VI.
BISHOPS 99
7
8
CONTENTS;
PART II.
GOVF RNMENTAL.
PA .B.
PRELUDE io+
CHAPTER I.
EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS icq
CHAPTER II.
CONFERENCES OF THE CHURCH 112
CHAPTER III.
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CHURCH 115
CHAPTER IV.
CHURCH OFFICES 124
APPENDIX I4o
INTRODUCTION.
" Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations."
" For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself for
the search of their fathers."
Every educational, reformatory, benevolent or reli¬
gious association must be prepared to answer questions
concerning its origin, tenets, aims, accomplishments
and. genius of government, from time to time, in order
to self-culture and intelligent, effectual co-operation
with similar bodies. These replies must be clear, com¬
prehensive, true and earnest. They must be written,
not dependent upon oral tradition, for it is written his¬
tory alone that unifies and conserves the true character-
istics of associations, races and nations. Tradition
speaks with a thousand tongues from as many stand¬
points; well written history collects from the thousand
minds, arranges in the light of philosophy and returns to
the multitude, receiving their sanction and confidence.
Thus written history becomes one of the most potent
educational agencie.--. It is true, there is a time to write
and a time to refrain from writing, a proper stand-point
and an improper one, a competent and an incompetent
pen. The collater of annals may begin early, but his¬
tory is presented to the world with greater force when
facts of worth, attractiveness and l^neficence have been
accomplished. This does not favor tardiness; writing
too long deferred is liable to as fruitful and numerous
evils as that executed prematurely.
No other man, other things being equal, is so well
adapted to the writing of a people's history as the one
who is connected with it. Provided, always, that he
be in a position to know whereof he writes. There is
far less danger to the Connection resulting from favor¬
able prejudice than from scattered fragmentary writings
by those who write in the especial interest of their sects,
or for general purposes.
The history of Methodism in all its variety abounds
9
10
INTRODUCJ ION.
in the most highly interesting religious phenomena ;
none is more attraciive, interesting or worthy than the
African Methodist. Born of the necessities resulting from
religious caste, the inconveniences of poverty and the
embarrassments of illiteracy, it was thrown at once up jn
the courage of faith and the declarations of God : " I he
eternal God is thy .refuge, and underneath are His ever¬
lasting arms." " Lo I am with you." " The little one
has become a thousand," the blacksmith shop a glorious
temple and the outcast a dweller in goodly tents.
Nearly every State and territory is dotted with its
temples, taught by its ministry and strengthened by its
laity. Men of culture as well as religion, and educated
intellect as well as nervous emotionality are found in
its communion. Noble women grace its chapels and
instruct in its homes and schools. A fair share of the
educa ional work of the colored Americans is performed
by the A. M. E. Cnurch. From its publishing h^use
goes weekly a clear, very interesting and instructive
paper, besides books whose authors are members of the
Church that manages the Publishing house.
The Sunday-school Uniin, organized since the Gene¬
ral Conference of 1880, is accomplishing all that could
be expected in so short a time. The Missionary society
has fairly established a mission in Hayti, which has
made an impressive history in the past five years. I say
impressive because its course has b;en one that will fix
a high appreciation i^the Haytien mind and character.
In the light of these facts it is not only important,
but absolutely obligatory that the history of the A. M.
E. Church be written now. Hence "The Outline of
Our History and Government," which will serve its
time, but will doubtless be succeeded by a more elabor¬
ate work in due time. Within the next decade this
volume will find its way to thousands of homes and
millions of readers, encouraging the faithful, enlighten¬
ing the uninformed and placing the Church which it
represents before the world in a more favorable light
than it has occupied in the past.
Part I, will show what has been done, our successes
INTRODUCTION.
II
and failures, enabling the prudent so to shape, and the
leaders so to direct the Church in the future that the
number of successes shall increase and that of failures
decrease rapidly. The generation now about to enter
upon the stage of activity will have data by means of
which to render this branch of the vine glorious and this
gate of the temple the beautiful gate; provided they do
their part as well as they will learn that the'fathers have
done. Those who write and speak concerning religious
denominations will collect truths fro.n this book which
cannot be collected elsewhere. The incorrect writers
of the past win stand corrected, and the future historian
will start from a higher and a brighter plane.
Part II, is as necessary and as opportune as Part I.
There are many, both w.thin and outside of our Church,
who do not know but the significant A in our title
includes all there is to distinguish us from any other
M. E.s, but this is a mistake. There are other charac¬
teristics than those included in the term f African.' They
are few, it is true, but are just such as have grown out of
suggestions of our forming life. It may be shown, doubt¬
less, that in some respects we are more Methodistic and in
others more episcopal than many of our sister M. E's.
The strength of the government that has had the so¬
lution of problems that have caused others to exercise a
vacillating, uncertain policy on the one hand, and a
very incorrect and imperfect one orv the other, must de¬
pend upon some qualities that are wanting in other
governments.
It is simply marvelous, that in the A. M. E. Church
government "by the people" has been maintained for
more than seventy years in the very face of those who
have denied the competency of the colored American
to govern; and still more marvelous that they d.> not
yield to the logic of all these years.
To a people whose circumstances are what ours have
oeen, and are, no other form of Church government is
better adapted than the Episcopal as modified b)
"Methodist;" of these none better than that modified
by '1 African.'' The hand of God is seen as clearly in the
development of our government as in that of our history.
12
INTRODUCTION.
The government of the A. M. E. Church is "neich'ji re¬
publican nor democraticautocratic nor "theocratic, "
it is African Methodist Episcopal, having features and
combinations not found in any other in the United States.
There are now tendencies on the part of our throb¬
bing, earnest, active workers, to introduce into our
government certain elements that have been active for
years in others, but we should study well our divergen¬
cies from other religious bodies as well as our similari¬
ties to them as we have done in the past, before adopt¬
ing their methods upon the argument that what gives
success to one will give it to all others; what is adapted
to one variety of men is also fitted to every other variety.
It is one of Bishop Payne's apt and impressive expres¬
sions: " Distinctions create differences."1 Our fuiure,
I trust, will find us acting as we have done generally
hitherto; as duty leads, duty evident from our want and
ability, God's providence and direction. May the
"Outline of Our History and Government" give us
the ability to shun the disastrous mistakes of the past,
and increase by a thousand fold the many right acts
wli'ich God has bd us to perform.
May this little volume enlighten our thousands of
strong, intelligent yuuths of both sexes, that, knowing
our accomplishments, seeing our possibilities they may
help bear our responsibilities, giving their aid to an
organization whose .future usefulness and growth must
depend upon the strong moral and intellectual character
which we bear, so far as men are concerned. Let the
long, severe and faithful struggle of seventy years assure
them that it is better to work together and "together
with God for good," than to go where intellectual cul¬
ture is much higher, but the opportunities to develop
their intellect much fewer.
The future A. M. E. Church will occupy a closer,
an. I more effectual relationship with the religious world
than the past has done. God bless the author, the
" Outline " and the A. M. E. Church. May his bless¬
ings be as large to all the Church of our Lord Jesus.
B. F. Lee.
Wilberforce University.
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
PART I.
HISTORICAL.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP.
Question I. Of what Church are you a member?
Answer. Of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church,
2. Are you really a member of it ?
I am.
3. What do I understand you to say ?
You -understand me to say. that having been
baptized, and, I trust, forgiven of my sins both he¬
reditary and actual, I thereby became a member of
this Church; and my prayer is, that I may ever
remain in the number of God's faithful and elect
children.
4. Why do you prefer membership in this Church ?
Because I think it the best.
5. Do you think it better than the Baptist
Church, or the Presbyterian, or the Episcopal, or
the Catholic?
13
14
OIJ I LINKS OF HISTORY.
It is better to me; or else I would not belong
to it.
6. Do you think every person should belong to
the church that seems the best to him?
I certainly do.
7. Would you belong to some other church if
you thought it were better than the African Metho¬
dist Episcopal ?
Most certainly. Not to do so would be wrong.
8. Is a person morally bound to belong to the
churCh he conceives to be the best ?
If I understand it aright, he is.
9. What is your understanding?
My understanding is that the church to which
one belongs is accepted by him as the best phase
of the Christian religion—at least, it is the best to
him; and in such matters one is bound to accept
the best. Am I right ?
10. I think you are. And now allow me to say,
I am glad to see that you have such clear ideas.
Among too many it is otherwise. They think that
one church is just as good as another. This is true
in a general way. And yet, as you have said, the
church one belongs to must seem better to him
than any other. Unless he believes this, he js
not prepared to do his duty by- it. And it is just
here that so many persons give trouble. Without
any clear views of their duty or the nature of the
relation they sustain to the church they join, they
do not hesitate to make trouble. This will not be
so with you; will it ?
It will not; for beside the understanding I have,
I remember that the Scriptures teach me where¬
soever I am to be "subject to the powers that be."
11. In plain words, what does that teaching of
Scripture mean ?
ORGANIZATION.
15
It means, as it relates to the matter under con¬
sideration, that while I acknowledge membership
in a church, I am bound to submit to its laws and
regulations.
12. But suppose one does not like them, can he
not labor to have them changed ?
Yes, providing he takes the methods which the
church has ordained.
13. But suppose he do not succeed, what then ?
It is his right then to withdraw and go to the
church that pleases him better.
14. But if he do not wish to withdraw, what?
Why, he can remain, but he must be quiet.
15. What, be quiet, if he think the church is
wrong?
Certainly. He should remember that while he
thinks it wrong, scores and hundreds think it right;
and it is wicked in him to'disturb their peace.
CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION
Question 1. You say you are a member of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church ?
Answer. I do.
2. When was that Church organized ?
In the month of April, 1816.
3. Where at?
At Philadelphia, Penna.
4. By whom ?
By Richard Allen.
5. Was he alone?
No; there were fifteen others.
l6 OUTLINES CF HISTORY.
6. Can you name them ?
I can: Jacob Tapsico, Clayton Durham, James
Champion, and Thomas Webster of Philadelphia;
Daniel Coker, Richard Williams, Henry Harden,
Stephen Hill, Edward Williamson and Richard
Gailliard of Baltimore ; Peter Spencer of Wilming¬
ton, Del.; Jacob Marsh, Edward Jackson and Wil¬
liam Andrews of Attleborough, Penna.; and Reu¬
ben Cuff of Salem, N. J.
7. Why did these men organize a new Church ?
Because, as they tell us, of unkind treatment by
the white brethren.
3. To the white brethren of what Church does
this refer?
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
9. Can you tell me in what that unkind treat¬
ment consisted ?
In pulling them off their knees while at prayer.
10. In anything else ?
Yes: in compelling them to take the back seats,
and insisting upon their going to the gallery.
11. What else do our fathers say in regard- to
this?
" For these and various other acts of unchristian
conduct, we consider it our duty to devise a plan
in order to build a house of our own to worship
God under our own vine and fig tree." [But see
the full statement they made as given in Supplement.]
12. Was this done?
It was.
13. What house was built?
Bethel in Philadelphia.
14. Did they really build a house?
No, they purchased an old blacksmith shop, and
had it removed to their ground on Sixth Street
ORGANIZATION.
17
15. How much did they pay for it?
About thirty-five dollars {£y 10).
16. When did all this happen?
About the year 1787.
17. What were they doing from the year 1787
to 1816, when, you tell me, they finally organized?
They were defending themselves, as best they
could, against the many oppositions they met.
18. Did God raise them up friends among the
white people?
He did.
19. Who were they?
Dr. Benjamin Rush, Mr. R. Ralston, Bishop
White, Wm. McKean, Richard Mosely and Jupiter
Gibson who joined them.
20. Who was Bishop White?
The first Protestant Episcopal Bishop of the
country.
21. Did Bishop White ordain Richard Allen to
be Bishop?
No. Richard Allen was ordained by Bishop
Asbury of the Methodist Episcopal Church; and
seventeen years after he was ordained a Bishop by
five regularly ordained ministers; among them was
Absalom Jones, whom Bishop White had pre¬
viously ordained an elder or priest
22. How should we feel toward the Church and
the men who oppressed our fathers ?
While the Church itself survives, the men them¬
selves are dead; and we should only think kindly
of the dead.
23. How about their children ?
The children are responsible only for themselves.
If they act like Christians, we must love them.
IS
outlines of history.
CHAPTER III.
first conferences.
Question I. Where was the First Annual Con¬
ference after the organization held?
Answer. In Philadelphia.
2. In what year ?
The year 1817.
3. Can you tell me anything about it?
I cannot; for both the manuscript and printed
minutes are lost.
4. What does Bishop Payne, in his Semi-Cente¬
nary, say as to the preachers of this Conference ?
His words are: " Tradition says that besides
Bishop Allen, Rev. William Paul Quinn, Rev. Jacob
Tapsico and Rev. Clayton Durham were the only
itinerants in the Philadelphia District."
5. Did the colored people of any other city unite
with them ?
Yes, sir. Those of Baltimore, Maryland.
6. When did these hold a Conference?
In the year 1818.
7. What can be said of the minutes of their doings?
Bishop Payne has the manuscript copy of them
in his possession.
8. Who were the travelling preachers of that
Conference ?
Rev. Daniel Coker, Rev. Richard Williams and
Rev. Charles Pierce.
9. During the first year, then, of our Church's ex¬
istence, how many itinerant preachers were there ?
Only seven: three in Baltimore, and four in
Philadelphia.
FIRS* CONFL.RENCES.
19
10. How many members were there at the time
of organization ?
Bishop Payne says, Philadelphia had 4,000.
11. A list of the members of Bethel Church,
Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 1794, gives the names of how
many members ?
One hundred and eight.
12. What is said to have been the total member¬
ship at the same time ?
One thousand and seventy-one.
13. How many had Baltimore in 1818?
Baltimore had 1060 members.
14. What is said to have been the membership
of New York about this time?
It is said to have had about 700 members.
15. Attleborough had three delegates in the Con¬
vention of 1816. Where is Attleborough ?
It is in Bucks County, Pa., forty miles north of
Philadelphia.
16. How many members were here at the time
of the Convention ? —
This cannot be definitely known. According to
documents, in July, 1822, Rev. James Johnson was
preacher, Scipio Brown treasurer, and John Miller
and Samuel Anderson were stewards. The class
book for the year 1827 gives the names of thirty-
two persons.
17. What do these documents show as to moneys ?
They show the stewards of the church at Attle¬
borough to have paid: July 8, 1822, ^1.31 ; July
21, $1.62; July 29, $2.80.
18. What may we therefore conclude ?
That while Attleborough had but few members
they were very energetic.
19. What may be said of Attleborough now ?
20
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
It now forms one of the preaching places of
the Langhorne circuit, Philadelphia Conference.
CHAPTER IV.
METHODISTS DISCIPLINE HYMN BOOK.
Question i. Your Church, then, was organized
in 1816, was it?
Answer. It was.
2. Upon what form of government did they
agree ?
The Methodist form.
3. Were they invited to become other than
Methodists ?
They were.
4. What?
Episcopalians.
5. What did Richard Allen say?
He says : " I told them I could not accept their
.offer, as I was a Methodist. I was indebted to the
Methodists under God for what little religion I
had. Being convinced that they were the people of
God, I informed them that I could not be anything
else but a Methodist."
6. Had Richard Allen joined the Episcopalians
as he was invited to do, is it likely the people would
have followed him ?
It is ; such was the great influence he possessed.
7. In deciding to become Methodists, what did
they do ?
They simply adopted the Discipline containing
the doctrine and laws of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
8. What do they say ?
I quote their own words. "We do acquiesce
METHODISTS-DISCIPLINE-HYMN BOOK 21
and accord with the Rules of the Methodist Epis¬
copal Church for our Church, government and dis-
c.pline, and with her creeds and articles for our
faith."
9. Was this the wisest -thing for them to have
done ?
Under the circumstances I think it was.
10. Why so?
The Discipline as a whole was written by very
learned and very godly men, and they could not
hops to better it.
11. What did they do for a hymn book ?
B.shop Allen, with such assistance as he could
command, compiled one.
12. When was this done ?
Immediately after the organization.
13. What did Bishop Allen say concerning it ?
Addressing the members of the newly organized
Church, he says: " 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 materials
for the present work; and we trust the result of our
labor will receive the sanction of the congregations
under our charge." Also he said: " It may be
proper to inform the congregations that our Hymn
Book is designed to supersede those hitherto used
among us."
14. But does not what you tell me of the hymn
book contradict what Bishop Payne says in his
Semi-Centenary ?
By no means. The words of the Bishop are:
" We find not so much as an allusion to the publi¬
cation of a hymn book."
15. Where then did you find what you have said ?
22
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
I find it in the second edition of the hymn
book itself. .
16. Of what date is this second edition?
Of the year 1827.
17. When was the first edition printed ?
As I have said, it must have been immediately
after their organization.
CHAPTER V.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
Question 1. How many General Conferences
have been held ?
Answer. Sixteen.
2. How is it that we hear persons speak of the
last one as the Seventeenth General Conference ?
Such persons account the Convention of 1816 a
General Conference.
3. Is this correct ?
I think not
4. Why so ?
It was simply a Convention to organize the
Church, and in so doing to really decide whether it
would have a General Conference or anything else.
A thing cannot be said to exist before it is decided
upon.
5. Do you think you are correct?
I am sure I am, as you can but see.
(A).
o. When and where then was the First General
Jonference held ?
Ill May, 1820, in Philadelphia.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
23
7- Can you give any information in regard to
this Conference ?
I cannot; only that Bishop Allen presided, and
one of his boys is said to have acted as secretary.
Everything relating to its doings seems to have
perished.
(B).
8. When and where was the Second General
Conference held ?
In May, 1824, at Philadelphia.
9. Can you tell me anything of it?
Only that Bishop Allen presided, and that at the
time it was held the church had a membership of
9,888, with fourteen elders, twenty-six deacons,
and a hundred and one (101) licentiates, local and
itinerant; and had extended as far west as Cincin¬
nati, Ohio.
(C).
10. When and where was the Third General Con •
ference held?
In May, 1828, at Philadelphia.
11. What of it?
It was this Conference that elected Rev. Morris
Brown Assistant Bishop to Bishop Allen, who was
becoming old and feeble. Reports were heard
from Hayti, through the Rev. George Hogarth,
>*ho reported the membership there at 72.
(D).
j 2. When and where was the Fourth General
Conference held ?
In May, 1832, at Baltimore, Maryland.
13. What have you to say of it ?
It was presided over by Bishop Morris Brown,
24 OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
Bishop Allen having died some fourteen months
before it met.
14. Whom did the Bishop have to assist him in
presiding ?
Rev. Edward Waters.
15. WTas )t usual for the early bishops to thus
make choice of one to assist them ?
It was.
16. What Annual Conferences were here repre¬
sented ?
There were four: Baltimore Conference having
as its boundary Baltimore City, Eastern Shore of
Maryland, Harrisburg Circuit, Washington City
and Piscataway; Philadelphia Conference, including
Philadelphia City, Bucks County, Delaware State,
East and West Jersey; New York Conference, in¬
cluding New York City, Long Island, New York
and Canada; and the Western Conference, including
all Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny Mountains
and Ohio.
17. What have you to say of the membership of
this General Conference?
At the time it was held, there were twenty-five
elders and thirty-nine deacons; the majority of
whom were doubtless members of this Fourth Gen¬
eral Conference.
18. Upon what subjects especiall}' did they legis¬
late ?
Upon the allowance of the ministers, whom it
allowed if unmarried, eighty dollars per annum and
travelling expenses; if married, one hundred and
twenty dollars and travelling expenses The Bish¬
op's allowance was tweuty-five dollars for every
Conference he held; and pay in proportion to that
of the traveling preachers when he traveled in the
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
25
interval. Of course it must be known that the
Bishop j at this time held charges, and often did
manual work. It also legislated upon the Book
Concern.
19. What was said concerning the pay of the
j unior Bishop ?
"When the junior Bishop attends the Confer¬
ences, at the request of the General Superintendent,
his travelling expenses shall be paid."
20. Whom did they elect General Book Stew¬
ard ?
Rev. Joseph M. Corr.
21. Is not this scarcity of information relating to
these General Conferences to be regretted ?
It certainly is.
22. N:ne years after, or in the year 1841, what
did Rev. Geo. Hogarth, General Book Steward and
Editor, say ?
" The early documents of our Church are much
required by us at present. Many important ques¬
tions are asked of us, which we cannot solve for want
of then. Cannot they be gathered together and
furnished to us ? We hope our brethren who were
amonj the first in laying the foundation of our
Church, ani continued with her in those days that
-fieJ. men's souls, will communicate to us all the
intelligence they can relative thereto, that we may
be able to place before our readers, for their perusal,
a historical sketch of the early days of our denomi¬
nation."
23 Was this done?
I fear not; and for the reason that though he
continue 1 the General Book Steward and Editor of
the Church for some years, it does not appear that
he ever received the kind of information he called ibr.
2 6
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
24. How do you account for so manifest a ne-
^ two ways it may be accounted for The first
is the low estimate the fathers themselves may be
supposed to have put upon what they were doing,
as well as the fact that so few of them could write.
And yet it is to be hoped when we get the history
of the Church which Bishop Payne has been
writing, not a little light will be thrown upon those
early quadrennial sessions.
25. What makes you think so?
When the Bishop was made historiographer of
the Church, the Conferences were authorized to turn
over to him what documents they possessed.
26. Did they do this to any large extent?
It is to be hoped they did.
(E.)
27. The Fifth General Conference, when and
where ?
In May, 1836, at Philadelphia.
28. Who composed this conference?
All the preachers who had travelled two full
years at least at the time of holding the General
Conference and those of the local order who had
been regularly appointed by the Annual Confer¬
ence; provided they had been licensed two full
years; and provided further that the conferences
1 not elect more than one "for every five nor less
Conference^ members of the Annual
29. Who presided over it?
Bishop Morris Brown.
30. Who was secretary?
Rev. Geo. Hogarth,
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
2 ?
31- The travelling preachers present,how many?
There were sixteen.
32. Will you not name them?
Edward Waters, Richard Williams, Wm. Cor¬
nish, John Cornish, Israel Scott, John Charlson,
Moses Robinson, Wm. Moore, Jeremiah Miller,
Samuel Todd, John Boggs, Richard Robinson,
Wm. P. Quinn, Thomas Lawrence, and Samuel G.
Clingman.
33. Are these all the members who were present?
iNo: Philadelphia Conference sent as Local Del¬
egates Clayton Durham, Walter Procter, Shadrach
Bassett, Sampson Peters and Jeremiah Durham, (5);
.Baltimore Conference sent Nathaniel Peck, Stephen
Smith and Levin Lee, (3;; New York Conference
sent Louden W. Turpin, George Hogarth and
Edmund Cosby (3); and the Pittsburgh or Western
Conference sent Abram D. Lewis and George Cole¬
man (2).
34. How many members in all?
Twenty-nine.
35. What of the doings of this Conference?
Rev. Edward Waters whom the Bishop had pre¬
viously chosen to assist him, was elected Bishop.
36. Who was elected General Book Steward ?
Rev. George Hogarth.
37. Anything else?
Yes, the following resolution was passed: That
no preacher hereafter shall be permitted to graduate
with ministerial functions, who is and continues to
be a member of any Freemason's Lodge.
38. Anything else?
Yes, the Rev. Noah Cannon's book, "The Book
of Wisdom/' was denounced and forbidden circu¬
lation among our people.
2£ OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
39. What was done in regard to the Book Con-
CC It was ordered to be located wherever the Gen¬
eral Book Steward might reside, with other changes
looking to its greater efficiency.
40. What in regard to Mission ?
Nothing more than re-enact the chapter relating
to it.
41. What was to be the allowance of the Churches'
pastors ?
Unmarried pastors were to be paid one hundred
dollars and travelling expenses; married pastors,
one hundred and forty dollars, travelling expenses,
board and fuel for family. The pay of the Bishop
was three hundred dollars per annum, travelling
expenses ; and twenty-five dollars for every confer¬
ence held. As it relates, to the pay of the junior
Bishop, the law said: "When (he) attends the Con¬
ferences at the request of the General Superinten¬
dent, his travelling expenses shall be paid." •
42. What was the membership of the church
then ?
The Western Conference reported 1131, Balti¬
more 2052, Philadelphia 3344, New York 743.
Total, 7270.
43. How long was it in session?
Nine days.
(F-)
44. When and where was the Sixth General Con¬
ference held ?
May, 1840, in Baltimore.
45. Who composed this General Conference ?
Its composition was the same as that of the last
General Conference.
JENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
29
46. Who presided at this Conference?
Bishop Morris Brown assisted by Bishop Ed¬
ward Waters.
47- Who was the secretary ?
Rev. George Hogarth.
48. What Conferences were represented ?
Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York and th
Western, Conferences.
49. What is said of the bounds of this Western
Conference ?
It included " all that part of Pennsylvania, west
of the Allegheny Mountains, the state of Ohio, and
all places that may hereafter be brought into the
Connection west of that longitude."
50. What authority was given the Bishop ?
To organize a Conference in Canada and one in
the states of Indiana, Illinois and further west, if
he see the necessity of so doing.
51. What action was taken in regard to the Book
Concern ?
• It was decided to continue its location in the
conference to which the General Book Steward be¬
longed.
52. How was it to be conducted?
By a committee appointed by the Annual Con¬
ference in which it was located; said committee to
operate in conjunction with the' General Book
Steward.
' 53. What resolution was re-affirmed in regard to
authorship ?
" No travelling preacfher is permitted to write or
publish any book or pamphlet without the appro¬
bation of the Annual Conference to which he
belongs, or a committee chosen by them. It i.c
recommended to the Annual Conference to cautioi.
30
OUTLINES OF H.STORY.
and restrict our preachers from improper publica¬
tions."
54. What is your opinion of the effect of such a
resolution ?
It could only be to retard the growth of intelli¬
gence, and was therefore most unwise.
55. Was anything done for missions?
Yes, an annual collection, and, if need be, a
quarterly collection from all the churches was
called for; the result of which was ordered to be
lodged in the hands of the stewards, and either
sent or brought to the Annual Conference.
56. What annual allowance did this Conference
fix for an unmarried travelling preacher ?
One hundred and twenty-five dollars, and his
travelling expenses.
57. What for a married travelling preacher?
Two hundred dollars and his travelling expenses,
with board and fuel for his family.
58. What was to be the pay of the senior
Bishop?
Twenty-five dollars from each Annual Conference
that he attends, and his travelling expenses ; also
five hundred dollars per year, clear of all his tra¬
velling expenses.
59. What is said concerning the pay of the
junior Bishop ?
If travelling through the Connection at the re¬
quest of the senior Bishop, if unmarried he was to
be paid three hundred dollars per year and travel¬
ling expenses.
60. How do you account for the great disparity
between the pay of the Bishops ?
It is explained when it is remembered that the
junior Bishop was scarcely considered the equal of
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
31
the senior, and secondly that Edward Waters
always received an appointment, ^nd was scarcely
more than an elder in so far as his influence was
concerned.
61. What was done in regard to the General
Book Steward ?
He was allowed one hundred and fifty dollars
per year, and six per cent, of his sales.
62. What was the ministerial strength of the.
church in 1842 ?
There were two Bishops, forty-six Elders, fifty-'
four Deacons, sixty-one Preachers. Of this num¬
ber sixty-five were Travelling and ninety-eight Lo¬
cal.
63. What have you to say of the membership of
the church in 1842 ?
It was as follows : Philadelphia Conference4828 ;
Baltimore 2993; New York 1454; Canada 444;
Ohio 2615; Indiana 1194. Total 13,528.
(G.)
64. The Seventh General Conference; when and
where was it held ?
In May, 1844, at Pittsburgh.
65. How was it composed ?
Its composition was the same as the last. All
itinerants who had travelled two full years ; and
one local for every five or seven members of the
Annual Conferences.
66. Who presided ?
The senior Bishop, Morris Brown.
67. Who were the secretaries?
Revs. M. M. Clark, George Hogarth, and Dayid
"S/Vare.
32
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
68. What Conferences were represented?
The Philadelphia, the Baltimore, the New Yor ,
the Ohio, and the Indiana.
69. How many travelling preacheis were pre
SGThirty-nine; I could almost wish for space to
give the names of these venerable men, but can¬
not.
70. How many local delegates ?
Twenty-seven; in all sixty-eight.
71. Will you not take the time just here to tell
me something about these local delegates ; in all
the Conferences they seem to figure so promi¬
nently ?
Very briefly allow me to say that the organiza¬
tion of our Church was so largely, if not entirely,
the work of those who were local preachers in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, that for years after,
they almost controlled it ; in the Philadelphia
Annual Conference they at times outnumbered the
travelling preachers. But such an abnormal con¬
dition of things could not last, and it was gradually
changed.
72. Thanks for this piece of information; but
tell me something of the doings of this Seventh
General Conference ?
Oh yes ; they met, and the senior Bishop de¬
livered an address which the Conference, we are
* "*ld, heard "with deep and profound veneration "
73. As we are approaching what might be called
modern times, tell me of the committees' constitnferJ
will you not ?
. As in all such bodies, there were Quite p
of them. The Committee on Credentials ha™
hs chairman Rev. Stephen Smith; the Committee
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
on Revision of Discipline had the present Bishop
Payne for chairman, who also introduced a reso¬
lution relative to the education of the ministry,,
proposing a course of studies for them previous to
their reception.
74. How was this resolution received?
After much discussion a committee of seven were
appointed to prepare a course of studies for minis¬
ters.
75. Wh6 formed that committee ?
■ Revs. D. A. Payne, H. C. Turner, David Ware;
Richard Robinson, Abram D. Lewis, W. R. Revels,
and George Weir.
76. Were there any Bishops elected ?
Oh, yes. Wm.- Paul Quinn.
77. Who was elected General Book Steward ?
Rev. M. M. Clark.
78. As it relates to the legislation of this confer¬
ence, what have you to say ?
The legislation of this General Conference was
not a little; among it we may be allowed to men¬
tion, first, the change it ordered in regard to the
composition of this body. For the last three or
possibly four General Conferences it had remained
substantially the same. This Conference, how¬
ever, decided that while all itinerant preachers who
had travelled two full years should be members, the
local delegation should be one .regularly licensed
local preacher for every four hundred members re¬
presented at the previous Annual Conferences.
79. What was done in relation to preachers com¬
ing to us from other denominations ?
Special provisions were made for their reception.
80. Was any change made in the allowance of
the ministry? ^
64
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
Only in regard to the Bishops whose pay was ior
the first time equalized and was as follows: For
holding each conference, #25.00; if he travelled,
that is, if he took no appointment, $200, per
annum, if married, with travelling expenses, board,
fuel, and house rent; and $125,00, if single, with
board, etc.
81. What was done in regard to the Book Con¬
cern?
The law allowing it to be carried on in the Con¬
ference, where the Book Steward was located,.was
re-enacted. Additional sections were also added,
looking to its greater progress. The continuance
of the " African Methodist Episcopal Magazine,"
which the General Book Steward, George Hogarth,
had commenced September 1, 1841, was ordered.
82. What was done in regard to missions?
It was ordered that there be established out of
the members of the Annual Conferences a Home
and Foreign Missionary Society, to be located at
Philadelphia. Auxiliary societies were also or¬
dered to be organized among the laymen. " Upon
the issuing of this publication," say the men of this
Conference, " there shall be taken up annually a
collection, throughout the Connection at large, in
all our churches and preaching places, for the pur¬
pose of raising an outfit for .the Bishop's immediate
supply, to enable him to occupy all his time in
travelling throughout the Connection unencum¬
bered."
83. Was anything said or done in regard to Ma¬
sonry ?
Yes, two petitions from Philadelphia were pre¬
sented against it, one signed by Richard Barney
and twenty-seven others, and one by Jeremiah
Miller and fifty-seven others.
vfiNERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
35
64. What action did conference take ?
It passed the following : Resolved, that inasmuch
as the petitioners did not specify the evils com¬
plained of in their prayers for the suppression of
Free Masonry, etc., from the ministry of our
Church, that said petitions be returned to them
again, without any action being taken uppn them
by this house."
85. What have you to say of this General Con¬
ference ?
In my opinion this Seventh General Conference
is to be looked upon as the most important yet
held. More than ever before the members gave
evidence of beginning to feel the spirit of the
mission of the Church. Strong grounds were taken
in favor of temperance, education, the Book Con¬
cern and missions. In short, a long step was taken
in the right direction. I invite attention Especially
to the report made by Wm. Paul Quinn, found in
the Supplement.
86. How long did it last ?
Beginning on Monday, May 6, it adjourned
Saturday, May 25.
(H).
87. The Eighth General Conference, Tvhen and
where was it held ?
In May, 1848, at Philadelphia.
88. Who presided?
Bishop Wm. Paul Quinn.
89. Where was Bishop Morris Brown ?
At home, sick.
90. Where was Bishop Edward Waters ?
He had passed away, having died in 1847.
9*. Who were the secretaries of this conference?
25 OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
Revs. M. M. Clark, Alex. W. Wayman and Ed¬
ward Davis. -T
02 Other than Philadelphia, Baltimore, New
York and Ohio, what new Conference was repre¬
sented ? .
The Canadian Conference; in accordance with
the decision of the Conference of 1844.
93. How many itinerant delegates were present?
Twenty-seven.
94. How many local delegates ?
Thirty-four; seventy-three in all.
95. What significant vote relating to the local
delegates was taken ?
Conference by vote made the local delegates of
the respective Annual Conferences legal members.
96. Had they not been considered legal before ?
They^had ; but their position was so illy defined
that it naturally came to be questioned.
97. What have you to say of this Conference?
It gave evidence that the current of the Church
was still widening and deepening.
98. Upon what general subjects did it act?
Upon the Book Concern, upon the Presiding El¬
dership, upon Education, and upon Missions.
99. What was decided upon in regard to the
Book Concern?
Conferenge ordered the re-publication of the
magazine quarterly, and authorized the publica¬
tion of a weekly paper, to be called the " Weeklv
He;ald." 7
100. What was the action in regard to the Pre¬
siding Eldership?
Although the committee of which the present
Bishop Payne was chairman, made a most lucid
general conferences held.
3 7
report and ably defended the same, it was lost by
a vote of thirty-three to forty-eight.
101. What do you think of their action?
I think they made a mistake.
102. What was the action in regard to education?
They recommended the propriety of the pastors
of our principal churches organizing High Schools
wherever the Annual Conferences deemed practi¬
cable.
103. What in regard to missions?
They simply adopted the Constitution and By-
Laws of the last General Conference, believing, as
they say, that "the failure is to be attributed to the
officers of the law, and not to the law itself."
104. What was the action, if any, in regard to
Masonry?
A petition similar to the one of the last General
Conference was presented by Rev. S. Bassett.
105. What action did the Conference take?
On motion of Rev. W. R. Revels, it passed the
following:
"Whereas the petition just read on the subject
of Free Masonry is calculated, if acted upon, to<
lead to a protracted debate; and whereas the Con¬
ference has arrived at a late period of its session;
and whereas there is yet much business devolving
upon us, therefore —
" Resolved, That this General Confeience take no
further action on the subject."
106. Was it not this General Conference that au¬
thorized the writing of our history?
It was. I quote from the Minutes: "On motion
of D. A. Payne that a member of this General Con¬
ference be appointed at once to write a history of
the Church, and that all the secretaries of the seve-
38
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
ral Annual Conferences be and they are hereby
requested to furnish the person who may be so ap¬
pointed with the journals of their Conferences and
all other documents relating to the operations of
our Connection whenever they are requested. Car¬
ried."
107. Was this appointment made?
Though it do not appear in the Minutes of the
Conference, yet we learn that the mover, the pre¬
sent Bishop Payne, was so appointed.
108. Were any Bishops elected?
On Thursday, May 9, Conference voted the elec¬
tion of another bishop, but reconsidered their order
on May 19.
109 Who was elected General Book Steward?
Rev. A. R. Green.
110. Who was to be Editor of the proposed pub¬
lications ?
The General Book Steward, Rev. A. R. Green;
with Rev. M. M. Clark and the present Bishop,
John M. Brown as associates.
111. What notable protest against the action of
the majority was made at this Conference?
I beg to refer you to the Supplement.
112. How long did this Conference last?
It began May 1, and adjourned May 21.
113. What was the membership at that time ?
In 1846 it was 16,190.
(I.)
114. When and where was the-Ninth General
Conference held ?
In May, 1852, at New York.
115. Who presided ?
Bishop William Paul Quinn.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
39
116. Who were the secretaries?
Revs. M. M. Clark, A. W. Wayman, and Edward
C. Africanus.
117. How many Conferences were represented?
Six: Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, Ohio,
Indiana and Canada.
118. How many delegates were present?
Ninety-one travelling and forty-eight local dele¬
gates.
119. Who preached the opening sermon ?
Rev. D. A. Payne.
120. Who assisted Bishop Quinn in presiding?
Revs. John Cornish, of Philadelphia, and Levin
Lee, of Baltimore.
121. Who were elected Bishops at this conference ?
Revs. Willis Nazrey and D. A. Payne.
122. What did Bishop Nazrey say when first
taking the chair?
Bishop. Nazrey, on taking the chair, said that he
felt grateful to the General Conference for his elec¬
tion to the episcopal office. He believed it was in
accordance with Divine Providence, and that his
aim should be to so demean his future conduct as
to merit the confidence of the ministers and people,
and to maintain the dignity of his station.
123. What did Bishop Payne say?
Bishop Payne, on^ taking the Episcopal chair,
said that he felt grateful to the Conference for the
appointment to the office to which he had been
elected; that he had repeatedly refused to accept
the nomination to the office, at the solicitation of
his friends, and had even prayed to God that he
would take away his life, rather than suffer him to
enter the office, if it was not his will; that his in¬
tention and aim would be to maintain the govern-
4°
outlines of history.
merit, discipline and doctrine of the church; that
his object was not men, but principles.
124. Who responded to the Bishop?
Dr. J. J. G. Bias.
125. What did he say?
Addressing himself especially to Bishop Payne,
he assured him that the "Conference highly ap¬
preciated the sentiments just expressed, and felt
confident that, under such principles, the glorious
vessel would brave successfully the most violent
storm, and be safely guided into the blissful port."
126. What division of the Church did the Bishops
for the first time make?
The one indicated in the following address to
the Conference:
"Dear Brethren: Wc, the bench of Bishops,
having deliberated, as we believe, with an eye sin¬
gle to God's glory and the welfare of all concerned,
have determined to divide the whole field of labor
into three Episcopal districts: 1st. The Baltimore
and New York Episcopal district; 2nd. The Phila¬
delphia and New England Episcopal district; 3rd.
Indiana, Ohio and Canada shall be an Episcopal
district. This division is the only one which will
balance each other, both as to influence, usefulness
and the support of your humble servants in the
ministry of our common Lord.
"Wm. P. Quinn,
"Willis Nazrey,
"Daniel A. Payne.
127. What was the action of the Conference in
relation to the Book Concern ?
It was removed from Pittsburgh, Pa., where the
last General Book Steward resided, and it was
brought again to Philadelphia, where it was
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD, 41
in the hands of an Editor, a General Book Steward
and a Traveling Agent.
128. Who was elected Editor?
Rev. Moulston Madison Clark.
129. Who General Book Steward ?
Rev. Wm. T. Catto.
130. Who Traveling Agent?
Rev. Wm. H. Jones.
131. Who were chosen Corresponding Editors of
the Christian Recorder t
Revs. Willis Revels, of the Indiana Conference,
A. W. Wayman, of the Baltimore Conference, J.
R. V. Morgan, of the Baltimore Conference, Edward
C. Africanus, and J. P. Campbell, of the New York
Conference, Alexander Hemsley, of the-Canada
Conference, Thos. M. D. Ward, of the New Eng¬
land Conference, and G. W. Johnson, of the Phila¬
delphia Conference.
132. What was done in regard to Missions?
The measures previously adopted were only re¬
affirmed.
133. Was the Presiding Elder question brought
forward at this time ?
It was, and on motion of Rev. A. R. Green, it
was indefinitely postponed by a vote of 64 to 18.
134. Can you tell me what law was sanctioned in
regard to the future composition of the General
Conference ?
It ordered that in the future one-third of all the
preachers who have travelled four full years should
be elected members of the General Conference, and
when it happened that one-third had not travelled
the time designated, the next in order should be
eligible.
4 2
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
135. What was done in regard to local ministerial
delegates ?
It was enacted that one such should be elected
by the several Annual Conferences upon nomina¬
tion of the Quarterly Conference, for every eight
hundred members.
136. What distinguished stranger was at this Con¬
ference ?
The Rev. Chas. Avery, the founder of Avery
Institute, Allegheny City, Pa.
r37• What else have you to say of this Confer¬
ence ?
Allow me to conclude with the following quota¬
tion from the Minutes: " Brother Douglass intro¬
duced to the Conference Bro. Lawrence, from New
Orleans, who made some appropriate remarks in
regard to his mission to Central America, the loca¬
tion of a church in Greytown Del Nor; the great
and opening advantages for usefulness in that
country, and concluded with an importunate re¬
quest for the colored people to go to that country."
138. How long did this General Conference last?
From the 3d of May to the 20th inclusive.
(J).
139. When and where was the Tenth General
Conference held ?
In May, 1856, at Cincinnati.
140. Who presided ?
Bishops Wm. Paul Quinn, Willis Nazrey, and D.
A. Payne.
141. Will you not name the Conferences preset ,
with the number of delegates each had to represent
it?
I will: Philadelphia Conference had eighteen
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
travelling and four local delegates; Baltimore Con¬
ference had twelve travelling and six local dele¬
gates; New York Conference had nine travelling
and two local delegates; Ohio Conference had
twenty-two travelling and five local delegates; Can¬
ada Conference had seven travelling and two local
delegates ; Indiana Conference, had fourteen travel¬
ling and two local delegates; New England Con¬
ference had three travelling and one local delegate;
and Missouri Conference had four travelling and
three local delegates ; in all, one hundred and four*
teen or, eighty-nine travelling and twenty-five local.
142. Who were elected secretaries of this Con¬
ference ?
Revs.- A. W. Wayman, J. P. Campbell, and G. W.
Brodie. J. P. Campbell declined, and J. A. Shorter
having received the next highest vote was declared
elected.
143. Who read the Episcopal Address ?
Bishop D. A. Payne.
144. What have you to say of that Address ?
It was by far the ablest the Church had ever
listened to.
145. What important request did the Rev. H. J.
Young make on the afternoon of the third day ?
He read a request emanating from the Canada
Annual Conference, upon the subject of granting
them permission to withdraw and form a separate
and independent Church in Canada.
146. What was done with it?
It was referred to a select committee, composed
of Revs. John Peck, J. P. Campbell, H. J. Young,
John A. Warren, A. R. Green, A. W. Wayman
and Dr. J. J. G. Bias.
147. Who made the report of the Book Concern?
Rev. J. P. Campbell.
h4
OUTLINES OF HISTORY",
148. How do you account for this?
The broad measures of the last General Confer¬
ence fell through; the Rev. M. M. Clark having
resigned May 23, 1854; also the Revs. Wm. T.
Catto and Wm. H. Jones. In the interim, the
" powers that be " appointed the Rev. J. P. Camp¬
bell to be both Book Steward and Editor.
149. The appeal of Rev. Jeremiah Bowman from
the action of the Ohio Annual Conference, that
had tried and convicted him for suing a church ;
what became of it ?
The General Conference, by a vote of 12 to 31,
refused to reverse the decision of the annual
body.
150. To what action of General Conference did
this .case lead ?
To the Book Committee being empowered to
compile and publish a compendium to the adminis¬
tration of the Discipline.
151. Was this ever done?
No, sir.
152. How were the churches of the Connection
faring in the South.
Badly enough ; judging from the following, pre¬
sented by Rev. A. Mcintosh; " Whereas, a com¬
munication has'been received from our Church in
New Orleans; therefore,
Resolved, That this General Conference sympa-
hize with our people in New Orleans, and humbly
rust that the day of trial may soon end."
153. What change was made as it relates to the
composition of the General Conference ?
The following, offered by Rev. W. R. Revels,
was finally adopted: "The General Conference
shall be composed of all the traveling preachers
who have travelled six full years in our Connection,
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELE 45
and one regularly licensed local preacher or min¬
ister of four years' standing, for every eight hun¬
dred lay members returned at the previous Annual
Conference."
154. What action was taken in regard to the
request made by the Canada Conference ?
" The committee reported the following, which
was adopted:
" Your committee, to whom was referred the
petition from Canada Conference, praying for a
separate organization, beg leave to report, after
having the subject under mature consideration,
would therefore set forth several reasons why their
request should be granted:—Because all societies,
in their organization, in order to receive protection
from civil law, must be subject to the government,
and recognise the authority which exists. In the
present state of things this can not be done by the
Canada Conference while they use our form of
Discipline (See page 29, sec. 23.). It will, there¬
fore, be clearly seen that the recognition of that
article in our Discipline in the province of Canada
would be denying all power to that government
that has thrown around them the strong arm of
protection, which, under any circumstances, would
be the case.
Your committee, therefore, are of the opinion
that these are good and sufficient reasons why the
request should be granted by the General Confer¬
ence, when we take into consideration the fact that
that country, unlike our own, gives full and equal
privileges to all its subjects, and is an asylum from
the shameful and unrighteous oppression of this
government. Your committee, however, would
greatly deprecate anything in the division that
would have a tendency to sever the union now
4.6 OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
existing between the A. M. E. Church of the
United States of America and that of the province
of Canada, while we recommend the adoption of a
book of Discipline in loyalty with it. We therefore
recommend that, in order to the continuation of a
reciprocity of feeling and interest, a corresponding
delegation should exist between the A. M. JE.
Church in the States and the A. M. E. Church in
the province of Canada, who shall fully participate
in the deliberations of the several General and
Annual Conferences, but not vote. If any of the
ministers or members desire to remove from one
Connection to the other, they shall be received by
certificate, with all their standings, so that a friendly
relation may continue between the two Connections.
Although they ex;ist under different governments,
we shall be bound together by cords .never to be
broken."
155- What additional resolution was passed?
One authorizing the appointment of a committee
of three " to meet the convention in Canada at the
organization of the Church there, to learn what
connection that Church may desire with the A. M.
E. Church, and what participation, if any, it may
wish in the Book Concern."
156. Who constituted that committee?
Revs. S. Smith, M. M. Clark, and A. R. Green.
XS7- Who offered the following resolution, and
vhat came of it ?—" Whereas, the members of this
General Conference have understood that Bishop'
Nazrey, one of the Bishops of the A. M. E. church,
has removed and settled in Canada, and has taken
the oath of allegiance, thereby becoming a citizen
of that country: therefore
Resolved, That we, the members of this General
Conference, do respectfully ask Bishop Nazrey the
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD. 47
following question: ist. Have you taken up your
permanent residence in Canada? 2d. Do yo;.1 in¬
tend to make Canada your future home ? 3d.
Have you by reason of your oath or otherwise be¬
come a subject of that country ?"
It was offered by the present Bishop Wayman,
and although conference refused to lay it on the
table, it gave way to the substitute offered by M.
M. Clark, given in answer to question 162.
158. Whom did the Cincinnati Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church send to this Con¬
ference ?
Revs. John F. Wright and Mansfield French.
159. How were these delegates received ?
With frankness and cordiality.
160. What subject were they delegated to bring
to the attention of this Conference ?
The subject of education.
161. What extended expression did this General
Conference make in regard to slavery ?
The following :
ist. That in our Book of Discipline, under page
124, in the Rules, we find the buying and selling of
men, women and children, with an intention to en¬
slave them, expressly forbidden.
Also, under page 136, we find, in positive terms,
the following: " We will not receive any person
into our Society as a member who is a slave-holder.
Any person, now a member, having slaves, who
shall refuse to emancipate them after due notice
being given by the preacher in charge, shall be ex¬
pelled. We are of the opinion that in the above
our sentiments as a church are fully expressed.
And while we deplore that American slavery ex¬
ists, we can do no more than pray that God, in His
4o
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
providence, may hasten the day when equity and
justice shall be equally distributed to all mankind,
and insist that our laws on that subject be rigidly
enforced. We furthermore recommend the passage
of the following resolutions:
" Resolved, ist. That we deprecate the spirit in
any professing Christian denomination that would
attempt to excuse its ministers from the sin of slave-
holding by offering as an apology the example of
the Apostolic Church."
" Resolved, 2d. That there is not the most dis¬
tant likeness between them ; for, while the Apostol¬
ic Church, in the then existing government, was
held in a similar position to the A. M. E. Church,
now in government, both apostles and followers were
deprived of any protection from the existing laws,
much less to vote in making or abolishing them as
we are now."
" Resolved, 3d. That while we have no voice in the
affairs of this nation, we recommend that both our
preachers and people, like Israel of old, do set
apart special days of fasting and prayer to Almighty
God, that He, in His divine providence, may hasten
the day when all oppression shall come to an end,
and when the whole earth shall be filled with His
glory."
"Resolved, 4th. That while we, as a denomination,
have no power, so far as political rights are con¬
cerned, but are groaning under the yoke and
burden of oppressive laws, we do earnestly re¬
commend the enforcement of our law, as it is, on
slavery."
162. What Foreign Missionary fields occupied the
attention of this conference ?
Western Africa, Central America, and the West
Indies.
GENERAL, CONFERENCES HELD.
49
163. What was done in regard to Western
Africa ?
On motion of Rev. J. R. V. Morgan it was set
off as a mission.
164. Is this all ?
No. Conference proceeded to appoint Rev. J. R.
V. Morgan to take charge of it.
165. What finally came of it?
Nothing at all—at least to the credit of the
Church and the missionary.
166. Was any action taken in regard to the
episcopacy, for the Church to be organized in
Canada ?
There was. On motion of Rev. M. M. Clark,
the following was adopted: " Whereas, the General
Conference does not feel authorized to give one of
its Bishops to that portion of the Connection unso¬
licited. Therefore, Resolved: That when we shall
be solicited for one (if before next General Confer¬
ence) all our Bishops shall meet three Elders, se¬
lected by them, and decide which of the Bishops
should serve in Canada, in accordance with the
wishes of the Canadian Church."
167. What further action was taken in regard to
this matter ?
The Bishops were requested to appoint the time
of holding the convention, as well as be present
themselves; also to notify the preachers of that
Conference of the same, requesting the members of
each circuit and station in Canada to elect one del¬
egate to the convention.
168. What pay did this conference provide tor
the Bishops ?
Two hundred dollars, with board for wife and
children, under twelve years of age, house-rent,
fuel, and travelling expenses.
3
oJTLINES OF HISTORY.
169. What for married travelling preachers?
The same as was paid to the Bishops.
170. What for unmarried travelling preachers?
Seventy-five dollars per annum less.
171. The question of Presiding Elders, what
came of it ?
On recommendation of the committee it was in¬
definitely postponed.
172. What resolution was proposed by the pre¬
sent Bishop Shorter in regard' to churches, and
adopted by the General Conference?
The following : " After such dedication, no minis¬
ter having the charge of any of our churches, shall
allow them to be used for any other purpose than
for the glory of God; and any minister suffering
the violation of this law shall be deemed guilty of
grossly improper conduct, and may be suspended
according to the decision of the Annual Conference.
173. What was the action of the Conference in
regard to the Book Concern ?
It was ordered to be permanently located in.
Philadelphia, and given to one man to conduct (in
conjunction with a committee), who should be both
editor and General Book Steward.
174. Was anything special done for the cause of
missions ?
There was not. On the contrary, Conference
failed to re-enact that portion of the old provision
which called for an immediate " collection through¬
out the Connection." _
175. Who was elected General Book Steward
and Editor?
The present Bishop, Jabez P. Campbell.
176. What business resolution did he offer
which the conference endorsed ?
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
51
The following : " Resolved, That any person who
will deposit money with the Book Concern, to the
amount of ten dollars, shall receive six per cent, for
the use of his money, the principal of which shall
be refunded to him on demand after remaining in
the fund one year."
177. How long did this conference last?
From May 5th to May 21st, inclusive.
(K.)
178. When and where was the Eleventh General
Conference held ?
In May, i860, at Pittsburgh.
179. Who presided?
Bishops William Paul Quinn, Willis Nazrey and
D. A. Payne.
180. Who were the secretaries?
Revs. A. W. Wayman and A. Mcintosh.
181. How many Annual Conferences were rep¬
resented ?
Seven : Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, Ohio,
Indiana, New England and Missouri.
182. What had become of the Canada Confer¬
ence ?
As we have already learned, it had been granted
an independent relation, and was now known as the
British Methodist Episcopal Church.
ORGANIZATION OF THE B. M. E. CHURCH.
183. Will you not just here tell me something of
the convention which was to meet according to the
provision of the last General Conference, and
organize this new ecclesiastical body ?
I will.
184. When and where did it meet ?
In Chatham, Province of Ontario, Sep. 29,1856.
g2 OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
185. How many members and delegates were
th Twenty-four ; including the three bishops : Wm.
Paul Quinn, Willis Nazrey and D. A. Payne.
186. Who were the delegates from the A. M. E,
Church ?
Revs. Stephen Smith, A. R. Green and Elisha
Weaver; this last appeared as proxy for M. M.
Clark.
187. Were there any others?
Yes; seven honorary members.
188. Who presided over the convention ?
Rev. Samuel H. Brown, the oldest Elder con¬
nected with the Church.
189. Who was the secretary ?
Rev. George W. Brodie.
190. On motion of Rev. W. H. Jones, what reso¬
lution was offered and passed ?
" That we, the A. M. E. Church in Canada sep¬
arate from the A. M. E. Church in the United
States."
191. What other resolution did Rev. Mr. Jones
offer?
" That a committee of five be appointed to report
a form of government and the name or title by
which we shall hereafter be known."
192. Who composed that committee?
The records only mention four: Revs. W. H.
Jones, T. W. Stringer, Wiley Reynolds, and Bishop
Willis Nazrey.
193. What was the nature of the report they
made ?
That the Methodist Episcopal form of govern¬
ment be accepted, and that the title be The British
Methodist Episcopal Church.
general conferences held. 53
194. What was done with this report?
It was received and'adopted.
195. As it relates to a Discipline, what was done ?
That of the mother Church was accepted in so
far as it harmonized with the new condition of
things; where it was necessary, changes were made.
196. Who greatly assisted them in making these
changes, especially Article XXIII ?
Bishop D. A. Payne.
197. What did they do for a hymn book?
They accepted the one already in use; to wit:
the A. M. E. hymn book.
198. Rev. W. H. Jones having moved for the elec¬
tion of a Bishop, who was unanimously chosen?
Rev. Willis Nazrey.
199. In view of this fact, what resolution did the
secretary, Rev. G. W. Brodie offer ?
The following:
Whereas, we have by a unanimous vote elected
to the office of Bishop, the Rev. Willis Nazrey, one
of the Bishops of the A. M. E. Church in the
United States, to preside ove^-the new organization
in Canada, known as the British M. E. Church,
And Whereas, we believe we have fully con¬
templated the idea and spirit advanced by the Gen¬
eral Conference (of the A. M. E. Church),
Therefore, Resolved, That in view of the same,
we most earnestly solicit the Bench of Bishops and
the brethren whom they may select to sit in coun¬
cil with him, to grant us our request."
200. Was this resolution passed ?
It was.
201. What report did Bishop Payne in the name
of the Bishops and the brethren make in the after¬
noon of the same day ?
54
outlines of history.
" Having duly considered (the matter we) c^ime
to the conclusion to decide that the Rev. Willis
Nazrey, one of the Bishops of the A. M. E. Church,
shall serve Canada, in accordance with the'wishes
of the Canadian Church."
202. Whose names are attached to that report?
The names of Daniel A. Payne, Richard Warren,
Thomas Sunrise and Elisha Weaver—this last,
signed himself " in the minority."
203. Did Bishop Nazrey accept the newly prof¬
fered seat ?
It does not appear that he did. directly, for the
Rev. S. H. Brown continued to preside.
204. How did the convention seem to regard the
matter ?
They certainly understood him as accepting the
position.
205. What makes you think so?
My reason for thinking so, is, that immediately
after the report of Bishop Payne, granting their
request, they passed the following resolution, offered
by Rev. G. H. Brodie.
Whereas, we have been unprepared to show
properly the relation we do wish to sustain to the
mother A. M. E. Church in the United States.
Therefore, Resolved, That we now publicly announce
in this convention that we are now prepared to enter
into a friendly negotiation with the mother A. M.
E. Church in the United States according to the
provisions made by the General Conference of the
A. M. E. Church.
206. Do you not think that the whole matter
should here have ended ?
I certainly do; and am .surprised that you ask
such a question.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
207. That is true ; and yet you know that the two
succeeding General Conferences were greatly dis¬
tracted in regard to this matter, as you will see fur¬
ther on. But, tell me, how has the new Church fared?
At the time of their organization, there was but
one Conference, the Canada, twenty-two ministers
and a membership of 1,337. They have now four
Conferences; the Ontario, with 35 ministers and
1,392 members; the Nova Scotia, with 17 ministers
and 1,279 members; the Bermuda, with 10 minis¬
ters and 675 members; and the Demerara, with 24
ministers and 2,000 members ; a total, as you see,
of 80 ministers and 5,346 members.
208. Who is the present Bishop of it ?
Rev. R. R. Dizney.
209. But come; let us return to the Eleventh
General Conference—who did you say were the
secretaries ?
Revs. A. W. Wayman, and A. Mcintosh.
210. How many delegates were present ?
Seventy-three travelling and twenty-seven local
delegates.
211. Who appeared as delegate from the British
Methodist Episcopal Church, of the organization of
which you have just been speaking ?
Rev. Charles H. Pearce.
212. What significant resolution did the present
Bishop Wayman offer on the morning of the sec¬
ond day?
The following: Whereas it has been reported
that there has been a caucus meeting held some¬
where within the bounds of this Connection, the
object of which was to remove some of the present
(Episcopal) incumbents, and create others, therefore
Resolved, That there be a committee of seven
judicious men appointed to investigate and re-
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
port and that they have power to send for per¬
sons and papers and report the same to this Con¬
ference.
213. Who were appointed?
Revs. Wm. Moore, Wm. D. W. Schureman, B. L.
Brooks, Lewis S. Lewis, John A. Warren, Daniel
Winslow, and A. W. Wayman.
214. To what does this refer?
To the Canada matter.
215. What came of the investigation by this
committee ?
Nothing.
216. Who made the report of the committee
ordered by the previous General Conference to at¬
tend the Convention called to organize the British
M. E. Church ?
Rev. A. R. Green.
217. What was the burden of it ?
It is a most voluminous document, rehearsing at
length all the facts which I have just been giving
you. It is wonderfully like'everything else con¬
nected with this affair. Its assumed ingenuousness
will scarcely stand the test of scrutiny.
218. What came of the whole matter, as it relates
to Bishop Nazrey ?
He continued to exercise Episcopal authority
over the two organizations.
219. What committee was appointed to confer
with the General Conference of the M. E. Church ?
Revs. J. M. Brown, J. P. Campbell, E. Weaver
T. M. D.' Ward, and W. R. Revels.
220. What came of it ?
Nothing beyond a friendly correspondence.
221. What came of the proposition to send
GENERAL CONFERENCES HElj. 57
Bishop Payne as a delegate to the M. E. General
Conference then in session in Buffalo, N. Y. ?
It was not carried out.
222. Did not the General Conference vote for it?
It did; but the Bishop came to the conclusion
that it would be impossible for him to go to' the
General Conference and return in time to report.
223. Did the promised withdrawal of Bishop
Nazrey lead to the election of another Bishop ?
It did not.
224. How so ?
The remaining Bishops may be said to have
wisely put their foot down on the project.
225. How was this ?
Let the following correspondence tell:
QUESTION.
Whereas, This General Conference has heard
upon the floor the voice of California, saying,
" Come over and help usand whereas, this Con¬
ference has decided that Hayti demands our atten¬
tion ; therefore,
Resolved, That the Bishops be respectfully re¬
quested to inform this Conference as early as pos¬
sible whether they will be able to visit the Pacific
coast and Hayti as soon as those places will de¬
mand it ? and if said visits will in any way prevent
them from attending to their Episcopal duties in
the Atlantic States ? and if so, would it, in their
judgment, be advantageous to elect another Bishop,
whose duty it shall be to visit the Pacific coast and
Hayti as soon as possible, that our cause there may
be properly represented ?
ANSWERS.
1st. One of the Bishops will, if the means are
provided by the churches, spend from eight to ten
3*
outlines of history.
months in California within the next year, and will
visit that distant field twice within the next four
years.
2d. One of them will also visit Hayti if the
means are provided.
3d. We do not think that the visit to said places
will materially interfere with our Episcopal duties
in the Atlantic States.
4th. The visit of one of the Bishops to California
and to Hayti, will render it superfluous to ordain a
Bishop for the purpose of merely visiting the said
places.
(Signed)
Wm. Paul Quinn.
Willis Nazrey.
D. A. Payne.
226. What action was taken in regard to the
Book Concern ?
It received not a little attention. No radical
changes, however, were made, save as relates to
naming an Editor.
227. Who was elected General Book Steward ?
Rev. Elisha Weaver.
228. Who was elected Editor ?
The Bishops were requested to appoint some
minister to a charge in Philadelphia who should
act as Editor. A corps of Editors was also pro¬
vided for, including the three Bishops, and one
from each Annual Conference.
229. How about missions ?
A new constitution was drafted; one that was
thought could be worked with greater efficiency.
230. How long did this conference last ?
It began May 7 and adjourned May 25.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
59
(L.)
231. When and where was the Twelfth General
Conference held ?
In May, 1864, at Philadelphia.
232. Who composed it?
All the preachers of the Connection who had
travelled six full years, and one local preacher for
every eight hundred members returned at the pre¬
vious Annual Conferences.
233- W^ho presided ?
Bishops Wm. Paul Quinn, Willis Nazrey, and
D. A. Payne.
234. But had not Bishop Nazrey gone to Ca¬
nada ?
It was so concluded ; but the matter was mixed
up in such a way as to delay his departure to his
new field.
235. Who were the secretaries?
Revs. A. W. Wayman and ./Eneas Mcintosh.
236. How many Conferences were represented?
Eight Conferences; California having been added
to the number.
237- How many delegates were present ?
One hundred and four (104) itinerant members,
and thirty (30) local.
238. Who were the delegates from the B. M. E.
Church of Canada ?
Revs. Wm. H. Jones, Walter Hawkins, R. R.
Dizney, L. C. Chambers, T. W. Stringer.
239. There was one honorary member of this
General Conference ; who was it ?
James Lynch, who had been sent to organize the
Church in South Carolina which had recently
been brought under government control.
6o
outlines of history.
240. Was there any difficulty in the organiza¬
tion of this Conference ?
There was.
241. What was the occasion of it?
A misunderstanding as to the law regulating its
composition.
242. How was it overcome ?
By the passage (47 to 10) of the following reso
lution, offered by the Rev. James A. Shorter :
-Whereas: There appears to be some difficulty
in the way of the organization of the General Con¬
ference, arising out of the various misunderstand¬
ings of the law ; therefore, Resolved: That in the
opinion of the General Conference now assembled,
we ought to proceed at once to business, and what¬
ever is done be considered legal.
243. What can you say of the Standing Com¬
mittees appointed by this Conference ?
They were very full and very able.
244. Bishop Payne having declared the General
Conference properly organized, what did Rev.
Wm. H. Jones, delegate from the B. M. E. Church,
ask ?
He asked the A. M. E. Church, through its
General Conference, to relinquish all claim to
Bishop Nazrey, " and let there be, from this time
henceforth and forever, no more contention be¬
tween us upon this matter."
245. Was it done ?
It was; and the relation of Bishop Nazrey to
the A. M. E. Church was formally severed.
246. What resolution did the Conference pass ?
The following, offered by Rev. John Turner :
Whereas, the Rev. Willis Nazrey, formerly one
of the Bishops of the A. M. E. Church, in the
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD. 61
United States of America,^who has served said
Connection twelve years as an itinerant preacher,
also twelve years in the Episcopal Office, with
dignity and credit: And whereas, the British
Methodist Episcopal Church, through their dele¬
gation, have requested that said Willis Nazrey be
granted to them by this body: And whereas, the
said Willis Nazrey has given his consent to go
there: And whereas, by action of this body, the
request of the British Methodist Episcopal Church
has been granted, in the person of the Rev. Willis
Nazrey: Therefore, resolved, that we cherish the
kindest Christian feeling toward him, and that our
sympathies shall go with him : Resolved further,
that our prayers shall be offered to the throne of
grace in his behalf, that success may crown his
efforts, and that he may live long to do good on
the other side of the lakes : Resolved further, that
we appreciate the visits of the Rev. W. Nazrey
whenever it may be his pleasure to favor us with
his presence at our Annual or General Conferences.
247. What other additional mark of respect was
paid to him •?
On motion of Rev. Wm. Moore, a committee of
one from each conference was appointed to prepare
a certificate for the departing Bishop.
248. Who composed the delegation sent for the
first time by the General Conference of the Meth¬
odist Episcopal Church ?
Rev. Drs. Wise, Cunningham, Hill, Vanzant
and Armstrong.
249. Which of these addressed the Conference ?
Drs, Wise and Cunningham.
250. Who composed the delegation sent by this
Conference to the Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in session.
6 2
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
Revs. M. M. Clark, Jr P. Campbell, W. R. Revels,
J. M. Brown and A. W. Wayman.
251. What important matter did Rev. H. M.
Turner bring to the attention of this Conference?
The matter of union with A. M. E. Zion Church.
252. Who were appointed a special committee of
eight to consider the matter and report ?
Revs. H. M. Turner, John Peck, Wm. D. W.
Schureman, J. M. Williams, W. A. Davis, E. J.
Williams and Charles Burch.
253. What was done?
You will find the report they made to Confer¬
ence in the Supplement.
254. What became of the report ?
It was received, amended and adopted.
255. Instead of a committee of one from each
Conference to confer with a similar one from the
A. M. E. Z., what was done ?
A committee of nine elders, with the Board of
Bishops, was ordered.
256. Who constituted that committee?
Revs. Charles Burch, Stephen Smith, John A.
Warner, John Turner, J. M. Williams, John M.
Brown, Geo. A. Rue, Elisha Weaver, and J. D.
Hall.
257. Was there not a sub-committee of three sug¬
gested whose business it was to wait on the Zion
General Conference, then in session in Zion Church,
and inform them of our doings ?
There was, but their names are not given in the
records.
258. Was such a committee of three really ap¬
pointed, and did they act?
They did: for on the following day a similar
committee of three from the Zion General Confer
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD. 63
ence appeared and addressed our General Confer¬
ence.
259. What were their names?
Revs. S. T. Jones, J. Trusty, and S. M. Giles.
260. What official resolution did they read ?
The following: Resolved, By the General Con¬
ference of the A. M, E. Zion Church, that the body
cordially receive the representation just made to it
by the said committee on church union, created fey
the General Conference of the A. M. E. Church,
and that we promise to give the subject that Chris¬
tian and fraternal consideration which its import¬
ance so earnestly demands, at the earliest opportu¬
nity.
261. What came of the whole business ?
The committees appointed by the two confer¬
ences met, and after a pleasant union and canvass
of the subject agreed respectively to the holding of
a convention on the second Tuesday in June, 1864,
in Wesley Church, Philadelphia, to be composed of
twenty-four delegates from each Church.
262. Who were the delegates ordered by Confer¬
ence to this convention ?
Revs. John M. Brown, Daniel W. Moore and M,
F. Sluby, of the Baltimore Conference; Revs. Wm.
Moore, J. Woodlyn, and Wm. D. W. Schuremanv
of the Philadelphia Conference; Revs. Jonathan
Hamilton, J. M. Williams and R. H. Cain, of the
New York Conference; Revs. J. A. Shorter, Saml.
Watts and John Gibbs of the Ohio Conference;
Revs. Willis R. Revels, Chas. Burch and ^Eneas
Mcintosh, of the Indiana Conference ; Revs. Jos.
P. Shreeves, Geo. A. Rue, and W. W. Grimes, of
the New England Conference; Revs. John Turner,
M. M. Clark, and B. L. Brooks, of the Missouri
Conference. Also the Revs. John Peck, Stephen
^ OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
Smith, I^eonard Pattersc.^coS
The Bishops were also to be present ab
lors and advisers."
CONVENTION ON UNION.
263. Can you not tell me something about this
convention? Did it meet at the time appointed?
It did.
264. Where ?
In Philadelphia, at the church known as Big
Wesley, and continued in session two days.
265. Who was elected to preside ?
Bishop A. W. Wayman.
266. The Vice-Presidents, who were they ?
Superintendents J. J. Clinton and W. H. Bishop,
and Bishop J. P. Campbell.
267. What was done ?
It was agreed to submit the " Union Platform,"
given in the Supplement to the Annual and Quarter¬
ly Conferences of the two Churches for their ratifi¬
cation or rejection.
268. What distinguished Englishman was intro¬
duced to this conference ?
Hon. George Thompson, known the world over
for the interest he took in the recent bondmen of
the South.
269. What committee was appointed on studies P
Revs. M. M. Clark, J. M. Brown, E. D. Davis,
J. P. Campbell and E. Weaver.
270. Who were appointed to review the hymn
book ?
Revs. J. P. Campbell, A. L. Stanford and E.
Weaver.
f271 • Who afterwards was "appointed to take
his place on the committee ? "
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD. 65
B. T. Tanner.
272. Did the committee ever meet or act?
It did not.
273. What distinguished captain was introduced?
Capt, Robert A. Small, who ran the Confederate
Steamer Planter out of Charleston harbor from un¬
der the guns of Fort Sumter, and turned it over
to the blockading squadron of the United States.
274. What did John A. Warren say upon his in¬
troduction ?
" Captain Small, we are glad to see you; we
cherish your memory, for it is written in letters of
gold, and engraven in characters of silver."
275. Who were chosen Bishops at Conference?
Revs. A. W. Wayman and J. P. Campbell.
276. When were they ordained ?
On Monday morning, May 23, 1864.
277. What had this Conference to say concerning
Wilberforce University?
It declared it to be the common property of the
Church.
278. Was it bought in the name of the whole
Church ?
It was.
279. By whom ?
By Bishop Daniel A. Payne.
280. Did the whole Church pay for it?
It did.
281. What Conference may be said to have
borne the brunt of the battle ?
Baltimore Conference.
282. What makes you say so?
In Bishop Payne's report, and we all know he is
to be credited not only with having made the
purchase, but with having almost literally fought
o6
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
the church into possession of it, he said: " Phila¬
delphia Conference had pledged $3,000, and paid
about $500; New England had pledged $2,000,
and paid $30; and Baltimore had pledged $2,500,
and had paid it all.
283. What army officer was present ?
Rev. H. M. Turner, Chaplain of the First Regi¬
ment of Colored troops.
284. Did he remain until Conference was over?
He did not: having been called to the front to
join his regiment.
285. Upon retiring, what did he do?
He asked the prayers of Conference for himself
and regiment.
286. Who was elected Editor ?
Rev. John M. Brown.
287. Did he serve?
He did not, owing to the position in which he
had left his work in Virginia.
288. Who was elected Book Steward?
Rev. John A. Warren.
289. Did he serve ?
He did not.
290. Who was elected Book Steward and served ?
Rev. Elisha Weaver was re-elected.
291. What action was taken in regard to the
Editor?
The Bishops were requested to appoint a man oi
such ability to one of the Philadelphia churches as
would make it possible for him to serve as Editor.
292. Was this done ?
It was.
293. Who then was called to the editorial chair?
'Rev. James Lynch.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
67
294. What became of this distinguished man?
After filling the position of Editor as well as pas¬
tor of Bethel Church, very ably and very satisfac¬
torily, he resigned and joined the Methodist Epis¬
copal Church.
295. What then became of him?
He removed to Mississippi, served as Presiding
Elder, was elected Secretary of State, and died in
the year 1872 (?), to the great regret of thousands.
296. What have you to say of him ?
He was a man of magnificent abilities.
297. Who then served as Editor ?
The General Book Steward, Rev. Elisha Weaver.
298. What have you to say of the statistics of
the Church at this period ?
" The table of statistics," say the secretaries,
" shows that there are 50,000 members, and proba¬
tioners ; and our congregations average from 200,-
000 to 300,000; traveling preachers, 500; local
preachers, 2,000; property valued at $2,000,000;
Churches number 1,600; many school-houses ; one
university, (Wilberforce). Our work spreads over
all the original States, many of the Southern and
Western States, and the work is rapidly increasing."
299. How long did this Conference last ?
It began 2d May and adjourned 27th May.
(M).
300. When and where was the Thirteenth Gen¬
eral Conference held ?
In May, ;868, in Washington City. But before I
tell you about it, allow me to speak of the Semi-Cen¬
tenary celebration which the Church observed in
1866.
301. I will be most pleased to hear something
of it. Was it very generally observed ?
68
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
It was, as you will see from the address to ths
Church which the Bishops published and which
you will find in the Supplement.
302. Were their instructions generally carried
out ?
They were.
303. What was the result ?
Other than the raising of respectable sums for
the purposes named; a feeling of Connectional pride
was largely developed.
304. Can you give the precise amounts raised by
the several Annual Conferences ?
Philadelphia Conference raised $2073.96; Balti¬
more $1054.45 ; New York ; New England
$57.61 ; Ohio ; Indiana $518.69; Louisiana
$300; Missouri $252.
305. Did Bishop Payne give the Church an
epitome of its History ?
He did ; it is called Payne's Semi-Centenary.
306. But let us return to the doings of the
Thirteenth General Conference; how was it com¬
posed ?
Much as the last General Conference was ; of all
preachers who had traveled six full consecutive
years, and one local preacher of four years' standing
for every eight hundred lay members as reported
at the previous Annnal Conferences.
307. Who presided ?
Bishops Quinn, Wayman and Campbell.
308. Where was Bishop Payne ?
He was on his way from England whither he had
gone in the interest of Wilberforce.
309. Where was Bishop Nazrey ?
He had retired to Canada.
310. What Conferences were represented?
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
69
Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, New Eng¬
land, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Louisiana, California;
including also representatives from Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala¬
bama, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee,
Kentucky. Of these last it is to be said that the
Churches in these had been attached to some one
of the older Conferences previously mentioned.
But inasmuch as they were ordered to be set off as
independent Conferences, and substantially acknow¬
ledged as such, we deem it fit and proper to men¬
tion them.
311. I have learned that the Minutes of this Con¬
ference never w£re printed, is that so ?
It is ; very much to our shame.
312. How do you account for it ?
The General Book Steward elect, the Rev.
Joshua Woodlyn, did not see his way clear to
print them.
'313. Will not this prove a real loss to the
Church ?
It will; though the loss wilj not be felt half so
much as it otherwise would from the fact that the
business done has been recorded in the General
Conference Journal.
314. But did not Bishop Payne in keeping with
his most excellent custom, keep a journal of what
was done ?
Oh, yes; I had also forgotten that fact.
315. But is not that a perilous way to keep such
precious information ?
It certainly is ; for supposing the written jour¬
nals to get lost, the Church would never be able to
recover the information they contain.
316. But can you tell me nothing of what was
done ?
70
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
Oh, yes; for we, in conjunction with Revs. \\.
S. Langford and Joshua Woodlyn were elected
Secretaries.
317. What have you to say of the delegates
present ?
It is very questionable whether ever before there
had assembled such a numerous as well as really
able body of colored men: especially notable were
the twenty or more who came up from the South.
318. What new departure was taken by this Con¬
ference in regard to finances ?
What was known as the " two cent money," that is,
collecting two cents per month frorr) every member
in the Church, one-half of which was given for the
relief of the Bishops, distressed itinerants, supernu¬
meraries and supernumerary preachers, and the
other half to create a fund for the support of the
Book Concern—was changed, and instead thereof a
law was made authorizing the collection of one dol¬
lar per year from each member in the Church, one*-
fourth of which was to go to the relief of supernu¬
merary and superannuated preachers and Bishops ;
one fourth to be equally divided between preachers
who have not received their allowances and the
widows and orphans of deceased itinerant preach¬
ers ; one-fourth to Wilberforce University; and one-
fourth to the Book Concern.
319 What action was taken in regard to author¬
ship ?
Conference disannulled the old rule which for¬
bade the ministers of the Connection from writing
and publishing anything without permission. &
320. Who read the fraternal address of the Bri¬
tish Methodist Episcopal Church?
Rev. Josephus O'Banyoun.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
71
321. What new departure did this conference
make in administering the Church ?
It • instituted the office of Presiding Elder; at
least, in such of the Annual Conferences as chose
to adopt it.
322. And there was a third new departure, what
was it ?
In the future composition of the General Confer¬
ence : hitherto its composition had been general;
henceforth it was to be particular and elective, one
delegate for every seven members of the several
Annual Conferences being eligible to an election.
These, with the General Officers and the Bishops,
were to compose the law-making body of the
Church.
323. And were these all?
Oh, no. This General Conference also introduced
lay representation, instead of the representation of
local preachers only, which had been common to
the Church since its organization. The law passed
—ordered the election of two delegates from each
Annual Conference, to be drawn either from among
the local preachers of a Quarterly Conference dis¬
trict or from among the laymen proper of the same.
And the selection of these delegates was to be
made, not by the Annual Conferences, but by elec¬
toral colleges, for which the law provided.
324. What was done for missions?
It remained much the same as before. Only the
corresponding secretary was made a regular Gene¬
ral officer with his headquarters at Baltimore.
325. What delegation from the American Unita¬
rian Association appeared at Conference?
A delegation headed by Rev. John F. A. Ware
and Dr. Bellows.
72
outlines of history.
326. What was the object of this visit?
To tender help in our educational work.
327. Was it accepted?
It was.
328. Did it really amount to anything?
I am of the impression that it did, though I have
not the real facts before me.
329. Was any delegation or message received
from the General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church then in session at Chicago ?
Yes, the following message:
"To the General Conference of the A. M. E. Church.
"A delegation from your body with proposals of
affiliation and union will be received by the Gene¬
ral Conference of the M. E. Church.
"Wm. L. Harris, Sec"
330. Did we answer it?
We did, as follows :
"A committee will be forthcoming, with propo¬
sals of affiliation and union with your venerable
body. B. T. Tanner, Sec."
331. What are the facts in the case, as it relates
to the first of these deputations ?
The brethren of the A. M. E. Zion General Con¬
ference, then in session, claimed it as belonging to
them.
. 332. Did it ?
From subsequent developments, it was found
out that it did.
333. What developments do you mean?
Why, we telegraphed to the M. E. General Con¬
ference and received the following answer;
" The dispatch belongs to the Zion Conference,
in answer to one sent to us; but a deputation from
your body for similar purposes will be cordially
received. W. L. Harris, Sec."
general conferences held.
73
334. Did we send any deputation?
We did not.
335. The mention of Zion General Conference
makes it pertinent to ask: What came of the ques¬
tion of union?
You will remember it was agreed to submit the
question of union to a vote of the Quarterly and
Annual Conferences of the two churches, and re¬
port the result of the same to the ensuing General
Conference. It was found that this had been done,
a!nd while the Conferences of the Zion connection
had voted in favor of it, those of our Church had
voted against it.
336. What then was done?
Our General Conference proposed continuing the
negotiation, but upon a different basis.
337. Was this acceptable to the Zion brethren?
It was not, as they immediately passed the fol¬
lowing resolution:
"Whereas, This General Conference has been
officially informed by a committee from the A. M.
E. Bethel Church that they are not prepared to
unite with us on the plan proposed by the conven^-
tion of the two Connections held in 1864 and sub¬
mitted to the Conferences for ratification; and
whereas they have asked us to meet with them for
the purpose of uniting on some other plan, and
whereas our people, in adopting the plan proposed
by the aforesaid convention, did it in good faith,
and did not authorize us to offer or accept any
other plan, therefore,—
" Resolved, That we deem it inexpedient to meet
with them according to their request."
338. What very significant law was passed at
this General Conference, relating to members of
those of our churches that are incorporated ?
4
OUTLINES OF HISTORY
The following, which is still retained as the law:
" Should any member or members of any of our
incorporated Churches refuse to be governed by the
Discipline of the A. M. E. Church, by which they
were made members of the said incorporation, he
or they shall be called before the society, or a se¬
lect member, as per Discipline, and if found guilty
of insubordination and not retracting, they shall be
expelled for disobedience to the order and Disci¬
pline of the said Church. And further: Should
any class leader or steward ifttimate that he adheres
to the charter and discards the law of the Church,
as set forth in the Discipline, the preacher in charge
shall remove such leader or steward at once. And
should any local elder, deacon or preacher favor by
word, act or influence, he shall be called before a
committee, as per Discipline, and if found guilty,
suspended from all official standing in the African
Methodist Episcopal Church."
339. What new office or Board among the wo-
men of the Church did this Conference order?
The office or Board of Stewardesses; composed
of sisters of the Church. They are nominated by
the pastor and confirmed by the stewards.
340. Who were elected Bishops of this General
Conference?
Revs. James A. Shorter, Thomas M. D. Ward
and John M. Brown.
341. When were they ordained ?
On Monday, May 25, 1868.
342. Who preached the ordination sermon ?
Bishop D. A. Payne.
343. Who were elected General officers?
x^-ev. Joshua Woodlyn was elected General Book
Steward; Rev. James A. Handy, Corresponding
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD*
75
Secretary of the Missionary Society; and B. T.
Tanner was chosen editor by acclamation.
344. How did the Bishop divide the work of
superintending the Church ?
Bishop Campbell took Philadelphia, New York~
and New England; Bishop Wayman took Balti¬
more, Virginia and North Carolina; Bishop Payne
took Pittsburg, Ohio, and Kentucky; Bishop'
Quinn, the Senior, took Indiana, Illinois and Mis¬
souri ; Bishop Shorter took the Conferences of
the Southwest; Bishop Ward the Pacific Coast;
and Bishop Brown South Carolina, Georgia, Flori¬
da and Alabama.
(N).
345. When and where was the Fourteenth Gen¬
eral Conference held ?
May, 1872, in Nashville, Tenn.
346. How was it composed ?
According to the provisions of the last General
Conference, to wit: One delegate for every seven
ministers reported at the Annual Conference; also,
two lay delegates from each Annual Conference.
347. How many Annual Conferences were repre¬
sented ?
Twenty-one.
348. How many delegates were present ?
Seven Bishops, two general officers, B. T. Tan¬
ner, Editor, and James A. Handy, Missionary Sec¬
retary, and 186 travelling elders ; also forty-two lay
delegates.
349. Who presided ?
The Bishops alternately.
350. Who was elected Secretary ?
Rev. Jas. H. A. Johnson.
76
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
351. Who Assistant and Recording Secretaries?
Rev. B. W. Arnett, and Jas. F. A. Sisson.
352. Who was chosen as Reading Clerk ?
John A. Clark, a lay delegate.
353. Who preached the Quadrennial discourse?
Bishop A. W. Wayman, from the text: Acfr;
xxvi: 22; also Ps. cxxvi: 6.
354. Who read the Quadrennial Episcopal Ad¬
dress ?
Bishop J. M. Brown.
355. Who reported for management of the Book
Concern ?
B. T. Tanner.
356. How so ?
After serving for eighteen months the Rev.
Joshua Woodlyn who had been elected resigned.
In his stead the Bishop and the Book Committee
of Philadelphia elected Rev. A. L. Stanford to
fill the position. About the close of the year 1871
he left the office, when for the few intervening
months, the Editor was left to manage as best he
could. But it is to be said to the honor of Rev. H.
J. Young, that had he not come to the Editor's help
he would have fared badly enough.
357. What new departure was inaugurated at
this conference?
For the first time a Daily Recorder was issued.
358. What remarkable communication was re¬
ceived from the Bishops of the lately organized
Colored Methodist Episcopal Church ?
A communication in concluding which they say :
!< We ask your honorable body to turn over to
our Church all the Church property throughout
the Southern States that belongs to our Church
without the trouble of lawsuits/'
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
77
359. What was done with the document?
It was referred to a committee of seven, with
Rev. Jas. A. Handy, Chairman.
360. Did anything come of it ?
It does not appear that there did. The commit--
tee never reported, and the brethren of the Colored
Methodist Episcopal Church never renewed the
demand.
361. Who presented the Address of the British
M. E. Church ?
Rev. R. R. Dizney, Chairman of the delegation.
362. To what General Conference was a saluta¬
tory telegram sent ?
To the General Conference of the M. E. Church,
then in session at Brooklyn, N. Y.
363. Was it acknowledged ?
It was, and cordially reciprocated.
364. Who offered an extended series of reso¬
lutions on Civil Rights which were passed and
ordered to be sent to Hon. Charles. Sumner ?
The present Bishop R. H. Cain.
365. Bishop Quinn, who was old and feeble, hav¬
ing so faithfully served the Church for years, what
action was taken in regard to him ?
He was voted a superannuated relation, with power
" to take the general oversight of all the work."
366. What action was taken as to the composi¬
tion of the next General Conference ?
Instead of one delegate for every seven members
of the Annual Conferences, it was made one delegate
for every eleven members. The lay delegation re¬
mained the same—two for every Annual Confer¬
ence.
367. As it relates to Official Boards, what was
done ?
78
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
A full Section was prepared in relation to these
by the present Bishop Turner, which Conference
approved.
368. Was any change made in its composition ?
Yes, Sir: up to this time local preachers had
always been members of this Conference but in the
section adopted this was changed.
369. What do you think of this action ?
Although it is still the law, I do not think well
of it.
370. Was any change made in the matter of
making appointments ?
Yes : During the last two or three quadrenniums
the Bishops made them at their will. This Confer¬
ence decided that appointments should be made in
conjunction with the Presiding Elders.
371. What great financial law was enacted by
this Conference?
The establishment of the Church Treasury.
372. What have you to say of this movement?
Tt is the most comprehensive step of the kind
ever taken by the Church, or even by tlje race as
it is represented in the United States.
373. What was done for the Book Concern ?
The name was changed to the Publication De¬
partment, and its working simplified. Instead of
taking up twelve pages of Discipline, it was* given
scarcely two.
-374. What was done for missions ?
It was left much where it was.
375. What for Sunday-schools ?
The Constitution of the previous General Confer¬
ence was re-adopted.
376. Was anything said or done at this Confer-
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
ence looking to a re-opening of the question of
union with the A. M. E. Zion Church ?
Yes. Rev. B. W. Morris offered a resolution
r"' that the General Conference now in session ma¬
ture, or try to mature, such plans as may perfect a
consolidation of the two Connections."
377. What came of it ?
It was passed and referred to a special committee
of one from each Conference.
378. Did that committee ever report ?
It does not appear that it did.
379. What does appear ?
That a committee on Church Union generally
was appointed and it reported, as it relates to colored
Methodists, in substance that it would be glad to
have them all come and join us.
• 380. Who were elected the General Officers of
the Church.
Revs. W. H. Hunter was elected to be Business
Manager of the Publication Department, B. T.
Tanner re-elected Editor; W. J. Gaines, Missionary
Secretary, and John H. W. Burley, Financial Secre¬
tary ; thi^ last being a new General office.
381. How long did this General Conference last?
From May 6 to May 24, inclusive.
(o.)
382. The Fifteenth General Conference, when and
where was it held ?
It was held in Atlanta, Ga., in 1876 and lasted
from May 1 to May 18, inclusive.
383. The number of Conferences present?
Twenty-five.
384. The number of ministerial delegates ?
One hundred and sixty-seven.
8c
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
385. The lay delegates, how many ?
Fifty.
386. Who were the Bishops present ?
Bishops D. A. Payne, A. W. Wayman, J. P.Camp¬
bell, J. A. Shorter, T. M. D. Ward, John M. Brown.
387. I see you do pot mention Bishop Quinn?
No: after years of trial and labor, he passed
away in great peace, saying to the brethren who
interrogated him: "The bridge I have been build¬
ing these years I am not afraid to cross on."
388. Who were the General Officers present ?
Revs. W. H. Hunter, Business Manager; John
H. W. Burley, Financial Secretary; Geo. W. Bro-
die, Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary
Society, and B. T. Tanner, Editor.
389. But I understood you to tell me that Rev.
W. J. Gaines had been elected Missionary Secre¬
tary?
That is true, but he, having resigned the position,
the Board of Managers, in the month of December,
1873, elected Rev. Geo. W. Brodie to fill the posi¬
tion.
390. Who was chosen as Chief secretary?
Rev. B. W. Arnett, with Rev. James M. Town-
send as assistant.
391. The other secretaries, who were they?
W. C. Banton was elected Recording secretary,
W. F. Dickerson, Reading Clerk, and T. W. Hen¬
derson and Amos A. Williams as Statistical secre¬
taries.
392. Why was not the suggestion of Bishop
Wayman, that the several Annual Conference dele¬
gations sit together, carried out ?
As stated by Rev. J. C. Embry, lest it might
seem to show sectional or Conference interests,
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
81
when there was but one interest, the interest of the
entire Church.
393. Who preached the Episcopal Quadrennial
sermon ?
Bishop J. P. Campbell. His text was Micah iv:
1-4.
394. Who read the Episcopal Quadrennial ad¬
dress ?
Bishop J. A. Shorter.
395. Who were appointed a committee on Fra¬
ternal Greeting ?
Revs. J. H. A. Johnson, J. W. Cooper, T. W.
Henderson, J. T. Jenifer, and J. C. Embry.
396. Who were appointed a committee on Me¬
morial services for the purpose of paying due re¬
spect to the memory of Bishop Quinn, styled by
Bishop Payne, in calling the attention of Confer-
ference to it, the " Pioneer Bishop ? "
Revs. John Turner, Deaton Dorrell, Chas. Burch,
W. J. Davis, J. A. Handy, J. F. Thomas, and J.
A. Sims,
397. At the Memorial services, which were held
on Friday, May 5, who delivered addresses ?
All the Bishops, together with addresses from
Revs. C. Burch, Wm. Davis, J. P. Shreeves, Henry
Brown, John Turner, Moses Dickson, and J. W.
Early.
398. What did Chas. Burch say? •
" I knew Paul Quinn forty-seven years ago, hav¬
ing in May 1, 1827, joined the Church under him.
I have followed him in all his steps, east and west
north and south, from Portland, Maine, to New Or¬
leans, Louisiana."
399. What did Henry Brown say of him ?
"Bishop Quinn came to Carthage in 1836 and
preached from the words : ' I have heard the groans
82
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
of my people.' Martha Blank was the first to join
at his call. I was converted at his feet at one of
his Conferences. He took me in his arms, and said,
' Here is my preacher.' He tarried here for awhile
and at last, with'his white dog, ' Bill,' and his white
horse ' Bill,' he left."
400. I have heard that Bishop Ward read a very
fine poem upon that occasion, is it true ?
It is, and I refer you to it as printed in the Ap¬
pendix,
401. For the first time, what society made its re¬
port to the General Conlerenc^,?
The Mite Missionary Society, composed of the
women of the Church.
402. Who was its President?
Mrs. Bishop Campbell. Its Treasurer was Mrs.
Bishop Wayman.
403. What significant resolution did J. A. Sims,
a lay delegate, offer ?
The following: " That we, the laymen of the A. M.
E. Church do hereby request the General Confer¬
ence to authorize the Book Department to print
small books containing the Articles of Religion and
the Rise and Progress of the A. M. E. Church."
404. To what Churches did this Conference send
fraternal delegates, and who were they ?
To the Methodist Episcopal Church were sent
Revs. J. H. A. Johnson, B. T. Tanner and W. F.
Dickerson; to the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, were sent Revs. H. M. Turner, R. H. Cain,
and Jas. H. Handy; to the A. M. E. Zion Church,
John W. Asbury, H. M. Turner, and D. P. Seaton;
to the Colored M. E. Church, A. T. Carr, F. J.
Peck and B. L. Brooks; to the Methodist Protestant,
. David Pickett, B. F. Lee and T. W. Henderson; to
the British M. E. Church, G. H. Shaffer, G. T.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
83
Watkins; to the True Wesleyan Church, B. W.
Arnett, W. H. Hunter and J. C. Embry; to the
United Brethren in Christ, J. R. Scott, G. W.
Gaines and C. L. Bradwell; to the English Wes¬
leyan Church of England, Bishops Campbell and
Brown and Rev. W. B. Derrick.
405. What came of all these appointments ?
The majority of them were carried out.
406. Did the delegation to England go ?
It did: at least one of the Bishops went,to wit:
Bishop J. P. Campbell
407. It was generally expected that delegates
from the Haytien work would be present, was it not?
It was; but on account of a revolution going on
in the island, they were prevented from coming.
408. What resolution was passed in regard to
that work ?
" That it be detached from the Philadelphia Con¬
ference and stand as a mission."
409. Who were received as delegates from the
Methodist Episcopal Church?
The Rev. Dr. David Sherman and Rev. J. C.
Tate.
410. What was the nature of the reception ac¬
corded them?
Most cordial.
411. What was the nature of the reception given
the delegates sent to the M. E. General Conference
in* Baltimore?
Equally cordial.
412. Who appeared as delegate from the Inde¬
pendent Methodist Episcopal Church, of which
Rev. A. R. Green was Bishop?
The Rev. A. M. Green.
413 What was the request he made ?
84
OUTLINES OF HISTOR.
That the Church he represented be absorbed by
the A. M. E. Church.
414. Was the request granted?
It was: by the passage of the following resolu¬
tion offered by Rev. W. H. Hunter, chairman of the
committee; "That we recommend the acceptance
of all the members (of said I. M. E. Church) in
their standing in their Church, excepting the Rev.
A. R. Green as Bishop."
415. What law was enacted as to the composition
of the next General Conference ?
Instead of one delegate for every eleven members
of the several Annual Conferences, it was lessened
to one delegate for every fifteen members. The lay
delegation remained the same.
416. What extra power was granted to the Bish¬
ops?
The "power to organize mission Conferences when¬
ever a majority of the Bishops deem it for the best
interest of the Church. As it relates to Conferences
already organized, power was given them to divide
the same by and with the consent of a majority of
said Conference.
417. Was any special legislation made at this Con¬
ference in relation to the pay of Presiding Elders?
There was: they were authorized to report all
deficiencies in their salaries to the Annual Confer¬
ence, where it shall receive the certification of the
Bishop and the secretary, and be presented to the
Church treasury for payment.
418. What Church publications were ordered?
The Christian Recorder, the Child's Recorder,
and the African Methodist Quarterly Magazine.
419. What was done in regard to Church Exten¬
sion?
general conferences helo. 85
It was legislated upon at length, but nothing
practically came of it.
420. What in regard to missions?
It was also legislated upon at length, and not a
little was accomplished.
421. The two new Departments of the Church
instituted at this Conference, what were they?
An Educational Department and a Sunday School
Department.
422. What came of them?
Not much. Of the first, however, it is to be said
that a regular secretary or commissioner was
elected, Rev. J. C. Embry.
423. It was at this Conference, was it not, that
Bishop D. A. Payne resigned the presidency of
Wilberforce ?
It was.
424. What led to this important step?
I prefer the Bishop to tell. Speaking to the
General Conference, he said:
(a). In 1848 the General Conference made me its
historiographer. I have written out in manuscript
.form 40 years history of the A. M. E. Church:
there are twenty years more of it to be written. To
do such a work I shall have to gather the materials,
arrange them and reduce them to historic form.
Such a work demands the fresh, early hours of the
morning, the very hours which require my atten¬
tion in the recitation-room. Again, to prepare and
run through the press the forty years already writ¬
ten, require the same fresh hours of the morning
which the recitation-room demands.
(b). Then I have written out the " Germ of an
Educational Work," which I desire, (D. V.) to de¬
velop and leave behind me as a solid contribution
to the cause of Christian education. This also
86
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
demands the early, bracing hours of the morning
the very time which calls me to the recitation-room
(c\ To administer the external government as
well as its internal, there is need of a species oi
omnipresence which I cannot exercise, living at the
distance of about a quarter of a mile from the col¬
lege gate. And yet the moral purity, order and
uniformity of the college government demand this
kind of vigilance, added to the best knowledge of
human nature which an educator can attain, the
most fervent prayers which he may daily offer, and
the unwavering faith which he ought always to
exercise in the loving Father of all."
425. Who were the General officers elected?
H. M. Turner, General Book Manager; John H.
W. Burley, Financial Secretary; B. T. Tanner,
Editor; J. C. Embry, Commissioner of Education ;
Missionary Secretary, R. H. Cain; Travelling
Agent, C. L. Bradwell.
426. How were the Episcopal Districts ar¬
ranged ?
As follows:
1st Episcopal District—Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, and
New England Conferences. Bishop Payne.
2d Episcopal District—Baltimore, Virginia, North Carolina and
South Carolina Conferences. Bishop Brown.
3d Episcopal District—Ohio, Pittsburg, Kentucky, Tennessee and
West Tennessee Conferences. Bishop Wayman.
4th Episcopal District—Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas Con¬
ferences. Bishop Shorter.
5th Episcopal District—Louisiana, Texa9, West Texas, Arkansas
and South Arkansas Conferences. Bishop Ward.
6th Episcopal District— Georgia, North Georgia, Alabama, Florida
and Mississippi Conferences. Bishop Campbell.
427. The Committee on Statistics, Revs. T. W.
Henderson and A. A. Wilson, made very excellent
reports, did they not ?
They did.
428. Can you give me the figures they presented?
Yes, Sir, they are as follows:
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD. 8/
Contingent money during the previous year $ 2,976 85
Castors' Support » " 201,984 96
Presiding Elders' Support during the previous year . . . 23,896 66
Dollar Money " "... 28,009 66
Money raised for S. S. purposes. " " ■ . . . 17,4x5 32
Missionary money " "... 3,782 73
Money raised for Building, etc. " "... 169,558 60
Itinerant Preachers 1,418.
Local Preachers 3,*68.
Exhorters 2,546.
Members 172,806.
Probationers 33.525.
Churches 18,33.
Probable value $3,064,911
Parsonages 218
Probable value 134,800
Sunday-schools • 2,309
Superintendents ' 2,458
Teachers and officers 8,085
Pupils 87,453
Volumes in library 129,066
429. How long was this Conference in session?
From May 1st to May 18, inclusive.
(P).
430. Where and when was the Sixteenth General
Conference held?
In St. Lo-vis, Mo., May, 1880.
431. How many Annual Conferences were re¬
presented ?
Thirty.
432. The delegates present, how many?
Six Bishops, live General officers, and one hundred
and iorty-four itinerant delegates and sixty local
delegates were chosen but not all of them attended.
433: Who wa* elected secretary ?
Rev. B. W. Arnett. According to a motion, the
chief secretary wns allowed to make choice of his
assistants, when the following brethren were nomi¬
nated by him and confirmed by the General Con¬
ference : Revs. J. H. A. Johnson and Co-nelius As-
bury.
&3
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
434. Who was the Reading Clerk ?
Rev. B. B. Goins, lay delegate from North Caro¬
lina.
435- Who were elected Statistical secretaries ?
Revs. M. E. Bryant, C. O. H. Thomas, and M.
M. Mance.
436. What motion was made by Rev. W. H.
Hunter in regard to the Standing Committees?
That, with the exception of two, the Committee
on Delegation and the Committee on Episcopacy,
they be appointed by the Bishops.
437. How did the Conference agree to sit ?
It carried out the suggestion Bishop Wayman
made at the last General Conference and agreed to
sit together as Annual Conferences. The choice
of seats was made alphabetically.
438. Who read the Episcopal Quadremaial ad¬
dress ?
Bishop J. P. Campbell.
439. Who preached the Episcopal Quadrennial
Sermon ?
Bishop T. M. D. Ward, choosing for his text
Acts xx: 28.
440. Who appeared at the General Conference
of the M. E. Church, then in session at Cincinnati,
as representatives of our Church, and also at the
meeting held to consider matters relating to the
Ecumenical Council ?
Revs. R. A. Johnson, B. F. Lee and John G.
Mitchell.
441. Who was appointed a committee on Frater¬
nal Delegates?
Revs. Wm. F. Dickerson, J. M. Wilkerson and
W. D. Johnson.
442. What did Rev. J. W. Randolph present to
Conference ?
general conferences held. 89
The manuscript copy of a Music Book of his own
composition.
443- the report made by Rev. B. F. Lee, Pre¬
sident of Wilberforce, what did he give as the num¬
ber of students that were graduates ?
Forty-five.
444. What courtesy did the Merchants' Ex¬
change of the city extend to the Conference ?
It invited them, as a body, to visit their rooms,
at such a time as would be most suitable, which,
invitation was accepted, and on Thursday, May 13,
the Conference visited that magnificent structure
and received the hospitalities of. the President, Alex.
H. Smith.
445. Who were appointed as spokesmen of the
Conference ?
Revs. Wm. F. Dickerson, J. H. A. Johnson and
W. H. Hunter.
446. What' great Appeal case was tried ?
That of Rev. R. H. Cain, who had been removed
from the position of Missionary Secretary, and the
Rev. J. M. Tovvnsend elected in his place.
447. What have you to say of this case ?
I should like to say much about it, but in such
an " Outline" as I am giving, it cannot well be
done. It is sufficient, however, to say that it is
one of those cases in which a splendid opportunity
is given to feel the pulse* of a great organization
and conclude as to the life it has. The Appeal it¬
self, however, was not sustained, and by a vote of
144 to 35.
448. Were there any other Appeal cases ?
Three other cases: The case of Rev. J. E.Weir
against the action of the Kansas Conference in sus¬
pending him. The General Conference reversed
the action of the Kansas Conference and restored
90
outlines of history.
him to his standing. Also the Appeal case of Rev.
Aaron Pindle. This was confirmed. Lastly was
the Appeal of Rev. J. W. Randolph from the action
of Bishop Ward. This was referred to the Episco¬
pal committee, whose report .is no where to be
found in the printed Journal.
449. What have you to say of the Allen Monu¬
ment question, which occupied a goodly portion of
the General Conference time?
A committee of five was appointed to look into
the matter. The result was an explanation from
the Rev. A. J. Chambers which was regarded as sat¬
isfactory.
450. But what ever became of the Monument?
None was ever erected in Fairmount. During
the Centennial, the bust of Allen which is now at
Wilberforce, was placed upon a very fine granite
pedestal. But after the Exhibition, both were re¬
moved; the bust as I have told you was taken to
Wilberforce. The pedestal stands in the yard of
the Publishing Department in Philadelphia.
45 1. Who preached the special sermon ordered
by Conference on the Friday set apart as a day for
fasting and prayer?
Bishop D. A. Payne. His text was: " Let this mind
be in you, which was also in Christ" (Phil, ii: 5).
452. What resolution relating to the title of the
Church did B. T. Tanner offer, T. H. Jackson sec¬
ond, and the Conference unanimously endorse?
The following:
Whereas, The fathers of our Church, in the day
of its organization, with an eye, we may believe, to
this day as well as the day of their own disfellow-
ship by the white Churches of this land, solemnly
agreed upon the title "African" as the one distinc¬
tive of the organization they would call into being.
general conferences held.
91
And Whereas, From the fact that among their
first resolutions was one proclaiming the perfect
ecclesiastical equality of the children of God of what¬
ever color, as well as from the fact that among the
first acts was one admitting Jupiter Gibson a white
man, we cannot believe that the selection of such a
title was intended in any way to proscribe Chris¬
tians of non-African origin, but simply to proclaim
to the world the existence of one Church at least
where the men of this despised race could hope to
enjoy the liberty that is in Christ under a vine and
fig-tree where none could resist or make afraid.
And Whereas, Believing as we do that in the
selection of that title, as well as in all that was
done to give hope and vigor to the new organiza¬
tion, they were ruled by Him who walks among
the golden candlesticks.
Therefore be it Resolved, that it is the sense of this
General Conference that without at all deciding
upon the necessity and the proprieties of the future,
the time has certainly not yet come to strike out
the honored and honoring name that for almost
three-quarters of a century has been sailing at our
masthead.
453. Rev. C. C. Felts offered a very important
resolution in regard to the Bishops leaving minis¬
ters without appointments, what was it?
The resolution he offered was as follows:
Whereas, During the last Quadrennium several
ministers in some of our Conferences have been left
without appointments by the Presiding Bishop:
Therefore,
Resolved, That the Committee on Episcopacy be
recommended to inquire as to whether any law has
been violated in these matters.
454 WV?t became of it?
92
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
It was adopted and sent to the Committee on
Episcopacy.
455. The case of Rev. J. G. Yeiser who came as
a delegate from the New Jersey Conference excited
not a little discussion, what was the occasion of it?
He came rather as the appointee of the Bishop
and not as the elect of the Annual Conference.
456. Was he allowed his seat?
He was not.
457- What did Bishop Payne, who had appointed
Mr. Yeiser, do?
He wrote a carefully prepared protest, and had
it put on record.
458. What resolution did Rev. Amos A. Williams
present and Conference accept, relating to the union
of Churches?
He offered the following: "That a committee of
seven be created for the purpose of calling an
Ecumenical Council for the purpose of uniting all
the colored branches of the Methodist family."
4^9. Was the committee appointed?
It was, consisting of Revs. A. A. Williams, T. HL
Jackson, H. M. Turner, C. T. Shaffer, W. H. Hun¬
ter, R. H. Cain and B. W. Arnett.
460. What action was taken in regard to Bishop
Wayman's Manual on the Discipline?
It was adopted as authority in the Church.
461. What minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South was present at this Conference ; and
what was his mission ?
The Rev. Dr. J. O. A. Clark, who came with
letters from the Bishops of his Church in reference
to the erection in Savannah of a memorial Church
to John Wesley, that city being the locality of his
first labors in America.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD. 93
462. How was he received ?
Introduced by the Rev. W. D. Johnson, he was
received very warmly, Conference pledging one.
thousand dollars to the enterprise he represented.
463. Was this pledge made good ?
It was; the Financial secretary of the Church
having paid it.
464. Who appeared as delegate from the A. M.
E. Zion Church ?
Rev. T. J. Madison, who after presenting the fra¬
ternal address of his Church, addressed Conference.
465. Who responded on behalf of Conference ?
Revs. W. D. Johnson, James A. Handy, and J.
C. Embry.
466. Who appeared as delegate from the General
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
then in session in Cincinnati ?
Rev. Marshall W. Taylor.
467. What impression did this delegate make
upon the men of the Conference ?
A very good one.
468. Shaking the delegate's hand, what did
Bishop Brown say?
" I am glad to see you, and I am glad to know
you. I did not know that there was such a man of
my race in the Methodist Church."
469. Who appeared as delegates from the Wes-
leyan Church of England ?
Revs. William Arthur, president of the Wesleyan
Conference, and F. W. McDonald.
470. Who made the address of welcome ?
Bishop D. A. Payne.
471. Who offered pertinent resolutions?
Rev. J. C. Embry, seconded by Rev. W. H.
Hunter, both of whom made excellent addresses.
94
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
472. Who appeared as delegates from the British
Methodist Episcopal Church ?
. Bishop R. R Dizney ; also the Revs. Walter Haw¬
kins, Josephus O'Banyoun, and Seth D. W. Smith.
473. Who offered resolutions pertinent to the
occasion, following the same with a speech ?
Rev. F. J. Cooper.
474. What did Bishop Payne say upon the occa¬
sion ?
Bishop Payne said:
" Brethren, to all the speeches I have but one
objection, and that is, your referring to the B. M.
E. Church as the eldest daughter of the A. M. E.
Church. We have no eldest daughter. When a
mother has three daughters her affections are
divided between them ; but the B. M. E. Church is
our only legitimate daughter, and all our affections
are centered upon her. I was there when she was
born."
475. While on this subject will you not be kind
enough to tell me something of the proposed re¬
union of this Church with our own ?
Oh, yes; the following resolution was offered
and carried, we are told, " unanimously, amid long
continued and tremendous applause" :
That a committee of three, five or seven be ap¬
pointed to meet the General Conference of the
B. M. E. Church, to arrange and effect a modus
operandi of co-operation in the missionary work of
the West India Islands and British Guiana, and that
such a co-operation be known as the Reunion of
the A. M. E. and B. M. E. Churches in America.
476. Who composed that committee of one from
each Episcopal District, as it was afterwards an¬
nounced ?
The following:
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
95
ist Episcopal District
ad " "
W. H. Hunter.
J. A. Handy.
J. M. Townsend.
John Turner.
Nathan Mitchem.
Jos. E. Hayne.
I. N. Fitzpatrick.
J. T. Jenifer.
W. R. Carson.
3d
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
477. What additional resolution did Bishop
Turner offer, and which after favorable debate Gene¬
ral Conference adopted ?
The following:
Resolved, That in the event of an agreement of
terms of union between the Commission of the
A. M. E. Church and the General Conference of
the B. M. E. Church being satisfactorily effected,
that the terms of union be submitted to the several
Annual Conferences, and that the adoption of the
terms by two-thirds of said Annual Conferences
shall be regarded as binding,
478. Did that Commission meet ?
479. What eventually became of it ?
In keeping with Bishop Turner's resolution, the
terms of union agreed upon were submitted to the
Annual Conferences of the two bodies.
480. What was the result ?
It has never been made known.
481. What have you to say of the legislation oi
this Sixteenth General Conference ?
It is probable that as little direct legislation
was done as at any previous General Conference
since the organization of the Church ; certainly as
little as any Conference held since the War of
Rebellion.
482. But tell me what was done?
The most significant act of legislation was the
It did.
9 6
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
remodelling of the Financial Board. A.s constitu¬
ted in the past, you will remember that it consisted
of the Bench of Bishops, the Financial Secretary,
and one travelling preacher from each of the Epis¬
copal Districts. The present General Conference
changed all this, and had the Board to consist of
four itinerant Elders, the Financial Secretary, and
three laymen. The headquarters was also changed
from Washington City to Nashville, Tenn.
* 483. Was this all the change that was made in
relation to the Church treasury ?
Oh, no; an entirely new chapter was enacted,
containing, however, the essential features of the
old one.
484. Were any essential changes made in the af¬
fairs of the Publishing Department ?
No, there was not; if we accept the fact that its
management was taken from a Gefieral Board and
given to the Trustees, with the Bishop of the First
Episcopal District as an advisory member, coupled
with the additional fact that the office of General
Agent was abolished.
485. What have you to say of the legislation of
this Conference, in regard to the Bishops ?
It was very radical; ordering first, that the
Bishops just elected should live in the South, and
ordering second, the District to which each Bishop
should go.
486. Was this of the nature of a new departure ?
It was. The Bishops hitherto having selected
their own places of residence, as well as arranging
the Districts and deciding among themselves which
should go to them.
487. What was done for missions ?
The Constitution was somewhat amended and,
as was thought, made essentially better.
GENERAL CONFERENCES HELD.
488. What was done for Church Extension ?
It was practically abolished.
489. What with the Department of Education ?
Substantially the same.
490. What special court was created, upon mo¬
tion of the present Bishop Turner?
That known as the Appellate Court.
491. What other broad measures did this same
Bishop bring Conference to act upon ?
That requiring the Presiding Bishop in holding
Annual Conferences to devote one whole day to the
matter of education Also a plan looking to the
organization of a Connectional Literary Society.
492. Has this last mentioned project been carried
out ?
It has, to a very large extent.
493. What were the statistics of the Church, as
reported by the; Chairman of the Committee, Rev.
C. O. H. Thomas ?
They are as follows :
Amount of contingent . $27,897.36
mnnpv oAo ico c f
Dollar money ....
Missionary money . .
Mite Missionary money
Sunday-School money .
263,352.5;:
25,248.08-
2,296.00
"5,694-4»
Amount for Pas'ors' support
1,282,465.16
Pastors' travelling expenses . . .
P. E's' travelling expenses . . .
Presiding Elders' support . . . .
Education
Building and repairing purposes .
Benevolent purposes
36,608.16
7.338-20
106,817.20
6,125.48
596,824.48
20,937.04
Grand Total
$21,491,784.12
Number subscriptions •' Christian Recorder " .
Number of churches
Value
Number of parsonages
Value
$2,884,207.00
162,605.30
5.38o
2,051
Total probable value
$2,446,812.30
c
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
^ 432
Number travelling preachers . . • • ■
.< elders °~+°
Total in active service 1,717
Number superannuated preachers 21
local preachers 3>7X9
.< " deacons 146
'• '• elders 42
•Whole number of ministers 5,645
Number of Church members 306,044
" Church probationers 81,52a
Total 387,566
Number of School-houses 88
" Sunday-schools 9346
" volumes in library I93.358
" superintendents 3,536
" teachers and officers 11 >454
Total S. S. active workers I4.99c>
Number of Sunday-school scholars *54 549
" international series used II,I35
494. What has been thought of this report ?
It is the general opinion that it is extravagant.
Some portions of it are manifestly so.
495. In the main, what do you think of it?
I think it reliable.
496. Who were elected Bishops ?
Revs. H. M. Turner, Wm. F. Dickerson, and R.
H. Cain.
497. When were they ordained ?
Thursday, May 20, 1880.
498. Who preached the ordination sermon ?
Bishop D. A. Payne, from the words: " Let a
man so account of us," etc., (1 Cor. iv: i.)
499. Who were elected General Officers ?
F°r General Business Manager, Rev. Theodore
Gould was elected. For Financial Secretary Rev.
13. W. Arnett. For Corresponding Secretary of
BISHOPS.
99
Missionary Society, Rev. James M. Townsend, and
for Editor, Rev. B. T. Tanner was for the fourth
time put in charge of the Church organ, and Rev.
M. E. Bryant was elected Editor of the proposed
" Southern Christian Recorder."
500. As to Episcopal Districts, what did General
Conference order?
That Bishop John M. Brown should preside over
the First, Bishop D. A. Payne preside over the
Second, Bishop James A. Shorter preside over the
Third, Bishop T. M. D. Ward over the Fourth,
Bishop J. P. Campbell over the Fifth, Bishop Wm.
F. Dickerson over the Sixth, Bishop A. W. Way-
man over the Seventh, Bishop H. M. Turner over
the Eighth, and Bishop R. H. Cain over the Ninth.
501. How long did this General Conference last ?
From May 5th to May 23d, inclusive.
502. What is your opinion of this session of the
Quadrennial Conference ?
I think it was the most expressive session the
Church ever held.
CHAPTER VI.
BISHOPS.
1. Pleased with what you have been telling me
about the General Conference of your Church, I
should like much to be informed as to the Bishops
who have presided over it. Who was the first
Bishop, did you say?
Richard Allen.
2. Where and when was he born ?
He was born in Philadelphia, 14th February,
1760. His parents with the children they had,
however, were sold into Delaware.
IOO
outline nr history.
3. Where and when did you say he was made
Bishop?
In Philadelphia, nth April, 1816.
4. Where and when did he die ?
In Philadelphia, 26th March, 1831.
5. How long was he a Bishop?
Fifteen years.
6. What kind of a man was he ?
He was a good and great man.
7. What kind of a Bishop was he?
Although having but little education, he was a
wise and far-seeing Bishop.
8. Where is he buried?
In front of Bethel Church, Philadelphia.
9. Who was the second Bishop of the Church?
Morris Brown.
10. Where and when was he born?
In Charleston, S. C. The year is not known.
11. Where and when was he made Bishop?
In Philadelphia, 25th May, 1828.
12. Where and when did he die?
Stricken with paralysis in Canada, he was brought
to his home in Philadelphia, where he died May,
1850.
13. How long was he a Bishop?
Twenty-two years.
14. What kind of a man was he ?
He was good, and very gentlemanly.
15. What kind of a Bishop was he?
He was wise and energetic.
16. Where is he buried?
His remains are with those of Bishop Allen in
front of Bethel Church, Philadelphia.
17. Who was the third Bishop of the Church ?
BISHOPS.
IOI
Edward Waters.
18. Where and when was he born?
At West River in Maryland. The year is un
known.
19. Where and when was he made Bishop?
In Philadelphia, 8th May, 1836.
20. Where and when did he die?
Injured by some reckless young white men on
his way to Baltimore in the year 1847, he never
recovered, eventually dying at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Margaret Steward.
21. How long was he a Bishop?
As the precise year of his death is not known, it
is impossible to tell precisely the number of years
he was Bishop. Ordained in 1836, he at least acted
as Bishop for some twelve or thirteen years.
22. What kind of a man was he?
Good and inoffensive.
23. What kind of a Bishop was he?
He seldom ever acted; always taking an appoint¬
ment with the Elders of the Conference.
24. Where is he buried?
In Baltimore.
25. Who was the fourth Bishop?
William Paul Quinn.
26. Where and when was he born?
The writer gives it as his opinion, that he was
born in Bucks or Chester County, Pennsylvania,
during the last years of the last century.
27. Have you' any reason to give for holding
such an opinion ?
Other than the fact that tradition points to that
region, we find a Mrs. Quinn mentioned in some
old Bucks County African Methodist records, bear¬
ing date of 10th Feb., 1824.
102
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
28. Where and when was he made Bishop?
In Pittsburgh, 19th May, 1844.
29. Where and when did he die ?
In Richmond, Ind , Feb. 2ist, 1873.
30. How long was he a Bishop ?
Twenty-nine years.
31. What kind of a man was he?
Physically large ; and a man of great daring.
32. What kind of a Bishop was he ?
He was full of zeal and loyalty.
33. Where is he buried?
In Richmond, Ind.
34. Who was the fifth Bishop ?
Willis Nazrey.
35. Where and when was he born ?
In Virginia; th^ year is not known.
36. Where and when was he made Bishop.
In New York, 13th May, 1852.
37. Where and when did he die ?
In Nova Scotia, , 1875.
38. How long was he a Bishop ?
For eight years (1852-1860) he was joint Bishop
of the A. M. E. Church; for four years (1860-1864)
he was joint Bishop of the African M. E. Church,
and Bishop of the British M. E. Church ; and for
the last eleven years of his life he was the Bishop
of the British M. E. Church.
39. What kind of a man was he ?
He was shrewd, and of strong feelings.
40. What kind of a Bishop was he ?
He was very energetic and rigid.
41. Where is he buried ?
In Chatham, Ont., D. of C.
42. Who is the sixth Bishop of the Church ?
BISHOPS.
103
Daniel A. Payne.
43. Where and when was he born ?
In Charleston, S. C., 24th Feb., 1811.
44. Where and when was he made Bishop ?
In New York, 13th May, 1852.
45. Who is the seventh Bishop?
Alexander W. Wayman.
46. Where and when was he born ?
In Maryland, September, 1821.
47. Where and when was he made Bishop ?
In Philadelphia, 23rd May, 1864.
48. Who is the eighth Bishop of the Church ?
Jabez P. Campbell.
49. Where and when was he born ?
In Delaware, , 1815.
50. Where and when was he made Bishop ?
In Philadelphia, 23rd May, 1864.
51. Who is the ninth Bishop ?
James A. Shorter.
52. Where and when was he born ?
In Washington City, 6th Feb., 1817.
53. Where and when was he made Bishop ?
In Washington City, D. C., 25th May, 1868.
54. Who is the tenth Bishop of the Church ?
Thomas M. D. Ward.
55. Where and when was he born ?
In Chester County, Pennsylvania, , 1823.
56 Where and when was he made Bishop?
In Washington City, 25th May, 1868.
57. Who is the eleventh Bishop of the Church ?
John M. Brown.
58. Where and when was he born ?
In Delaware, 8th Sept., 1817.
io4
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
59. Where and when was he made Bishop ?
In Washington City, 25th May, 1868.
60. Who is the twelfth Bishop of the Church?
Henry M. Turner.
61. Where and when was he born ?
In South Carolina, Feb., 1833.
62. Where and when was he made Bishop ?
In St. Louis, 20th May, 1880.
63. Who is the thirteenth Bishop of the Church ?
Wm. F. Dickerson.
64. Where and when was he born ?
In Woodbury, N. J., January 15, 1845.
65. Where and when was he made Bishop?
In St. Louis, 20th May, 1880.
66. Who is the fourteenth Bishop ?
R. H. Cain.
67. Where and when was he born ?
In Virginia, , .
68. Where and when was he made Bishop ?
In St. Louis, Mo., 20th May, 1880.
PART II.
G 0 VER NMENTA L.
PRELUDE.
1. Pleased with what you have been telling me in
regard to the rise and progress of your Church, be
kind enough now to give me a similar outline of its
government or polity. Is your Church republican?
or is it monarchical ?
It is republican, beyond all question.
GOVERNMENTAL,
iOg
2. How is it, then, I hear so many people speak
of it as monarchical ?
Only those who are either ignorant of the mean¬
ing of words, or ignorant of its real polity, speak
so; excepting, as they refer to tho:?e instances
where power is abused by those called to exercise it.
3. But will you explain to me the meaning of
these words, and then apply them to your Church?
I will, if it be your wish.
4. It certainly is ; for, to tell the truth, I am
really tired of this uncertainty, some thinking and
saying one thing and some another.
I will explain: A monarchical form of govern¬
ment is that form in which the supreme power is
lodged in a single individual.
5. And is not that exactly the case with your
Church, in which the supreme power seems to be
lodged in the Bishops ?
I am glad to hear you say " seems to be," for it
is by no means true—but hear me through, and
you will see. As I have said, in a monarchi¬
cal form of government, the s upreme power is lodged
in the hands of the monarch, but in the republican
the sovereign power is exercised by representa¬
tives elected, directly or indirectly, by the people.
And this expresses the fact in regard to our Church.
Its sovereign power is exercised by men whom the
people, either directly or indirectly have elected.
The fact is, we are pre-eminently republican in
form, and our Church has a government more in
harmony with the government of the nation, which
you know is republican, than almost any other.
And now I must ask you to be patient and let me
explain this matter to you, for I am persuaded that
there is a deal of ignorance in regard to it. In the
o-overnment of the nation, allow me first to say, al).
I0g OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
power primarily resides in the people. And it is
precisely so in our Church government. Let the
people refuse to act and the Church would come to
an end.
6. But how is that ?
Easy enough; let me show you: You must agree
with me that thefe could be no Church were there
no ministry; no Deacons or Elders, or Bishops.
Well, before you can have these you must have
preachers; for you cannot ordain a man a Deacon,
or an Elder or a Bishop, who has not been licensed
to preach, and you cannot license a man without
the consent of the people. So you see the source
of all power is the people. Let them refuse to vote
men preachers and in less than fifty years the
Church would fall to pieces; or as soon as those
who are now preachers die.
7. I see, I see.
Certainly, you must see. But let me further
show how the republicanism of our Church har¬
monizes with the republicanism of the State or na¬
tion. In the State or national government there
are three great branches—the Legislative, the Judi¬
cial and the Executive. It is just so with our
Church. It too has three such branches. Our Con¬
gress, or the Legislative branch, is the General Con¬
ference ; our Chief Justices, or Judicial branch, are
our Bishops ; while our Annual Conferences consti¬
tute the Executive branch. And again the organ¬
ism of our Church is very like the organism of
the nation. What is the nation but a combination
or union of States. Even so our Church is but a
combination or union of Conferences. And again,
I beg to say that just as the individual States are
subordinate to the nation, so the individual Confer¬
ences of our Church are subordinate to the whole
Church.
GOVERN MENTAL.
8. I am very glad you are coming to this part,
for there is something more about it that I wish to
know. You say the Annual Conferences are sub¬
ordinate to the whole Church or the General Con¬
ference ?
Precisely, and I beg you to remember that there^
is nothing more true than the old maxim, that two
kings cannot occupy one and the same throne at one
and the same time. Neither in a Church or State
can there be two supreme powers. One must of
necessity be subordinate to the other. Therefore dc>
we find in the government of our Church the Annual
Conferences, whose power is really only executive,
subordinate to the General Conference, which is
the one supreme power of the Church organization.
9. But if the Annual Conferences themselves are
subordinate to the General Conference, how about
individual Churches ?
I am very glad to have you ask me this question,
for much light is needed upon it.
10. Can any of our individual Churches be vested
with an authority supreme to that of the General
Conference, as we find it represented in the Discip¬
line ?
Certainly not. The Discipline, as we said, rep¬
resents the General Conference; and to suppose we
had some Churches with rights superior to the
Discipline would be to suppose that we had some
individual Churches superior to the Church itself,
which would be a contradiction ; for you know the
whole of anything must be greater than any part
of it: the whole Church greater than any individual
Church.
11. But how about what is known as Incorpora¬
ted Churches ?
The case is onj and the same. The only power
IOS OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
superior to the General Conference is the power of
the State or nation. What the nation says must be
obeyed, and on the very principle which I have
stated, there cannot be two .supreme powers within
the same bounds; and therefore, the State itself
must be as it is supreme; and to it, every organi-
2ation must bow.
12. But do not these Incorporations carry .with
them the force of the State, or civil law ?
By no means. Let me illustrate. One of our
Churches in the city of B. wishes to be incorporated.
The only thing necessary for it to do, is to convince
the officials that there is nothing in the Incorpora¬
tion sought to be had that conflicts with the State.
13. But suppose there is something that conflicts
with the General Conference or Discipline, what
then ?
The State officials never pretend to settle such
questions as that. They have attended to their
own business when they see that there is nothing
in the document that conflicts with the State.
They suppose that individual Churches have sense
enough to know that they cannot get the help of
the State in their wish to antagonize the one su¬
preme authority of their Church ; as well do they
suppose that such supreme authorities will see to it
that their supremacy be not jeopardized by any one
of their own bodies They take it for granted that
Churches know what they are about when they
form a confederacy, and that each Church should
be equal to the other: none claiming any special
rights or prerogatives.
14. How glad I am to have you say this. I could
wish that all our Churches saw this matter in its
true light. But what are we to do with such In¬
corporated Churches ?
EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS. IO9
Work to enlighten them. The rest must be left
to the judgment of the pastors who serve them.
15. Why say the pastors' judgment, and not the\
judgment of the Connection?
The Connection can have but one judgment, and'
that is to say that such Churches cannot be. But,
as a matter of fact, they are. Now how to manage
them peacefully and successfully must be left largely
as we say, to the judgment of the pastors sent to^
serve them.
CHAPTER I.
EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS.
Question I. If I remember correctly, the policy
of dividing the Church into Episcopal districts be¬
gan in 1852, did it not ?
Answer. It did ; and by the action of the Bishops,
independent of the General Conference.
2. How long did this method of dividing the
Church last ?
Until 1876, when the General Conference so far
recognized the* method as to make the division
itself.
3. What is your opinion of this method of ad¬
ministering the affairs of the Church ?
Ordinarily I would greatly favor it.
4. But is there not danger of creating and de¬
veloping a sectional spirit by such an arrange¬
ment ?
Undoubtedly there is; and the only way that
makes a continuance of this system at all compat¬
ible with the best interests of the Church, is for the
General Conference to inexorably demand the exe¬
cution of the laws it enacts.
no
OUTLINES OF HISTORY
5. Do you think this can be done ?
Most undoubtedly.
6. Accepting such division, what is your opinion
of the rights of the Bishops severally in the Dis¬
tricts where they have not been appointed to
serve ?
Beyond all question, one who is a. Bishop in any
portion of our Church, is a Bishop in the whole of
it; as they are not elected to serve portions, but
the whole. It was to prevent such an idea as this
that the General Conference of 1856 asked ques¬
tion 5, as found in Part II., ch. ii., sec. 1, and an¬
swered the same. We suppose, however, the true
explanation will be found when the principle primus
inter pares (first among equals) is brought to bear
upon it. According to this, the Bishop given a
District to preside over, on the final decision of all
its affairs has precedence over any other Bishop.
7. But tell me, will you, of the Episcopal Dis¬
tricts as at present constituted. How many arc there ?
There are nine.
8. What Conferences compose the First Episco¬
pal District, and who presides over it ?
The Philadelphia, New York, New England, and
New Jersey Conferences, and it is presided over by
Bishop John M. Brown.
9. What Conferences compose the Second Epis¬
copal District, and who presides over it ?
Baltimore, Virginia, and North Carolina Confer¬
ences, and it is presided over by Bishop D. A.
Payne.
10. What Conferences compose the Third Epis¬
copal District, and who presides over it ?
Ohio, North Ohio, Indiana, and Pittsburg Con¬
ferences, and it is presided over by Bishop Jame:,
A. Shorter.
EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS.
Ill
11. What Conferences compose the Fourth Epis¬
copal District, and who presides over it ?
Missouri, North Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois
Conferences, and it is presided over by Bishop T.
M. D. Ward. *
12. What Conferences compose the Fifth Epis¬
copal District, and who presides over it ?
Kentucky, West Kentucky, Tennessee and West
Tennessee, and it is presided over by Bishop Jabez
P. Campbell.
13. What Conferences compose the Sixth Epis¬
copal District, and who presides ?
South Carolinia, Columbia, Georgia, and North
Georgia Conferences, and Bishop Wm. F. Dicker-
son presides.
14. The Seventh Episcopal District, what Con¬
ferences, and who presides ?
Alabama, North Alabama, and Florida Confer¬
ences. Bishop A. W. Wayman presides.
15. The Eighth Episcopal District, what Con¬
ferences compose it, and who presides?
The Conferences are : Mississippi, North Missis¬
sippi, Arkansas, and Indian. . Bishop H. M. Turner
presides.
16. The Ninth Episcopal District, what Confer¬
ences compose it, and who presides ?
Louisiana, Texas, and North East Texas Confer¬
ences. Bishop R. H. Cain presides.
17. How is it you have not named California?
California Conference was to be visited by the
Bishops in turn.
112
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
CHAPTER II.
CONFERENCES OF THE CHURCH.
Questiotii I. Tell me, will you not, something of
the Conferences of your Church; you seem to have
a number of them?
Answer. O yes, we have five different kinds of
Conferences.
2. What do you call them ?
The General Conference, the Annual Conference,
the District Conference, the Quarterly Conference,
and the Official Board or Weekly Conference.
3. Will you not be kind enough to begin with
the last-mentioned of these Conferences and tell me
somewhat of tlieir composition and their powers?
I will.
4. And first, as requested, tell me something of
the Weekly Conference, or Official Board, as it is
commonly called. Who composes it?
Before answering your question directly, I beg
first to say that the composition of all these Confer¬
ences are liable to change. Therefore the answers
that I give refer only to the status as is to-day.
Any forthcoming General Conference may change
it. And now what was the question.you asked
me ?
5. Who compose the Weekly Conference or Of¬
ficial Board, as it is called ?
At present it is composed of Class leaders, the
Stewards, and the Exhorters and the preacher in
charge.
6. Are local preachers members of it ?
As such they are not, unless the minister in
charge shall invite them.
CONFERENCES OF THE CHUKCH. H3
/. Are Trustees members of it ?
They are not.
8. Who is Chairman of this Board ?
The preacher in charge.
9. What is done at this Weekly Conference ?
The Leaders pay to the- Stewards theij; class
money, and report to the pastors the condition of
their members. The Stewards pay the pastors their
allowance, as well as report for duty.
10. The Quarterly Conference ; who compose it ?
The preachers in charge, with all local preachers
and Exhorters, all the Stewards and Class leaders of
the charge, with the male superintendent of the
Sunday-school.
11. What is the business of the Quarterly Confer¬
ence ?
It takes note of the entire affairs of the Church,
both temporal and spiritual.
12. Who must present written reports to the
Quarterly Conference ?
First the Trustees, second the Stewards, third the
Sunday-school superintendents, fourth the Leaders
of the choir.
13. Is this all that these Conferences are em¬
powered to do ?
No; but you must consult the Discipline, Part
II., chapter i., section 4.
14. What of the District Conference ?
This is held only in. such Conferences as have
adopted the Presiding Elder system.
15. How often is it held ?
Once a year.
16. Who are members of it?
All the travelling and local ministers in the Pre¬
siding Elder District; together with one Steward,
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
one Trustee, and one Class leader from each Quar¬
terly Conference precinct.
17. Who calls the District Conference?
The Presiding Elder. (Should a Bishop be pre¬
sent he presides.)
18. What are the duties of this Conference ?
To make up (a.) the Presiding Elder's allow¬
ance; (b.) to consider the business condition of the
people represented ; (c.) the condition of the
Churches; (d.) the missionary condition of the
District; {?.) the condition of Sunday-schools ; (f.)
the possibilities for a District High School.
19. Your next Conference is the Annual, I be¬
lieve? •
Yes, sir.
20. What of it?
It is composed of all the travelling preachers of
the Conference; and such local preachers as have
(1) been licensed four full years, (2) recommended
by the Quarterly Conference, (3) passed a satisfac¬
tory examination at the Annual Conference.
21. Who appoints the time for the meeting of the
Annual Conference?
The Bishops.
22. Who appoints the place ?
The Conference itself.
23. What is the business of the Annual Confer¬
ence ?
The entire work for the year is reported : but see
Discipline Part II., Chapter I., Section 2.
24. Tell me lastly of your Quadrennial or Gen¬
eral Conference?
It meets every four years and is composed (1) of
all the Bishops, (2) of all the General Officers, (3) of
one delegate for every 20 members of the Annual
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CHURCH, 115
Conferences whence they come—but no Annual
Conference is to have less than two. Also two
laymen from each Conference.
25. What is the duty of this General Conference?
Its duty is to regulate the entire Church; and its
authority is supreme, save in cases clearly "pointed
out on page 93 of the present edition of the Discip¬
line.
CHAPTER III.
v
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CHURCH.
Question 1. As it relates to the Departments of
your Church, will you be kind enough to tell me,
how many of them you have ?
Answer. I am sorry I cannot speak with greater
definiteness in regard to a matter that ought not to
be in the least doubt. And yet in regard to two of
these Departments, owing to the action of the last
General Conference, or the printers, we do not
know which, it is quite impossible to know their
real status. We speak of the Educational Depart¬
ment and the Sunday School Department. We
know that the General Conference of 1876 legislated
expressly in regard to them; and consequently we
find them in the Discipline of that quadrennium. But
what was done with them in 1880, it is exceedingly
hard to find out. If we consult the minutes of that
Conference, we are told almost nothing, either pro
or con, in relation to them; save the election of
Rev. B. W. Watson as Commissioner of Education.
But if we consult the present Discipline, we find
that both the Departments under consideration have
been left out. Therefore it is not within our power
to tell, as we have said, the exact status of these
two Departments. Of course, nothing that is hem
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
said in any way refers to the present Sunday School
Union. This, I take it for granted you know, has
been organized by the Bishops since the session of
the last General Conference. And yet for the reason
that the Educational Department was so far recog¬
nized as to elect a Commissioner, and that the
Commissioner has been recognized, we purpose to
account it as still existing; and the same is to be
said of the Sunday School Union in view of the
present condition of that branch. Answering there
fore your question directly, my reply is, we have a
Financial Department, a Publishing Department, a
Missionary Department, an Educational Depart¬
ment and a Sunday School Department.
2. In the order in which you have named them,
will you not tell me something of each one of these?
I will. The first Department mentioned was the
Financial. This is the Department which has in
charge the finances of the general Church. It was
first established, at least as we have it now, in 1872.
Its first secretary was the Rev. John H. W. Burley,
who was re-elected in 1876. After his 'decease, the
Rev. J. C. Embry was called to fill the position by
the Board, and his management of it was eminently
successful. • The General Conference of 1880, how¬
ever, elected Rev. B. W. Arnett to the position.
3. How is this Department managed ?
As we have already told you (see doings of the
Sixteenth General Conference) by a Financial Board
composed of nine members : five Itinerant Elders,
the Financial Secretary and three laymen: with
headquarters at Nashville, Tenn.
4. Give me the names, will you, of the members
of this Board ?
From the First Episcopal District is Rev. W. C.
Banton, fat the time of election, he was layman);
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CHURCH. I\y
from the Second, Rev. James A. Handy; from the
Third, the Financial Secretary himself, Rev. B. W.
Arnett; from the Fourth, Rev. John M. Wilkerson;
from the Fifth, Rev. Geo. H. Shaffer; from the
Sixth, Rev. Wesley J. Gaines; from the Seventh,
Rev. Jos. E. Lee, also a layman at the time of
appointment; from the Eighth, L.T. Montgomery;
from the Ninth, Rev. W. R. Carson.
5. What is the object of this Department?
It is to receive and pay out the moneys collected
for the purpose of sustaining {a.) efficient Bishops;
(^.) General Officers ; (c.) help the Publishing De¬
partment ; id) aid colleges ; (e.) aid missions ; (f)
relieve widows and orphans of deceased ministers;
(g.) aid Church extension.
6. Has the Church contributed much for these
purposes ?
In the eleven years of the Department's existence
$311,372.11 have been given.
7. The next Department you named was the
Publishing; please tell something of it. When was
it organized ?
The fact is, it was organized, at least it was de¬
cided upon, in the Convention that organized the
Church. In the Discipline of 1817, the first edi¬
tion, we find the following : " The profits of all the
books published by the authority of the General
Conference in Convention, shall go to the support
of the travelling ministers, as the Annual Confer¬
ences from time to time may think proper. There
shall be two Book Stewards appointed to conduct
the printing and the sale of the books. They shall
make return of the money to the treasurer, who
shall be appointed by the General Conference or
Convention; and after paying the expenses, the
treasurer shall forward on the profits of the books
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
to the different Annual Conferences. There shall
be an equal dividend between the said Annual Con¬
ferences respectively."
8. Has the Church ever been without this De¬
partment ?
Never; it has always been one of its fixed insti¬
tutions.
9. What have you to say of it now ?
It is likely that it is flourishing now as it never
did before. At least it ought to be.
10. What do you mean by that ?
I mean to say that in view of the intellectual
progress the Church has made, it ought to be more
flourishing now than ever; and I think it is.
11. What are the financial figures of the last
annual report presented by Manager Theo. Gould ?
The total receipts were $14,046.85 ; the total ex¬
penses $13,971.85.
12. What have you to say of the publications,
the " Christian Recorder " and the " Child's Re¬
corder " ?
Of the former we are sending out in round
numbers four thousand copies weekly; of the
iatter, twenty thousand copies monthly.
13. What did the Editor say in that last report ?
We quote his own words :
" No year since our connection with the ' Chris¬
tian Recorder ' has its circulation been so wide and
its contents so varied as the year just passed. A
glance at our books will show that it has gone to
England, to the continent of Europe, to Africa, t >
Asia, to Australia, to the West Indies, to the
Dominion of Canada; and to each of the states and
territories of our own country. As to those who
have contributed to its columns, we can point to
departments of the church. 119
writers, irrespective of race, color, or previous con¬
dition. We have had Bishops, Elders, Deacons
and Preachers ; we have had College Presidents
and Professors ; we have had Editors and Lawyers;
we have had Congressmen and Statesmen ; we have
had even an ex-President of the United States.
These have all so enriched our columns as to make
the ' Recorder1 that necessity, at least to the
thoughtful, for which in the earlier years of its
existence we used so earnestly to plead."
14. You mentioned, thirdly, the Missionary De¬
partment ; what of it ?
The same is to ba said of it that is said of the
Publishing Department; the Church has never
been without it. In the first edition of the Disci¬
pline we find a whole section devoted to it.
15. As you would not care to give the whole
section (two pages), tell me the burden of it ?
It was made obligatory upon all pastors to take up
an annual collection, " and if expedient, a quarterly
one," and send the same to the Annual Conference,
saying that " in carrying on so large a work through
the continent, there are calls for money in various
ways, and we must frequently be at considerable
expense, or the work must stop."
16. Is this all the provision the Fathers made ?
No : they ordered a public missionary collection
to be lifted at every Annual Conference and at
every General Conference.
17. What have you to say of this Department now?
Bishop Shorter is President of the Society, and
Rev. James M. Townsend is the Corresponding
Secretary. It has also a Board of Managers.
18. In the Missionary Annual of 1883, what does
Secretary Townsend say of the work at home, of
the work in Hayti, and of the work in Africa?
120
OUTLINES OF HISTOR,
Of the home work, the Secretary says: " Possi¬
bly, in no one year of our history, have we done so
much substantial work. Within the Conference
boundaries, two hundred and nineteen missions
have been formed, and a surprisingly large number
of mission churches built or purchased." Of Hayti,
he says : " The Haytien work is succeeding, despite
the many hindrances, the greatest of which is
our failure to erect the Mission House * * We
have collected one half the purchase money, and if
one-half the subscriptions outstanding be paid, our
house can be shipped and ready for occupancy by
the first of January, 1884." Of Africa, he says:
" The African missions are at present in the hands
of native preachers. Arrangements are being made
to send over at least two missionaries this coming
year."
19. How much missionary money has the Church
contributed during the year?
Secretary Townsend reports a total of $ 13,644.56.
20. What have you to say of the Educational
Department ?
I regret that very little can be said, for very little
has been done.
21. But you do not intend to say that this great
Church of yours has done nothing for Education ?
Oh no: do not understand me to say that; fo
What then would become of the forty years and
more Bishop,Payne has given to this work? We
are doing a vast deal. But you inquired after the
Educational Department.
22. Tell me then, will you, of this vast deal you
say you are doing ?
Well, we have Wilberforce University located
near Xenia, Ohio; we have Allen University located
at Columbia, S. C.; and we have Paul Quinn col-
departments of the church. 121
lege located at Waco, Texas; with a number of
minor schools really too numerous to mention.
23. Tell me something of these schools respec¬
tively, will you ?
Wilberforce is to be ranked first. It was bought
from the Methodist Episcopal Church in the year
1863 by Bishop D. A. Payne, for the sum of
$10,000.
24. Who is President of Wilberforce ?
The present President is Rev. B. F. Lee, Bishop
Payne having resigned in 1876.
25. Has it much of a Faculty?
Its Faculty is as follows : President, Rev. B. F.
Lee, D.D.; Professor of Mathematics, J. P. Shorter,
A.M.; Professor of Greek and Latin, W. S. Scar¬
borough, LL. D.; Miss E. R. George, Lady Princi¬
pal ; Mrs. W. S. Scarborough, Principal of Normal
Department and Instructor in French and Natural
Sciences; Teacher of Instrumental Music, Miss
Augusta E. Clark ; General Agent, Rev. John G.
Mitchell, D. D.
26. What particular thing have you to say of
Professor W. S Scarborough ?
In so far as our information goes, he is the only
"Anglo-Negro in the world who ever wrote a Greek
Grammar.
27. But has his Grammar any standing among
scholars ?
It has; being highly complimented by many,
and accepted as a text book by a few. Among the
last we mention the Professors of Antioch Col¬
lege, Yellow Springs, Ohio.
28. What does your Church do to support this
University?
It contributes from the Church treasury $2,000
a year.
122
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
29. Allen University, I believe, ranks next. I
should like to know something of it.
It is located at Columbia, S. C., and not a little
of the credit for it is to be given to Bishop Dicker-
son, who rallied around him the really strong men
of South Carolina.
30. Where is it located, did you say ?
Quite close to Columbia, S. C. The main build¬
ing originally cost $12,000. It stands upon four
acres of ground, beautifully located. Aside from
the main building there are also'five cottages.
31. What have you to say of the Faculty ?
Rev. J. C. Waters, D.D., is President, assisted by
Professor J. W. Morris, and D. Augustus Straker
as Dean of the Law Department.
32. Paul Quinn College is located in Texas, is it
not?
Yes; at Waco.
33. When was it opened ?
In April, 1882. Its Faculty is as follows : Bish¬
op R. H. Cain, D.D., President; Principal and
Professor of Mathematics and the Natural Sci¬
ences, Rev. I. M. Burgan, B.D.; Professor of
Theology, Rev. Richard Harper, B.D. Miss Edith
S. Gaines is Lady Principal and Teacher in -Normal
Department; Mrs. Sarah C. Harper is Matron and
Principal in Industrial Department; Miss Mary A.
Jones is Instructor in Music.
34. Have you any information to give in regard
to the other schools of the Church ?
I have not. It is sufficient to say, however, that
we have scarcely a Conference in the South but is
aiming to have within reach of its children some
Church school. Among these, I know of none
more promising than the Bishop Ward Academy,
located at Huntingdon, Texas, and opened during
departments of the church. 123
lie last months of the last year; and the proposed
school at Atlanta, Ga.
35- Edified and really cheered at the educational
outlook of your Church, I should like much to be
informed of the Sunday-School Union ?
Yes; it was given to the Church, at least as it
now exists, by the Bishops, as the result of a coun¬
cil they held at Cape May in the. summer of 1882.
36. Has it formally been accepted by the
Church ?
It has ; that is in so far as such a thing can be
done independently of the General Conference.
Thirty-four Conferences have voted in favor of it.
Indeed no Conference has as yet rejected it, and I
imagine never will.
37. Was there really any opposition to it ?
I think not; there was somewhat of a contro¬
versy as to the way it was brought about.
38. What success has attended it ?
Very great: the Sunday-schools everywhere re¬
sponding.
39. Who is President of it ?
Bishop D. A. Payne, LL.D. The Corresponding
Secretary is the Rev. C. S. Smith.
40. How is it proposed to manage it ?
By a Board of Managers consisting of one
minister and one layman from each of the nine
Episcopal Districts.
41. How much money was collected during the
first six months of its existence?
The Secretary reported $1839.
42. What two publications has he undertaken ?
" Our Sunday-School Review," and the "Jubilee
Gem."
43. What have you to say of this Department ?
124
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
As with others, if wisely administered it" ought
to do a much needed work.
CHAPTER IV.
CHURCH OFFICES.
Question i. I should like much to know some¬
what of the offices of your Church: how they are
constituted, together with the powers, if any, with
which they are vested?
Anszver. Well sir, I will be pleased to tell you
about them.
2. What is the first and highest office in your
Church ?-
That of Bishop.
3. What is the second ?
That of Elder.
4. And the third ?
That of Deacon.
5. And the fourth ?
That of the licentiate or minister unordained.
6. And the fifth ?
That of Exhorters.
7. Are these all the offices ?
Oh no : we have still others.
8. What are they ?
Well, we have a class of officers known as Local
preachers.
9. Will you tell me of these ?
I will: but not just now. Let me finish number¬
ing the offices.
10. After the various orders of ministers, what
then ?
CHURCH OFFICES.
125
Well, we rank Class Leaders next.
11. And after the Class Leaders, what?
Then come the Stewards-
12. I suppose these are all ?
No; we have Trustees.
13. How about Sunday School Superintendents?
In view of the fact that they are members of the
Quarterly Conference, they should also be counted.
14. I understand you then to say that in the
ministration of your Church, you have the offices of
Bishop, Elder, Deacon, Preacher, Leader, Steward,
Trustee and Sunday School Superintendent ?
Precisely.
15. Having told me of the offices, I would be
delighted to know how they are filled and what is
the power vested in each. The office of a Bishop,
how is it filled ?
It is filled by action of the General Conference.
16. How is this done?
The person who gets the highest vote is declared
elected.
17. What then ?
After his election, he is consecrated or ordained.
"18. How is this done?
Would you know in full, turn to Discipline Part
IV., Chapter VI., Section 3.
19. Can you not give me in brief, some idea of
the ceremony ?
Oh yes: a Bishop and six Elders place their
hands upon the head of the kneeling candidate and
pronounce his elevation to Episcopal authority.
20. What are the peculiar powers of a Bishop ?
The powers of a Bishop are only such as the
General Conference bestows. It is, of course, to be
understood that the General Conference has not
r 26
.UTLINES OF HISTORY.
power to abolish the Episcopacy, nor to destroy
the plan of our Itinerant General Superintendency.
Everything' else, however, relating to the Bishops,
comes under the control of the General Conference
As to their power, it has been greater in some
Quadrenniums than in others.
21. What is it in the present Quadrennium?
The powers of a Bishop in the present Quadren¬
nium are (a) to preside in all the Conferences, (b)
to affix the appointments in conjunction with the
Presiding Elders, (c) to change, receive and suspend
preachers (in the interval of Conference) according
to laws regulating the same, (d) to decide all ques¬
tions of law in the Annual Conference, (e) to travel
through his district, (/) to oversee the spiritual and
temporal business of our societies.
22. These, I understood you, are the positive
powers granted to the Bishops; are these all?
No ; according to the act of the General Confer¬
ence the Bishop may, when requested, {a) appoint
teachers in any schools of the Church ; (b) appoint
agents for the benefit of embarrassed Churches and
literary institutions.
23. Has the General Conference specifically
named some things a Bishop must not do ?
It has, and among them we find him forbidden
(a) to allow any minister to remain in the same
charge or in the same city longer than four con¬
secutive years, (b) to apply the law which shall only
be done by the Annual Conference, (c) to allow
a preacher to remain in any charge "where the
evidences are presumptive that his continuance will
be deleterious to the prosperity of the Church," (d)
to remove a preacher from the bounds of his District
without at least three months' notice, (e) to transfer
a preacher from one Conference to another without
CHURCH OFFICES.
127
a certificate, (/) he shall not rule out anything that
comes up in regular order as a motion, unless the
question of its propriety is first raised by the body
itself, (£-) he shall not confine his Episcopal prero¬
gatives to his own District, (//) he shall not cease
from travelling.
24. How is the office of Elder filled?
By the Annual Conference.
25. How is this done ?
By the majority of the Conference voting in favor
of the candidate declared eligible by the committee
that examined him.
26. What then ?
After his election he is ordained.
27. How is this done?
I must refer you to Discipline, Part IV., Chap.
VI., Sec. II.
28. In brief what is it?
The Bishop of the Conference and the Elders
who examined him place their hands upon his head
and announce his elevation to the authority and
duties of the eldership.
29. What is the peculiar authority of an elder ?
Like the Bishop, his power is only what the
General Conference gives. As at present he is (a)
to take charge of all the ministers and people found
within his work (b) to preside in all his Quarterly
Conferences in the absence of the Bishop or Presid¬
ing Elder (c) to see that every part of the Disci¬
pline is enforced (d) to attend to the Bishop when
present and inform him when absent of the condi¬
tion of his work (e) he shall travel and labor through
his charge, performing all the functions of his of¬
fice as opportunity may present (f) to meet the
societies, classes and boards.
128
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
30. Are these all ?
Oh no; there are many more duties laid out for
him to do, but I must refer you to the Discipline,
Part II., Chap. II., Sec. III.
31. Is there anything specially forbidden him?
Yes, he shall not employ a preacher who has
been rejected by the Annual Conference. He shall
not cease to travel without cpnsent of the Annual
Conference.
32. How is the office of Deacon filled ?
By an election of the Annual Conference.
33. What then?
By the imposition of the hands of a Bishop.
34. What is the peculiar authority or duty of a
Deacon ?
Very similar to those of an Elder, save the con¬
secration of the elements at Communion. The re¬
lation he sustains to his Elder is quite similar to
the relation the Elder sustains to the Bishop. But
I beg to refer you to Discipline, Part II., Chap. II.,
Sec. IV.
35. How is the office of a licentiate, or unordained
preacher, filled ?
By vote of the society or Church.
36. How is this brought about?
The minister in charge shall call a special meet¬
ing of the society for that purpose.
37. What then ?
If the society or the majority of them vote favora¬
bly, the Pastor must give a' recommendation or
note certifying to this fact.
38. And then what?
This recommendation must be presented to the
Quarterly Conference, where the question is asked:
Are there any applications for license to preach ?
CHURCH OFFICES.
129
39. But is the candidate not examined ?
Most certainly, and most rigidly, too; at least it
ought to be rigid.
40. What is the nature of this examination ?
You must pardon me for answering this question
at length, for it is of fundamental importance.
41. I am glad that you so regard it—but the
examination ?
I quote from the Discipline : " Lot the following
questions be asked those who think they are moved
by the Holy Ghost to preach:
a. Do they know God as a pardoning God ?
Have they the love of God abiding in them ? Do
they desire and seek nothing but God ? Are they
holy in all manner of conversation ?
b. Have they gifts, as well as graces for the work?
Have they, in some tolerable degree, a clear, sound
understanding, a right judgment in the things of
God ? A j ust conception of salvation by faith ?
And has God given them any degree of utterance ?
Do they speak readily, j ustly and clearly ?
c. Have they fruit ? are any truly convinced of
sin, and converted to God by their preaching ?
42. Is this all ?
No; they must be examined at the same time
touching their acquaintance with the doctrines of
our Church, and upon the course of studies laid
down.
43. If the Quarterly Conference is satisfied with
the examination, what do they do ?
They say so, by voting for the applicant.
44. Supposing them so to vote, what must the
pastor do ?
He must give the applicant the following:
"This is to certify, that the bearer, A. B., is
licensed to preach in the African Methodist Epis-
6*
130
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
copal Church. Signed in behalf of the Quarterly-
Conference of said Church, to be renewed once a
year,, so long as his life corresponds with the gos¬
pel, and he submit to the rules of the Discipline of
said Church. Given under my hand.
D. E., Minister.
45. So then it is the people who make preachers,
is it?
Precisely, and this should always be remembered;
for too many have the idea, that it is the Conference
that makes them.
46. What does the Conference do ?
It simply makes choice of those sent up to it by
the people.
47. Do you not think then the people ought to
be very careful when they vote to fill the office of
a preacher ?
I certainly do; more careful than I sometimes
think they are.
48. But tell me how one gets into the Annual
Conference after he is licensed ?
By vote of the Conference itself; or in the inter¬
val by a Bishop or Elder.
49. Is the action of the Bishop or Elder in the
interval final ?
Oh no; the final disposition of it shall be with
the Annual Conference.
50. Can the candidate simply of his own mind,
go up to Conference and apply for admission ?
No: he must " first procure a recommendation
from the Quarterly meeting of his station or cir¬
cuit."
51. What is the form of that recommendation ?
It reads something after this manner.
church offices.
To the Bishop and Members of the Annual
Conference of the A. M. E. Church.
Dear Father and Brethren :—We the mem¬
bers of the Quarterly Conference of the
Station, being acquainted with the gifts, graces and
usefulness, and having implicit confidence in the
Christian integrity of our brother, , do
hereby recommend him as a suitable person to be
admitted on trial in the traveling Connection, he
having been carefully examined by us on the sub¬
ject of Doctrines and Discipline.
Done at a Quarterly Conference, held in the
above named Charge, , 188 , and signed by
order and in behalf of said Quarterly Conference.
, Elder in Charge.
, Secretary.
52. Supposing him to have been received, what
note is given him by the Bishop ?
The following:
"To A. B. You think it your duty to call sin¬
ners to repentance. Make full proof of it, and we
shall rejoice to receive you as a fellow-laborer."
53. Are we to understand this to be final", as to
his reception ?
By no means; this simply admits him on proba¬
tion or trial.
54. But how long is this probation or trial to
last ?
Two years.
55. After this, what?
He will then be examined again, and if he be
approved, he may be received into full Connection.
56. Is there any special form for such reception ?
There is.
57. What is it?
132
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
You must again pardon me for the length of my
answer, but so vital is this question of constituting'
religious teachers for a people that I feel fully justi¬
fied in it. The form as given in the Discipline is :
After solemn prayer, every person proposed shall
then be asked before the Conference the following
questions, (with any other which may be thought
necessary) viz.: Have you faith in Christ? Are
you going on to perfection ? Do you expect to be
made perfect in this life ? Are you groaning after it ?
Are you resolved wholly to devote yourself to God
and His work? Do you know the rules of the so¬
ciety ? Of the bands ? Do you keep them ? Do
you constantly attend the sacrament? Have you
read the Form of Discipline? Are you willing to
conform to it? Have you considered the rules of
a preacher, especially the first, tenth, and twelfth ?
Will you keep them for conscience' sake ? Are you
determined to employ all your time in the work of
God? Will you endeavor not to speak too long or
too loud ? Will you instruct the children in every
place? Will you visit from house to house ? Will
you recommend fasting or abstinence both by pre¬
cept and example ? Are you in debt ?
58. Be kind enough to tell me what these, first,
tenth and twelfth rules are to which special refer¬
ence is made?
The first is: Be diligent, never be unemployed,
never be triflingly employed, never trifle away any
time; neither spend any more time at any place
than is strictly necessary.
The tenth : Be punctual. Do everything exactly
at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep
them ; not for wrath bgt for conscience' sake.
The twelfth: Act in all things not according to
your own will, but as a son in the Gospel. A«
CHURCH OFFICES.
133
such it is your duty to employ your time in the
manner which we direct; in preaching and visiting
from house to house; in reading, meditation and
prayer. Above all, if you labor with us in the
vineyard of the Lord, it is necessary you should do
that part of the work which we advise, at those
times and places which we judge most for his glory.
59. All being satisfactory, what then ?
The following Form is placed by the Bishop in
his hand:
" As long as you freely consent to and earnestly
endeavor to walk by these rules, we shall rejoice to
acknowledge you as a fellow-laborer."
60. You must allow me to express not only my
gratification but my great surprise at the many and
intricate steps necessary to be taken before one can
become a simple licentiate preacher in a Methodist
Conference. I am sure it is not generally under¬
stood.
- That is so. The majority of people seem to
think that next to nothing is necessary to fill the
office of a preacher in our Church. On the con- ,
trary, if the rules were rigidly observed it would
be a most difficult thing.
61. Just name in order the steps taken, will
you ?
I will: Before one can become a preacher among
us, he must be examined and endorsed (1.) By the
Church generally and at a called meeting for that
special purpose. He must be examined and en¬
dorsed (2.) By the Quarterly Conference of his
Church. He must be examined and endorsed (3.)
By the Annual Conference. He must travel for
two years, and (4.) again be examined and endorsed;
and (5.) he must again travel two more years and
again be examined by the Annual Conference, and
134
OUTLINE , F HISTORY.
again endorsed; and I might as well s ly here
that after his reception into full connection he
must travel two full years before he can be eligible
to the deaconate and then two more before he can
be eligible to the office of Elder At least eight
or ten years must be spent before he can come out
what I might call a full fledged minister.
62. I see what you say to be true, and in view
of it, is it not strange that we do not have greate'
intelligence among the ministry of our Church ?
I confess that it is.
63. But will you not proceed with the rest of the
offices ?
I will; but .allow me to refer you to what the
Discipline has to say on the " Duty of Preachers to
God. themselves and one another," Part II., Chap.
II., Sec. XII-XIV.
64. The next office, what is it ?
The office to be filled after the preacher is that
of Exhorter.
65. What must the candidate for license to ex¬
hort do ?
He must bring to the Quarterly Meeting Confer¬
ence a recommendation from the class of which he
is a member certifying their belief in his fitness for
the work. Upon the reception of this recommen¬
dation the Quarterly Conference proceeds to ex¬
amine him. Supposing him to pass the examine:
tion creditably a license is given by. the pastor.
66. Has an Exhorter any peculiar powers or
duties in the Church ?
Oh, yes; while he is not allowed to take a text
and preach, yet he is expected to exhort the people
to righteous living. Aside from teaching in the
Sunday-school, he is expected to lead the prayer
CHURCH OFFICES.
135
meetings, and do such spiritual work as the pastor
may direct.
67. Who are the Class Leaders in your Church ?
A Class Leader is one whom the preacher in
charge appoints to lead—really to instruct—a cer¬
tain number of the members. The real idea, is the
pastor finding it impossible to meet all the members
and give them the personal attention they require,
appoints a deputy, as it were, to go among them as
his representative. But I invite you to read Disci¬
pline, Part I., chapter iii.
. 68. What do you think of the idea of having the
Classes elect their own leaders ?
It should not be thought of; so subversive is it,
not only of the old landmarks, but of the harmon¬
ious adjustment of power.
69. Who are the Stewards ?
As the Leader is the representative of the minis¬
ter in things spiritual, the Steward is his represent¬
ative in things material, as you will now fully see
by consulting Discipline, Part V., chapter iv.,
section 1.
70. How are Stewards made ?
They are nominated by the pastor, and confirmed
by the Quarterly Conference.
71. Have they any special power ?
They have not.
. 72. But have you not Stewardesses ?
We have. The Sisters of the Church composing
them are nominated by the minister, and they are
confirmed by the Stewards.
73. What are their duties ?
They are to " assist the Stewards in the discharge
of their duties."
136
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
74. We come now to Trustees ; what have you
to say of them ?
They are the officers provided for in our economy
to look after the purely temporal affairs of the
Church.
75. How are they constituted ?
When the law of the State does not provide a
method, they are elected by the members of the
Church.
76. May all the members vote ?
They may according to Discipline. The words
are: " Every member in full communion in the
Churth, if twenty-one years of age and upwards,
shall be an elector."
77. But come; do I understand you to say that
women may vote in a Trustee's election ?
According to Discipline they may, in keeping
with the decision of the Thirteenth General Con¬
ference (1868).
78. What are the specific duties of Trustees ?
They are (a.) to guard all the real estate owned
by the people in their names ; (b ) they are to im¬
prove the same when so ordered 'by the people;
(<c.) to prepare a house for the preacher.
79. Who is the Disciplinary Chairman of this
Board ?
The minister in charge.
80. What have you to say of the Sunday-School
Superintendent ?
According* to the constitution for the guidance
of our Sunday Schools, the pastors of our Churches
are declared the Superintendents in chief. But in
addition, the same constitution provides for another
Superintendent to be elected by the teachers.
81. Do I understand you then to say, that each
CONCLUSION.
137
of our schools has two chief Superintendents, for I
see mention is made of a Superintendent elected by
the teachers ?
The idea plainly is, that the pastor shall simply
exercise a general snperintendency over the school
as he does over every other portion of the Church.
Having agreed with the Superintendent whom
the teachers had elected and whom he had con¬
firmed, as to the hours of "holding the school ses¬
sions," he shall allow him to "perform the usual
duties" of the office: except that of presiding at
the teachers' meeting when the pastor is present.
CONCLUSION.
Question 1. I scarcely need tell you, how inter¬
ested I have been in what you have been telling
me of your history and government; but there is a
general phase of the subject upon which I should
like: to hear you speak. I refer to the fact that
your Church is largely, if not entirely colored.
What have you to say of that?
Answer. It is true our Church is as you say,
largely, if not entirely colored: but we are in no
sense responsible for that.
2. How so ?
Plainly enough. A man or an organization should
only be responsible for that which they forbid.
Our Church does not forbid white people to join;
but on the contrary, is pleased to see them worship
with us and join, even as they do in many places.
But our Church is no more a colored Church, than
are the white Churches white.
3. That is true. But you know God does not
look upon the color of the skin, but'upon the heart.
Do you not think that churches should unweariedly
labor to take away this reproach ?
I3»
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
I certainly do. Bat somehow people have got
the idea that only the colored Churches are race
Churches and so should be the first to disband. I
wish it once for all to be known, that a colored
Church has just as much right to exist as a white
Church.
4. But how do you reconcile the fact that you favor
breaking up colored schools and do not favor
breaking up colored Churches ?
The two institutions are entirely different. If the
Church was of the State, like the public schools,
then I should say abolish them, just I say abolish
colored schools. But it is not. In our country the
Church is entirely separate, and each man worships
or refuses to worship, as suits him. In no way,
shape or form does it interfere with religion.
Not so with schools and education. The govern¬
ment or State takes this under its own control, it
builds the houses, elects the teachers and makes
the people pay for it. If it did this with religion I
would say at once, let us have but one class of
Churches; but as I have said, it does not. It al¬
lows every man his own way in regard to this;
and the people of all classes have gladly accepted
this fact. They have no wish for the government
to meddle with religion, but a very strong one that
it will keep its hands off. In the enjoyment of
this right and rather than be insulted and mal
treated in white Churches, the fathers of the present
generation of American colored people, organized
Churches for themselves. These Churches still ex¬
ist and will for years and years to come; at least
until color prejudice both pro and con. shall cease.
5. Will that ever be?
Not in your time nor mine. It must, however,
eventually come, for the Scriptures speak of the
CONCLUSION
139
time when " The wolf also shall dwell with the
lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid ;
and the calf and the young lion and the fading to¬
gether ; and a little child shall lead them. And'
the cow and the bear shall feed ; their young ones
shall lie down together ; and the lion shall eat straw¬
like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on:
the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put:
his hand on the cockatrice's den; They shall riClT
hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain ; for the
earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea."—Isa. xi: 6—9.
6. What is your interpretation of this ?
It plainly refers to gospel times, and means that
men of all races, and nations, and communities
shall show how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity.
APPENDIX.
In the early annals of Philadelphia, as these relate to the
Colored people, no association attracts more attention and
deservedly so, than the Free African Society, the preamble
and articles of association of which is presented below:
PREAMBLE OF THE FREE AFRICAN SOCIETY.
The following is a copy of the Preamble and Articles of
the Association, with the names of the First Signers.
'' Philadelphia.''
" [i2th, 4th mo., 1778.]—Whereas, Absalom Jones and
Richard Allen, two men of the African race, who, for their
religious life and conversation have obtained a good report
among men, these persons, from a love to the people of
their complexion whom they beheld with sorrow, because of
their irreligious and uncivilized state, often communed
together upon this painful and important subject in order to
form some kind of religious society, but there being too few
to be found under the like concern, and those who were,
differed in their religious sentiments; with these circum¬
stances they labored for some time, till it was proposed,
after a serious communication of sentiments, that a society
chould be formed, without regard to religious tenets, pro¬
vided, the persons lived an orderly and sober life, in order
to support one another in sickness, and for the benefit of
their widows and fatherless children."
articles.
"[17th, 5th mo., 1787.]—We, the free Africans and their
descendants, of the City of Philadelphia, in the State of
Pennsylvania, or elsewhere, do unanimously agree, for the
benefit of each other, to advance one shilling in silver
Pennsylvania currency a month; and after one year's sub¬
scription from the date hereof, then to hand forth to the
needy of this Society, if any should require, the sum of
140
APPENDIX.
141
three shillings and nine pence per week of the said money:
provided, this necessity is not brought on them by their own
imprudence.
And it is further agreed, that no drunkard nor disorderly,
person be admitted as a member, and if any should prove;
disorderly after having been received, the said disorderly-
person shall be disjointed from us if there is not an amend¬
ment, by being informed by two of the members, without
having any of his subscription money_returned.
And if any should neglect paying His monthly subscrip¬
tion for three months, and after having been informed of
the same by two of the members, and no sufficient reason
appearing for such neglect, if he do not pay the whole the
next ensuing meeting, he shall be disjointed from us, by-
being informed by two of the members as an offender,
without having any of his subscription money returned. ,
Also, if any person neglect meeting evfiry fur
every omission he shall pay three pence, except in case of
sickness or any other complaint that should require the
assistance of the Society, then, and in such a case, he shall
be exempt from the fines and subscription during the said
sickness.
Also, we apprehend it to be just and reasonable, that the
surviving widow of a deceased member should enjoy the
benefit of this Society so long as she remains his widow,
complying with the rules thereof, excepting the subscriptions.
And we apprehend it to be necessary, that the children of
our deceased members be under the care of the Society, so
far as to pay for the education of their children, if they
cannot attend the free school; also to put them out appren¬
tices to suitable trades or places, if required.
Also, that no member shall convene the Society together;
but, it shall be the sole business of the committee, and that
only on special occasions, and to dispose of the money in
hand to the best advantage for the use of the Society, after
they are granted the liberty at a monthly meeting, and to
transact all other business whatsoever, except that of Clerk
and Treasurer.
And we unanimously agree to choose Joseph Clarke to be
our Clerk and Treasurer; and whenever another should
succeed him, it is always understood, that one of the people
called Quaker's, belonging to one of the three monthly
meetings in Philadelphia, is to be chosen to act as Clerk
and Treasurer of this useful Institution.
The following persons met, viz., Absalom Jones, Richard
Allen, Samuel Baston, Joseph Johnson, Cato Freeman,
142
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
Caesar Cranchell and James Potter, also William White,
whose early assistance and useful remarks we found truly
profitable. This evening the articles were read, and after
some beneficial remarks were made, they were agreed unto.'.
The position our first Bishop held in that Society, was
that of a leader: as may readily be seen at glancing over
its minutes, as they appear in Douglass " Annals of the
First African Church." But he did not long work with
them; owing to the fact that the Society decided to accept
the silence of the Friends as the method of opening its
meeting. How his disuniting himself from the Society was
looked upon by his brethren, may be seen below—the time
is May 16th, 1789.
"The Committee brought in a report concerning Richard
Allen so abruptly leaving the Society, and rashly calling,
or convening the members together, contrary to the rules of
the Society, but as some tenderness appeared towards him,
it was concluded to pay him another visit in brotherly love,
and report their sense thereof at the next meeting." Ap¬
pended to this, is the following record: "Having had the
satisfactory company of some Friends, and the business
gone through with love and condescension, it is agreed to
adjourn to the usual time next month."
"At a monthly meeting of the Free African Society for
the benefit of the sick, h(eld in Philadelphia, at Friends'
" ie African School House, the 20th of the 6th month,
789, the Committee brought in a testification against
j^icharc Allen, which, being twice deliberately read, was
approved, and is as follows, viz.:
We, L1 e Society of Free Africans in the City of Philadel¬
phia, h' <ing, according to discipline established among us,
long tre'.Led with Richard Allen, one of our members, for
attempung to sow division among us, and endeavoring to
convince him of his error in so doing, and of the breach of
good order which he has thtreby commitfed, but finding
him refractory, and declaring that he no longer considers
himself a member of our Society, do find it our duty to
declare that he has disunited himself from membership
with us by refusing to submit himself to the rules of the
Society and to attend our meeting, and he is accordingly
disunited until he shall come to a sense of his conduct a'nd
APPENDIX.
143
request to be admitted a member according to our disci¬
pline. Signed by the Committee, viz.:
Wm. White, Caesar Worthington, Cesar Thomas,
Henry Stewart, Peter Miller, Nathan Gray, Mark
Stevenson."
We present here, what is beyond all question, the oldest
documents relating to our Church. As they have never be¬
fore been published we have peculiar pleasure in presenting
them:—
We, the Trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, viz.: William Hogin, Richard Allen, Jonathan Trus¬
tee, John Morris, Jupiter Gibson, and Robert Green, having
a great desire to give our children and brethren instruction
in reading the Scriptures, have seriously thought of opening
a school on First Day, called Sunday, and to effect the same
have drawn up the following lines for Joseph Clark, in order
for him to lay the same before the teachers of the African
free schools, which-is as follows :
To the teachers of the African School, for free instruction
of the black people. We, the Trustees of the African Method¬
ist Episcopal Church, called Bethel, viz.: William Hogin,
Richard Allen, Jonathan Trustee, John Morris, Jupiter Gib¬
son, and Robert Green, being convened on matters of im¬
portance relative to. the education of the people of color, are
desirous of a First Day school being held in our Meeting
House in such manner that is shall not interfere with the
time of our Meeting, or worship. There has been a school
kept in said Meeting House last summer which was orderly
attended by about sixty scholars, under the care of Thomas
Miller,' deceased, and having seen the good effects of the
said school, are anxious to have a permanent school >.ept
in the said House so long as it may be found convenient or
agreeable. Signed by, order of the Board of Trustees, Rich¬
ard Allen, March, 1796.
We, the overseers and teachers of the First Day school,
being present, it was then concluded that a* night school
be opened for the further utility of the people of color, and
a solemnity attending, it was unanimously agreed that
an orderly night school should commence in the next moi.in,
beginning at the sixth hour on the First, or Second Day in
the said month. And it fully agreed that no disorderly per¬
son be admitted into said School.
The Overseers and Corporation, being present, who
use as follows, are desired to unite together as one Commit-
144
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
tee in supporting the order and dignity of that school or
schools that may be held in future in the African Methodist
Meeting House and endeavor to strengthen the hands of the
teachers.
"Corporations—William Hogin, Prince Pruins, Peter Lux,
John Morris, Jupiter Gibson, Richard Allen.
Overseers.—Thomas Stratton, Joseph Clark, John Burk.
Teachers.—Abe. Mathias, En. Sloan, Thomas Stratton,
T. Clark, Tahn Burk,1'Samuel Johnson, Israel Boke, Geo. Hall,
(Hale.)
The 26th of loth month, ijg6.
A Minute to be Handed to the Abolition Society
for the Convention.
The African Evening Free School, held at the African
Methodist Meeting House, in Philadelphia, in Sixth—is
kept very orderly, the scholars behaving in a becoming
manner, and their improvement beyond the teacher's expec¬
tations, their intellects appearing in every branch of learning
to be equal to those of the fairest complexion.
Teachers and Overseers.—Joseph Clark, Richard Allen,
Thomas Stratton, Abe. Mathias, John Burk, Enoch Sloan,
Geo. Hale, Israel Boke, Samuel Jones, Henry Holdship.
May 5th, 1794. A number of us, citizens of Philadelphia,
descendants of the African race, met together at the house
of Richard Allen, in order to consult together upon the best
and most eligible means to provide for ourselves a house
to meet in for religious worship agreeable to our own desire,
according to the light God, through grace, has given us—
separate from our white brethren—for reasons hereinafter
mentioned. It was proposed to purchase a frame that was
for sale at the time and remove it to a lot of ground that was
offered and appeared convenient for the above purpose.
Brothers Robert Green, Joseph Houston, William Hogin,
Isaac Miller, York Eyers, Anthony Robison and John Allen
should be a committee to superintend any matter they might
be called on to undertake respecting the above.
Present, Robert Green, Joseph Houston, William Hogin,
Isaac Miller, York Eyers, Anthony Robison, John Allen,
Richard Allen, Thomas Martin, Solomon Britenham, Prince
Pruence.
Philadelphia, May 13th, 1794. At a stated meeting of the
committee it was unanimously agreed to proceed to prepare
the frame for the purpose, and that the frame be put in order
t-- move it next Saturday. Brother Robert Green, for rea-
APPENDIX.
*45
sons which he rendered, resigned as a member of the com¬
mittee, and Brother Philip Jonston was chosen in his stead.
PUBLIC STATEMENT.
Whereas from time to time many inconveniences have
arisen from white people and people of color mixing together
in public assemblys, more particularly in places of public
worship, we have thought it necessary to provide for our¬
selves a convenient house to assemble in separate from our
white brethren.
1st. To obviate any offence our mixing with our white
brethren might give them.
2d. To preserve, as much as possible, from the crafty wiles
of the enemy our weak-minded brethren, from taking offence
at such partiality 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.
3d. That we might the more freely and fully hold the
faith in unity of spirit and the bonds of peace together, and
build each other up in our most holy faith.
Therefore we have associated to meet under the following
articles and regulations:
Article 1st. We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, in
the name and fear of God, do unite ourselves in Gospel fellow¬
ship and brotherly love.
2d. We do acquiesce and accord with the rules of the Me¬
thodist Episcopal. Church for our Church government and
discipline and with her creeds and articles for our faith.
3d. That we continue (and our successors for ever) in
union with the Methodist Episcopal Church, subject to the
government of the present Bishops, and their successors, in
all our ecclesiastical affairs and transactions (except in right
and proprietory of our house, which is to be governed as our
deed directs) as long as the present articles, creeds and disci¬
pline of said Church remain unaltered and unchanged, and/
except what is implied in the 7th article.
4th. That any alteration, or change, or addition we may
think necessary must be founded on Scripture, sound doc¬
trine, and approved of by the Bishop and other Elders uf
Church before it can be adopted.
5th. That all elections for officers, etc., shall be held by
Fallot of all the male members in close communion with us,
or as many of them as do attend, after being duly warned
thereto; the mode of warning to elections to be by giving
7
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
public notice thereof the second Sabbath before it is to be held
to the congregation when assembled.
6th. That we admit none into close connection with our
classes or to be enrolled as members on our books but de¬
scendants of the African race, in order they may have the
capacity to vote. Nevertheless we do not mean or intend
willfully or mentally anything bordering upon schism ; con¬
trary thereto we rejoice in the prospect of mutual fellowship
subsisting between our white brethren and us, and in reci¬
procally meeting each other in our most private means of
grace, as visiting brethren in Bands, classes and Love
Feasts.
7th. That if it shall please God to call forth among us any
person or persons endowed with gifts and graces to speak
for God, wc, by our representatives shall present him or
them to the Bishop or other Elder for ordination, in order
that he or they may administer the ordinance among us,
and that we retain a right within ourselves by a majority of
qualified voters to call any brother that appears to us ade¬
quate to the task to preach or exhort as a local preacher,
without the interference of Conference or any other person
or persons whatsoever, anything included in the 3d article,
to the contrary hereof, notwithstanding.
8th. That all temporal concerns of our Church be conduct¬
ed by our Trustees, unless when they may think it necessa¬
ry to call in the opinion of the Church, and then whatever
matter may be in suspense shall be decided by a majority of
legal voters, and, in case of an equal number of votes, to be
determined by lot in every case of like nature.
9th. That all matters of a spiritual nature concerning dis¬
cipline, admonition or reproof, in case of the disorderly, to
be decided as the rules of the Church and Scripture direct,
and also the mode of divine worship and administering the or¬
dinances, to be retained as they are now in use in the Church,
with the liberty of extempore prayer, praise and speaking
reserved to any that are moved thereto by the Spirit of God;
that class leaders be chosen by the preachers or public
speakers presiding, and the classes be conducted as hereto¬
fore in the Church.
loth. That as we have, by this union, in some measure dis¬
criminated ourselves, we think necessary to declare that we
have no other view therein but the glory of God and the
peace of the Church, by removing what was, in a measure,
treated and esteemed as a nuisance, on the one hand, and
an insult on the other, endeavoring, through grace, to avoid
the appearance of evil, and to seek peace with all men, es-
APPENDIX.
147
pecially them that are of the household of faith. Therefore
we pronounce ourselves a branch of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Furthermore, we have thought it expedient thus publicly
to subscribe to the articles of our faith,—1st, we receive the
Apostles' Creed verbatim, as it now stands received by the
Church. We receive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and
New Testaments as the revealed Word of God. We believe
they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof and instruction,
and that they testify of Jesus. We believe it our duty to
search them diligently, knowing that in them is the Word of
Life. We believe that God has made of one blood all the
nations of the earth, and that in consequence we are a
branch of the race of Adam, and that in him we are dead,
spiritually and that if we die corporally, without being born
again, we can in no wrise enter the kingdom of heaven. We
believe that as in Adam all died, so in Christ may all be
made alive; that the voice is to all men everywhere and of
every kind, teaching them that denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly
in this present world.
We believe God by His w Spirit all
men, everywhere, to repent; that there are obstinate and
disobedient men is to be lamented, for living and dying in
that state fixes their doom down to eternal ruin. But they
thaf obey the call do enjoy, according to the measure of their
faith, communion and fellowship with God, in Christ, through
the Holy Ghost, who worketh in them to will and to do, of
His own good pleasure, and (when their faith is in exercise,
and their hope lively) they know they are growing in grace
and in the knowledge and love of God, and their souls are
expanded with holy desire and longing after the lovely like¬
ness of Christ, they want to be formed therein, and to grow
up therein, untiil they come to the fullness of the measure,
and stature that was in Him, that being transformed into
His image, and made partakers of His death, they may
at last be waked up in His lovely likeness, to dwell with
Him forever in the unutterable glory and mansions He has
prepared for them. This we esteem the Christian privilege
and the final end of all that so run as to obtain the prize of
their high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We believe that the conditional declaration of our blessed
Lord, i. e., He that believeth shall be saved, is demonstra¬
tive of a free agency, but in order that we may the more
safely understand this, and be preserved from error herein,
is needful we compare common experience with the wa..
I4&
OUTLINES OF HISTOtiV.
in the exhortation : To-day if you will hear His
voice harden not your hearts. The glory of our conversion,
preserved to God by this declaration : Thou hast wrought all
our works in us. Free agency appears in the invitation,
" Come all ye that are weary," etc. Look unto me all ye ends
of the earth and be ye saved. Whosoever will, let him come
and take of the waters of Life freely. If any man will be my
disciple let him take up his cross and follow Me. But the
glory of our salvation>s preserved to God in the express de¬
claration, " No man cometh unto me exceptthe Father draw
him." It is God that worketh in us to will and to do of His
own good pleasure. Therefore we marvel not when we ad¬
vert to common experience (that man may work out his dam¬
nation). The most abandoned and profligate among men
justifys God cheerfully by acknowledging that at such a time
and in such a place he felt the drawing of the Father, and a
disposition to cleave to and serve the Lord—but have come
under the old reproach: " Ye have resisted the Holy Ghost,
but they that hearken to the voice of the Lordare like willows
planted by the water courses," growing in grace, but always
lamenting their barrenness; therefore, seeing Christ hi>
tasted death for every man and the Spirit is striving with evet y
man, or has strove with him, and from a sense that God is
(in this sense) a jealous God, declaring his Spirit shall not
also strive with the crooked and perverse. We believe that thy
com on their own heads, al¬
though the work of conversion is supernatural, because the
call is alike to all, and God is no respecter of persons ; there
fore we reprobate the idea that God willeth the death of any
particular sinner, individually, as some have said.
We believe that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the Word of God, and that they that are sent of God will be
justified by Him. We believe that repentance toward God,
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and holiness, without which
no man can seethe Lord in peace, are Uiiee of the principal
doctrines of the Gospel of God, our Saviour, through whose
propitiation a way is made for us to light and eternal
life. We believe that on faith, hope and love hang all
the law and the prophets, that they are the natural fruits
of the Spirit, but by the powerful operation of the Spirit
of God on the hearts of His children, and are introduced by
a sincere, godly repentance, wrought in the heart by divine
conviction of our fallen state by nature and actual trans¬
gression. We believe that the communion-and fellowship
between God and His children is as sensibly known and
felt in, and by them, spiritually, according to the measure
APPENDIX.
149
given them, as the enjoyment of any material good is known
and felt by the outward man ; by faith they lay hold of the
promises, and God in faithfulness fulfils them ; they dwell in
Christ and Christ in them ; in fine, they have the witness in
themselves that they are born of God. We believe that in the
last day the dead shall be raised and the quick shall be
changed; they that have done good, namely, they that
repented and believed, shall be taken into the New
Jerusalem and bask in the Beatific Vision for ever; and
they that rejected the Gospel shall go away or be banished,
into everlasting torment. Furthermore we believe that three
persons particularly expressed in the introduction of the A pos-
tles' Creed is one God, co-equal and co-eternal, of equal pow¬
er, and self-existence in the threefold capacity of God, the
Father, willing; God, the Son, assuming ; and God, the Holy
Ghost, perfecting the work of man's redemption. The eter¬
nity of the three—one God co-equal, the power, the essence
and cardinal virtues of the deity, co-equal and co-eternal.
We believe that in our natural state we are miserable
poor, blind and naked; that in us dwelleth no good thing;
that we are naturally prone to evil, as the sparks are to fly
upward ; for being born in sin and shapen in iniquity, our
desires and inclinations are earthly, sensual and devilish;
therefore, as men, we are at enmity with God, in our natural
state, and God as holy, just and true, is at enmity with jus.
We believe God can be just, and also the justifier of the un¬
godly, for we have an Advocate with Him who is made sin
for us, although He knew no sin, even Jesus Christ, the
righteous, who is a full and sufficient High Priest. Touched
with a sense of our infirmity, and after having made a full
and perfect sacrifice and oblation for the sins of the whole
world, by offering Himself freely a sacrifice for all, the atone¬
ment is adequate to the necessity we were in, and He is now
entered into the holy of holies for us, where His Priesthood
cannot fail, and is made of God unto us wisdom, righteous¬
ness, sanctification and redemption, having the testimony
of the Father that He is His beloved Son, in whom He is
well pleased.
Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 1794.
The following excerpt is from the first edition of Lorenzo
Dow's works (1816). In it we have, as it were, an outside
view of the events relating to the organization of our Church.
Dow himself was connected with the early Methodist Socie¬
ties, and being himself under the ban of their opinion, did
OUTLINES OF HIST^kV.
not hesitate to speak freely. The quotation is from his work
entitled, " On Church Government."
Is there any other " Methodist Bishop " in America ?
There is.
What is his name ?
Richard Allen—a man of color.
From whence came this man, and by what means and
authority was he ever constituted a Bishop ?
Richard Allen was born a slave—experienced religion
from the preaching of Freeborn Garretson—bought his free-
dom of his master, and then learned to read, etc.
Francis being jealous of his powsr, noticed Allen with a
watchful eye—and finally embargoed him to locate and be¬
come stationary. He accordingly, after looking round,
fixed upon the city of Philadelphia ; where there was but
five colored people in society at that time.
However, he turned in to hold meetings in season and
out of season, here and there, and wherever he could find
an opening and gain access—so that the society soon in¬
creased to forty-two. This mode of conduct raised a " dust"
and gained him some opposition.
**********
The colored people were considered, by some persons,
as being in the way :—they were resolved to have them re¬
moved, and placed around the walls, corners, etc.—which
to execute, the above expelled and restored man, at prayer
time, did attempt to pull Absalom Jones from his knees—•
which procedure, with its concomitants, gave rise to the
building of an " African Meeting House,''—the first ever
built in these Middle or Northern States.
This raised a "dust:"—the colored people were com¬
manded to desist, and make an acknowledgment within i
limited period, or some body would know the reason why !
Upon this they sent in their resignation, and so went on
with the building.
Bishop White then came forward and offered to ordain
them a pastor, if they would choose and select one to their
choice. Richard Allen was spoken to first, but he replied,
"lama Methodist!" Then Absalom Jones was selecti d,
and Bishop White ordained him accordingly. Thus the
arbitrary conduct of some drove off those people of color
from the Methodists and placed that congregation under the
Church of England.
After this, Richard Allen built a Meeting House with his
APPENDIX.
own money, upon his own ground; and called the name of
it " Bethel."
The colored people did their own church business, and a
woman being expelled, she however obtained a ticket from
the white Elder, to go into love-feast; but was not admitted
in—which refusal affronted the preacher, as disregarding
his power and authority ; wherefore he threatened them, de¬
manding, at the same time, the key of the Meeting House
and the books of the church, etc., by virtue of those "arti¬
cles of association " which the colored people refused to com¬
ply with—and had recourse to the proper authority for re¬
dress, accordingly. Hence the "articles of association"
were improved by a " supplement," which supplement made
a great noise in Philadelphia at times, and were misrepre¬
sented through prejudice, by some.
However, the preachers being changed, the storm blew
over for that time—and the colored people agreed to pay a
certain sum, as their quota, towards supporting the stationed
preacher; but he preached only a few times with them,
which, by computation, wrould nominally amount to about
thirty dollars per sermon. And also such preachers as would
not be received by the whites were turned off on them ;
which gave the people of color greater disgust—so that the
next year they would not consent to give only halt so much
as heretofore—which money was rejected by the whites,
with a demand for the wrhole; and also, that no white per¬
son should preach for them, unless they would destroy the
supplement likewise.
Thus they were without any white preacher, according to
" order," for some time. But at length the Academites
agreed to preach for them one year, for that sum.
The next year they arose in their demand for more money,
etc., which being refused, they were again excluded from
preaching, with an injunction to destroy the supplement;
but this not being complied with, another Meeting House,
near Bethel, was hired, and orders to attend that, hoping
thereby to spHt the congregation. At that time a circular
was published, cutting off the whole body, from a thousand
to fourteen hundred, in a lump, as being no longer Method¬
ists, except the above conditions were complied with—about
the money, supplement, or going to the other House—and
the sanctioh of Francis and the Q. M. Conference was in it.
After some time time, finding only a small number to go
away, R. R. R. says virtually—you are Methodists, and I
shall preach for you thus and so, and thus and so ; and he
went at the time, but a black man was preaching, and the
152
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
house was so crowded that he could not get in far; so h<'
called to some to take notice that that man had stolen his
appointment, which conduct so interrupted the people that
two wnite gentlemen were about to take him to the tight
house, for disturbing the public peace, had he not prudently
withdrawn immediately away. However, they were con¬
tinued on the Minutes another year.
Those circumstances gave rise to a suit at law, which ter¬
minated in favor of the colored people, though means of a
disgraceful nature were used to effect their purpose to get
the House, and which may cause some to blush in that day
when all secrets shall be disclosed—I mean their using a
backslider as a tool for the purpose. But what will not hu¬
man nature stick to do, if the heart be not right ?
Thus the Church of Absalom Jones, the Academites,
Bethel, and Kensington have been, as it were, driven off—
surely there is an Achan in the Camp !
If Mr. Wesley had a right to ordain Dr. Coke, by the
same rule Absalom Jones might ordain Richard Allen, and
the ordination must be equally valid. And if " three elders
and one deacon," or " three elders'' can " ordain a bishop "
to answer the purpose, by the same party the ordination of
the Rev. Richard Allen must be equal, in point of virtue, as
any now among the Methodists ; therefore, why not emit
and transmit as much sanctity among those on whom he
may lay his hands, as any other Methodist Bishop, accord¬
ing to the doctrine of Episcopacy, provided he be as holy in
heart, walking with God : whereby he may do it in the power
of faith, under the sanctifying influence of the grace of
God.
If any one doubts the real strength of Richard Allen's
character, he has only to read the following letter:
Feb. 18, 1816.
To the Rev. Daniel Coker, Minister of the African
Bethel Church, Baltimore.
Dear Bro.:—I received your kind letter and was happy
to hear that your family is well; and above that the work of
the Lord prospers among you. The hymn that was com¬
posed on the victory of Bethel Church came safe to hand.
I have given one to Lawyer Binney and one to Lawyer
Brown. Mr. Sargent is gone to Congress; at our trial we
got the States Attorney (Mr. Israel Ingersoll) in his place.
On the 26th of December, the Rev. Mr. Burch (one of the
APPENDIX.
white Methodist Elders) sent to me a noilfication that he
should preach on the 31st inst., in Bethel Church, and
requested me to give notice to the congregation that he
would preach at 3 o'clock m the afternoon: however, for
fear that notice would not be given, he came down himself
on Thursday evening, and gave out the appointment for
himself. But I contradicted it, and told the congregation
that I did not believe he would preach. When the day
arrived on which he intended to preach, we began meeting
a little after 2 o'clock. The house was crowded, and the
aisles all filled with people and benches, so that he could
not get half way up the aisle; for observe he came about a
quarter before 3 o'clock. He said, "Jacob Tapsicoe, (who
is one of our colored ministers) did you not know it was my
appointment?" Brother Tapsicoe demanded silence, and
said he was preaching in the name of his Lord, and by the
authority of the laws of his country. The Elder presently
withdrew, together with his company. On Monday, the first
of January, 1816, he applied to the Supreme Court for a
writ of mandamus, to restore him the pulpit of Bethel
Church. Our lawyers repulsed his motion and granted him
a writ to show cause why the trustees should restore him the
pulpit. On this our lawyers manoeuvred to try the whole
case. On the nth of January, it was brought before the
Supreme Court. Mr. Binney opened the case very auspi¬
ciously; he had not spoken one hour before the Court
appeared to be convinced. Mr. Binney, however, took up
the whole of the first day in opening his case. Mr. Binney
pleaded that the Rev. Mr. Burch, nor any other Elder in
the Connection, had any right to the pulpit of Bethel, con¬
trary to the wish of the Society; for any grant that had been
made to the elder by the trustees ought to be taken from
him at their pleasure, as there was not a third person's
name to the deed or act of incorporation, and no temporal
emolument arising therefrom. Secondly, that he was not a
member of the incorporation, nor a party in the deed, and
that the congregation had a right to take from him what the
incorporation had given him. This was also the decided
opinion of the judges, and the judge further asked, what
profit he expected it would be to them by forcing himself
upon them contrary to their wishes; and that they held too
high a hand over the colored people, and they would drive
them all from them if they continued to carry so high a
hand over them, and he perceived he had no right to the
Church, and that the whole of them could be expelled.
Now. had not the Church then been sold, we should have
7*
OUTLINES OF HISTOR\
gained our cause; for the Court was of the opinion, from
the above assigned reasons, that they had no right to preach
for us, contrary to our wishes, or to impose themselves upon
us. As to a libel that I see in circulation (in your city),
bearing the signature of John Forty, about the sale of the
Church, I will here observe, I have had a judgment bond
and mortgage against the Church ever since 1803 for $1464,
and a judgment bond for $3969, With regard to the sale of
the Church, the elder authorized a man to come forward to
bid for it; he run the Church (and the adjoining) belonging
to the Church, up to $10,525 ; the elder then proposed to the
sheriff not to make out a deed till the overplus of the money
was paid; but in that he failed; the elder then applied for a
writ of mandamus, (as before stated), but in that he failed.
But he got an execution for us to show cause why the trus¬
tees should not deliver him the pulpit, and upon this the
whole case was tried
Please let me know who that John Forty is, and what he
is; for what he has asserted is nothing more than a libel
about Bethel Church, which we can make appear. I am in
haste, as I have to preach. No more at present, but remain
your loving brother in Christ.
N. B. Since writing the above, I have understood who
this John Forty is, and I think him beneath my notice; for
I had made up my mind to prove his assertions false in
every respect, by a bill to be laid before the public, or by a
daily advertisement; for what does this man know about
the docket of our Supreme Court?
At the first sight of the bill, I found him to 'x a man of
deceit; yea, I found him more, viz., a man of untruth in
saying that the decision of the Supreme Court authorized
him to say that you had told what was not true/ As to what
he says of the Society being opposed to the sale of the
Church, and of my being overbearing, the union of Bethel
society will prove it to be false. There was but one man
who opposed us, and he had been a fractious member, and
was disowned for his improper conduct. In 1812, he ap¬
pealed to the Quarterly Conference; the elder of the Metho¬
dist Episcopal Church was the chairman of the Conference;
the judgment of the committee was confirmed in his expul¬
sion; but when Mr. Rossell was stationed in this city, and
would not get one single member of Bethel Church, he
made a tool of Robert Green. I shall get the decision of the
Supreme Court and forward it to you. You will excuse my
not sending our Church deed, as we are now getting a new
deed formed, and a new law. No more at present, but
APPENDIX.
155
remain your loving brother in the bonds of a pure
gospel.
Rev. R. Allen, with his other colleagues.
(Read this letter in your Church as often as you think
proper. Now it will be observed that the property of Bethel
Society in Philadelphia is worth between twenty and thirty
thousand dollars).
The following is the hymn referred to in the above letter:
The God of Bethel heard her cries,
He let his power be seen ;
He stopp'd the proud oppressor's frown,
And proved himself a King.
Thou sav'd them in the trying hour,
Ministers and councils joined,
And all stood ready to attain
That helpless Church of Thine.
Bethel surrounded by her foes,
But not yet in despair,
Christ heard her supplicating cries ;
The God of Bethel heard.
Written on the very verge of the. grave, the following
*' Farewell" has a saintly odor about it:
MY LAST FAREWELL,
addressed to the class of which i was unworthily
appointed leader.
Some time in September, 1824,1 endeavored (unprofitably)
to serve you. We have had many a precious and comfor¬
table season whilst waiting on the Lord; but my work is
done, and I must give way to another. The Lord hath
summoned, and I must obey. How fortunately for me that
I have engaged in this good work in the morning of my
days; and though I have done but very little, and am poor,
mean and worthless—Yes, I can say with the blessed Apos¬
tle, for mc to live is Christ, an^l for me to die is gain.
Gladly would I spend many more years on this terrestrial
ball, to be of small service to my beloved family and the
cause of God, whom I love as my life. But if it is my loving
Jesus's will to call me from the evil to come, let all the world
know that another Sinner, saved by Grace, is gone to swell
that triumphant throng whose sweetest strain is Grace for
ever.
ic|6 OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
I hope to see you all again—be faithful—I shall continu¬
ally look for your coming into that bright and celestial
world above. JOSEPH M. CORR.
The Right Rev. Jose h M. Corr was neither elevated by
applause nor yet dejected by persecution; and whether he
was called a good man or a devil, it was of the least impor¬
tance to him. His chief concern appeared to be the know¬
ledge of his duty to God, and the faithful discharge of the
same, independently of what men might think or say.
He was a man of great humility; he possessed an affable
child-like simplicity; he was bold in the cause of God;
fervent in his devotion and supplications ; zealous in declar¬
ing the Truth and everlasting Gospel of Christ, in which he
neither sought nor courted the applause of man. On all
occasions he labored with great zeal and diligence, declaring
the terrors of God's law against the ungodly, and adminis¬
tering consolation to the penitent, by the promises of the
Gospel.
He was a man of great faith, and often spoke in the
power and demonstration of the Spirit, of which he was fav¬
ored in a very extraordinary manner. The Lord often
wrought wonders by and through his instrumentality to the
conviction, conversion and sanctification of many.
Such was the life of our much beloved Leader.
Now my dear class-mates, let us all endeavor to profit by
his example, and show to the world that we have Christ put
on, and are endeavoring to walk in Him, that our last end
may be like his. E. L.
We find the following two excerpts in an old Attle-
borough Class Book, the first is dated Jan. i, 1827, the sec¬
ond, June 4, 1832.
"Be it remembered that a fast day be kept every Friday
prior to every Love Feast; and let the Elder enforce this
rule."
Be it remembered that on Friday preceding our Quarterly
meeting, there shall be a fast held among the members of
our Church, for a revival «f religion among us and that there
shall be a display of the power of God, so that souls may be
gathered in. Rev. P. D. W. Schureman.
Referring to the Nineteenth session of the Baltimore An¬
nual Conference, held in Washington City, April igth-aSth,
1834, especially to a visit the Conference made the President
APPENDIX.
*57
of the onited States, his Excellency, Andrew Jackson, Levin
Lee, the Secretary of the Conference, says:
"The sitting of this Conference was attended with unusual
success, it being the first colored body that have ever con¬
vened in the capital of the United States, caused great ex¬
citement. Many hundreds, both of white and colored-assem¬
bled, at the preaching hours, especially on the Lord's day,
and listened with delight to the ambassadors of the cross;
who, on this occasion, were endued with more than usual
energy. Several were cut to the heart, and fourteen came
forward professing their faith in Christ, and joined the so¬
ciety. The authorities of the city expressed their good feel¬
ing, and offered their protection, should any evil designed
persons attempt any interruption. His Excellency, the Pres¬
ident of the United States, being waited upon, expressed his
warmest approbation of the proceedings of the Conference,
and wished a hearty success to the cause in which these
distinguished followers of Christ were engaged; "peace on
earthr and good will to men."
The following series of resolutions were passed by the
Nineteenth session of Philadelphia Annual Conference, held
in Philadelphia, 24th May to 3rd June, 1834.
Resolved, That it shall be the duty of all the preachers of
this Conference strictly and perseveringly to recommend
the "Temperance Cause," in their respective circuits or
stations, both by example and precept; and should a com¬
plaint of default in this particular be made against any
preacher, he shall be dealt with by the senior preacher,
according to the provisions made for all cases of imprudence
and neglect of duty in our form of discipline.
Resolved, That as the subject of education is one that
highly interests all people, and especially the colored people
of this country, it shall be the duty of every minister who
has the charge of circuits or stations, to use every exertion
to establish schools wherever convenient, and to insist upon
parents sending their children to school; and to preach
occasionally a sermon on the subject of education; and it
shall be the duty of all such ministers to make returns
yearly of the number of schools, the amount of scholars, the
branches taught, and the places in which they are located;
and that every minister neglecting so to do, be subject to
the censure of the Conference.
Resolved, That all the ministers in charge advise the
members of our Church, in the circuits and stations within
i58
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
our bounds, to raise the average sum of twelve and f^alf
cents from each member within one year, to aid the publish¬
ing fund. .
Resolved, That it is the duty of dvery preacher in charge
of this Conference, to take up collections yearly in every
principal appointment in his circuit or station, to assist in
the promulgation of the gospel, by aiding those who are la¬
boring in the itinerancy; and that, if any minister shall
neglect so to do, he shall be liable to the censure of the
Conference.
We give below a list of all the Elders, Deacons and
Preachers "of the Church in the year 1834, precisely fifty
years ago. How truly may we say, that the "little one" has
"become a thousand."
Elders.—Revs. Edwaid Waters, William Cornish, Samuel
Todd, Jeremiah Miller, Richard Williams, John Cornish,
Israel Scott, Peter D. W. Schureman, Francis P.Graham,
William P. Quinn, Joshua P. B. Eddy, Charles A. Spicer,
John Boggs, Austin Jones, Wiley Reynolds, Thomas Law¬
rence, Richard Robinson, Moses Robinson, Peter Lewis, Reu¬
ben Cuff, Edward Jackson, Noah C. Cannon, James Bird,
George W. Boler, Isaac Miller. Total 25.
Deacons.—Revs. William Moore, Clayton Durham, Adam
Clincher, Marcus Brown, Shadrach Bassitt, William Henry,
Benjamin Croger, George Hogarth, Jacob Smith, Abraham
Marks, William P. Williams, Aaron Wilson, Charles Dunn,
Jeremiah Brown, William A. Nichols, Henry Adkerson,
Abraham D. Lewis, Samuel Collins; Samuel Enty, Jeremiah
Thomas, Walter Proctor, Joseph M. Corr, Jeremiah Durham,
Jeremiah Beulah, Andrew Massey, Peter Croger, Henry
Brown, Edmund Crosby, James Burton. Fortune Matthias,
Levin Lee, Nathaniel Peck, Stephen Smith, Lewis Woodson,
Pleasant LTnderwood, George Coleman, Samuel Johnson,
Sampson Peters, London Turpin, Total 39.
Preachers.—Henry Brown; Benjamin Potter, Joseph Oli¬
ver, Benjamin Wilson,. Robert Evans, Wardel Parker,
Thomas Hall, John Hight, John Messer, Cuffee Spence, Eli
N. Hall, John Morris, Edward Thompson, Thomas Banks,
Jeffeiy Goulden, Nathan Blake, Jacob Ringold, Peter James,
Samuel Webster, Thomas Baldwin, Samuel Clingman, Basil
Simms, Enoch Smith. Samuel Edwards, James Thompson,
John Scott, Anthony Treadwell, Perry Gibson, Israel Wil¬
liams. ■ Total 29. In all 93.
In the Philadelphia Annual Conference Minutes of the year
APPENDIX.
J59
1836, we find the following testimonial to one of the greatest
of the fathers, especially when we consider his age; but there
were " giants in those days."
Joseph M. Corr, who departed this life on the 18th day of
October, 1835, the 29th year of his age. He was an ex¬
emplary man—a man that had the cause of his God at heart.
His life and conversation were a pattern of piety to all with
whom he had acquaintance. He was beloved by all, at home
and abroad. He was an affectionate husband; his family
was dear to his heart, As a preacher of the gospel, his bosom
flowed with holy zeal for its promotion. Upon him rested the
whole weight and responsibility of the records of the Church,
he having been for several years the General Book Steward of
the Connection. His constitution, which had become much
debilitated by that sure and fatal disease, consumption, was
for a long time insufficient to support him in his arduous la¬
bors for the temporal economy and spiritual life of the
Church : yet, such was his zeal for the success of his Heaven¬
ly Master's kingdom, that he continued in his infirm state of
body to travel about and preach the glad tidings of salvation
to a ruined world, success attending the same in the conver¬
sion of many poor souls from the errors of sin to the know¬
ledge of the truth ; and, at the same time, attending to the
writings and records of the Church, until his body became a
prey to the shafts of death. He died in the triumphs of faith,
leaving a lively testimony of his acceptance with God. In
his expiring moments he bid the world adieu, being fully pre¬
pared for a blissful immortality. He is now joined with the
redeemed, receiving the blessed reward of his labors, having
finished his work and kept the faith. He was a local preacher
of the gospel for ten years—four years of that time he was a.
local deacon. He was followed by a vast concourse of his
brethren and fellow citizens to the silent grave, much la¬
mented by all who knew him. His funeral sermon was
preached in Bethel Church, in the city of Philadelphia, by
the Right Rev. Morris Brown, from Rev. xiv. 13—" Blessed
are the dead," etc.
The Twenty-Second Annual Session of the Philadelphia
Conference Phila., May 20, 1837, passed the following.
Whereas, We, the elders, deacons, and preachers com¬
prising this Conference, have, and do, under many embar¬
rassing circumstances, continue to preach the gospel to our
scattered and rejected brethren, according to our abilities
l60 OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
and the grace of God assisting us : feeling sensible, like those
of our brethren who have gone before us, that the time of our
departure (when we must also give an account of our stew¬
ardship) will soon come to hand. We therefore feel it a
duty enjoined upon us to enter upon the records of this Con¬
ference an expression of our grief at the withering effects of
prejudice against our color, by a great part of the Christian
community of this country. Reeling a deep solicitude that
such things be done away in the universal Church of Christ,
and all the members of His mystical body become as one in
love and fellowship ; that our young men who may here¬
after embark in the ministry, may, in common with all
who are called by the Saviour to preach His word, be placed
in the possession of ample means fortheir qualification, that
they may become workmen that need not be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth, upon whom the salvation
of thousands of souls, the right instruction of the Church in
the means of grace, and the general improvement of our
people in knowledge and mutual cultivation greatly depend.
Therefore :
Resolved, on motion, That the Right Rev. Morris Brown,
Senior Bishop of this Church, together with such person or
persons as he may choose to associate with him, be a com¬
mittee to prepare, or cause to be prepared, an appeal or
statement of the condition of our Church, the wants of a cul¬
tivated ministry in the Church of Christ among the people
of color, and the many obstacles thrown in the way of our
young men, preventing them from obtaining such liberal
education as is necessary to prepare them'for the ministry;
that said committee lay the same before the presidents and
officers of colleges and theological seminaries in the free
States, with a respectful entreaty that the advantages of
education which their respective institutions afford, may b^
extended to all persons alike, without distinction of color.
And, furthermore, that said committee be authorized to cor¬
respond with Christian philanthropists, and brethren gene¬
rally, by appeals through the public press, the pulpit, and all
other suitable means, to awaken a general interest among
ourselves and our friends on this important subject.
A\=>o the same Conference passed the following, which has
even now a timely ring about it:
Resolved, on motion, That we recommend to our preach¬
ers to warn the people not only against extravagance in use¬
less ornaments and unnecessary fashionable dress, as our
APPENDIX.
Discipline enjoins, but against a slovenly and ragged ap¬
pearance, which some of our people are not careful to avoid,
than which, nothing does more to perpetuate the prevailing
aversion and prejudices against color. The malignity of
prejudice would be much abated, we believe, if our people
were more careful in their person and dress, to appear neat
and cleanly.
Resolutions passed at the Eighth Session of what was called
the Pittsburgh or Western Conference, held in Cincinnati,
Aug. 25, 1838.
Whereas, Education and enlightened morals lead to honor
and preferment, and are of intense interest to our people in
this enlightened age ; therefore, be it
Resolved, That it shall be the duty of our preachers through¬
out their respective circuits, etc., to impress upon our people
at all times, whenever convenient, the importance of educa¬
tion.
Resolved, on motion, That with the success of the temper¬
ance cause, the elevation of our people, the perpetuity of
government, the salvation and hope of the Church of God
are so intimately connected and identified, that it is the duty
of all our preachers, on their respective circuits, etc., to take
the firm and decided stand of our Discipline, which forbids
the use of all ardent spirits and alcoholic drinks, except in
medicinal cases.
The following, clipped from the New York Annual Con¬
ference for the year 1838, refers to a missionary tour taken
by the Rev. Richard Williams.
" He visited Rochester, N. Y., and established a society
there of twenty-six members, and licensed one preacher; at
Buffalo, New York, he established a society of thirty-one
members, and licensed two preachers. On going into Up¬
per Canada, he repaired to the Governor's house at To¬
ronto, and there had an interview with the authorities con¬
cerning the objects of his mission into those regions, and re¬
ceived from them every encouragement to proceed forward,
assuring him that the law and usages of the province will af¬
ford him, in establishing the African Methodist Episcopal
Church among them, every possible and necessary protec¬
tion. From thence he proceeded to Niagara, and established
there a society of twenty-two members, at St. David's twenty-
pine, and at St. Catharine's forty, and licensed two preach-
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
ers, making a total of one hundred and forty-eight members,
and five preachers added to the Church, being the fruits or
his mission in the past year.
It is quite likely that Bishop Payne is correct in pronounc¬
ing the following Episcopal Address, the first of the kind
the Church had ever received.
ADDRESS.
Beloved in the Lord,—
The undersigned take this opportunity to lay before you
the claims of our aged, sick, and worn-out traveling preach¬
ers, many of whom have spent the prime of their life in your
service, counting their time, their talents, and even life
itself not dear to them ; but have rather sacrificed all earthly
comfort and family ties, in obedience to the heavenly man¬
date, requiring them to go into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature, and tocompel poor sinners to come
to the bounteous table of the Lord. You have heard them.
Your souls have been made to rejoice within you while sit¬
ting under the pleasing strains and arguments that have
dropped from their lips from time to time, in calling the sin¬
ner to repentance, and in pointing the mourner to the Lamb
of God which taketh away the sin of the world. But, recol¬
lect they are in the flesh ; age, infirmity, and all those debili¬
ties incident to mortality have crept upon them, and they
are now thrown upon the charities of the general Church for
support, the few remaining days they have to linger in this
evanescent state. To you, therefore, dear brethren, the
Church, in behalf of these ancient worthies and veterans of
the cross, speaks in loud and urgent tones, for a little pit¬
tance to sustain them the few remaining days of their pro¬
bation. And shall this appeal to you, dear brethren, be in
vain ? We trust not, but feel encouraged with the pleasing
thought, that you will not suffer the righteous to be forsaken,
nor see his seed begging bread. The profits arising from
the sales of all books published by the General Book Stew¬
ard are applied to the above purpose ; and all donations of
ijioney, etc., directed to him at Brooklyn, N. Y., for that
purpose, will be thankfully received and carefully applied.
The claims of our young men, too, for aid to sustain them
while they are preparing themselves for the ministry, (that
they may become approved workmen in the Lord's vine¬
yard) are urgent upon you, as the future prosperity of the
Church and of generations to come is dependent upon the
APPENDIX.
care we now take in raising up suitable teachers for our peo¬
ple, 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.
To our white friends, upon whom providence has smiled
with all tha'. nature's bounty can afford, to you poor Ethio¬
pia's sons and daughters look with longing desires for the
day when you will take her cause at heart, and aid her
young men on in the ministry, that she may in due time be
able to stretch forth her hands to God. You will observe by
carefully perusing these minutes, that the wants of our
Church are many, and urgent upon us at present, and call
loudly for aid from the charitable part of the community,
many of whom stand ready, we believe, to assist in raising
the character and standing of the ministry of our Church
All aid for the above purpose will be gratefully received and
duly applied, if directed to our General Book Steward, Brook¬
lyn, N. Y.
We would remind our brethren throughout the Connection,
as Methodists, to bear in mind the 22d day of October next
as the One Hundredth Anniversary of Methodism ; and as
it is a special day set apart by all the Methodist Churches in
Europe and America as one of gratitude and praise to God,
we therefore trust that all our brethren, in all our Churches,
will be careful strictly to observe it in worshipping and
praising God for His bounteous goodness.
Morris Brown, Edward Waters, Bishops; George Ho¬
garth, General Book Steward, Brooklyn, N. Y., August 1st,
1839.
Resolutions adopted at the Fifth Session of the Pittsburgh
or Western Conference, held in Pittsburgh, September, 1840,
Morris Brown, Bishop; J. B. Vashon, Secretary.
We, the members of this Conference, are fully satisfied
that the principles of the Gospel are arrayed against all sin,
and that it is the duty of all Christians to use their influence
and energies against all systems that rudely trample under
foot the claims of justice and the sacred principles of revela
tion. And, whereas,, slavery pollutes the character of the
Church of God, and makes the Bible a sealed book to thou¬
sands of immortal beings—Therefore,
Resolved, on motion, That we will aid, by our prayers
Tjious persons whom God has raised up to plead the cause of
t.64 outlines of history.
he dumb, until every fetter shall be broken and all mc'1.
enjoy the liberty which the Gospel proclaims.
Resolved, on motion, That, whereas, education is one of
the principal means of creating in our minds those noble
feelings which prompt us to the practice of piety, virtue, and
temperance, and is calculated to elevate us above the con¬
dition of brutes, by assimilating us to the image of our
Maker, we therefore recommend to all our preachers to en¬
join undeviating attention to its promotion, and earnestl;r
request all our people to neglect no opportunity of advanc¬
ing it, by pledging ourselves to assist them as far as it is in
our power.
Resolved, on motion, That we hereby recommend to all
our preachers, in their labors to promote the cause of tem¬
perance, to hold up the principle of total abstinence from
(as a beverage) all intoxicating drinks, as the true and safe
rule for all consistent friends of temperance to go by, and as
in accordance with our discipline and resolutions of our
former Annual Conferences.
Resolved, on motion, That a sermon be preached, quar¬
terly, on all our circuits and stations, by our preachers, on
the subjects of temperance and moral reform; and the
preacher in charge who neglects to attend to that duty, or
see that it is attended to, shall be amenable to the next An¬
nual Conference.
Resolved, on motion, That there be four sermons preached
in the year, in all our Churches and congregations, for the
purpose of encouraging the cause of education and Sabbath-
schools among our people ; and that a collection be taken
up, where there are Sabbath-schools established, at those
times, for the special aid of those schools.
The following is clipped from a letter written by the pre¬
sent Bishop John M. Brown, dated Oberlin, O., Nov. 6, 1840:
" I arrived here October 16th, and have found the people
to be very kind. This is a Congregationalist institution ; but
as it regards treatment, the colored man is as well treated as
the white. No separate table, but all eat, sleep, and rerite
alike. This is truly an abolitionist school. I had no idea
that :he African Methodist Episcopal Connection was as
much opposed as it is. The white Methodist Episcopal
Church is a bitter enemy to us. There is no Methodist
Church in this town. There are a few brethren of that de¬
nomination in the Institute, who have a class, one of whom
is a colored brother, and exhorter in the white Methodist
APPENDIX.
Episcopal Church. He is a bitter enemy to our Church.
There is hardly a time we meet but what we have some con¬
tention. I must say, that our preachers and people do our
Connection no little harm in standing aloof from those who
desire our welfare. I think there is great need for our mem¬
bers and preachers joining unanimously in prayer to God,
that He would raise up such men among us as are capable
of keeping our Connection together, and not.scattering it."
Preamble and resolutions passed at the Twelfth session of
what is called the Ohio or Pittsburgh Conference, held in
the city of Columbus, Ohio, September, 1842.
In all great enterprises, either temporal or spiritual, the
wisdom of the associated body who devised the plan, is seen
in the selected ways and means to prosecute it, and we, the
members of the Ohio Annual Conference, believe the West¬
ern Christian Mission as devised by the General Conference,
held in the city of Baltimore, in 1840, and prosecuted by the
Rev. William Paul Quinn, in the states of Indiana, Illinois,
and Missouri, is the greatest Christian enterprise ever un¬
dertaken by the African Methodist Episcopal connection,
since its rise and progress in our country. Its present wide-
spreading influence, and future prospect of good to the
present and rising generations in the Western State?, enti¬
tle the agent, brother Quinn, who with untired zeal, prose¬
cutes the mission, to that honor and esteem, by this Confer¬
ence, which is due and is paid to all men of great minds
and enterprising habits.
The Western mission, which commenced since 1840, now
includes eight circuits, and one station, embracing a mem¬
bership of about eight or nine hundred, and comprises a
colored community of twelve or fourteen thousand, all of
whom are now furnished with the external provisions of the
gospel, through the medium of our Western mission, under
the superintendency of the Rev. Wm. Paul Quinn, and
Therefore, be it resolved, by this Ohio Annual Conference,
that said brother Quinn is entitled to, and has the confidence
and high regard of this body, for that self-denial and truly
devoted missionary spirit which he has manifested in this
enterprise; and be it further resolved, that brother Quinn is
entitled, by the laws of Christian courtesy, to sit and counsel
with the Bishop during this Conference.
In 1842, Rev. George Hogarth, our General Book Steward
and Editor, visited Hayti. The-following is the editorial he
.UTLIXES OF HTSTORY.
wrote upon his return. It will be seen that Ainr m Metho¬
dism is scarcely as stfong there now as it was forty years ago.
HAYTI—ITS PRESENT MORAL AND RELIGIOUS
STATE.
Our recent short visit at Port au Prince, the capital city of
the Republic of Hayti, a few weeks since, afforded to us
much personal gratification. The kind treatment received
from all classes of society, gave us an opportunity of view¬
ing for ourselves the present political, moral and religious
state of that country—a country with its diversified moun¬
tains and plains, spreading into the ocean about three hun¬
dred miles in length, and two hundred and fifty in width,
with a population of about a million of inhabitants.
Much miaht be said in favor of that people, considering
the many disadvantages under which they have long la¬
bored ; but as our Journal is wholly devoted to the moral
and religious interests of mankind, we shall confine our¬
selves to a tew brief remarks upon that state of society we
found among them.
It is known that the Roman Catholic Church in 'his
country is predominant; yet all others, by the Constitution,
are tolerated. The great bulk of the inhabitants of the
country being of the above-mentioned Church, it was dan¬
gerous about nineteen years ago, when we resided there, to
make a public profession of the Protestant faith. We shall
not forget a certain Sabbath day about that time, when the
populace arose en masse upon a few of the despised fol¬
lowers of the Saviour, who dared to assemble themselves
in a secret chamber to worship God, according to the form
and manner that the Methodist missionaries who had been
among them had prescribed for them, before they were
ordered away from the country. The scene that took place
upon the persecution of these servants of God on his holy
days, is indescribable—such as yells, hisses, epithets of
"Methodists!" "Devils!" &c. An array of the military
was presented, and these brethren, worshippers of the liv¬
ing God, were finally marched out of their place of worship
amid the clatter of bayonets and swords, surrounded by
the infuriated populace, who stoned them all the way to the
City Prison, where they were incarcerated for several days
—and on being released, were obliged to pay one dollar
each.
All this was done to gratify the advocates of the pre¬
dominant Church, and to stifle the spirit of Protestantism
APPENDIX.
167
(hat was then abroad in the land ; but as it was in the early-
days cf the Christian Church, so has it proved in this case.
Persecution has advanced her cause. They who were
guilty of such conduct have become ashamed of it—and
now we find our brethren sitting publicly under their own
vine and fig tree, and none to molest or make them afraid.
We found a large body of our American brethren, who
emigrated there about seventeen years ago, associated
together under the denomination of " The Haytien Union
Methodist Society," as represented by brother Williamson,
their agent at Philadelphia. This Society, we are happy to
say, has several itinerant ministers stationed in different
parts of the country, who are engaged in preaching the
Gospel to the inhabitants of the land. We felt much en¬
couraged in visiting their Church at Port au Prince, under
the charge of brother Henry Allen, their Eider, as we
found much spirituality and order in their worship, and
their preachers deeply engaged in the work cf the Gospel.
We also found a large body of native born Haytien
brethren, and also a body of English And American breth¬
ren associated together under the special charge of brother
Hartwell, a missionary from the English Wesleyan Metho¬
dist Society. Brother Hartwell is a man truly devoted to
the missionary cause in that country ; he is much beloved
by all class of citizens, and appears to be doing great good
among them. His untiring zeal for the promotion of the
cause of God among that people is remarkable. Every
Sabbath day he is engaged in preaching four sermons—
two in French and two in English—besides attending to
other duties of the Church, and inspecting the Sabbath-
school attached thereto. During the week he is extensively
engaged in visiting his members, and in travelling in dif¬
ferent parts of his district, and preaching the gospel to the
people.
Much praise is due to the brethren, both natives and
foreigners, who compose the district which brother Hart¬
well represents, in having erected a splendid edifice, which
cost them between five and six thousand dollars, and con¬
template on the first day of January, the day of their Na¬
tional Independence, to consecrate it to the worship of
God. This missionary station is composed of six districts,
viz. : Turk's Island, Port au Piatt, Samana, Cape Francois.
Port au Prince, and Jeremie. Much money is spent by our
Methodist brethren in England to sustain this missionary
station. The district of Cape Francois has been partially
broken up by the recent calamity that befel that city. The
168
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
brother and his family who were stationed there, nar
rowly escaped with their lives. There are several local
preachers, both natives and foreigners, who are united with
brother Hartwell in advancing the Christian cause among
that people.
A Baptist Mission was also formerly established there,
and a church erected, which for the want of support has
been abandoned.
The feelings of a large portion of the people have been
aroused since the last calamitous earthquakes which have
taken place in that land. Many have become very serious,
and much inquiry has been made for aright understanding
of religious truths. The authorities of the land and most
of the respectable part of the community'now show a
friendly feeling towards our brethren of the Protestant
faith. There are several schools of high order in the city
of Port au Prince, but the expense of tuition is so great,
that hardly any but the higher classes of society are able to
send their children to them. A general system of common
school instruction is much wanted there.
We are happy to find that the marriage system is more
respacted than formerly, yet much is still wanted to pro¬
mote the moral dignity of that community—such as an
introduction of the Total Abstinence cause, a regard for the
Sabbath day to keep it holy, and an establishment of
Moral Reform among them. These, under God, ari cal¬
culated to do more good for that people than all the clatter¬
ing of their munitions of war."
The following relates to a tour taken by Bishop Brown in
the summer of 1842.
After leaving Philadelphia, he presided at the N. Y. Con¬
ference;—from thence he passed through that State into
Canada, where he held the Annual Conference of that
region. From thence he went to Buffalo, N. Y.; thence to
Cleveland, Ohio; thence to Columbus; thence to Spring¬
field; thence to Dayton; thence to Richmond, Indiana;
thence to Terrehaute; thence to a Camp Meeting in Illinois,
at Alton, a place memorable for the murder of the noble
Lovejoy. Thence to Brooklyn; thence to St. Louis in the
State of Missouri; after which he returned to B., and from
thence he went to Sholes-Creek; thence to Vincennes;
thence to Spencer, to Indianapolis, and Blue River, where,
on the 8th of September, they commenced a Camp-Meeting,
which was made glorious on account of the unction and
power which the Holy Spirit poured out upon the people,
; APPEND IX.
169
V }}s g'rcat number of souls who professed faith in a
Crucified Saviour. From thence he went to Richmond;
then to Reading, Dayton and Springfield. Then to Colum¬
bus, where the Ohio Conference was held, then to Marcel-
lum, to Worcester, and to Pittsburg; from which place he
left for Philadelphia, travelling partly by steamboats, rail-
' roads and horseback, over a circuit of more than 3,500
miles; a tiresome and laborious journey, indeed, for such
an aged servant of Christ, for which his reward shall be in
heaven. He is now home, in the enjoyment of good health,
and prosecuting the particular duties of his diocese.—Mag¬
azine, December, 184?.
The following from Providence, R. I., Oct. 2, 1042. is from
the pen of Bishop J. P. Campbell.
I have been lecturing in Boston and Providence, and
elsewhere, for the last six weeks past continually, with
blessed success. Our Society in this place is in rather a
prosperous condition, and especially so when compared
with otheis ii the place. There arc no less than live col¬
ored churches here to the very small population of from
thirteen to sixteen hundred people of color, old and young.
It is very doubtful whether there can bo found sixteen hun¬
dred in the place. At any rate, there is not more than that
many.
Of this number wo have nearly one hundred members,
and from two to three hundred congregation, in regular
attendance, evidently the largest number in both respects,
members and congregation, in the city, of color. We out¬
number, nearly double, any other one. Of the spirit of
piety and devotion, we have reason to thank God with fear
and trembling, that at this time it seems to be much better
among us than the others. But in this boasting, we must
be careful lest while we think wo stand, that we shall fall.
I thank God from my heart that we are what we are,, and
pray God that we may attain what we have not attained to,
as yet.
The following is what %: Rev. Levin Lee, Secretary of
the Baltimore Annual Conference. April, 1843, said in
reference to the manner Bishop Brown opened the session.
" He impressed upon the members of the Conference the
important du^v of being circumspect in all their dealings and
actions: that "as they are considered to be the lights of the
Church and of the world, they should always let it be shown
8
170
UL 1 LINES OF HISTORY.
forth ; and that as they are now met in this high ecclesiasti¬
cal court of our Church, to transact its annual spiritual busi¬
ness for this district, their manner of life should be so mani¬
fested, not only at the public worship and business-meetings
of Conference, but while passing through the streets, and in
the families of our brethren where they may lodge during
the session, that all who may notice them shall be constrained
to ' take knowledge of them, that they have been with
Jesus.' "
Although occurring more than forty years ago, what fol¬
lows will be seen to be as pertinent to-day as it was then :
New York, May 22, 1843.
Rev. and Dear Sir,—I received your (so called) African
Methodist Episcopal Magazine. I examined its pages with
some interest, particularly the remarks of several gentlemen
on education. It is pleasing to me, Sir, to see that there are
some men among you who are making efforts for the in¬
crease of human learning; believe me, Sir, it is all import¬
ant for our elevation here, and hereafter, that men who are
to stand at the head of our worshipping assemblies, should
not only have* a partial, but a thorough knowledge of Eng¬
lish classics, before they attempt their theological course.
The time, Sir, has happily passed by, when " thank God I
never was at a college—I am none of your high learned
rabbis," and such exclamations will not ija future be so much
applauded. The school-boy of ten years is watching the
etymological connection of the preacher's discourse. There-.,
fore, Sir, as our school-boys are capable of becoming critics,
you should look to those whom you place before them as
spiritual teachers ; see that they are men of piety and sound
learning.
As to the name of your periodical, as I have it in paren¬
thesis, act as we did with the name of our schools ; away with
African, there are no Africans in your connection. Substi¬
tute colored for African, and it will be in my opinion as it
should be. In haste, I remain, very respectfully, your obe¬
dient servant, P. Loveridge,
Agent for the Colored Schools, N. Y.
Rev. Geo. Hogarth.
We highly applaud our brother Loveridge in his remarks
upon the necessity of classical improvement in the ministry
of our Churches. He however appears to be much opposed
to the Colored people of this country being identified as the
appendix.
descendants of Africa, and seems to urge in his remark^
that the name of Africa should become extinct, and ejected
from all our institutions.
We are unable to understand the reasonableness of tlie
remarks. It is true, we are not Africans, or natives bom
upon the soil of Africa, yet as the descendants of that racer
how can we better manifest that respect due to our fathers-
who begat us, than by the adoption of the term in our insti¬
tutions, and inscribing it upon our public places of resort.
Africa is held as a by-word of reproach in this country, in',
consequence of the embarrassed and depressed condition in1
which our race has here been, for centuries past, placode
Should we be ashamed of ourselves and our progenitors, by
causing our name to be lost, and our line of progeny entirely
cutoff from our mother country, because we have received
such treatment from Christian people, who knew better ?
This was not the sentiment of the children of Israel, when
placed by Africans in similar circumstances, 700 years in
Egypt.
We do not expect that our race will ever return from this,
our native land, to the land of our fathers to possess it, as
the children of Israel did, who left the land of Goshen for
the promised land —neither do we see any reason for it. The
inhabitants of Africa possess intellects capable of cultivation
and improvement, which we can prove from facts developed
among us, their descendants, and when it shall please our
Divine Benefactor to cause " Ethiopia to stretch out her
hand to God," and enable her to receive all the blessings
of civilization and Christianity enjoyed by Europe, portions of
Asia, and portions of America, without considering the for¬
mer elevated standing of Africa among the nations of the
earth in the early ages of the world, shall we not feel equally
as proud of our Ethiopian blood in this country, as many of
the English, who boast of their Saxon bJood ; of the French,
who boast of their Norman and Gaulish blood, and of many
of our fellow citizens in this country, who boast of their
English, Scotch, Irish, and Dutch descent. If other races
who have settled in this country are proud to preserve the
name of the country that gave their progenitors birth, and
be queathed it as a legacy to their descendants, why should
not we be ?
The following is what Bishop D. A Payne writes from
Washington City, June 22, 1843, while discussing the edu¬
cational wants of the ministry of our Church, and how !i>
meet them. Referring to the General Conference, he said:
172
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
" This is the highest ecclesiastical assembly of our Con¬
nection, and the 6nly one where laws are enacted for our
general government; hence it is not only thei* high prero¬
gative, but their indispensable duty at their very next meet¬
ing in May, 1844, to legislate on this momentous question.
There ought to be no delay; with wise men there can be
none. Time is flying rapidly, the present generation live
amidst a Hood of light, the rising generation will ini lease in
knowledge, and the ministry who is to succeed us must be
wis:r than we are, or they will never be able to give the
needful instruction to those enlightened minds, who will con¬
stitute their hearers; therefore, ' What shall we do to aid
our young men that they may become competentfor the minis¬
try '?' is the first question which ought to be proposed at
that meeting, and the first one answered.
We ought to approach it with all soberness of thought,
and fervency of spirit, relying upon the great Head of the
Church for light and direction. We ought to discuss it in
all humility, meekness and love, remembering that we are
not to legislate for ourselves only, but for posterity (by this
I do not mean that we are to make laws from which posteri¬
ty is not to depart, but we are to make such as will indie ite
to posterity that we, their progenitors, contemplated thetr
highest good, and greatest improvement,) not to please men,
but God."
We quote Bishop Campbell once more. He is writing
from Albany, N. Y., July 13, 1843.
" Will our ministers ever become Bible students ? Until
then we shall labor much, to no profit. We must become
acquainted with God's word before we can be able defenders
of the faith. That word requires study, and that study re¬
quires grace, time and patience. Learned men and books
caniot make us Christians and Bible students. I foel.satis-
fied, that I can learn more theology upon my knees, with the
grace of God in my heart, and the Bible before me, without
any other book in the world, in one year's time, than any
other man without the grace of God and the Bible, can learn
in his whole life time, let it be long or short. After all is said
and done, I have found the Bible to be the best system of divi¬
nity, or rather to contain the best system of ethics and moral
philosophy of any book in the world. The Bible is just what it
should be, a book of all books, containing everything that is
necessary, or profitable for man to know. I agree well with
this injunction, 'to the law and to the testimony, if a man
cannot see by these, it is because there is no lisrht in him.'
APPENDIX.
173
I only seek in this world to become a pious, practical Bible
student: I ask for nothing more on individual improvement."
Writing from Indianapolis, 5 Jan., 1844, Bishop Wm,
Paul Quinn said: ~
I was sent by the General Conference on a mission to th^
state of Indiana, and, in the providence of God, I am happy
to inform you that I have succeeded in laying out eight cir¬
cuits in the state of Indiana, and *hree in the state of Illinois,
and have succeeded in laying out two circuits iTi the state of
Missouri. I have just returned from the states of Kentucky
and Tennessee, and have obtained authority from the city
council, and from Judge Brown of Louisville, Ky., to estab¬
lish the A. M. E. Church in the state of Kentucky. After
having obtained this authority in Louisville, I procured
fine house, and forty-nine joined on the first invitation,
among whom was one ordained minister. I then left my
carriage and took steamboat, and went to Tennessee, and
obtained permission to establish the A. M. E. connection in
that state.
I will "now inform you of the number of preachers in my
mission at this time, viz.: we have 17 in the itinerancy, and
27 local, total 44.
The work of reformation is still going on in the west. On
Indianapolis circuit, about 90 persons have joined society
since Conference, and many obtained religion. To accom¬
plish this great enterprise, I have been compelled to lie out:
in the wilderness more than two hundred nights, and have
been brought before the grand jury in St. Louis, three diff¬
erent times, and honorably acquitted—thanks be to God.
We have now 47 meeting-houses built in the western mis¬
sion, and a number of fine school-' now in operation.
Since the commencement of my mission, I have held 17
camp-meetings, and five of them were attended by the Rev.
Bishop Brown.
I need not consume time in speaking of my many priva¬
tions by reason of the pressure of our circulating medium.
At the Baltimore Conference of June, 1844, the three
x i.?hops: Morris Brown, Edward Waters and Wm. Paul
Ouinn had read the following address.
" Brethren, we have been permitted by the providence of
the Head of the Church to meet once more to transact the
business of the Church, and therefore may we do all things
for His glory. And as we have come here for God's glory,
*74
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
let us lift up our hearts in fervent prayer, that He may pour
out His Holy Spirit, and bless us, and add many souls to
the Church. And as we have many things to set in order,
some of which may have been very badly managed during
the last year, may we have grace to do it all in His fear. Ab
the heads of our own family let us never forget our family
religion, holding morning and evening prayer, with other
kindred duties. As an individual, I feel that I need more
of the grace of God. And if there be fault in any of us, let
us repent, /or I am persuaded that if we will walk right, and
live right, God will bless our labors. The work is great and
extensive. Let us, my dear friends, therefore strive to do all
in our power to promote God's glory. And as we are all
called to be leaders and teachers of God's people, my dear
brethren, let us do all things to improve our own minds, and
urge others who are under us to do the same, so that we may
improve the people committed tj our charge.
Let us use all gravity, avoiding lightness, jesting, and
foolish talking, and discharge all our duty with m eye single
to the glory of God. God has moved many obstacles out
of our way and enabled us to do much for our oppresjed
brethren. While here let us do nothing to hurt each other s
feelings, but indulge in all kindness towards each other. I
also beg an interest in your prayers, that God may enable
me to discharge my duties as the chairman of the meeting
in a manner profitable to you all, and honorable to myself.
May we all see one way and run the heavenly race with one
heart, one spirit and one mind, so that when we have
finished our work we maybe enabled to say with the Apos¬
tle Paul, " I have fought the good fight, kept the faith, and
finished my course.'' And may God at length bring us to
His heavenly kingdom for Christ' sake. Amen.
REPORT TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1S44.
The report that follows is the one Rev. Wm. Paul ojirm
made to the General Conference of 1844, during its session
at Pittsburg It is not too much to say that it won for him,
and deservedly too, the Episcopacy.
" Dear Brethren, that duty I owe to this General Confer¬
ence, and the western community at large, f >r a faithful
notice of what has been done in this enterprise, compels me
t > submit for your consideration, a brief outline of the rise
and progress of our mission in the west. Being appointed
four years ago, by your honorable body, then in session in
APFENEIX.
175
die city of Baltimore, Md., to establish a mission among
our people in the states west of Ohio, I now proceed to
report to you, as follows, viz:
NUMBER OF COLORED INHABITANTS IN THE STATES OF
Indiana and Illinois, about 18000 Teachers, 40
Churches established, 47 Colored Teachers, 36
Communicants, 1080 Sabbath Schools, 50
Local Preachers, 27 Scholars, 201.0
Travelling Preachers, 20 Teachers, 200
" Elders 7 Colored Teachers, 100
Congregations, 72 Temperance Societies, 40
Lay members, 2000 Members, 2000
Schools, 40 Camp-Meetings, 17
Scholars, 920
Our people in these states are chiefly occupied in agricul¬
tural pursuits, and are rapidly improving themselves, by
cultivation of the ground, from which they make under the
providence of God, a good living for themselves and fami¬
lies, sustain churches and schools—in a manner truly sur¬
prising. Although many of them within the last ten or fif¬
teen years, broke away from the fetters of slavery, and set¬
tled with their families in those states, yet by the dint of
industry, they are not only supporting their families, schools
and churches; but many of them are also acquiring wealth
—amid opposing laws and chilling prejudice. There is,
however, a very good state of feeling evinced towards our
people, by the more enlightened part of the white commu¬
nity in those states. There are many useful mechanics
among them; such as shoemakers, blacksmiths and car¬
penters. They have, in a word, every constituent principle
among them, when suitably composed, to make them a
great and good people.
Beyond the limits of these states, the mission has been
extended to the states of Missouri and Kentucky; though
slave states, yet a more friendly feeling exists towards our
enterprise among the ruling authorities, than could be easily
anticipated. The church located in the city of St. Louis is
in a prosperous state. It numbers 150 communicants. Also
the church erected in the city of Louisville, Ky., is in a flat¬
tering condition, &c.
I z.m fully persuaded that this mission, if faithfully con¬
ducted, will,' at no distant period, accomplish wonders foi
our people,settled in those western states, in their moral and
religious elevation. They need nothing more than proper
encouragement and proper direction, in order to attain an
elevated position, that will be truly enviable.
iy6
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
I cannot close this report without bringing to your notice,
brothers George Johnson and Major James Wilkinson, who
have borne the burden and heat ot the day with me, in this
enterprise; having commenced with me, and continued
faithful to the causa of God through every opposing diffi¬
culty ; and without whose untiring labors, the enterprise
must have greatly suffered.
Others who have entered this field of labor, since the enter¬
prise began, are not to be forgotten in this report, as faithful
and persevering laborers in the great work; including all
who are at present engaged in the arduous task of carrying
forward the measures of this great and important mission.
This grand region of missionary enterprise is truly an
interesting spot to excite the benevolent sympathies of the
spirit of missions ; being broad in its extent, inviting in its
agricultural qualities, and grand in its commercial position.
There is an immense mine of mind, talent and social quali¬
ties ; all lying measurably in embryo; but by a proper
direction of the missionary hammer and chisel, they can all
be shaped to fit in the great spiritual building of God.
Wm, P. Quinn.
N. B.—I would merely observe, that in consequence of
my name being left out of the minutes of the Indiana Con¬
ference, held in the city of Indianapolis, Sept. 8th, 1843, I
have not received any allowance at all, since that time ; no
—not one cent: nor even one half of my expenses."
W. P. Q.
Writing to the Magazine, July, 1845, the present Bishop
Wayman said:
"Begin all thine actions in prayer," said Pythagoras,
"that thou mayest be able to accomplish them." Alas, my
brethren, what can we frail creatures do in our arduous
wjrk if the Spirit which is to be obtained by prayer do not
help us? We can neither attain to the right knowledge of
the truth as it is in Jesus, nor can we recommend the gospel
with success to others. It is only the same Spirit which
dictated the oracles of God at first, that can make us under¬
stand them clearly. To him, therefore, should we apply for
light and direction, by pouring*forth our souls before him in
frequent and fervent prayer.
As will be seen from the following resolutions, passed by
the Baltimore Annual Conference, April, 1846, the question
of Union with the A. M. E. Zion Church, is not one of to-day.
" Whereas, it is a fact, greatly to be lamented, on the ac-
APPENDIX.
177
count of the disunion, in Christian foil r.vjhip,—on the ac¬
count of the division of means, to do good, and bless man¬
kind,—on the account of the towering prejudices, thrown up
as high as the heaven-reaching top ot the Alpine Mountains,
between the two connections,—on the account of the sacred
cause of schools, day and Sabbath, the cause of general
education, and on the account of the present, future, and
eternal welfare of immortal souls—that the two religious de¬
nominations of Christians in these United States, occupying
nearly co-extensively the same territory, are, in their present
positions, a heavy weight, the one to the other, in the high
mission of the Church Militant, in the spread of 'the know¬
ledge of the Lord among us: that is to say, the A. M. Epis¬
copal and the A. Methodist Zion Churches.
" Therefore, Resolved, That if, in the good providence of
the Great Head of the Church, any plan or system of means
can be devised and matured by which the two bodies can
be amicably brought together into one consolidated body,
and in which they could both consistently agree upon terms
of Christian fellowship, we, the members of this Baltimore
Annual Conference, entertain no objection to the same."
M. M. Clark here gave notice to the Conference that if
nothing in the providence of God should prevent, he would
bring the above resolution and preamble forward, for adop¬
tion and decision, in the Annual Conference of the Balti¬
more district in 1847. Attest,
Bishops—Morris Brown, William Paul Quinn.
Secretaries—M. M. Clark, Levin Lee.
The following explains itself:
LETTER TO THE WORLD'S CONVENTION.
Brooklyn, July 15th, 1846.
To the President and Members of the General World's Con¬
vention of the Christia7i Church to be held at the City of
London, on the igth day of August, 1846.
Brethren : The undersigned committee, appointed by
the New York Annual Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church of the United States of America, to cor¬
respond with your sacred body, do hereby through our De¬
legates, Rev. M. M. Clark, of the New York District, for¬
merly a student of the Jefferson College, Pa., and Rev. D.
A. Payne, of the Baltimore District, formerly a student of
the Gettysburg College, Pa., send these presents humbly
soliciting your particular attention.
i78
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
It is known that the Church and people whom we repre¬
sent have always labored in this country under many em¬
barrassments, which would be unnecessary for us at -present
to mention, being satisfied that a full account of this portion
of our history is given in the Episcopal Address to the mem¬
bers of the Church, which you will find in the Preface of our
Discipline, we now forward you for consideration; where
you will learn the full cause of our separate organization
from the Methodist Episcopal Church of this country.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church of America h.i;
been in existence thirty years, as you may observe on a pe¬
rusal of the historical account given of the origin and con¬
tinuation of its Episcopacy, which may be found in chapter
i, section i, of our Discipline. Richard Allen was our first
ordained Bishop, and Morris Brown, Edward Waters, and
William Paul Ouinn, are his successors in office.
We have at present about 17,375 Communicants attached
t > our General Church, with about 80 itinerant and 97 local
Preachers; three of whom are Bishops, 62 Elders, 48 Dea¬
cons, and 66 licensed Preachers.
The Church is located within fourteen States of the Union,
viz.: New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,
Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, and in the
British Province of Canada West.
It is divided into six Districts, viz.; Baltimore, Philadel¬
phia, Ntw York, Ohio, Indiana, and Canada Districts.
In each District there is held an Annual Conference for
the regulation of the spiritual affairs of the Church among
its ministers ; and every fourth year a General Conference, by
delegation from each District, takes place, to make rules
and regulations for its government.
There are about seventy-one circuits and stations, and two
hundred and ninety-six Churches and preaching places with¬
in those several Districts.
For the support of our Itinerant Ministry, contributions
are made by the members throughout our several circuits
and stations. In some places they are tolerably well pro¬
vided for and in others but poorly.
We have many useful Institutions established among us,
especially by the females, for the aid of the Gospel and mu¬
tual support of each other in the time of affliction.
The literary condition of our people, we are happy to say,
is gradually improving wherever our Church is established,
as evinced in the organization and prosperous state of our
numerous Sabbath and Day Schools, Libraries, etc. Strong
—NDIX.
179
efforts are being made among us, as may be seen in the re¬
solutions of our late General and Annual Conferences, to
raise the literary character of our ministry, especially our
young men who may hereafter be admitted, and the disse¬
mination of more refined intelligence among our young peo¬
ple generally. To carry these resolutions into effect our
brethren west of the Alleghany Mountains have succeeded
in the purchase of about 270 acres of land, for the location
of a Manual Labor School, and are now engaged in raising
funds by subscription, throughout the country, to erect a suit¬
able building for that purpose; and on the 30th day of Sep¬
tember last a Convention was held in the City of Philadel¬
phia, as may be seen in Magazine No. 8, p. 277, to enter into
ways and means for the preparing of our young men for the
Ministry, and the establishment of a Manual Labor School
east of the Alleghany Mountains. '
We are using every measure in our power to carry these
designs into effect, but we are sorry to say that in conse¬
quence of the limited means among us our efforts are much
paralyzed. We, however, sincerely hope that the charity of
the Christian Church generally will be turned in this direc¬
tion in aid of our cause.
Our Book Concern was organized in the early establish¬
ment of our Church ; but for the want of pecuniary means
has been in quite a languishing state.
It is located in the City of New York, and conducted at
present under the supervision of Rev. George Hogarth, our
General Book Steward, and Rev. Benjamin Croger, Samuel
Edwards, Joshua Jenkins, and Eli N. Hall, the acting Com¬
mittee with him.
Its present stock consists of Hymn Books of various kinds,
Disciplines, Pamphlets, Magazines, Stereotype Plates, etc.,
valued at $1,587.99, outstanding debts, etc., $1,004.88 added,
making a total amount of $2,592.87.
For the circulation of intelligence among our people
throughout our Church, we have published a Magazine, in¬
tended to be a monthly periodical; but for the want of pecu¬
niary aid it has in a great measure failed, since it arrived to
the 10th number of the second volume. Strong efforts will
be made among our people for its continuation, as we are
satisfied that much good has already resulted to us from its
circulation; and we intend to raise the tone of its literary
character in our future numbers. We here forward you a few
copies of the several numbers published, soliciting your at¬
tention and humbly praying your sanction and aid in this
particular branch of our efforts in the promotion of the cause
of Christ among us.
i8o
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
The cause of Morality, we are happy to say, is on the ad¬
vance among us, particularly in that of the establishment of
the numerous Temperance and other Societies, which you
will observe in the perusal of our Magazine.
We sincerely hope you will receive our Delegates, whom
we here authorize to unite with you in your deliberations on
the common platform with the Ministry of the General Chris¬
tian Church ; and in their presentation of the claims of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of
America upon your Reverend Body, give them a respectful
hearing.
We are. Brethren, your fellow laborers in the Ministry of
the Gospel of Christ: M. M. Clark, George Hogarth, Ed¬
ward C. Africanus, Committee.
Our Delegates to the IVorhf s General Convention, at L vi¬
rion.—It will be seen in the Minutes of the New York Annu ll
Conference that some interest was there taken to cause the
African Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States t >
become represented in some way or other at the meeting of
that Christian Body, to take place in the City of London, oil
the 19th of August. A committee was appointed to open a
correspondence either by delegation or otherwise, so far as
time and financial means would afford. They immediately
went into operation, and appointed the Rev. M. M. Clark, a
Delegate to the Convention. The brethren of the B iltimore
District went forward and appointed Rev. Daniel A. Payne
their Delegate, and means were immediately collected suffi¬
cient to pay their way to and from the Convention. With a
circular from the Committee (a copy of which we p!ace be¬
fore our readers) and other necessary documents, they took
their departure in the packet ship Empire, from the city of
New York, about the 22d day of July. But sorry are we to
say that their efforts in this particular proved a failure. A vio¬
let storm overtook them in the night at sea, after having been
out about four days, and dismasted the vessel, thereby caus¬
ing their return again to New York about the gth of August,
being absent about 18 days.
Brother Payne here abandoned all further efforts in the
cause, but Brother Clark being determined to carry forward
the great objects of his appointment, immediately engaged
his passage in the packet ship John R. Skiddy, which sailed
about the 1 ith of August. He took his departure in lvr with
the intention and hope, should the winds and w ive-. permit,
of arriving at London on or before the close of the Conven¬
tion, that our General Connection may be there represented.
APPENDIX.
We sincerely pray that success may attend him .—From Afri¬
can Methodist Church Magazine, September, 1846.
A LETTER FROM M. M. CLARK TO BISHOP
WM. PAUL QUINN.
Dear Bishop.—I much regret the necessity which has
compelled my stay in this country. When I left Washing¬
ton, my anticipation was, to have returned soon after the
adjournment of the Conference in London; but, as I prom¬
ised to endeavor to raise a small sum of money for the con¬
gregation in Washington, I engaged in that work so^n after
the meeting adjourned, and have been engaged ever since
in promoting that object, either directly or indirectly. I
have had many obstacles to encounter in raising means
here, in consequence of the exceeding pressure upon the
community for their own local objects—and the great dis¬
tress which has been in Ireland and Scotland, and in con¬
sequence of our connection being entirely unknown till my
arrival here. There was not a man in the Alliance (except
one or two from America) that had the least knowledge of
its existence. But the circumstances which took place in
that meeting, and the manner in which I was there received,
will leave our connection no longer a stranger in England,
Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, Russia or Switzerland,
for all those nations' were represented in that Conference,
and I was honored with an introduction to some gentlemen
of each country, even to the Crown Embassador of Russia,
by Lord Ashley. In that Evangelical Meeting, I made a
statement of our connection, its numbers, extent, preachers,
bishops, schools, &c., and received a recommendation from
some of the London members, to solicit aid in this country
for the church in Washington.
But when I went out into the community to promote the
object, I found a manifest want of general sympathy among
many of the Methodists, because our connecdon was un¬
known to them—and because I did not come to this country
recommended by white Methodist Episcopal Bishops in
America. But some of the Methodist clergy took me by the
hand, and welcomed me to their pulpits and to their con¬
gregations with a cordiality becoming the servants of Christ.
In consequence of my being a Methodist, the other religious
bodies did not feel themselves under any particular obliga¬
tion to assist my object; but still, they have aided in many
instances even more liberally than the Methodists, who
seem a little shy because I do not belong to the Methodist
182
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
Episcopal Church in America. All these barriers standing
in my way, caused my stay to be protracted beyond all
anticipations. My lengthened stay, however, I trust to be
productive of some good in various ways. I have appoint¬
ments to preach almost every Sabbath, among the Indepen¬
dents, Baptists, Presbyterians or Methodists—and I n^ver
let occasion pass, without putting forward our church and
cause in America, as well as in my lectures on slavery. So
that our connection, though it suffers much in this country,
in the estimation of many Methodists, for its not being
under the control of the white Conference, yet in the eyes of
the other bodies it is highly spoken of as a noble theatre for
the exercise and improvement of the otherwise crushed
minds and talents of hundreds of worthy colored young
men, who are now laboring among their brethren, and have
an undisturbed field for all their powers.
I have also made various publications in the public jour¬
nals of our church and schools, in Ireland, England and
Scotland. The last one I made, was in the Edinburgh
Witness, May 22d, which I sent to be published in the
Mystery. Evening before last, June 1st, I gave a ljcture in
the Waterloo Rooms in this city, to a highly respectable
audience, and there had occasion to read our Discipline,
page 139, section 12, on slavery, which produced long con¬
tinued cheers from a crowded house, and at the close of the
lecture, a Rev. Dr. West, of the Established Church, moved
the following vote of thanks, viz:
"Resolved, That, this meeting having been highly grati¬
fied and very intellectually entertained by the worthy gen¬
tleman who has now addressed us in so clear and lucid a
manner, a vote of thanks be tendered to him, and that this
meeting highly approves the sentiments just read in the
Discipline of the highly creditable African Methodist Epis¬
copal Church in America, of which our worthy guest is a
preacher."
The resolution passed with loud applause and cheering.
Dr. West is now preparing a short notice of that meeting,
with the view of sending it to some of the American papers,
that the American community may see how a colored man
is received and treated here.
I wish to leave Liverpool for New York by the last of this
month (June), and with a fair passage I shall arrive in New
York the last of July or the first of August. I have great,
reason to be very thankful to a kind Providence, for [vrfert
health during my absence from America. I hive n'jt been
unwell a moment, beyond a cold and slight cough once or
APPENDIX.
twice. I was not in the least affected with sea-sickness, of
which very few escape the first voyage
Dear Bishop, I fancy, sometimes, myself to be in your
lively and agreeable company, in the city of Richmond,
Indiana, or at our esteemed friend Bundy's, or Hamilton,
Ohip, on the banks of the great Miami, or bathing in its
salubrious waters, or taking a comfortable and pleasant
breakfast under shady oaks on the road to Harveysburgh,
or stopping at the brick house on a warm day to ask certain
ones for some of their cool water. Or I sometimes, to cheer
my languid spirits, recall to my memory the pleasing cir¬
cumstance of our travel over the mountains, which throw
their heads among the clouds, or depress their valleys to
frightful depths below, and the singularly kind attention
paid to us at all the hotels. Now time and distance inter¬
rupt our earthly pleasures in each other's society, and my
only solid consideration is that the termination of our
earthly career will bring us into each other's company
again, where neither time nor distance will ever part us
more. My love to all friends.
Yours, very truly, in Christ,
M. M. Clark.
Edinburgh, Scotland, yime 3d, 1847.
Both the letter and the spirit of the Episcopal Address,
given below, cannot fail to command our admiration.
AN EPISCOPAL ADDRESS.
delivered before the general conference of the
A. M. E. Church, in the United States of America, Sitting
in the City of Philadelphia, Pa., A. 'D. 1848, by the Rt.
Rev. Bishop Wm. Paul Quinn.
Dearly Beloved Brethren, and Fellow Laborers in
the good cause of our common Master, we are again met by
the permission of a kind Providence, after the lapse of an¬
other four years, to legislate for the Church over which we
are placed. That this distinguished Providence which has
prolonged our almost useless lives, continued our health,
and blessed us with the various comforts of life—demands
our profound gratitude and thanks. At the same time while
I recount the many mercies and,favors of a beneficent
Creator to us, I would remind you of that afflictive Provi¬
dence which,' since last General Conference, has removed
from among us some of our dear brethren ; endeared to us
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
by every tie of Christian brotherhood and long personal ac¬
quaintance, and some of them members of this General
Conference.
We also have great cause to lament the loss to the Church
of our highly and much esteemed Father in God, the Right
Rev. Bishop Waters (deceased). His holy and godl^- ex¬
ample to the Church of Christ, had for nearly half a century,
been of the most salutary character—and whoSe departure
to the reward of his long protracted and highly benefirial
labors will long be a source of regret to the militant Church.
My clear brethren, met as we are, to promote, by wise and
sound legislation, the temporal and spiritual interests of the
many thousands over whom we exercise ecclesiastical juris¬
diction—our only resort for adequate wisdom, for so ardu¬
ous and difficult a task—is to Him—who " giveth to all
liberally and upbraideth none." To Him, therefore, who is
the Father and Bishop of our souls—and the only spiritual
Head of His own Church—may we all repair and find a
ready and gracious acceptance.
The first object that will demand your attention and
prayerful consideration, is the revision of the Discipline. In
doing which I would remind you that one great merit of all
laws, both secular and ecclesiastical is, their perspicuity and
plainness of construction—both in point of language and
sentiment. We have heard, since our general Conference,
many complaints, that in parts of our Discipline the lan¬
guage is unintelligible and the sentiment unplain; one
principal art, no doubt, in legislation is, to keep in mind the
mental capacity of those for whom we legislate. The weaker
the mental capacities, the plainer and more conspicuous
should be the law—hence, for great plainness and perspicu¬
ity, much coolness of thought and temperate judgment are
needed.
Another object to which I would cite your attention is the
importance of so amending our rules as to better secure
the support of the itinerant ministry, and supernumeraries,
Bishops' widows, and Orphan children of Itinerant Preach¬
ers and Bishops. These have individual claim upon the
Church which require much attention and forethought.
In the course of our session, your attention will be called
to the affairs of the Book Concern. Much pains and at¬
tention should be bestowed upon those matters—that the
Book Establishment may be placed on a more permanent
foundation—that its condition may be the more flourishing
—and promotive of good. We must ever regard that estab¬
lishment as the great beacon-light of our Connection ; the
APPENDIX.
185
only source from which must emanate all our Connectional
information. We would, in connection with this important
subject, recommend to your consideration the expediency of
establishing a religious periodical, to be the organ of our
Church, for religious and moral information.
It has pleased the great Head of the Church to so bless
our efforts, in our endeavors to build up His kingdom, that
the Connection is daily widening and extending its bounds,
and increasing its numbers; therefore you will see, in the
course of our proceedings, the great necessity of supplying
that deficiency in the Episcopal office, which has been oc¬
casioned by the decease of Bishop Waters and the long pro¬
tracted illness of. Bishop Brown, who, in all human calcula¬
tion, will never again be able to serve the Church, in his
Episcopal functions, either by the election of Bishop or by
the creation of the office of Presiding Elders, which latter
office, in our judgment, from the knowledge we have of the
present wants of the Connection, would be more conducive
to its growth and prosperity than the election, at present, of
another Bishop. This, however, is merely our own indi¬
vidual opinion. Your judgment will guide you to the best
result, we doubt not: as we know not, however, " what a
day may bring forth," it would be wise to consider well the
propriety of electing another Bishop.
The Canada Conference will likewise be presented for
your consideration and that claim which it has upon our
sympathies will secure for it a deliberate and careful atten¬
tion, as it is a component part of this body.
Dear brethren I have now briefly noticed the most pro¬
minent topics which will engage your attention ; may the
Lord our righteousness inspire all our minds with judgment,
prudence and wisdom, and by a special Providence guide
us to the happiest results in all our deliberations.
William Paul Ouinn.
Philadelphia, May 3d, 1848.
The question of licensing women to preach occupied the
attention of two General Conferences—that of 1844 a-nd that
of 1848. At the latter, the prayer which certain women sent
m asking for ministerial privileges, akin to those of men,
on motion of Dr, J. J. G. Bias, a local delegate from Phila¬
delphia, passed. The minority, under the leadership of the
present Bishop Payne, made the following protest:'
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
PROTEST
Of the minority against the majority of the members of the
General Conference, in relation to the licensing of females
to preach.
Whereas, a majority of the General Conference did vote
that the Annual Conferences, and the several Preachers
having the Charge shall license women to preach, and
thereby introduce distraction into the Annual Conferences,
the Quarterly Conferences, and throughout the several Sta¬
tions and Circuits, and whereas, such a course as this is
calculated to break up the sacred relations which women
bear to their husbands and children, by sending them forth
as itinerant preachers, wandering from place to place, to the
utter neglect of their household duties and obligations,
and whereas, such a course is unwarranted by the word of
God, and whereas, the whole history of the Church does not
furnish a single instance where the legislative body of a
Church has ever licensed women to preach, therefore, the
undersigned do enter their solemn protest in the presence of
the Church against this movement of the majority of the
General Conference, as a measure Anti-Scriptural, anti-do¬
mestic and revolutionary. Signed,
D. A. Payne, J. L. Armstrong, Wm. H. Jones, W. Nazrey.
A. R. Green, Wm. H. G. Brown, M. M. Clark, D. Winslovv,
A. Mcintosh, H. J. Young, D. Stokes, A. W. Wayman, T.
Lawrence, N. C. W. Cannon, Wm. H. Waters, Geo.
Greenly.
The first question to be asked after reading the following
report, made to the Philadelphia Conference, 12 June, 1848,
is: What has become of it? We are sure the whole Church
would like to know.
The following report was received from the committee
on the Episcopal Staff, who were appointed at the last
Annual meeting. It was received and adopted, and is as
follows.
To the Bishop and Members of the Philadelphia Annual
District Conference :
Dear Brethren.—We, your committee, appointed at
your last Annual Conference, to present an Episcopal"Staff,
to the Right Rev. Bishop William Paul Quinn, and to be
transmitted to his successors in office for ever, most humbly
beg leave to inform you, that from circumstances, over
APPENDIX.
18/
which we had no control, we could not possibly present the
Episcopal Staff at the Baltimore Annual Conference, accord¬
ing to orders received from you. We have the pleasure
of informing the Conference now in session, that at the
sitting of the General Conference, in May, 1848, in the city
of Philadelphia, and before a large concourse of spectators,
assembled in Bethel Church, Dr. J. J. G. Bias, the chairman
of the committee, presented the Staff to the Right Rev.
Bishop Quinn, with suitable and appropriate remarks. The
Rev. Dr. took a cursory view of the rise, progress and
present position of the A. M. E. Church, and dwelt with
peculiar emphasis upon the moral influence now exercised
by our church, throughout the United States and Europe,
by bringing before an enlightened and intelligent world,
tne intellectual capacity and moral capability of a " self-
evident truth," that the colored race, by proper training,
can govern themselves, and perform all the duties of
sapient beings, without depending upon the intellectual
acumen of any other race. The Dr. also dwelt with much
sympathy upon the circumstances which precluded the
Right Rev. Bishop Morris Brown from attending the Gen¬
eral Conference.—He called the attention of the Conference
to the enfeebled state of the Bishop's health, and concluded
his remarks by depositing into the hands of Bishop Quinn
the Episcopal Staff, presented by your honorable body.
The Dr. was followed by the Rev. Dr. D. A. Payne, Rev.
S. Smith and Darius Stokes, by appropriate remarks, all
suitable to the interesting occasion.
Accept, dear brethren, our sincere desire for the welfare
of our beloved Zion.
Dr. J. J. G. Bias, S. Smith, W. Nazrey, J. Cornish,
W. Proctor, Committee on Presentation of Episcopal Staff.
Trenton, June 12, 1848.
The Philadelphia Conference of 1850 thus refers to the
death of the saintly relict of our first Bishop and organizer:
OBITUARY OF SARAH ALLEN.
In the course of events, brought about by the dispensation
of an all-wise God, the Church, since the last sitting of its
Annual Conference in this District, have been called to
mourn, and with sorrowing hearts to lament the death of
Mrs Sarah Allen, consort of the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen,
Bishop and founder of the African M. E. Church.
Whilst it is true that we should not mourn as those who
'l88 OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
have no hope, being assured that the righteous have hope iri
their death. Yet it is by no means criminal or unchristian
to mourn the loss of those we love. And the more so when
those are called to the spirit land with whom we have been
identified in matters of moment, of trial and conflict.
The subject of this notice was one endeared to us by every
tie which could link one to another, and as often as we look
back upon the early history of our Church—memory, that
monitor of time past, clinches upon our affections—emotions
too pungent and deep for expression—we can only say, so
seemeth it good and right, Oh, Lord !
Thankful we take the cup,
Prepared and mingled by Thy skill.
In the death of sister Allen the Church has not only lost
a bright ornament, a jewel precious, a relic of her formation,
when she was first seen to glide from the stormy element of
oppression, but has indeed lost a pillar from the building—
a Mother in. Israel. Oh, then, nviy we not cry " Help,
Lord, for the godly man ceaseth."
Our aged and dear mother was a native of Virginia, Isle
of Wight County., and came into the City of Philadelphia
to reside at an early age, being not more than eight years
old She was united in marriage to the Rt. Rev. Richard
Allen about the year 1800. From that period she had been
identified as one of those noble spirits who, with her hus¬
band, our venerable Father in God, battled mightily for the
establishment of our beloved Zion. It might be well said,
that the Church, when contending with a powerful adversa¬
ry, had no more able advocate than sister Allen. A staff
to her husband, and a counsellor, and the encourager of the
pioneers who, with the Bishop, labored hard to bring the
Church out of her captivity, and throw off her oppressors,
her name will ever be associated and endeared to the
Church with those of Allen, Coker, Champion, Tapsico,
Webster, Waters, Brown, and others, founders and fathers
of this branch of the Church of Christ.
Mother Allen lived to a good old age, being 85 when she
was called from labor to reward. This event took place in
the City of Philadelphia, on the 16th day of July, 1849, at
the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Ann Adams.
Reader, let us pause and think of her whose loss the
Church mourns, and whose departure from the land of the
living has thrown the mantle of sorrow over this community.
" Mark the upright man," says God, " for his end is peace."
We have known our sister long. We have cherished the
APPENDIX.
189
liveliest sentiments of regard toward her; never have we
known her to be remiss in a single duty which claimed her
attention. To the young she was a faithful counsellor ; the
gay, the giddy, the careless, and heedless, met in mother
Allen one who was faithful to advise even unto tears.
The aged met a friend sincere and true, without ostenta¬
tion, but simple-minded, frank and affectionate. To mother
Allen all had access, the high, the low, the rich and poor,
the friendless and the outcast, found in her one unto whom
they could pour out their complaints, and tell their sorrows
o'er. The poor flying slave, trembling and panting in his
flight, has lost a friend not easily replaced; her purse to
such, as well as others, was ever open, and the fire of those
eyes, now closed in death, kindled with peculiar brightness
as she would bid them God speed to the land of liberty,
where the slave is free from his master, and the voice of the
oppressor is no longer heard.
Her house was the resort of the brethren who labored in
the ministry, when weary and worn with the burden of
duty; they found a resting place, indeed. Long will her
motherly counsel be remembered by our itinerant and local
brethren, and long will it be, yea, ever, that the tones of her
well-known voice shall sound upon the ear of the Ministers
of our Church.
At it regards her Christian profession, we may say that
such was the reflection thrown from it that no one could
for a moment question or doubt but that she walked with
God; the power of which was felt as often as she opened
l,er mouth, either to rebuke, to counsel, or encourage. In
the Church truly a void has been made; a great light in¬
deed has been blown out; and Zion, our beloved Zion, will
long mourn the loss of mother Allen.
In conclusion, we can only say fare thee .well, sister,
Thy happy spirit hath winged iis way,
Far, far away.
Now, even now, thou art happier far than any of earth's
sons whose pilgrim-journey ends not yet. We bid thee
farewell, we hope to meet thee yet, where parting can no
more take place; we hope to walk with thee in white, and
in the upper sanctuary commingle once again and forever
our voices in anthems of praise to Him who hath loved us
and given Himself for us. Fare-thee-well, sister.
Wm P. Quinn, N. C. W. Cannon, J. G. Beulah, Israel
Scott, M. Brown, J. Cornish.
The Philadelphia Conference of 1851 having been ad-
outlines of history.
dressed by a Rev. Mr. Willis, the following was offered by-
Rev. A. R. Green. Of course it passed. The favor with
which emigrating the country is viewed, is to be explained
in the fact that the mover was a firm believer in it.
"As the time has arrived when it has become the duty of
this Annual Conference to make an expression to the peo¬
ple on the subject of our condition in this country, and our
fet lings toward the British government for the benevolence
exhibited in this time of peril and danger to the liberty of
the colored race of these United States,—
" whereas, the British nation, under the reign and royal
majesty of Queen Victoria, have, by their acts and deeds,
in this time of enormous injustice, cruelty and oppression
by the government of this Republic and States of this
Union, on the native-born free colored, as well as the slave
population, actually exposing them (free colored persons,)
to all the perils of interminable bondage, from one end of
the country to the other; and yet adding insult to injury,
by using their prejudice against us to force us from the
homes of our youth and land of our birth to the shores of
Africa. And whereas, the people of Great Britain, viewing
the cruelty of this government and nation, styled a "Free
Republic," against the thousands and hundreds of thou¬
sands of her home-born children, without cause, has arisen,
and to stamp those wicked emanations called laws, enacted
for our destruction in this country, as acts of barbarism
and of the dark ages, and beneath the dignity of any
enlightened "and civilized people, have published to the
world, and by sheltering the panting fugitive when escaping
from this land ot blood, proved their Christian sympathy
for us by opening their dominioris and inviting us to the
enjoyments of equal privileges with the natural, born British
subjects; and that when this prejudice of the American
people, or a majority of them, is falsely asserting that the
black and white race cannot possibly live together on
equality, thereby giving that libel on the character of God
its true coloring, and exposing the fabricators to their own
shame, for attempting to impose upon the wise and benefi¬
cent Creator the injustice of having omitted to appoint to
us the bounds of our habitation, but left it entirely with our
paler American brethren to choose it for us: first, by forcing
our ancestors, in part, from the land of their birth, and
enslaving them—and second, by removing their posterity
to another land, as the only place where the fostering hand
of that Creator will be over us. And whereas, the entire
APPENDIX.
191
treatment of the majority of the American people is, and
has been such, that so long as slavery exists, and colored
people can be sold here, there never will be confidence
enough reposed in them to take us in Ebony, nor any other
steam vessels, across the ocean. Therefore,—
"ResolveaI, That, under existing circumstances, in our
judgment, it is unwise and disadvantageous, as well as
impolitic, for us to resolve that we will not leave the United
States, as every such resolve only goes to stamp us as being
willing to suffer any thing that may be imposed upon us,
rather than remove or emigrate; thereby encouraging our
enemies to greater aggressions, and emboldening them in
their encroachments on our liberty, and discouraging our
friends, who are willing to receive us as part and parcel of
their people, free and untrammelled from the powers of
wicked law?. *
"Resolved, That the action of the British people, by a
renewal of their sympathy for us, and inviting the long
injured race and people of this boasted land of liberty, the
colored people, to the enjoyment of the blessings of liberty
and equality, have won our entire confidence and highest
regard.
"Resolved, That the benevolent exhibition of the people
of Her Royal Majesty in the province of Canada, in grant¬
ing protection and support to the thousands of our race,
who were forced from their homes in the dreary season of
the year, have proved themselves true patriots and friends
of human liberty.
"Resolved, That the kindness of the British people, in
opening their hearts, and inviting us at this crisis to their
],tinl. to enjoy the precious boon of liberty and fraternity,
from the prejudice of American Christianity, is a withering
rebuke to the Christians of this land who are striving to
encourage the unholy principle, at war with the spirit of the
religion of the Lord Jesus Christ, of separation on account
of prejudice against color.
"Resolved, That we will ever cherish the fondest remin¬
iscence of the people who, in the time of persecution, have
come forward find held out to us a helping hand, at this
time of affliction and distress of our people.
Resolved, That, as a religious body, we will ever pray for
the peace and prosperity of the British government, and
shall when emigrating from this land of oppression, seek
our homes in Her Majesty's dominions.
"Resolved, That copies of this preamble and resolutions
oe forwarded to Her Royal Majesty Queen Victoria, the
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
Parliament of Great Britain, and the Governor-generals of
the provinces of Canada and British West Indies, as testi¬
monials of our grateful remembrance of their philanthropic
acts toward us."
The Quadrennial Address of the Bishops of the A. M. E.
Church in North America, read at the Eleventh
General Conference, held in Pitts¬
burg, May 7-23, i860.
Rev. and Dear Brethren.—In opening the Eleventh Ses¬
sion of the General Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, it is our duty to address you on subjects
relating to the general government and prosperity of the
Connection, particularly on such subjects, the importance
and utility of which have been experimentally and provi¬
dentially upon our minds.
As relates to the general prosperity of our large and grow¬
ing Connection, we are happy-to state that peace and pros¬
perity reign, and from the various resources at our com¬
mand, we have reason to believe that the pleasure of the
Lord has prospered in our hands, and that the united efforts
of His faithful ministers have been crowned with success.
New churches, of large dimensions, and beautiful in archi¬
tecture, have been built in various parts, and under the
government of faithful pastors, are attended by large and
attentive congregations. Death has made comparatively
few inroads in our rank; since our lastsession, and we have
only to record a few names who have been brought under his
emjire. Among these we may mention brothers Levin Lee,
Emanuel Wilkerson, Henry Brooks, Edw. Hawkins, Nelson
Carter, and James R. Sterret. These have passed away from
labor to reward, and while we may lament their departure,
may ws not hope that our loss has been their eternal £ain.
Respecting the cause of Missions, we would respectfully
invite your attention and co-operation. The cause of mis¬
sions should have a large share of your sympathy. Many
interesting fields of labor are open before us, both home
and foreign, and those now sitting in the region and shadow
of death are aisking for the light of divine truth, and to be
brought into the family of our dear Redeemer. Africa, HaytL
Central America, and California, should claim your special
attention, and plans devised by which they may be speedily
reached.
u Shall we. whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Shall we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny ?''
APPENDIX.
Ihe subject of Education has also received notice in our
travels through the length and breadth of our Episcopal
journeys ; and while in many places we have been enabled
to discover great improvement among our people, still in
many places ignorance prevails to an alarming extent. This
state of things, however, is not to be attributed entirely to
our own people. In many States of this great and glorious
Union the doors of education are closed against us, and
many of our people being in moderate circumstances and
unable to educate their children, with all such the prospects
are gloomy indeed. On the other hand, in many States,
schools are opened and well filled with youthful and aspir¬
ing minds. Colleges, Universities, and Seminaries, are now
in full operation, where the youth of our down-trodden and
oppressed race may enter and prepare themselves for use¬
fulness and heaven. Among these we would recommend,
particulaily to the parents and youth of our people, Wilber-
force University, located near Xenia, Ohio ; Albany Manual
Labor School, Southern Ohio ; Darby Institute, near the city
of Columbus, Ohio ; Union Seminary, Darke county, Ohio ;
and Allegheny Institute, located in Allegheny city, more
familiarly known as Avery College. The organization and
character are too well known to speak more in detail or give
arn.re e.\i.ended notice of them. Wewould, therefore, close
this part of our address by saying that we are perfectly satis¬
fied of the fact that a liberal education, sanctified by piety,
is the surest foundation upon which we can build.
We cannot forbear saying something in relation to our
Book Concern, which has so long lain in an inactive condi¬
tion. It is to be sincerely hoped that your united efforts,
during the present session, may result in placing it upon a
permanent foundation, and redeem its character and stand¬
ing in the eyes of the community. We have no plan to
propose, but, relying firmly on your united deliberations,
hope it m iv be made a useful and powerful instrument in
spreading light and knowledge amongst us.
In accordance with a resolution passed at the last General
Session, respecting the subject of division of the Canadas
from this Connection, we would state that that committee
discharged their duty, and we are anxiously expecting the
presence of that Committee to make a report of their doings
to this Conference, as they were instructed to do by the body
creating them. The work of God is prospering in the Pro¬
vince and the prospect fair for much good to be done.
And now, having briefly mentioned all that-we conceive
it to be our duty to speak of, we would, in closing, counsel
9
194
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
you to deliberation and care in all the weighty ru&iters that
may come before you, and in all things we beseech you to
act with an eye single to the glory of God, whose servants
we are, and that in the close of your labor each one may
feel that he again goes forth to renewed efforts in th^ glori¬
ous work of God, carrying with him the pleasing reflect hi
that he has done his individual duty, and that the bond-, of
our union have been strengthened and made more dear by
the results of this weighty and interesting session.
Praying that wisdom may guide you, and that your efforts
may result in great and future good, we remain, dear breth¬
ren, your affectionate co-laborers in the cause of our Divine
Master,
William Paul Quinn, Willis Nazrey, Daniel A. Payne,
Bishops.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
Appointed by the Twelfth General Conference, 1S64, to
consider on the Union of the A. M. E. Church
and the A. M. E. Zion Church,
We, your committee, to whom was referred the subject
of the union of the A. M. E. Church and the A. M. E. Zion
Church, after giving the subject the most careful attention,
beg leave to report as follows:
Your committee find jii existence in the various parts of
the United States, two separate and distinct religious or¬
ganizations, to wit: the A. M. E. Church and the A. M. E.
Zion Church, both professing the same faith and preaching
the same gospel, and only being separated by a few union
points, upon which hang no important issue.
And your committee firmly believing in the universally
leceived maxim, that weakness follows division, an'I
strength follows unity; and that this principle is exempli
fied by the continued separation of the two aforementioned
bodies, can but lament its further continuance. And in
view of the momentous events daily transpiring, plainly
indicating to every thoughtful mind, the expediency as well
as the vital importance of a union among all colored peo¬
ple, social and ecclesiastical, while the light of civilization
and the claims of our holy religion, as well as the vast har
vest to be gathered into the garden of our Lord and Master,
call upon us to arise in the majesty of a noble purpose, and
releasing ourselves from all the embarrassments which
separate existence has unfortunately occasioned, offer to
our sister church a friendly and Christian negotiation, hav¬
ing in view the combination of the two bodies.
APPENDIX.
I95
Therefore to consummate so desirable an object, your
committee would respectfully recommend the appointment
of one elder from each Annual Conference District, in con¬
junction with two bishops, to confer \vith the same number
of elders, and the two superintendents of the A. M. E. Z.
Church, who may have received an appointment, and
endorsed vvith f ower to act in the matter aforesaid, by
their General Conference.
Said committee of Conference shall have power to call a
convention, consisting of such a number of delegates as
may be agreed upon by them, from each connection. This
conven'ion, when once assembled, shall have power to
agree upon articles of consolidation. Said articles of con¬
solidation must be submitted to all the Annual Conferences
o'f each connect'on, and if ratified by a majority of the
same, they shall be final.
Your committee further report, that in view of the fact
that the M. E Church have, in the most Christian manner,
interested themselves in this important office, by appointing
their highest officers, even their bishops, to act as friendly
mediators in this matter, therefore, be it
Rj^oh'cd, That we accept this mediation, and kindly
invite them to a friendly participation in the above men¬
tioned Conference.
Charles Burch, S. L. Hammond, Wm. A. Dove, James
M. Williamson, Geo. A. Rue, E. T.Williams, Samuel Watts,
Committee.
UNION PLATFORM.
The following is the platform agreed upon by the Conven¬
tion held in Philadelphia, June 14-16, 1864, between the
representatives of the A. M. E. and the A. M. E. Zion
Churches, having in view the organic union of the two.
Whereas —The great principles of Christianity as
tau-ht by Christ and His Apostles, call upon the Church
militant to labor for the spread of God's kingdom among
men throughout the whole world, by means of preaching,
teaching, and a general diffusion of knowledge.
And Whereas —The wants of our oppressed race in this
land demand that we should leave no legitimate means
unemployed to husband our strength, and prepare for the
work of Evangelizing the world and especially the instruc¬
tion and elevation of the millions of Freedmen in the
S°An'd Wkerea-There has been a growing tendency
196
ou i. LINES OF HISTORY.
among the members of the said Churches, for a union of
the two connections, and action has been taken in the
Annual Conferences of the A. M. E. Zion Church on this
subject, also many articles .in the Christian Recorder and
Anglo-African, discussing the propriety of a Union, which
cannot be properly effected without the action of the Gene¬
ral Conferences of both Churches, Therefore, deeply con-'
vinced of the importance of Christian union and fellow¬
ship, and of the retarding and pernicious influences usually
consequent upon division, the undersigned members and
representatives of the A. M. E. Zion, and the A. M. E.
Churches in America, with a sense of their responsibility
to God, as well as the grave and delicate responsibilities
resting on them as the conservators of the dearest rights
and interests of that portion of the Great Family of God !
for whom they act, respectfully present to the Convention
the following articles, as the basis of a permanent union of
the respective bodies of the same, represented by the dele¬
gates.
POINTS ON WHICH WE ALREADY AGREE.
I. We find ourselves already agreeing, First, in Doc¬
trine ; Second, in our mode of Worship; Third, in the
System of an Itinerant Ministry; Fourth, in being Metho¬
dists. Our Class Meetings, Lovefeasts, and Prayer Meet¬
ings are the same. Our general rules are the same,—We
each have Official Boards, Quarterly, Annual, and General
Conferences. So far we agree in being Episcopal Metho¬
dists.
POINTS ON WHICH WE AGREE IN THE EVENT OF UNION.
II. We agree to change the connectional names by which
the two bodies are now designated, and adopt the following
denominational title, " The United African Methodist Epis¬
copal Church in America."
LAY REPRESENTATION.
III. Wj agree, that the rights of the people to a Lay
Delegation in the General Conference, shall be maintained,
but the United General Conference, shall from time to time
fix the ratio of such representation ; and such Lay Delegates
are to be chosen by the Quarterly Conferences of Stations
or Circuits, or the male members of the same.
OF TRUSTEES,
IV. We agree, that, as the Trustees of the A. M. E. Zion
Church are members of the Quarterly Conference, and the
APPENDIX.
197
Trustees of the A. M. E. Church are not members of, but
amenable to the Quarterly Conference for the faithful dis¬
charge of their duty, the finaL disposition of this question
shall be left to the first ensuing United General Conference;
each to abide by its decision.
THE REJECTION OF A MINISTER.
V. We agree, that no trustees or official Board, shall have-
power to reject a Minister sent to the Society by the ap¬
pointing power when there is nothing against his Christian,
conduct to disqualify him without the concurrence of two-
thirds of the members of said church ; and, where such
rejection does occur, by a two-third vote and on reasonable
grounds, the appointing power shall change such rejected
minister. But all such ministers must remain till removed
by the proper authority.
OF TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL CONTROL.
VI. We agree, to give the spiritual control of the churches
to the appointing power, and the Conference; leaving to
the people the control of all temporal interests, subject to
quarterly examination.
OF DISCIPLINE.
VII. We agree, that the Books of Discipline in use in
each body at the sitting of the ratifying General Conference
of the two connections, shall be submitted to a committee
of twelve members of said General Conference, equally
chosen from each party, and the committee shall report
their revision to the said General Conference, which shall
ratify the same before it becomes law.
OF EPISCOPACY.
VIII. We agree, to adopt the Superintendency or the
Bishopric, as the convention may elect. And, in the event
of the adoption of the Bishopric by the Convention, the
choosing and ordaining the bishops of the A. M. E. Zion
Church, shall be left to the General Conference of said
body.—All parties agreeing to recognize such ordination if
performed in a legal way.
THE SUBMISSION OF THE PLATFORM.
IX. We agree, that this platform or articles of consolida¬
tion shall be submitted: ist.^To the male members of
each connection ; 2nd—to the Quarterly Conference ; and-
To the Annual Conferences of the same. Should a
ma'ority of the male members and Quarterly Conference^
198
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
of each connection endorse it, and a majority of the An¬
nual Conferences of the same ratify it, a certified copy of
such endorsement and ratification shall be sent from each
Annual Conference to the ensuing United General Con¬
ference, whose decision shall be final.
OF FINAL RATIFICATION.
X. We agree, that the basis of union and consolidation,
which we have now agreed upon, shall not be considered
binding until submitted to all the churches, Quarterly and
Annual Conferences, and ratified by a vote of at least two-
thirds of the United General Conference of 1868; and
until then the two connections shall remain distinct and
independent bodies, living only on friendly terms, as dis¬
tinct and independent Christian bodies ought to live.
On motion the convention then adopted the Bishopric
by a large majority; which, according to the 9th article,
determines that form of independency. You will perceive
that the rights and interests of the people, in keeping with
the great democratic idea, have been carefully considered
and cheerfully recognized in the third and sixth articles
of the above platform. We now submit the great question
to you, and we charge you, before God and before Jesus,
who prayed that His people might become one, care¬
fully to consider and decide. The prosperity of the Church,
the destiny of the race, and the happiness or misery of
unborn millions depend on your decision. A. L. Stan¬
ford, J. B. Trusty, J. Woodland, H. • Davis, S. T. Jones.
Committee on Consolidation.
The following Quadrennial Report of the Pacific work
was read before the General Conference of 1864, by the
present Bishop Ward, who with the zeal of an apostle, had
devoted his years to the work in California :
REPORT.
At present the spirit of peace and unity predominates in
our California Zion. Discord does not distract our churches.
During the winters of '61 and '62, showers of heavenly
blessings descended upon our arid distant field, and, in
many places, the wilderness bloomed as the rose.
The preachers, though young, are earnest, resolute and
progressive, though laboring under very many disadvan¬
tages; they exhibit a spirit of self-sacrificing zeal, commen¬
surate with the magnitude of the work. Since our last
Quadrennial Meeting, we have planted societies in ti i
APPENDIX.
199
following places: Oakland, Petaluma, Virginia Citv, N. T.„
San Jose.
All our churches are paid. for.
On the 25th of March, 1862, we purchased a church in
San Francisco, at a cost of $6000. Sixty days after the pur¬
chase, I was stricken down wi'h the small pox. For weeks,
1 stood upon the point which divides time from eternity,
and, had it not been for the interposition of infinite mercy
and the effectual prayers of a Christian people, should have
been buried amid the deep silence of the dead long ago.
I was disabled from travelling one entire year. How¬
ever, we paid the $6000 on the property two weeks before 1
sailed for New York.
The distance between here and San Francisco, (by
steamer) is 5800 miles.
On the 3d of September, 1863, wd held a convention;—
matters were adjusted; grievances redressed; and healing
remedies applied where needed.
STATISTICS.
We have churches at the following places:
Church at San Francisco worth $14,000
'* Sacramento " 3,000
" Stockton " 3,500
" Marysville : . . . •' 1,500
" Grass Valley and Nevada . " 2,100
" Virginia City, N. T *' 1,300
*' Oakland " 1,400
" Petulama " 1,200
" Placerville and Coloma " x,6oo
There are school-houses for the education of colored
youth at the following points: San Francisco, Sacramento,
Petaluma, Stockton, Marysville, Sah Jose.
The real estate owned by the colored population of the
Pacific States and Territories, is estimated at two million
dollars.
That region of country is celebrated for its rich agricul¬
tural districts, extensive vineyards, and exhaustless mines
of gold, silver and copper.
Nearly one hundred millions of dollars have been ex¬
ported within 14 years, and millions still remain.
For salubrity of climate, richness of soil, vastness of
mineral wealth and kind-hearted people, it is not excelled
by any land beneath the circuit of the sun.
While many of our own people, by economy and dint of
industry, have accumulated splendid property, others, by a
200
outlines of history.
life of sheer recklessness, a wastefulness strongly inconsis¬
tent with their humiliating condition, have permitted the
golden hour to pass in which they could have laid up a
competence for the time of affliction and helplessness,
THE EPISCOPATE.
For ten long years we have waited, hoped, watched,
wept and prayed for the coming of our Bishop. While thus
looking and wishing, we were compelled to grapple with
men who were actuated by the spirit of grovelling avarice
and vaulting ambition We conquered through the might
and power of God.
We had never drawn one cent from the missionary fund;
but, through labors of an herculean character and slander,
great enough to crush any five men, we have successfully
planted our banner upon this shore, kissed by the Pacific
Ocean, and we did hope that the spirit of Christian missions
burned deep enough in the hearts of our Atlantic mother
churches, to constrain them to send us a bishop to organize
the work and ordain our men.
*********
And n w, Reverend and Beloved yoke-fellows in the
common cause of our divine Redeemer, I would respect¬
fully ask to be released from a position which has caused
my head to bloom with the blossoms of death before their
time.
Not that I have grown weary in pleading the cause of a
bi'oken and suffering people, who are identified with me in
race, blood, complexion and destiny; but that labors almost
superhuman have shattered my constitution to that degree
that I cannot do the amount of work which the people
demand of me.
May God instil into each of our hearts, that spirit which
will lead us to lay all we have on the blessed altar of free¬
dom, so that we may not rest until our peeled and long
oppressed race are redeemed from the dire thraldom of the
proud and strong oppressor.
Yours in the fellowship of the gospel,
T. M. D.Ward.
With the completion of the first fifty years of our history,
as with one mind the whole Church concluded that it must
not be allowed to pass without expressing in some way our
gratitude to God ; as well as show the deep purpose within to
APPENDIX.
201
make the Church a still greater blessing to the people to
whom it is called to minister. At a meeting held by the
Bishops in Pittsburg, January, 1866, the following programme
was agreed upon and sent forth through the columns of the
Christian Recorder :
Plan for Celebrating the Semi-Centenary.
1st. The first Sabbath in March the preparatory services
shall be held in each and every Church throughout the
bounds of our Connection, to consist of preaching and spe¬
cial prayer to the great Head of the Church for His blessing
upon the semi-centenary services, at which time the pastors
will read the address of the Bishops to the Churches.
2d. The semi-centenary services shall be held in all of our
churches and places of worship throughout the entire Con¬
nection, on Sabbaths 8th, 15th, and Monday 16th of April
next, to consist of historical sermons by the pastors, or some
one appointed by them, in which they will review the doings
of God toward us as a Christian denomination, during the
last half century.
3d. The Sabbath School Superintendents and Teachers
throughout the Connection will unite in those services in
tfieir several schools, in the way they may think best, or as
the Central Committee, hereafter appointed for the several
Annual Conferences, may direct.
4th. At each service, held in April next, by both Churches
and Sabbath Schools, special collections shall be raised lor
the following objects: Missions, Education, Book Concern
and the worn-out Preachers' Fund, to be divided as fo lows:
one-third for Wilberforce College, one-third for the Mission¬
ary cause, and one-third to be equally divided between the
Book Concern and the worn-out Preachers' Fund of each
Annual Conference.
5th. The part for education shall be returned to tha An¬
nual Conferences by the pastor, and by the Conference paid
to the agent or agents of the Wilberforce College. The part
for Missions to be returned to the Annual Conference, to be
appl ed to the missionaries in their bounds (if any), and
shou'd there be-none, the money shall be sent to James H.
Davis, Treasurer of the Parent Missionary Society, Balti-
Maryland. And the part for the Book Concern and
worn-out Preachers' Fund, be also returned to the Annual
Conferences, and there be divided, one-half to be paid over
to th3 Treasurer, Rev. Stephen Smith, of Philadelphia, Pa.,
9*
202
OUTLINES OF HISTORY.
and take his receipt for the same, the remaining half shall
be at the disposal of the Annual Conferences.
6th. As the M. E. Church has extended an invitation to
all the members of the great Methodist family to join in the
celebration of the Centenary of Methodism in America, we
cordially accept said invitation, and will celebrate it in our
way and in our Churches in October next, at which time the
collections will be renewed and applied as above stated.
The following are the Central Committees:
Baltimore Conference.—S. L. Hammonds, G. T. Watkins,
Jolin M, Brown, D. W. Moore, B. T. Tanner, Wm. D. W.
Schureman, John J. Herbert and J. D. S. Hall.
Philadelphia Conference.—William Moore, S. Smith, R.
P. Gibbs, K. Weaver, James Hollen, Theodore Gould, A. C.
Crippin, D. P. Seaton, J. Hamilton, N. H. Turpin.
New York Conference.—D. Dorrell, Joshua Woodlin,
Henry Davis, James M. Williams, F. J. Peck. Wnu H.
Winder, L. Patterson.
Ohio Conference.—G. H. Graham, James A. Shorter, S.
Watts, J. P. Underwood, J. Devine, J. A. Warren, L. Wood¬
son.
Indiana Conference—A. Mcintosh, D. Winslow, W. C.
Trevan, R. Bridges, A. T. Hall, F. Myers, Thomas Strother,
W. S. Lankford, Win. J. Davis.
New England Conference.—H. J. Johnson, J. P. Shreeves,
E T. Williams, Wm. Johnson, John Hazlet, L. S. Lewis.
Missouri Conference.—W. R. Revels, M. M. Clark, J. W.
Earley, H. R. Revels, J. M. Wilkerson, Wm. A. Dove, B.
L. Brooks, A. Woodfork, J. C. Embry.
California Conference.—T. M. D. Ward, Wift Offer, Peter
Green, William H. Hubbard, . Killingsworth.
South Carolina Conference.—R. H. Cain, J. A. Hank, A.
L. Stanford.
Louisiana Conference.—John Turner, Charles Burch,
Page Tyler, T. W. Stringer, J. W. L. Pennington, L. F.
Carter, H. Reedy.
The Bishops request that the &bove committees appoint
the same number of competent laymen to co-operate with
them in carrying out this noble object. The Bishops further
recommend that all our preachers, superintendents, and
teachers of Sabbath Schools, purchase a copy of Rev. D
Stevens'Centenary of American Methodism, which ran be
purchased at the Methodist Book Depositories in New York,
Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis ano
San Francisco, Cal.
We request the ministers, members, and friends of thfc
APPENDIX.
203
African M. E. Church to unite in the semi-centenary ser¬
vices, and make it an occasion of great intellectual, moral,
spiritual improvement and progress, leading our people on
to a nobler development of Christian enterprise, activity and.
success.
By order of the Board, Bishop Payne will publish imme¬
diately for the information of the members and friends of
the Connection, an Epitome (or abridged) History of the
Afr.cart M. E. Church.
N >w, dear brethren and friends, we ask you, in the name
of the God of our fathers, to come up to the help oi the Lord
against the mighty, and see what amount of money can be
realized for the objects above stated.
We are yours in Christ,
Wm. Paul Ouinn, D. A. Payne, A. W. Wayman, J. P.
Campbell.
The following are the Articles of Agreement agreed upon
by the committee, looking forward to the organic union of
the African Methodist Episcopal and the Biitish Methodist
Episcopal Churches, the former of the United States, the
latter of the Dominion of Canada. It is in place to say that
the Bishops of neither Church ever reported the action of
those several Conferences.
Articles of Agreement made and concluded this, the 1 ith
day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and eighty, between the African Methodist
Episcopal Church of the United States of America, by her
commissioners and the commissioners of the British M. E.
Church of the Dominion of Canada and the British Pro¬
vinces.
Whereas, We, the African M. E. Church of the United
States of America, and the British M. E. Church of the Do¬
minion of Canada and the British Provinces are of one faith
and Discipline, and
Whereas, Our work is conducted on the same general
principles, and chiefly among the descendants of the Afri¬
can family of the human race ; and
Whereas, We have learned that in union there ?<5
strength, and that by the coming together of our forces m
organic union our power for good will be promoted and de¬
veloped, therefore be it . ■
Resolved, That in view of the fact that the African M. E.
Church in General Conference assembled at St. Louis, in
204
OUTLINES OI< IIISTOK*
the month of May, 1880, did unanimously pass a resolution,
inviting and agreeing to organic union between the two
bodies, and did organize a commission for the purpose of
carrying out said resolution, thereby showing her sincerity,
and that the object and purpose might not fail, she ordered
her commissioners to assemble at the place of meeting of
the General Conference of the B. M. E. Church, and, if pos¬
sible, effect the desired union.
Now, therefore, in the spirit of the General Conference of
the A. M. E. Church, we, her commissioners, make the fol¬
lowing propositions:
First. That the B. M. E. Church, in General Conference
assembled shall dec are her desire for organic union with
the A. M. E. Church.
Second. That the B. M. E. Church shall accept of the
name and Discipline of the A. M. E. Church in any and
every particular, now and forever.
Third. That the A. M. E. Church shall accept of the
members, ministers and Bishop of the B. M E. Church in
their present rank and standing, and accord to them all the
privileges now belonging to, or which shall at any time be¬
long to the members, ministers and Bishops of the A. M. E.
Church, excepting only that the Bishop of the B. M. E.
Church shall rank junior on the present Board of Bishops of
the A. M. E. Church; provided, however, that the majority
of the Annual Conferences of the A. M. E. Church, and also
a majority of the B. M. E. Church shall, at their sessions
next succeeding this action, ratify by a majority vote of
members present at such sessions, the doings of said General
Conferences of the A. M. E. and B. IV. E. Churches, and
send a copy of such vote to the Christian Recorder for pub¬
lication, signed by the Presiding Bishop and Secretary of
each Conference, and when all of the Conferences in any of
the Episcopal Districts shall have been held, then the
Bishop of said Episcopal District shall make his proclama¬
tion as to the result as a whole of the vote of the Confer¬
ences over which he has presided. And be it further con¬
ditioned that in the event of the ratification of theso Articles
of Agreement by the required majority of Annual Confer¬
ences of the two Churches, that that which is now. known as
the B. M. E. Church «hall at once cease to exist as an inde¬
pendent organization, and cease to act as such, and shall be
known as the Tenth Episcopal District of the A. M. E.
Church, to be presided over by Bishop R. R. Disney till the
next session of the General Conference of the A. M. E.
Church, to be held in Baltimore, Md., in the month of May,
APPENDIX
205
1884, and immediately upon the appearance of the procla¬
mation of the nine Bishops of the A. M. E. Church, and the
one Bishop of the B. M. E. Church of the ratification of these
articles of agreement, it shall be the duty of the Bishop of
the B. M. E. Church, as a completion of the work of organic
union, to cause to be forwarded to the chairman of this com¬
mission the denominational seal of the B. M. E. Church,
whose duty it shall be to publish said act in the Christian
Recorder, and present said seal to the General Conference
of the A. M. E. Church as the completion of the work of the
commission.
Signed in behalf oi the A. M. E. Church by her commis¬
sioners at Toronto, Ont., this, the nth day of September, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty,
Wm, H. Hunter, Chairman ; James A. Handy, W. R. Car¬
son, Joseph Elias Hayne, John T. Jenifer, Secretary
Signed in behalf of the B. M. E. Church by her commis¬
sioners at the same time and place,
Josephus O'Banyoun Chairman; Seth D. W. Smith,
Robert Miller, C. A. Washington, G. W. Brown, E. M.
Harper, Wm. Henry Haynes, Benjamin Steward, C. W.
Dorsey, Secretary.
Signed by the Presiding Bishop and Secretary of the Gene¬
ral Conference of the B. M. E. Church in the presence of the
General Conference of the B. M. E. Church and the Com¬
missioners of the A. M. E. Church,
R. R. Disney, Bishop Presiding, Josephus O'Banyoun,
Secretary.
The poem below is the one read by Bishop T. M. D. Ward-
atthe Quinn Memorial Meeting, referred to in the body of the
work:
Thus pass away the men of might,
Whose noiseless footprints stamp the age ;
Their thoughts thit filled the earth with light
Still glow and blaze on memory's page.
To-day we bow with reverent head,
To heaven's divine and stern behest;
We weep not for the sainted dead,
We know they are forever blest.
Marked with a thousand battle scars,
Gained, each and all, in desperate fight;
They shine more oiillnint than the stars,
That crown the ebon brow of night.
2o6
OUTLINES OF HlbTORY.
Throned far above the seraphim
They sit entranced in glory bright;
They chant redemption's glorious hymn,
In worlds of cloudless shimmering light,
Press on, ye messengers of grace,
Speak words of hope, of faith, of love;
Faint not, for ye shall win the race,
And reign with Christ in worlds above.
With harp, and robe, and victor palm,
All swell the antiphonal song.
In praise of Jah, the great I AM
Who makes us overcome the wrong,,
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