jziionsrs
STORIGAL CATECHU
rvwvwvYvvvvvvmvwvvv
> Rr Rb*. JAMES VARIOK,
v! 1FIB8T BISHOP L. U. B. ZIOH CHUBCK.i 5
^aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaax
Fop Use in Families and Sunday Schools.
IIY BISHOP <\ K. HARRIS.
A. M E. '/Aon Publication House,
("harlot i e, N. C.
1901.
BISHOP C. R HARRIS, D D
HISTORICAL CATECHISM
OF THE
a. m. e; zion church.
BY BISHOP C. B. HARRIS, D. D.
For Use in Families and Sunday Schools.
A. M. E. Zion Publication House,
Charlotte, N. C.
1001.
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
1. ANCIENT CHURCHES.
Section 1.—The Church of the Canaanites.
1. • Among what people was the first Church
of which record is made in the Bible ?
A. Among- the Canaanites.
2. What tribe of the Canaanites ?
A. The Jebusites.
3. Who were the Canaanites V
A. Descendants of Canaan, one of the sons
of Ham.
4. When was this Church first made known?
A. In the time of Abraham, probably two
thousand years before Christ.
5. What is a church ?
A. A number of people united for the wor¬
ship of God.
6. In what city was the Canaanitish Church
located ?
A. In the city of Salem on Mt. Zion.
7. Who was the priest in Salem in the days
of Abraham ?
A. Melchizedek, who was also King.
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
3
8 What is a priest V
A. One who directs the Church in the wor¬
ship of God.
9. What other great King established a
Church on' Mt. Zion ?
A. David, king of the Israelites.
10. What name in scripture denotes the
Church of God ?
A. Zion.
11. Give scripture proofs.
A. "Praise thy God, O Zion. Sing us one
of the songs of Zion. The Lord hath founded
Zion.
12. Repeat a verse of a hymn which teaches
the same truth.
A. "Sure as Thy Truth shall last
To Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield
And brighter bliss of heaven. "
13. Of what was the Canaanitish priesthood
a type ?
A. Of Christ. See Heb. 5:10.
14. Of what was Canaan a type Y
A. Of Heaven. It is called the Promised
Land.
15. Of what was Jordan river a tjrpe y
A. Of Death.
16. Why y
4
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
A. Because death separates the earthly life
from the heavenly.
Section 2.—The Church Among the Israelites.
1. Where was the second Church mentioned
in the Bible organized ?
A. In Arabia, near Mt. Sinai.
2. Who organized the Church v
A. Moses, a prophet, and Aaron, a priest.
3. What is a prophet ?
A. One who proclaims the will of God.
4. When was the Israelitish Church organ¬
ized ?
A. About 1,500 years before Christ.
F>. Who were members of that Church V
A. Israelites, Midianites and Egyptians.
6. By what name are Israelites now called?
A. Jews.
7. Who were the Israelites V
A. Descendants of Shem who had been
slaves in Egypt.
8. By what other name is Egypt sometimes
called ?
A. The land of Ham.
9. Of what were the ancient Israelites a
type ?
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
5
A. Of the Church of God in all ages.
10. Of what was Jerusalem the type ?
A. Of Heaven, the dwelling--place of Christ
and His glorified saints.
11. Of whom was David a type ?
A. Of Christ, the King of Saints.
12. When did two prophets of the Israelit-
ish Church return to earth ?
A. When Jesus was transfigured on the
mountain.
. IB. Who were those prophets V
A. Moses and Elijah.
14. What is the Israelitish Church also
called in scripture ?
A. The Church in the Wilderness.
15. Are any other Churches named from the
place where they were organized ?
A. Yes, as the A. M. E. Zion Church in
America, the Presbyterian Church in the
United States, the Church of England, etc.
Section 3.—The Church in Private Dwellings.
1. How does a Church promote the worship
of God ?
A. By various agencies, called means of
grace.
6
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
2. Name some of these agencies.
A. Preaching- the Gospel, teaching" the
scriptures, administering sacraments, and con¬
ducting love feasts, prayer-meetings and class
meetings.
3. Did people worship God before any
Church was organized ?
A. Yes, Adam and Eve worshiped God.
4. Did their children worship God V
A. They did.
5. Name some of Adam's sons that wor¬
shiped God.
A. Cain, Abel and Seth.
6. Did Seth's children worship the Lord ?
A. Yes, the Bible says, "Then began men to
call on the name of the Lord. "
7. What is meant by that scripture ?
A. That in those days men not only wor¬
shiped God privately, but they began to wor¬
ship Him publicly also.
8. What private house was used as a church
in St. Paul's day "i
A. The house of Nympha and doubtless
many others.
9. Why do you think so ?
A. Because Christians did not need separate
buildings for public worship until their number
and influence increased greatly.
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
7
Section 4.—The Church in Jerusalem.
1. When and where was the first Christian
Church organized ?
A. In Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost.
2. What date of the Christian era was this ?
A. A. D. 30, May 28th.
3. Who organized the Church ?
A. Peter and the other Apostles.
4. What is the name by which that Church
is known V
A. The Catholic or Apostolic Church.
5. What is the meaning- of the word Cath¬
olic ?
A. It means Universal or General.
6. Why is the Christian Church called Uni¬
versal ?
A. Because it is adapted to all people
throughout the world or universe.
7. Were the Ante-Christian Churches uni¬
versal "i
A. No, the Canaanitish Church was con¬
fined to the land of Canaan.
8. What was the scope of the Israelitish
Church ?
A. It was mainly confined to the Jews.
9. What is the destiny of the Catholic or
Christian Church V
A. To spread over the whole world.
8
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
10. "What scripture proofs of this can you
quote ?
A. "As I live saith the Lord, every knee
shall bow to me and every tongue confess.
The earth shall be filled with the knowledge
of the glory of the Lord. I will give thee the
heathen for thine inheritance and the utter¬
most parts of the earth for thy possession. "
11. "What hymn expresses the same truth ?
A. "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Doth his successive journey run," etc.
12. "Was the Catholic Church Episcopal in
form ?
A. Yes, Titus ordained Elders and was a
Bishop.
13. Who was the first Bishop in Jerusalem ?
A. James, brother of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and author of the Epistle by that name.
II. CONCERNING THE NAME OF THE A. M.
E. ZION CHURCH.
Section 1.—Zion Church.
1. What is the name of the Church to which
you belong- ?
A. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church in America.
2. What is the name by which the first
Church belonging- to that Connection or Church
was called ?
A. Zion Church.
3. Why did the Founders call their first
Church Zion ?
A. To distinguish it from all other church¬
es, or societies organized for religious wor¬
ship.
4. Why did they choose the name "Zion"
rather than any other ?
A. Probably because that is the name most
frequently used in the Bible to designate the
Church of God.
5. Have any other local churches chosen
the name Zion ?
A. Yes, many particular churches of dif¬
ferent denominations, but no other distinct de¬
nomination has chosen such a name.
10
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
Section 2.—African.
1. By what name was Zion Church incorpo¬
rated ?
A. The African Methodist Episcopal
Church, in New York City.
2. What class of people organized Zion
Church ?
A. Colored members of the first Methodist
Episcopal Church in New York.
3. Why did they withdraw from that
Church ?
A. That they might enjoy religion better
and do more to save their fellow men from sin.
4.. Were there any other reasons for so do¬
ing?
A. They were not treated with the same
consideration and respect as were their white
brethren.
5. Why then is the word African" pre¬
fixed to the rest of the title of the Church ?
A. Because the Church is controlled by
descendants of Africans, in the interest of hu¬
manity, regardless of race, color, sex or con¬
dition.
6. What doctrine is therefore especially
characteristic of the A. M. E. Zion Church ?
A. That no distinction should be made in
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
11
the Church on account of race, color or con¬
dition.
7. What scripture teaches this doctrine ?
A. Galatians 3:28. "There is neither Jew
nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, in
Christ Jesus, but-all are one. " [Church.]
8. What other doctrine is also especially
emphasized by the A. M. E. Zion Church ?
A. That no race has the right to claim jur¬
isdiction over any part of the earth to the det¬
riment or exclusion of any other race.
9. Where is that doctrine taught in the
scriptures ?
A. In St. Paul's sermon to the Greeks at
Athens, where he said "God hath made of one
blood all nations of men to dwell on all the
face of the earth. "
Section 3.—Methodist Episcopal
1. Did the founders of Zion Church retain
the doctrines of the Church from which they
withdrew ?
A. They did.
2. What part of the title adopted shows the
doctrine and form of government of the
Church ?
12
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
A. Methodist Episcopal.
3. What is a Methodist Episcopal Church ?
A. It is a Methodist Church which believes
in the Episcopal form of Church Government.
4. What is peculiar to that form ?
A. An order of ministers consisting" of El¬
ders who by a third ordination are authorized
to perform certain duties.
5. What are some of these duties ?
A. To ordain other ministers and to hold
certain meeting's of the ministers and laity
called convocations or conferences.
6. What name is applied to ministers who
are ordained and authorized to perform those
duties ?
A. Bishops.
7. What were Methodist Bishops at first
called ?
A. Superintendents.
8. Who was the founder of the Methodist
Episcopal Church ?
A. John Wesley, Thos. Coke, Francis As-
bury and other ministers of the Church of Eng¬
land.
9. When was the Methodist Church organ¬
ized ?
A. In 1739, in London, England.
10. What is peculiar to the Methodist
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
13
Church ?
A. An itinerant ministry appointed for a
limited time to the pastorate by the Bishop
or presiding- officer of an Annual Conference.
11. What else is peculiar to the Methodist
churches ?
A, Exhorters, local preachers, class meet¬
ings and love feasts.
12. What else is characteristic of Metho¬
dist churches ?
A. The observance of certain regulations
of conduct called the General Rules.
13. Are there any Methodist Churches
which are not Episcopal in their form of
government ?
A. Yes, such as the Wesley an Methodist,
the Protestant Methodist, the Congregational
Methodist, etc.
14. What may all such Churches be called ?
A. Non-Episcopal Methodist Churches.
15. When was the first Methodist Episcopal
Church in the United States organized V
A. In 1765, in New York City.
16. Was that the same Church from which
the founders of the A. M. E. Zion Church
withdrew ?
A. Yes, Peter Williams, of Zion Church,
was one of the original members of that
Church.
III. HISTORY OF THE A. M. E. ZION CHURCH
1. When was the first A. M. E. Zion Church
organized ?
A. In the year 1796.
2. Who were among" the founders of
that Church ?
A. James Varick, Abraham Thompson,
June Scott, Francis Jacobs, Peter Williams,
William Brown, William Miller and William
Hamilton.
3. Where were their first meetings held ?
A. In a rented house on Cross St., between
Mulberry and Orange Sts., New York.
4. Did they leave with the consent and
good-will of the Church from which they
went ?
A. Yes, they received permission from
Bishop Asbury, of the M. E. Church.
5. Did the Church remain in the fellowship
and under the jurisdiction of the General Con¬
ference ?
A. Partly so, for necessary reasons.
6. In what respect were they partly under
the control of the M. E. Church ?
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
15
A. They agreed to receive the ministers of
the M. E. Church as pastors and to continue
in the doctrine and discipline of said Church.
7. In what respect were they independent
of the M. E. Church '?
A. They made a special contract with the
General Conference, or its. representative for
the supply of their pulpits.
8. What else showed that the Zion Churches
were independent of the M. E. Church ?
A. They incorporated their Church under a
new title which the mother Church could never
adopt.
9. What further showed their independen¬
cy ?
A. The stipulation in the contract made
with the M. E: Church that the trustees would
hold the property, "likewise for our Afri¬
can brethren and the descendants of the
African race. "
10. Who was chairman of the Board of
Trustees of Zion Church ?
A. Francis Jacobs.
11. What other noted men were made trus¬
tees in the act of the organization incorpora¬
tion ?
A. George Collins and Peter Williams.
12. Where was the act of incorporation re-
16
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
corded Y
A. In the office of the clerk of the city of
New York, book No. 1., of the record of In¬
corporation of religious denominations.
13. Who were licensed preachers at that
time Y
A. Abraham Thompson, June Scott and
William Miller.
14. When was their first Church edifice
erected ?
A. In 1800, on the corner of Church and
Leonard Streets, New York City.
15. What was the second African Methodist
Episcopal Church organized in New York
City Y
A. Asbury Church, on Elizabeth Street.
16. In what year was it organized Y
A. In 1818.
17. Were these two Churches united under
one form of government Y
A. They were.
18. When did they form a more perfect
union ?
A. In the year 1820.
19. In what year did these and other Afri¬
can Methodist Episcopal Churches cease to re¬
ceive ministers from the M. E. Church Y
A. In the same year, 1820.
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
17
20. What became the name or title of
the Connection or Church thus formed ?
A. The A. M. E. Zion Church in America.
21. Why was the name Zion inserted in the
original title ?
A. Because another connection organized
in 1816, in Philadelphia, Pa., had assumed the
name adopted by Zion Church in New York, in
the year, 1801.
22. What was the name of the first A. M.
E. Church organized in Philadelphia ?
A. Bethel.
23. What attempts have been made to unite
these two A. M. E. Churches ?
A. By General Conferences of both Churches
at three distinct times or occasions viz.: in
1864, 1885 and in 1892.
24. What prevents the union of these
Churches ?
A. A considerable minority in each.
25. When may such union be effected ?
A. When the Bishops of both Churches
agree as to the expediency of so doing.
26. When was our form of Discipline
adopted ?
A. In October, 1820.
27. Who were the compilers of the book of
Discipline t
18
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
A. George Collins, James Varick, Charles
Anderson, Christopher Rush, William Miller,
Abraham Thompson and John Dungy.
28. Who was the first Bishop of the A. M.
E. Zion Church ?
A. James Varick.
29. What can you say of him '?
A. He was born in Newburg, New York,
in the year 1750; was elected District Chairman
or Presiding Elder in 1821, and Bishop or Gen¬
eral Superintendent in 1822. He died in 1827.
30. What further can you say of him V
A. He was remarkable for his prudence,
energy, patience and integrity of character,
by which he succeeded in fir inly establishing
against much strong opposition, the Church
which chose him as their leader.
31. Who was the second Bishop of our
Church ?
A. Christopher Rush, elected May 15, 1828,
at the third session of the General Confer¬
ence.
32. How long did he remain in active ser¬
vice ?
A. Twenty-four years.
33. What more can you say of him Y
A. He was born in Newbern, N. C., in 1777,
joined the A. M. E. Zion Church, 1803, and
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
19
died at an advanced age.
84. What was the first Annual Conference
organized ?
A. The New York Conference, June 21, 1821.
35. What was the second Annual Confer¬
ence district set off ?
A. The Philadelphia Conference, organized
May 25th, 1829.
36. What Institution of the Church was
established in 1841 ?
A. The Book Concern under the manage¬
ment of Rev. Jacob Thomas.
37. Where was it located ?
A. In New York City.
38. When and by whom was the first His¬
tory of the A. M. E. Zion Church written ?
A. By Bishop Christopher Rush in 1843.
39. What was the third Conference organ¬
ized ?
A. The New England Conference, in 1845.
40. When were the fourth and fifth Annual
Conferences formed?
A. The Allegheny Conference in 1849, and
the Genesee Conference in 1849.
41. What Bishops were elected on the re¬
tirement of Bishop Rush in 1852 ?
A. George Galbreatb, Wm. H. Bishop and
George A. Spywood.
20
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
42. What secession took place in 1853 ?
A. Many Churches withdrew and organ¬
ized the Wesley an Methodist Episcopal
Church.
43. When and where was the ninth General
Conference held ?
A. In 1856, in the city of Williamsburg",
New York, at which time the book of Dis¬
cipline was revised.
44. When were the two divisions of the A.
M. E. Zion Church reunited ?
A. On the sixth day of June, I860, in Gen¬
eral Conference session held in Zion Church,
New York.
45. What led to this reunion ?
A. A Convention of leading men from
both Churches who met in Newburg-, N. Y.,
May 25. I860, and adopted a plan for reunion.
46. What was the first newspaper estab¬
lished in the A. M. E. Zion Church ?
A. The Anglo-African, edited by William
Hamilton.
47. When and where was it published V
A. In 1860, in the city of New York.
48. What were the statistics of the Connec¬
tion in 1864 ?
A. There were seven Annual Conferences,
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
21
with 373 preachers; 13,340 members; 131
churches.
49. Who were the Bishops in charge of the
work at that time ?
A. William H. Bishop, J. D. Brooks, Sam¬
son Talbot and J. J. Clinton.
50. What further can you say of Bishop J.
J. Clinton ?
A. He was born in Phildelphia, Pa., Octo¬
ber 3rd, 1823; was elected Assistant Superin¬
tendent in 1856; General Superintendent in
1860; died May 24, 1881. He organized 10 An¬
nual Conferences and received into the Connec¬
tion 700 itinerant preachers.
51. What addition were made to the Board
of Bishops at the General Conference in
1868 ?
A. J. W. Loguen, J. J. Moore and S. T.
Jones.
52. What was the membership of the Church
in 1876 V
A. There were 225,000 members and proba¬
tioners.
53. What accounts ' for the enormous
growth of the Church after 1864 ?
A. The abolition of slavery which permit¬
ted the extension of the Church into the
South.
22
HISTORICAL CATECHISM,
54. What Bishop became prominent in the
movement for the abolition of slavery V
A. Bishop J. W. Log-uen.
55. Name some noted pioneers in the work
of extending- the Church in the South.
A. J. J. Clinton, J. W. Hood, T. H. Lomax,
W. G. Strong" and Joseph Sexton.
56. When was the Star of Zion established V
A. In 1877, at Newbern, N. C., by certain
members of the N. C. Annual Conference.
57. Who was its first editor V
A. Rev. John A. Tyler.
58. When did the Star of Zion become Con-
nectional property V
A. In 1880, at the General Conference at
Montgomery, Ala.
59. Who were then placed in charge of the
newspaper ?
A. Prof. A. S. Richardson, as Editor, Rev.
C. R. Harris, Business Manag'er.
60. Who have been eminent Editors of the
Star of Zion V
A. Rev. J. Mc. H. Farley, Hon. J. C. Dan-
cy, Rev. G. W. Clinton and Rev. J. W. Smith,
D. D.
61. What newspapers were previously pub¬
lished in the interest of the A. M. E. Zion
Church ?
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
23
A. The Zion Standard and Weekly Review
in New York, edited by S. T. Jones, and the
Zion Church Advocate in Washington, D. C.
62. Who were founders of Livingstone Col¬
lege ?
A. Rev. W. H. Thurber, Rev. C. R. Harris,
Prof. A. S. Richardson, Bishop J. W. Hood and
Rev. R. S. Rives.
63. Where was it first located ?
A. As Zion Wesley Institute, at Concord,
N. C., in 1879.
64. When did it remove to Salisbury, N. C. ?
A. In 1882, the site having- been purchased
with money raised in England by Rev. J. C.
Price, A. M.
65. Who formed its first faculty at Salis¬
bury, N. C. ?
A. Rev. J. C. Price, Rev. C. R. Harris,
Prof. E. Moore and Mrs. M. E. Harris.
66. Who was the author of the second His¬
tory of the A. M. E. Zion Church y
A. Bishop J. J- Moore who published it in
1884.
67. When was the Woman's Home and For¬
eign Missionary Society founded ?
A. In 1880, at the General Conference, by
a resolution offered by Rev. M. M. Bell.
68 When was the S. S. Union established ?
24
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
A. In 1889, by the Board of Bishops, at
Asheville, N. C.
69. Who was its first Superintendent and
Editor ?
A. Rev. R. R. Morris, D. D.
70. Who was its Financial Secretary V
A. Rev. T. A. Weathington, D. D.
71. Name three distinguished-laymen of the
A. M. E. Zion Church.
A. Frederick Douglass. J. C. Dancy and 'T.
Thomas Fortune.
72. What further can 3^ou say of Frederick
Doug-lass ?
A. He was born a slave in Maryland; join¬
ed the A. M. E. Zion Church at New Bedford,
Mass., in 1838; was licensed to preach in 1839,
He became a famous abolition orator, and
aided greatly in the overthrow of slavery.
After the war he became Recorder of Deeds in
the District of Columbia and Minister to the
Negro Republic of Hayti. He died in Wash¬
ington, D. C., in 1895.
73. Name three eminent educators.
A. William Howard Day, Joseph C. Price
and Robert Harris.
74. What can you say of Rev. Joseph C.
Price, D. D.
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
25
A. Next to Fred Doug-lass he was the most
eloquent and popular orator in this country.
He was the first president of Living-stone
Colleg-e which he did more to permanently es¬
tablish than any other man
75. What can you say of Robert Harris ?
A. He was a secretary of the General Con¬
ference in 1872 and 1876. The founder of How¬
ard School, Fayetteville, N. C., and the first
principal of the pioneer normal school in the
State of North Carolina.
76. What Bishop was added to the Board in
1872 V
A. J. W. Hood.
77. Who were added in 1876 ?
A. J. P. Thompson, T. H. Lomax and W.
H. Hillery.
78. For what was Bishop Thompson noted ?
A. For his ardent support of the Book Con¬
cern.
79. What great celebration was held by the
A. M. E. Zion Church in 1896 Y
A. The Centennial Jubilee in New York
City; and Conference and Church celebrations
throughout the country.
80. Who were the officers of the Centennial
Committee V
A. Bishop A. Walters, president; Bishop
26
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
G. W. Clinton, secretary; Rev. E. Geo. Biddle,
treasurer, and J. C. Dancy, business manager.
81. What is the latest history of the A. M.
E. Zion Church ?
A. One Hundred Years of the African Meth¬
odist Episcopal Zion Church, by Bishop J. W.
Hood, LL. D.
82. When was the law enacted which pro¬
hibits ministers who use tobacco from entering'
our Church in full connection ?
A. In 1880 at the General Conference held
at Montgomery, Ala.
83. When was the word "male" stricken
from our Discipline V
A. In 1876, at General Conference held at
Louisville, Ky.
84. Who was the first woman ordained a
deacon in our Church ?
A. Mrs. Julia A. Foote, by Bishop J. W.
Hood, in New York conference, in May, 1884.
85. Who was the second woman ordained
deacon V
A. Mrs. Mary J. Small, by Bishop A.
Walters, at York, Pa., in May, 1894.
86. When was the general fund for the sup¬
port of our general Church established ?
A. In 1882, by the Board of Bishops at
New York.
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
27
87. What gave occasion for this action ?
A. The General Conference of 1880 re¬
quired the Bishops to rotate after two years
without equalizing- the episcopal districts.
88. What was done with the general fund
in 1884 V
A. About one-half of it was appropriated
for general Connectional claims.
89. What were these new claims thus pro¬
vided for ?
A. $6,000 was appropriated to Livingtone
College; $1,500 to the Book Concern; $1,000
to the "Star of Zion;" $800 to African mis¬
sions; $1,000 to superannuated ministers and
$1,500 to salary of General Secretary and
General Steward.
90. What was the result V
A. These institutions became permanently
established.
91. Who proposed this plan V
A. The Board of Bishops at the suggestion
of Bishop J. W. Hood.
92. Where is the Publication House located?
A. In Varick Memorial Building, 206 S. Col¬
lege Street, Charlotte, N. C.
93. Who is its General Business Manager ?
A. Rev. J. M. Hill, D. D.
94. Where is the Sunday School Depart-
28
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
ment located ?
A. In Varick Memorial Building-.
95. Who is its Superintendent and Editor ?
A. Rev. R. B. Bruce.
96. What is the law respecting- Sunday
School Day ?
A. "A collection shall be taken up in all
of our Sunday-schools Easter Sabbath for the
Sunday School Department, which money shall
be sent to the Superintendent of that Depart¬
ment. "
97. Where is the Star of Zion published ?
A. In Varick Memorial Building-.
98. Who is its editor ?
A. Rev. J. W. Smith, D. D.
99. What is the law regarding* the Star of
Zion ?
A. No minister shall receive an appoint¬
ment who is not at the time a subscriber to the
Star of Zion.
100. Who is the President of Livingstone
College 't
A. Rev. W. H. Goler, D. D.
101. Name the other Connectional schools
and their Presidents.
A. (1) Lancaster-Clinton Institute, in South
Carolina, J. A. Cunningham and R. J. Crock¬
ett, A. B., Presidents.
historical catechism.
29
T>- u eenevjH^ College, Greeneville, Tenn.,
ishop C. R. Harris, President.
(3) Zion Institute, Mobile, Ala.
(4) Greenville High School, Greenville, Ala.,
S. B. Boj^d, Principal.
(5) Atkinson College, Madisonville. Ky..
Bishop G. W. Clinton, D. D., President.
102. How are the Connectkmal schools sup¬
ported ?
A. The above-named schools are supported
by the Children's Day collections; Living¬
stone College receives an appropriation of
$6,000 from the general treasury of the Con¬
nection, also its share of the Children's Day
collections.
103. What arrangements are made for the
collection of Children's Day money V
A. The fourth Sunday in June of every
year is set apart as Children's Day.
104. What is the law respecting Children's
Day V
A All the collections during the day' must
CO towards Children's Day collections; any
pastor failing to lift said collections is re¬
quired to pay a tine of $2 at the sitting- of his
^05 How are the Educational Districts ar¬
ranged i
30
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
A. (1) First District—Livingstone College,
embracing- the North Carolina, Central North
Carolina, Western North Carolina, Virginia,
Philadelphia and Baltimore, New York and
New England conferences.
(2) Second District—Lancaster-Clinton Insti¬
tute—embracing the South Carolina, Palmetto,
South Georgia, North Georgia, Allegheny, and
Michigan and Canada conferences.
(3) Third District
—embracing the Alabama, Central Alabama,
West Alabama, North Alabama, Florida, SoutJi
Florida, Louisiana, and North Louisiana con¬
ferences.
(4) Fourth District—Greeneville College—
embracing the Blue Ridge, Tennessee, West
Tennessee and Mississippi, South Mississippi,
Western New York, and New Jersey confer¬
ences.
(5) Fifth District—Atkinson College — em¬
bracing the Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Arkan¬
sas, South Arkansas, Texas, West Texas, and
California conferences.
106. Who is the General Educational Secre¬
tary ?
A. Prof. S. G. Atkins, A. M.
107. What day is observed as an annual
holiday at Livingstone College ?
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
31
A. The birthday of its illustrious President,
Joseph Charles Price. He was born in Eliza¬
beth City, N. C., February 10th, 1854, and died
in Salisbury, N. C., October 24th, 1893.
108. Who are the officers of the Woman's
Home and Foreign Missionary Board V
A. Mrs. K. P. Hood, president; Mrs. M. E.
Washington, vice president; Mrs. S. E. D. Pet-
tey, secretary; Mrs. M. E. Harris, treasurer;
Miss Eliza Gardiner, corresponding- secretary.
109. What society aside from the Sunday-
schools, has the Connection for the benefit of
its young- people ?
A. Varick Christian Endeavor Society with
present headquarters at 2336 Wash St., St.
Louis, Mo.
110. Who is its president ?
A. Rev. J. B. Colbert, A. M.
111. What paper is the official organ of the
Varick Christian Endeavor Society ?
A. The "Varick Christian Endeavorer. "
112. Who is its editor ?
A. Rev. B. J. Bolding, B. D., Washington,
D. C.
H3 What high class magazine does our
Church publish ?
A The A. M. E. Zion Quarterly Review,
established by Rev. G. W. Clinton, 1891.
32
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
114. Who is its present editor ?
A. Hon. J. C. Dancy, A. M., Wilmington,
N. C.
115. What paper is published in the inter¬
est of holiness, by one of our ministers ?
A. "The Zion Trumpet," edited and pub¬
lished by Rev. E. Geo. Biddle, B. D.
116. Who is our General Statistician ?
A. Rev. J. Harvey Anderson.
117. What are our latest statistics as a
Church V
A. Bishops, 8; General Officers, 18; Annual
Conferences, 38; Presiding" Elders, 126; Church
Organizations, 3,701; Value of Churches, $4,-
792,567; Ministers and Preachers, 5,718; Mem¬
bers and Probationers, 536,271; Sunday School
Teachers and Scholars, '245,082; Colleges and
High Schools, 12.
118. When did the death of Bishop John
Holliday occur V
A. March 2nd, 1899, in Little Rock, Ark.
119. What can you say of him ?
A. He was one of the most noted preachers
of the Church and made a lasting reputation
as a financier and church builder.
120. Which of our Bishops have recently
died Y
A. Bishop Charles Calvin Pettey, who died in
HISTORICAL CATECHISM:
33
Clio, S. C., December 8th, 1900.
121. What were some of the prominent
traits of his character ?
A. He was a deep theologian, a great edu¬
cator and a persuasive orator. He was one of
the founders of Pettey High School, now Lan¬
caster Institute, and its first Principal.
122. What other eminent divine died a few
days before the date of Bishop Pettey's de¬
cease V
A. Dr. William Howard Day, of Harris-
burg-, Pa., who died December, 3rd, 1900. He
had been for many years the General Secre¬
tary of the Church and a leading educator and
platform speaker. He was noted for his hig"h
literary culture.
123. What executive body was created by
the General Conference in 1900 ?
A. The Connectional Council.
124. Who compose the Connectional Coun¬
cil ?
A. The Bishops, General Officers and the
members of the several Boards elected by the
General Conference.
125. How are the said Boards constituted ?
A. Each Board consists of one member from
each Episcopal District together with the
Bishops, who are members ex-officio.
34
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
126. Name the Boards elected by the Gene¬
ral Conference.
A. (1) The Publication House.
(2) The Board of Education.
(3) The Board of Missions.
(4) The Board of Church Extension.
(5) The Board for Worn Out Preachers and
the Widows and Orphans of Deceased Minis¬
ters.
(6) The Board of Sunday School Literature.
(7) The Board of Statistics.
(8) The Christian Endeavor Society.
(9) The Board of Audit.
(10) The Board of Connectional Trustees.
(11) The Board of Assessment.
127. How often does the Connectional Coun¬
cil meet ?
A. Once a year, at the time and place of
the meeting- of the Board of Bishops.
128. What is the latest book published by
Bishop J. W. Hood, D. D., LL. D. ?
A. A commentary on the book of Revela¬
tion, entitled "The Plan of the Apocalypse."
129. What books have been published by
Bishop J. B. Small, D. D. Y
A. "The Code on Discipline, " the "Practi¬
cal Pulpiteer," and "The Human Heart Illus-
Trated."
HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
35
130. When does the next General Confer¬
ence meet ?
A. On the first Wednesday in May, 1904, at
St. Louis, Mo.
181. What can you say of Prof. F. H. No¬
ble, late treasurer of Livingstone College ?
A. He was for many years Prof, of Mathe¬
matics and Natural Science, a remarkably
efficient teacher and a profound scholar. He
died July 21, 1900.
132. What other serious loss has the Col¬
lege recently sustained ?
A. The death of Prof. B. A. Johnson, which
occurred April 20, 1901.
133. What can you say of him ?
A. He was Principal of the Normal Depart¬
ment, a most valuable coadjutor of the Presi¬
dent of the College, and a leader in the. relig¬
ious and literary life of the Institution.
Tell all you can learn from the following table of
OUR LIVING BISHOPS.
NAME.
BIRTH-PLACE.
DATES.
ORDAINED
Remarks by Teacher
or Class.
Born
Sd o
o <
S" c*"
SL O
Licensed.
i
Deacon
Elder
Bishop
J. W. Hood
Chester Co. Pa.
1831 1842
1856
I860
1862
1872
T. H. Lomax
Cumberland Co. N. C.
1836 1847
1867
1867
1868
1876
C. R. Harris
Fayetteville, N. C.
1844
1863
1872
1873
1874
1888
I. C. Clinton
Lancaster Co. S C
1831
1868
1868
1899
A. "Walters
Bardstown. Ky.
1858
1870
1876
1879
1881
1892
G. TV. Clinton
Lancaster Co. S. C.
1859
1869
1879
1882
1884
1896
J. B. Small
Barbadoes, TV. Indies
1845
1865
1866
1871
1872
1891
J. TV. Alstork
Talladepa, Ala.
1852
1873
1878
1882
1884
1901