A Methodist Luminary REV. .v. ;l mixon EMORY UNIVERSITY A METHODIST LUMINARY. — HY REV. WINFIELD HENRY MIXON. Presiding Elder of Selnia District Nprth Alabama Conference A. M. E. Church. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY REV. B. F. LEE, D. D. Editor "Christian Recorder." " Then shall Thy light break forth as the morning"—Isa. 58:8. "■Let there be light"—Thus saith the Lord. S1SLMA. ALA.: Ski,ma Pkinting Company'. 1N91. PREFACE. "THE PEOPLE THA'i WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A (iREAT LI(iHT." History tells us that Philadelphus built upon Pharos a lighthouse to guide the mariner upon the deep, and warn him of rocks and breakers in the way. Greater still, Christ built a lighthouse upon Mount Calvary to lead those walking in dark¬ ness, ignorance, sin and superstition into the glori¬ ous light of liberty. These pages are presented with the hope of throw¬ ing light upon the pathway of those who are anxious to know more of the laws and regulations by which the A. M. E. Church is governed. The Discipline is based upon the Bible. There are other publications which, when drawn from our libraries, have furnished light for the enquiring mind. This publication is intended to be associated with others in helping to better the condition of mankind. If you wish to understand more of the Holy AU THOR'S I'RKFACE. iii Trinity, Heaven, and Eternity, study the Bible : if you wish to know more of the formation of the earth, study geology; if you wish to know more of plants, study botany; if you wish to know more of the heavenly bodies, study astronomy; if you wish to know more of the laws and regulations of churches, study their polities. This little volume may meet with criticism on its journey, but it is hoped that it will be the means of inspiring others to read, think and write. It is with no presumptive motive that these strokes have been written. My highest ambition has been, and ever will be, to serve my race, my church, and my God. In the preparation of this work, I am indebted to Prof. W. B. Johnson, B. S., of Payne School, and to G. Sumner Lewis, B. S., of Birmingham Public School, for valuable assistance. If this little volume should be of any benefit to the ministry and laity of our church we will feel that our task has not been in vain. W. H. MIXON. INDEX. CHAPTER 1. The Bible I 4 CHAPTER II. Origin of Methodism 5 n CHAPTER III. Articles of Religion 14 25 ( H^PTER IV. General Rules 26 29 CHAPTER V. The Ministry 30 41 CHAPTER VI. Course of Study 55 56 CHAPTER VII. Light 45 4H INTRODUCTION. "Of making many books there is no end," is still true. In the great future the present will be distin¬ guished as "the literary age," and the present civilization as being the result of three centuries of book-making. The tendency of our country is, not only to make many books, but to so concentrate the forces of inventive genius as to produce books at so little cost that even the poor may obtain them, and in such simplicity that the " wayfaring man, though a fool." may understand them. The Afro American, as on many other lines, so on that of book-making, proves the common and single origin and kind of human race varieties. He maks books almost as soon as he can read. He makes- many. books. Already more than one hundred books worthy of reading have come from his pen. They embrace metaphysics, language, history, ro¬ mance, speculative philosophy, poetry, music, criti¬ cism, exposition and theology. vi I NTKOl > U CT1 ON. .That the A. M. Church has - vm to the world a large proportion of Afro-American authors, among whom may be mentioned Bishop I). A. Payne Do¬ mestic Education, Recollections of Seventy years and History of the A. M. E. Church ; Bishop A. W. Wayman—My Recollections, African Methodist Cy¬ clopaedia and Manual of the Discipline; Bishop B. T. Tanner—Is the Negro Cursed.' An Apology for African Methodism, and Outlines of History; Bishop H. M.Turner—Methodist Policy; Bishop B. W. Arnetts—The Budget, Quarto-Centennial of Afro-Methodism in South Carolina and the Status, of Methodism in the Western World ; Bishop W. J. Gaines—African Methodism in the South, or 25 Years, of Freedom ; Rev. T. G. Steward—Systematic Divinity, Death, Hades and the Rusurrection, Gene¬ sis Re-read, and the End of the World; T. McCant Stewart, Esq.— Liberia; T. T. Fortune—Whiteand Black; Rev. J. M. Morgan—History of the New Jersey Conference ; Prof. H. T. Kealing—History of African Methodism in Texas; Rev. H. T. John¬ son—The Divine Logos; Rev. J.C Embry—Digest of Christian Theology: Prof. W. S. Scarborough- First Lessons in Greek; Rev. L. J. Coppin Bap¬ tized Children ; Rev. J. P. Sampson on Races • Major M. R. Delany—Origin of Races and Colors* Rev. J. E, H.ivne—The Negro in Sacred Literature- INTRODUCTION. vii Mrs. J. D. Heard—Morning Glories, and Rev. L. H, Smith—An Earnest Appeal. The present work joins this list, which might be extended as a help to those who are placed under the care of African Methodism. The writer has possibly written hastily, hence must face the criti¬ cisms to which the hasty author is liable. Time gives gravity of thought and order in arrangement, which cannot be realized by those who hastily bind themselves in books. Our Author being one of the most active in our ministry will impress many of our younger minis¬ ters with the thought that books may emanate from the minds of black men as well as white men, which is worth much to a great class for which no one wrote for centuries. The future will shed a light upon this volume that will enable its author to see more clearly than now, and enable him to revise and strengthen it. Writing is one of the methods by which writers are made. It may be hoped that a great author will be developed in the Rev. YV. H. Mixon from writing this work. Benjamin F. Lee. f\ (T^ttyodist lunipary. CHAPTER I. THE BIBLE. '• Within this ainple volume lies The mystery of mysteries ; Happiest they of human race To whom their God has given grace, To read, to fear, to hope, to pray; To lift the latch, to force the way ; And better had they ne'er been born, That read to doubt, or read to scorn. —Sir Walter Scotf. The Bible is the chart of the world. Ere long it will be the guide of all nations. The Bible should be in every home. It will help in keeping the moths of ignorance from poisoning the pure minds of the young. By it all nations shall be tried. With righteousness, truth, and equity all shall be judged. Christ says "Search the scriptures." Why should we? Because as Paul says, "All scripture is given 2 A METHODIST LUMlNAKV. by inspiration of God, and is profitable for the doc¬ trine, for reproof, for consecration, for instruction in righteousness." Again, because in it is found the sum of human duty. Listen to the wise Solo¬ mon—"Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." It is in it that the poor and needy find comfort and consolation. Hear the sweet singer of Israel— "For the needy shall not always be forgotten ; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever." The Bible has its opposers. Books, papers and pamphlets have been written against it; sermons and lectures have been delivered striving to show falla¬ cies in it, and doubting its authenticity. Tom Paine, by his "Age of Reason," and Robert Ingersoll, by his lectures, have not been able with all their combined forces, to supplant the Bible. Opposition, instead of weakening, has strength¬ ened the Bible and caused more to see and learn of its beauties. While some of its opposers have passed away and. their bones are mouldering in the grave, the Bible still exists and is cherished and nourished by many loving hearts. Well does the prophet say, "the grass withereth, the flower fadeth ; but the word of our God shal stand forever." It is imperishable. Empires and kingdoms have THE BIBLE. 3 decayed. Dynasties after dynasties have passed away. Even Egypt, with all her wisdom, Greece with all her culture, and Rome with all her power, have played their parts upon the stage of action, and are no more; yet the Bible still lives. On the other hand there have been thousands of others who have written works discerning its many beauties and testifying as to its inspiration. Such are the testimonies of Taylor, Milton, Locke, Pascal, Newton, Bacon, Scott, Wordsworth and Coleridge. It is an inspired work. Who, after reading the beatitudes, the golden rule of the Gallilean carpen¬ ter and the resurrection of Christ, could for a mo¬ ment have any doubt of this fact? The Bible is an ever flowing fountain, from which there flows many streams of wisdom on the highest (Subjects of God, the soul, and the soul's eternity. In its streams the fanatic may bathe ; the infidel may ;swim ; the skeptic may sport. Sweep on, O flowing stream, until China is drenched; Japan is washed; India is cleansed; Af¬ rica is purified. Sweep on until the nations of the world be washed, cleansed, purified, and brought to know the inspired truths as they are recorded in the book of books—- the Bible. A METHODIST LUMINARY. How beautifully does the poet express it " Hail sacred truth ! whose piercing rays Dispel the shades of night; Diffusing o'er the mental world The healing beams of light." Oh ! send thy light and truth abroad. In all their radiant blaze; And bid th' admiring world adore The glories of th}' grace." CHAPTER II. ORIGIN OF METHODISM — JOHN WESLEY — ENG¬ LAND—AMERICA—AFRICAN METHODISM. In 1^29, in the University of Oxford, England, Methodism was born. John Wesley, the preacher, Charles Wesley, the singer, George Whitfield and a few others were the founders of this organization. They were called the Methodists in a deriding spirit, just as the first disciples were called Christians. At the beginning the body was so small that to be known as one was considered a shame. To-day its membership is so large and it has extended so far over the world, that to be called a Methodist is a joy and honor instead of a disgrace. It was fully organized in London in 1739 by Mr. Wesley. It started with only ten persons, but a revival breaking out its nymbers soon swelled. "It came sweeping along like the winds which God had let loose from his fists, swaying devout souls, break¬ ing down stubborn sinners, overturning hopes built on false foundations, but quenching not the smok¬ ing flax, nor breaking the bruised reed. It was 6 A METHODIST LUMINARY. Heaven's bountiful gift to the silent prayer of the world's sorrow by reason of its great sin. In the midst of this spiritual darkness (jrod raised up a bishop, a preacher, a poet—three men, the equals of whom have probably never been seen in the world at once since the apostolic days. The bishop was John Wesley, the preacher was George Whitfield, the poet was Charles Wesley. To these three men, and those whom they gathered to their standard, did the Lord commit the precious work of awaking the British kingdom to a sense of God and duty, and by them he wrought a reformation which stands alone as a spiritual revival without admixture of statecraft or patronage, or parliament, or king." Not since the days of the apostles has there appeared in the history of the world a grander and more noble character than John Wesley. He was born June 14, 1703, in the parish of Epworth, Lin¬ colnshire, England. Home influences and godly admonitions from pious parents have much to do with shaping the character of a child. A godly father, a minister of the gospel and a God fearing mother made John Wesley what he was—a great man. He died in 1791, exclaiming, "The best of all is- God is with us." ORIGIN OF METHODISM. 7 Just one hundred years ago since he passed away, but his tracks are still seen upon the sands of time.. METHODISM IN AMERICA. In 1766, a local preacher by the name of Philip Embury, and Barbara Heck, a Christian woman, organized the first Methodist society in America in the city of New York. They were immigrants from Ireland, but originally of German stock. Like the mulberry root, Methodism has spread in all directions until its influence is felt over all Christendom. The wonderful, magnetic, and electrifying hymns of Charles Wesley have been the means of bringing millions of souls to Christ. These hymns should awaken an inspiration in the hearts of every one when used in divine worship. When a hymn is announced, it should be the pleasure as well as the duty that every one engaged in divine service SING. The same holds good throughout devotions. When we hear the words " Let us pray," " Every knee should bow ^.nd every heart confess to God." In attending divine service, every worshipper should take his chart—the Bible. Richard Boardman and Joseph Filmore were the first itinerant preachers sent out by Mr. Wesley in 1769. 8 A METHODIST LUMINARY. Frances Asbury and Richard Wright came in 1771- The first annual conference was held in Philadel¬ phia in 1773. There were then only ten traveling preachers, six recruits and 1160 members. To-day there are scattered upon the hill tops and in the valleys, in almost every town, city and hamlet Methodist churches ana societies. To the Methodist is due the honor of establishing home missionaries; the anxious seat, the mourners' bench and class-meeting were aroused by the Methodist itinerancy. AFRICAN METHODISM. The star of African Methodism arose in No¬ vember, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pa.,when a few colored men desired to exercise human privileges in their fear and worship of God. There was a time when he was not allowed to sing, a time when he was not allowed to pray, and, in prayer, when a servant was needed, he was drag¬ ged from his knees. Notwithstanding the Bible is full of texts, one for every occasion and upon every subject man can think of, yet the universal texts of the white breth¬ ren were: "Servants obey your masters," "He that knoweth his masters' will and doeth it not shall be beaten with many stripes." Richard Allen, in studying the Bible, caught are ORIGIN OF METHODISM 9 inspiration and struck out for religious freedom and manhood. This illustrious character, founder of African Methodism, was born February 1^1760, in the city •of Philadelphia. He was elected and ordained as the first Bishop of the A. M. E. Church at the first General Conference, April 11, 1816, He died March 26th, 1836. The stumbling blocks, the draw-backs and short comings have been many since his death, but the fathers have kept the ship from sinking; at times they have thrown off some of the cargo, but the vessel has never busted—she is together to-day. Success in the commercial world depends upon organization and consolidation. The railroad system would be a failure without organization. Factories and founrdies, banks, and building and loan associa¬ tions, all have organized and consolidated plans. The plans of the Christian Church were organized by him that saith : "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." No human mind, nor angelic conception can fathom the depth of God's eternal arrangement. His church is as old as creation. His plans are as old as IO A METHODIST LUMINARY. himself, they were fashioned in the Holy councils of, Eternity. It was intended from the foundation of the world for the African Methodist Episcopal church to be established, and that Rev. Richard Allen, should be the organizer—God's agent—extending his plans. Richard Allen "made others great by being great himself!" Think of it, the Bible was read, hymns were sung, prayers were offered, plans were arranged for the organization and perpetua¬ tion of the African M. E. church around an anvil in a blacksmith shop, starting with seventeen members. Her sparks have spread in all directions, acting like sound vibrations until now they are illuminating the dark corners of Africa, lighting up the spicy isles of the sea, and making those in the wilderness of bar¬ barism, despotism and diabolical darkness of every propensity cry out: " Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Let the touch of African Methodism be carried in the heads, hearts, hands and feet of our bishops, ministerial fraternity, laity, and friends, upheld, guided, and protected by the Supreme Ruler of the universe and the Father of all lights, go on civiliz¬ ing, christianizing and enlightening the benighted lands until all Africa shall be redeemed, Japan saved, China is awakened, and India struggling foi; ORIGIN OF METHODISM. rr light. Go on until the vibration is heard around the globe saying : ''We are moving in the light." "Go messenger of peace and love, To people plunged in shades of night, Like angels sent from fields above, Be thine to shed celestial light." CHAPTER III. TWENTY-FIVE ARTICLES OF RELIGION, OR THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. There was once a time, if not to-day, when a stipulation as to the Articles of Religion was made in London, England. They numbered thirty-nine (39) Rev. John Wesley strained them and gave us the essence in twenty-five (25). The explanations and Scripture quotations upon them by the Rev. Hilary F. Hudson, D. D., excel any explanation I have seen. We would rejoice, and we think the church would could we but spread this book wide enough to contain them. We cannot. It is our desire to strengthen the Christian faith in the Holy Triune. Works of Revelation, and Eternity; there¬ fore, we shall give the highest authority, lowest proofs, widest influence, and strongest support for our undying faith in "Our" Twenty-five Articles of Faith in our Religion. 1. " Of Faith in the Holy Trinity Scripture—"Hear, O, Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord" (Deut VI. 4) "One God and Father ARTICLES OF RELIGION. 13 of all. (Eph.iv. 6) "But the Lord is the true God, He is the living^God." (Jer. x. 10) "From ever, lasting to everlasting thou art God." (Ps. xc. 2) "God is a Spirit." (John IV. 24.) "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Rev. xix. 6.) "To God only wise, be glory." (Rom. XVI. 27.) "The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all his works." (Ps. CXIV. 9.) "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and Holy Ghost." (I John v., 7.) "I am the Lord thy God." (Ps. LXXXI. 10. 2. "Of the Word, or Son of God Who-was Made." Let all doubts, if there be any, take wings and fly away at the presentation of these scriptural in¬ junctions. "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." (i Tim. II. 5) In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God." (John I. 1) "The word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John r. 14) "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." (Heb. II, 14) "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee." (Luke I. 35). 14 A METHODIST LUMINARY. Of the Resurrection of Christ. The Christian faith is, that the shepherd which gave his life for his sheep, Christ the Lord, is the son of^God. Hear him. "I am Alpha and Omega,. I am the first and the last. I am He that liveth and was dead ; and, behold, I am alive forevermore— Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death." Without waiting for a human form t.o "Take away the stone," without waiting for a trumpet to sound, before the dazzling rays of King Solomon met the gaze of an anxious world, the combined powers of our Creator raised from the dead—raised from the grave our crucified Savior. This was his own prophecy: "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it again." See him putting himself on exhibition five times the very Sabbath he was born from the grave, yet born a high, wide, and deep man. The space in which he moves is greater than immensity. Mary Magdalene saw him, a number of other women and Peter saw him, the visiting disciples to Emmaus saw him, St. Thomas felt his bruised and mangled flesh. He was seen in Galilee, seven saw him at one time and more than five hundred at another. "Go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead." (Matt, xxviii. 7) "But he whom God raised again saw no corruption " (Acts XIII. 37) "To this end Christ both died, and" ARTICLES OF RELIGION. 15 rose, and revived, that be might be Lord both of the dead and the living ; for we shall all stand be¬ fore the judgment seat of Christ." (Rom. Xiv. 9 and 10) "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." (I Cor XV. 20) The world, the Bible, and heaven are full of proofs that Christ rose from the dead. "Christ, the Lord, is risen to-day, Sons of men and angels say ! Raise your joys and triumphs high ! Sing, ye heaven —thou earth reply." Jt. uOf the Holy Ghost." God is our maker, Christ is our Redeemer, the Holy Ghost is our Sanctifier. To be without the Holy Spirit is to be without true Christianity. With¬ out it the mourner has no comfort. The Holy Spirit is as old as eternity; as old as the Father. Away out upon the barren hills of eternity the Holy Council was consulted before scattering the dust to be trained, shaped and fashioned into humanity. Listen ! "Let us make man." When God is accepted, Christ must be, and when Christ is ac¬ cepted, the Holy Ghost must be. If not, the house - is there with inmates—without a fire place, heater, or any arrangement for comfort, therefore the in¬ mates must freeze—must perish. Scripture says: "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." a methodist luminary. (Matt, xxiii. 19) "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Pet. I. 21) 5. The '■'■Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures or Salvation." The Bible is to be studied—not slightly read. "Search the Scriptures." These words fell from the precious lips of a precious Saviour. "The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul; the testi¬ mony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple." (Ps. xix. 7) Think of these words, see if there is any power in them. "All scripture is given by in¬ spiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous¬ ness." (2 Tim. iii. 16). The Bible is the world's constellation. A faith¬ ful, prayerful, and earnest study of the Bible keeps the moth of ignorance out of the mind. 6. " Of the'Old Testament.'' In both the Old and New Testament everlast¬ ing life is promised. To believe in one without the other is to believe in a false religion. The prophets^ in their prophetic visions, saw Gethsemane; they saw Mt. Calvary with a cross and a dying Saviour- they saw the darkness of the sun, the redness of the moon and the dancing of the stars. They saw the burial and the resurrection of Christ. The prophets pointed forward to Calvary, the apostles back to it. It is said' that Christ made more than ninety articles of religion. 17 quotations from the Old Testament. All of the Apostles pointed back to Calvary. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets, I am not come to destroy; but to fulfil."—(Christ.) 7. " Of original or birth of sin. ''By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Rom. v. 12) "By one man's disobedience many were made sinners." (Rom. v. 19.) "Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me," (Ps. 11. 5) "Behold I am vile." 8. " Of Free-will." "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; for without me ye can do nothing." (John xv. 5) "For when ye were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." To continue the quotations bearing upon the above subject will simply be to make the book voluminous; therefore the few words selected from Holy writ are sufficient for all men. p. "Of the Justification of AH Men." "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. v. 1} "Whom he justifies, them he also glorifies." We 18 A METHODIST LUMINARY. believe in justification, because we have been re. conciled to God by the death of his son. "10. Of Good Works. God is holy in all his ways and perfect in all of his works. One that is justified by faith learns in good works to work, to watch, and to wait. "Add to your faith, virtue ; and to virtue, knowl¬ edge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to tem¬ perance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to broth¬ erly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." II. " Of Works of Supererogation.'' This article is directly against the doctrine of the Catholic Church. They believe that the pious deeds of the saints are more than their duty to God and man. " Out of the doctrine of supererogation came the wicked system of selling indulgences to commit sin, which so shocked Luther and moved him to begin and carry on the great work of the German Reform- ation." Job gives our doctrine—"So likewise ye, when ye shall likewise have done all those things which ARTICLES OF RELIGION. 19 are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants." 12. '' Of sin after Justification.'" When grain that is to be worked is put into the earth, and work is a stranger to that farm, the grain will spring up but soon die. It needs cultivation. The Christian must cultivate his Christian graces, or by degrees the Holy Ghost will be withdrawn from him, and he will fall into sin—but not unpar¬ donable. A man can sin, a man can get out of Christ after he has been in him. Jeremiah says: " Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." " If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 j "Of the Church Stone, brick, and lumber make chapels for Christian worship. Many intelligent persons (to say nothing of the uneducated) mistake buildings for the Church of Christ. The people are the church. A congre¬ gation of faithful men, women and children. The communion of saints—receiving the sacra¬ ment (1) of baptism, (2) the Lord's supper. Millions have heard and heeded the pure word of God in his holy temple where saints and sinners meet to do honor to his name. 20 a methodist luminary. 14. " Oj Purgatory, The Protestant religion is that we worship only one divine and true God, who alone is able to for¬ give sins. We are not Romans neither do we believe in the Romish doctrine concerning purgatory. We believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. We believe there is a heaven and we believe there is a hell. We believe that " What¬ soever a man soweth, that shall he also reap!" jj. " Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the People Understand When we speak to English congregations we should address them in the English tongue. This article of religion is directly against the Roman Catholic manner of preaching, for their practice is to preach in a Latin tongue to English people. "In the church i would rather speak five words with my understanding, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." 16, 11 OJ the Sacraments The Catholics recognize five sacraments. We believe in the positive sacraments of Christ's Bapt¬ ism, and the Lord's supper. Every Christian and every child ought to have administered to them the ordinance of Baptism. Every Christian should com¬ mune on sacramental occasions. ARTICLES OF RELIGION. 21 The Presbyterian and some other denomina¬ tions set holy sacramental tables. Methodists have no special objection to that. The Baptists have their deacons administer sacrament to their mem¬ bers by passing it to them while seated in their pews. The Methodists have nospeical objection to that, but they (Methodists) believe in walking humbly with their God. The humblest way of an intelligent expression of praise is by kneeling, there¬ fore the Methodist custom is to meet around within and without the holy altar and there kneel and meditate. The Bishop, Elder or Deacon passes the sacrament bread and wine to them. We are not Catholics in that we do not believe in transubstantiation, or the changing of the bread and wine into the real body of Christ. For it is sim¬ ply taken emblematically. 17 " Of Baptism Baptism is a badge. When Christian men and women have been baptized they show that they are in the world, but they are not of the world. They show a glorious cause of a profession and regenera¬ tion. The Jewish circumcision might be called a type of our baptism. It behooves parents to dedi¬ cate their children to the Lord in their infancy by Baptism. Take them to Christian worship either public 01* private : and take them to the communion 22 A METHODIST LUMINARY. table. Teach them to fear God and keep his com¬ mandments, thus they will fulfill the Christian re¬ quirements. The scripture proofs of baptism are very ex¬ plicit. "Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." "He that be' lieveth and is baptized shall be saved." "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" has been misunderstood by many. Its interpretation simply means a faithful application of water in the name of the Triune—Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Don't become fanatics over Baptisma and Bapt- iza. Accept the application of water in the name of the Trinity with a pure heart. Keep it so and all will be right. 18 '1 Of the LortT s Supper.'' The Lord's supper is known as the "Sacra¬ ment,"as the "Eucharist," and as the "Communion." "And he took bread, ahd gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying ; This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you." ARTICLES OF RELIGION. 23 The sacrament keeps the Christian church from ^ra&ging—keeps it alive. Around the altar one can visit the garden of Gethsemane and Calvary. They may see the Saviour dying, dead and bleeding! The Holy Sacraments helps one to see plainly where the -nails were driven through his feet, his wounded .hands and pierced side. ig. " Of Both Kinds.'' One (the bread) represents the flesh of Christ, the other (the wine) represents the blood he spilt upon Calvary for the redemption of the human family. All faithful Christians who are in love and charity with their neighbors have a privilege (unless debarred by the near sightedness of sectarianism) to eat bread and drink wine on sacramental occasions. 20. " Of the One Oblation of Christ Furnished Upon the Cross." . The dogma of the Catholic church is con¬ demned in this article. In Hebrews we read these words : "After he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God ; for by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Christ made through his death re¬ demption, propitiation, and satisfaction for the 31ns of the whole world. 24 A METHODIST LUMINARY. 21. " Of the Marriage of Ministers In both the prophetic and apostolic days the sacred vows of marriage were observed. The minis¬ ter who is so fortunate as to win the affection of a woman suited to make a minister's wife—a help¬ meet, a helpmate—has achieved one of the greatest victories known in the battle of life. If he cannot find a true Woman, the troubles of his cause and of himself are enough for one man. The minister of Christ should measure with great care, prayer, and earnestness his associations with his betrothed before they twain shall have become one flesh. 22. " Of the Rights and Ceremonies of Churches." Custom has fixed auxilaries to general meth¬ ods in Church management. Baptism can be ad¬ ministered by sprinkling or immersion, the Lord's supper may be taken kneeling or sitting; we may stand or kneel in prayer and in song. 2S- "Of the Rules of the United States of America." The Holy Scripture says : "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God ; the powers that be are ordained of God. For rules are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. For he is the minister of God to thee for good." articles of religion 25 According to the data furnished in the history of Methodism the twenty-third article was drawn up in 1785 and established as a part of our religion in 1786. This note upon this article is taken from the •discipline of the Methodist Episcopal church. "As far as it respects civil affairs, we believe it the duty •of Christians, and especially all Christian ministers to be subject to the supreme authority of the coun¬ try where they may reside, and to use all laudable means to enjoin obedience to the powers that be; .and therefore, it is expected that all our preachers and people who may be under any foreign govern¬ ment, will behave themselves as peaceable and orderly ■subjects." 24. '' Of Christian men's goods.'' The Anabaptists preached a short while after the Lutheran Reformation " That all things ought to be common among the faithful." 25. '' Of a Christian mari s oath." 44 And thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth* in judgment, and in righteousness." The Anabap¬ tists and Quakers do not believe in Christian •swearing. Judicial oaths are in harmony with religion.. CHAPTER IV. GENERAL RULES—CATECHISM ON FAITH—BAND SOCIETIES AND PUBLIC WORSHIP. I. General Rules. " They are the constitution of Methodism. One of the most unique and complete systems of moral ethics found anywhere upon the face of the globe, and ought to be known by heart by every Methodist in the world."—Bishop H. M. Turner, D.D. LL. D. The General Rules are the pillars under the grand old Methodist superstructure; knock them out and you destroy the props that support the house. They are established upon the Bible, and should be read and known by all Methodists as well as others who' desire to know them. According to the explanations by Rev. Hilary F* Hudson, D. D., we have twenty-seven (27) rules with scripture quotations. According to our dis¬ cipline they are bundled into three (3) "General Rules." GENERAL RULES. 27 2. The Catechis7n of Faith. It would be spreading this little volume too wide to place within its lids the questions and answers of our catechism of faith. We simply make an endorse¬ ment for the benefit of those who generally skip them in the book of discipline. No one can miss the road to success who reads and studies with faith and prayer the budget of information in the Cate¬ chism on faith. Every minister should read and study them at least once a month. J, Band Societies. In December, 1783, three or four married or un¬ married persons, all men, or all women, drew up a set of rules for the government of a band society. Strong directions were drawn up and established on the twenty-fifth (25th) of December, 1744. There- results of such societies have been marvelous, yet we believe that to a great extent these societies have "been neglected, scorned and ridiculed, whereas, if they were understood would be beneficial and prove to be auiliaries to the church. There are church members who object to any kind of society except the church fellowship. The Free Methodist Church at Allenton, Pennsylvania, has put up bars against those seeking admission and belonging to secret or public societies, and against 28 a methodist luminary. those who use tobacco, drink liquors, or wear jewelry. The band society is not a secret organization, and yet it might be considered such since two are recognized—-one for men, one for women. Societies, combinations, organization and consolidation are all good when properly conducted. The commer¬ cial world is carried on by organization and consoli¬ dation. 4. Public Worship. The regulations for divine service are very explicit in our guide-book—Discipline, page 75, part 1st, chap. 4: Sec. 1. All persons should go to the church of their choice, not only on Sabbath, but during the nights of the week, when convenient. Worshipers should feel it their duty as well as keeping in good taste, to observe the regulations of the local church. If holy water is used in the Cath¬ olic Church and persons are worshiping there, they should observe the rules of that church. It is the custom in the Reformed Presbyterian Church to stand for prayer. All persons in the congregation should observe their rule. Ministers of other creeds should stick to the standing rule in Baptist and Congregational churches. GENERAL RULES. 29 In the Methodist Church the general belief is that kneeling in prayer and in sacrament is the most humble way of showing that they fear God and are striving to keep his commandments. Non-conform¬ ity to church regulations when in the immediate worship, shows a lack of Christian graces and Chris¬ tian character. Worshipers who can read should feel it their duty to take their hymn books and the world's chart—the Bible—with them to divine services. Everyone should sing. Prayers should be deliv¬ ered with earnest pathos. " Prayer is the rope up in the belfry; we pull it and it rings the bell up in Heaven." Mary, Queen of Scotland, said: "I fear John Knox's prayers more than an army of ten thousand men." CHAPTER V. THE MINISTRY—ITS SUPPORT. The links in our ministry are bishops, elders, dea¬ cons, licentiates, local and exhorting preachers. The bishop's powers are unbounded in the church that made him bishop. They are elected to the Episco¬ pacy by the General Conference ; ordained, conse¬ crated to execute the duties of that office by the impositions of the hands of a bishop and six elders. We get a skeleton of their work when we read the business of General, Annual and District Confer¬ ences. Bishops may be tried, suspended and expelled, just as preachers or members, although the process may not be the same. Bishop Hilary, of the A. M. E. Zion Church, for defamation of character and for ungodly walks, was deposed and expelled. He was high-strung, arrogant and ungrateful. " Ingratitude is the basest of crimes." The African Methodist Episcopal Church has had nineteen (19) bishops, nine of whom are living to-day. They have never brought reproach upon the cause they have and are THE MINISTRY. 31 representing. Who are the dead ones? Richard Allen, Morris Brown, William Paul Quinn, Willis Nazrey, Edward Waters, William »Fisher Dicker- son, Richard Harvey Cain, James Alexander Shorter, Richard Randolph Disney and Jabez Pitt Campbell. Who are the living ones? Daniel Alexander Payne, Alexander Washington Wayman, Thomas M. D. Ward, John M. Brown, Henry McNeal Turner,Wes¬ ley John Gaines, Benjamin William Arnett, Benja¬ min Tucker Tanner and Abraham Grant. Through our fathers, the work of our missionaries, our books and papers, our standard has been set up all about in Canada and the United States. We are known in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Bermudas, the West Indies, and many other islands of the sea. The work of presiding elders, pastors, local and exhorting preachers, stewards, trustees and class leaders has been laid out in the Book of Discipline by Bishops Wyman, Turner, and others; therefore we shall desist from making explanations relative to their duties. II. MINISTERIAL AND CHURCH SUPPORT. A pastor is a shepherd. His chief work is to preach Christ and Him crucified, and herd his flock. He must know when to water them, when to feed 3,2 A METHODIST LUMINARY. them, how to shelter them, when to walk among them, seeking the wolf, to destroy them. Great prudence is required in giving testimonials. He must clinch the nuptial ties, visit the sick and bury the dead. The ministry is a divine institution. A minister once sought at President Lincoln's hands a government position. The President said to him: "If you are a true minister, you have the highest position in the world." Think of it! A man is res¬ ponsible for the souls of men and their places in eternity! Gold, silver, brass, iron and steel, great popularity many friends, long life—nothing can be compared to the value of a true minister. Some ministers receive good salaries and are in easy circumstances, and yet they are not paid accord¬ ing to the work for which they are responsible. There are a number of ministers in some of the large cities whose salaries are annually $2,000, $3,000, $4,000 and $5,000; some receive $6,000, and a very few $10,000. Rev. John Hall, D.D., in New York, receives from his church $20,000. He is also Chan¬ cellor of the New York University and receives a salary of $5,000 per annum. He receives $3,000 a year for writing, making an annual salary of $28,000. Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage, D. D., receives a better salary than the one just named. Doctors William M. Taylor, Lyman Abbott, C. H. Parkhurst, Morgan THE MINISTRY. 33 Dix, Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon and others receive annually comfortable supports. III. CHEAP PREACHERS—STATISTICS, The average salary of preachers is about one hun¬ dred and fifty dollars ($150.00) per year. The sala¬ ries of lawyers, doctors, business men and school teachers average more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) a year. In this country we pay our law¬ yers about forty million dollars a year, while our ministers receive about seven or eight millions. " Paid to all ministers of the gospel, $12,000,000; support of criminals, $12,000,000; fees of litigation, $35,000,000; importation of liquor, $50,000,000; support of grog shops, $1,500,000,000; whole cost of liquor, $12,200,000,000." The above statement is an annual one. There is a common complaint that too much money is required to support preachers, and many members wilfully and persistently refuse to con¬ tribute to their support. The church contains many members who are so narrow in their views as to criticise those ministers who are attempting to live within the rules of econ¬ omy, and from their scant means provide homes for their families and surround themselves with the nec¬ essities of Ufe. 34 A METHODIST LUMINARY. Let these biblical truths settle all pessimists, and let all become optimists, and when converted strengthen their brethren. " Let all clamor and evil-speaking be put away from you with all malice." " Every idle word that men speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." " Let no corrupt communication proceed out of yourmouth." " Put them in mind to be subject to principalities, and to powers, to obey magistrates, to speak evil of no man." Quotation after quotation might be added but we refrain, deeming the above sufficient. Lawyers doctors, merchants and teachers all receive better support on an average than the gos¬ pel minister, notwithstanding he is their equal in physical ability, mental culture and moral refine¬ ment. It is said that the heathen spend more to keep up their forms of idolatry than Christians do to support their preachers. It costs $30,000 a year to keep one idol in Khundoba. The cost of one Pagan festival is $2,000,000. This world must be civilized and Christianized, for "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a wit¬ ness unto all nations." Christianity is the most important factor in civil¬ ization—money next. The minister first, the physi¬ cian next. Those are the highest officers in the THE MINISTY. 35 world—one saving the soul, the other saving the body. What would the world be to-day without the min¬ istry ? History tells what it has been. Ignorance and heathenish idolatry made Nebuchadnezzar aim to feed the flames of the furnace with the flesh and blood of Shedrach, Meshack and Abednego. Ignor¬ ance as to the plans of redemption made Herod murder the boys in Bethlehem. Ignorance once caused a prince to slay a man that he might warm his feet in his blood. The Greeks used to destroy their ill-formed babes. The Carthagenians made a sacrifice of their children to Molech. Spar¬ tans, according to their law, destroyed all sickly children by casting them into a deep pit. Think of this ! In the dark or heathen lands children used to take their 'old, blind and helpless parents out among wild beasts and kill them. What a change. Hear this ! " When Christ came there was not a palace in Palestine that possessed the comforts which have become necessaries in Christendom to¬ day. There was probably not a glass window, cer¬ tainly not a chimney; books, none; lights to read them by at night, none. There were few roads, almost no carriages, no banks, no postal conveni¬ ences. There was not honesty enough in the world to make either banking or postoffices possible. If 36 A METHODIST LUMINARY. Cicero wished to send a letter from Rome to Athens he must find a friend or employ a special messenger. Even so late as the present century the Shah of Persia endeavored in vain to establish a postal sys¬ tem in his empire, and could not for want of integ¬ rity among his people. None of the advancements of the age, the arts and the sciences exists except in Christendom or where Christians have carried them." But see what a change the pomgranate-Christianity, has wrought. To-day the gospel is being preached in every quarter of the globe by Methodist minis¬ ters. The vine of Christianity is flourishing from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from frozen Lapland in the north to the ever blooming flowers and balmy breezes of the south. Notwithstanding the mes¬ sengers of divine truth have suffered many privations, the Christian vine has been watered • by the tears of the servants of God, and the blood of the martyrs have fertilized its roots. Millions in heaven and upon the earth can testify to the awakening power of the gospel. Ministers have led the way in the establishment of educational advantages. John Harvard, D. D., established the first university in America—Harvard. He gave $3,500 to start the work. Eleven ministers held a conference and dicided to locate a college and to call it "Yale." All of the schools of Alabama THE MINISTRY. 3 7 as well as many in Georgia, Tennessee and other States, with few exceptions, were established, founded and fostered by ministers. There are between three and four hundred col¬ leges in the United States, out of that number two hundred and seventy-five were founded by Christian churches, leaving the others for the States to locate. Since it is impossible to estimate the value of a minister, his support should be regular. All Meth¬ odist and Baptists churches have plans of their own for raising money to support their pastor and church. While many of these plans are good, they have also many defects. The Methodist Episcopal Church has four ways by which they raise money : (i) They make annual collections ; (2) quarterly payments ; (3) monthly payments, and (4) weekly payments. We heartily endorse the weekly payments. Most of our ministers are embarrassed from a pecuniary stand point. Why? (1) Because both Christians and sinners give too little. (2) It has become the rule to make God and his workers sec¬ ondary. The Bible plan of giving should be the o-uide for the world. The creator has given man¬ kind six days. He takes only the seventh, yet men are dissatisfied. They take for their own glory all of the six days and a part of the seventh. 38 A METHODIST LUMINARY. The father of all moneys says :—Give me ten cents and you may have the ninety cents, but men and women will not heed. They must have the whole dollar. Nor is this in keeping with divine require¬ ments. Father Abraham paid his tithes unto the Lord. Israel, or Jacob, promised the Lord the tenth of his income, and he kept his obligation. " And all the tithes of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy unto the Lord. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the win¬ dows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Our present collection system is a poor one. Many persons walk up and down the aisles to be seen, and they care more for their appearance than for what they give to the Lord. The majority of church¬ goers contribute only nickels. There are very few who give as much as twenty-five or fifty cents, and those who complain most are always those who give less toward bringing the world to Christ. Those persons who grow tired of giving to the support of the church should also grow tired of receiving blessings from God. The light of the sun, the moon, and the stars, the rain and the dews from heaven, THE MINISTRY. 39 the things contained in the mineral, animal and vegetable kingdoms, have all been received by man and he is master of them. Have we grown tired of receiving their benefits ? Are we tired of giving or paying back to the Lord? God pity the ungrateful persons! God pity the begrudgeful persons! God pity the stingy persons ! A SKELETON FOR RAISING MONEY. 1st. Sunday Schools. 2d. Trustees. 3d. Stew¬ ards. These three collections cover the amount necessary to run a church. It is the duty of each teacher to collect from their respective classes every Sabbath whatever the members or friends desire to donate for the general and local purpose of the Sabbath School. We en¬ dorse the plan, or skeleton of the present age in the schools. Every child from infancy should be taught to pray and give. Through the children, assisted by their fathers nd mothers, and led by Rev. C. S. Smith, D. D., (who originated the plan) the children of the African Methodist Episcopal Church are the only ones able to religiously boast of having a Sun¬ day School Publishing House. Not because others are not able; the Catholics, Episcopalians, Presby¬ terians, Congregationalists and Baptists, are far more able than we, yet it took a negro brain to de¬ velop the scheme. 4° A METHODIST LUMINARY. When the organization of the A. M. E. S. S. Union went into effect August iith, 1882, at Cape May, New Jersey, the A. M. E. Church was settled for¬ ever. She was solid before, but the establishment of the Sunday School Publishing House makes its solidification more substantial. 2d. Trustees. Confusions often rise between stewards and trustees concerning who shall collect the money on "Trustee Day," whether stewards or trustees. To save trouble, each constituted officer on the day of his collection (the collection for the purpose he represents) should be allowed to manage his collection. While it is the duty of the stewards to take an exact account of all moneys raised in the church, yet, that does not say that they must raise it and " turn it over" to the trustees. Let each officer be responsible for the success or failure of the day. This method will save complaints. The church to-day needs trustees with zeal and knowledge. They should have as much anxiety and interest in building and beautifying churches and parsonages as they have for the comfort of their own homes. They are responsible for the churches and the school property under the jurisdiction of the local church. The trustees should be men of great Ii earts. 3d. Stewards. These, like the class-leaders, a;r£ sub-pastors. To them the church looks for the" THE MINISTRY. 41 preparation of the Lord's Supper, baptism, the recording of marriages, deaths and baptisms. They are further responsible for the finances of the church. We commend the ticket and envelop system as one of the best means by which each member re¬ ceives credit for aid to the church, the preacher and the poor. There are those who (on an average) donate to the Lord's cause twenty-five cents a week, which amounts to thirteen dollars ($13.00) annually. To show the results of giving often and continually we present the following: " How much do you think the contribution of five cents a week amounted to in my church last year? Fifty-eight persons gave five cents a week, and the sum total was $153.70. Fifty persons gave ten cents every week, and the sum total of their offerings was $265.00—two hun¬ dred and sixty-five dollars in ten-cent pieces. Thirty- three persons gave twenty-five cents each week, and it amounted to $437-25. an^ the entire amount given in sums ranging from one cent to twenty-five cents, was $r,i i9-84- Thirty-two persons gave fifty cents each week, and their total was $848.00. Four¬ teen persons gave one dollar each week, and to¬ gether contributed $742.00. While the whole amount in sums of from one cent to one dollar a week was $3,094- H, and was given by two hundred and sixty-two members." CHAPTER VI. COURSE OF STUDY FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE MIN¬ ISTRY IN THE A. M. E. CHURCH. ■ Prerequisites for Admission. * Candidates must stand a fair examination in the following subjects: 1. Reading, writing and spelling. 2. Mental Arithmetic. 3. Geography. 4. History of the United States. 5. Discipline of the A. M. E. Church. 6. Binney's Theological Compend. Without these prerequisites no one can be ad¬ mitted. First Years Studies. 1. Lessons in Composition—Hart's. 2. General History—Swinton's. 3. Scripture History. 4. History of Methodism—Steven's Abridged. 5. Hawley's Manuel of Methodism. 6. Vocal Music. 7. Miss Youman's Descriptive Botany. COURSE OF STUDY. 43 Second Year. 1. Moral Science—Gregory's Christian Ethics. 2. History of the Apostolic Church—Schaff's. 3. Sacred Geography. 4. Miss Youman's Second Book in Botany. 5. Physical Geography. 6. Church Government—Wayman's. 7. Systematic Theology—Raymond, 1 vol. 8. An original sermon must be preached. Third Year. 1. Mental Philosophy—Porter's Abridged. 2. History of the Apostolic Church, completed. 3. Physiology and Hygiene. 4. Systematic Theology, continued, 2 vols. Ray¬ mond. 5. Elementary Geometry—Mark's First Lessons. 6. Butler's Analogy of Natural and Revealed Religion. 7. An Original Sermon, on the Divinity of Jesus Christ. Text, 1 Tim. ill, 16 v.: "God was manifest in the flesh." Fourth Year. 1. Systematic Theology, completed, 3 vols, of Raymond. 2 Natural Philosophy—Steel's six weeks. 44 A METHODIST LUMINARY. 3. Homiletics and Pastoral Theology—Shedd's. 4. Rhetoric—Hart's. 5. Logic—McCosh's Laws of Discursive thought. 6. Hermeneutics. 7- 8. An Original Sermon, on Christian Missions. Text, " He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth." Fifth Year. 1. Divine Government—McCosh 2. Harkness' First Lessons in Greek. 3. Green's First Lessons in Hebrew. 4. Geology—Dana's Abridged. 5. Political economy. 6. An Original Essay on " Education in relation to the Home, the School, the Church and the State." The above is the prescribed course of study for candidates for the ministry in the A. M. E. Church, and is taken from the Book of Discipline, chap. II of the Appendix ; pages 401-403. CHAPTER VII. LIGHT. Millions and millions of years may have passed away before the sacred prophet and histQrian, Moses, said : " In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. John and Vohn describe the creation as "con¬ fusion and desolation. The combined forces of atmospheric and subterranean influences caused the whole world to be in chaos, confusion, darkness, the voice of the Father was heard through volcanic eruptions, or upheavals, or general disorder, saying, ' Let there be light.' " u Let there be light ! the Eternal spoke, And from the abyss where darkness rode, The earliest dawn of nature broke, And light around creation flowed. The glad earth .smiled to see the day, The first-born day came blushing in ; The >oung day smiled to shed its ray Upon a world untouched by sin.'1 The command was obeyed and light sprung in. Scientists say the sun had shone for ages. We be¬ lieve his rays were first seen when God commanded 46 A METHODIST LUMINARY. them to break forth. The earth had been made and was without a form, and void, the sad curtain or veil shrouded it. Light! Wonderful light! What would this world be without it ? Proper education is an illumination ; true religion is light. " Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." The beautiful rays-of the sun, through a kind Providence, shine upon the just and the unjust. Light blesses all organic bodies. The effulgent light of Christ comes to the wide world to-day, and is crying with a loud voice— "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." No man can give the average velocity of the gos¬ pel. The philosopher tells us that a hurricane moves 117 feet per second. A rifle ball moves 1,466 feet per second; light moves 192,000 feet per second; electricity travels 288,000 feet per second. The work of our Redeemer travels as rapidly as the Father of all Lights. Love, Mercy, Truth and Justice are his companions. " Te that in shades of darkness dwell, Just on the verge of death and hell, Look up to me from distant lands ; Light, life, and heaven are in my hands. light. 47 Light and darkness have no communication with each other; neither have the world and the church. Well might it be said that the Christians are the light of the world. They are to let their lights shine before men that they may see their good works and that the Father in heaven may be glorified. The light reflecting from the Bible, the Hymnal, the the Prayer-book, newspapers, sermons and lec¬ tures will never be extinguished. Vicissitudes of darkness may bedim the light, but in the gathering gloom the voice of Christ is heard to exclaim : "I am the way, the truth, and the life." The prayer of the Christian church is that the light " which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," shall continue to shine until its rays shall have encircled the world. Shine on, O blessed Light!! until the homes of the gods of Confucius, Mohammedans, Pagans, and those whose faith is Judaism, shall have seen the light as it is in Christ. at home. " And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes- and there shall be no more death, neither sor¬ row nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain • for the former things are passed away." 48 A METHODIST LUMINARY. " And the city had no need for the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof." "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it." "And they that be wise shall shine as the bright¬ ness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. FINIS. A METHODIST LUMINARY A1TKNDIX. Question—How many General Departments con¬ nected with the A. M. E. Church ? Answer—Seven. (J.—Can you name them and tell where they are located, and who are their managers? A.—Yes. Christian Recorder, located at 63 [ Pine street, Philadelphia, Pa., edited and managed by Rev. J. C. Embry, D. D,, and Rev. B. F. Lee, D. D. The Southern Christian Recorder, located in Atlanta, Ga.. edited and managed by Rev. C. L. Bradwell. The A. M. E. Review is located in Phil¬ adelphia, Pa. It is edited and managed by Rev. L. J.Coppin,D. D. Rev. J as. A. Handy, D. D., is the financial secretary for the connection ; his depart¬ ment is located in Washington, D. C. Rev. Wm. B. Derrick, D. D., is the connectional missionary- secretary ; his office is Flushing, New York. Edu¬ cational Secretary is Rev. W. D. Johnson, D. D.; office, Athens, Ga. The Sunday-School Union of the 5\, Hunti r. Revs. R, D. Brooks, I. N. Fitzpatrick, J. H. Bessick, N. Davidson, S. R. Roberts, F. B. Taylor, G. Hunter, J. P.Jett, II. Blunt, G. W. Boone, E. Davis, L. Kirkling, T. H. Tyson, G. W. Robinson, J.H. Davidson, Isham Shellman,' I. E. Fields, G. W. Raspberry, T. H. Windsor, Geo. Eubanks, D. A. Bruce. J. W. Rex, G. B. West, E. J. Johnson, Thomas Mitchell, D. A. Perry, E. H. Miller, A METTJODIST LUMINARY. TR A VK1.IN . Butler, J. H. McGhee. A. M. Green, Jas. Holland. M. I). Harris. |.J. Jackson. E. J.'Smith. R.'R. Whatlev, L .s. Barner. W. M. Bryant, E. G. Odum, C. W. McLean. H. Roberts. Samuel Hill, M. R ecorus. Revs. C. Gates, J. Tyson. L. Dudley. D. II. llunteiv N. James, C. Jones. E, H. Daniels. M. D. Thomas, T. J. Jenkins. R. C. Cook. Jackson Davis. J. W. Glenn. P. L. Jackson. Win. Buck. Charles Green. J. N. Houze. Henry Walker. C. G. Hatcher, H. N. Newsom. V'. M. Grace. I. Rumph. S. B. Beauford. TRAY HI. I Nli I.ll'KNTl ATES. Revs. J. S. Calaway, John Jackson, E. E. Romp. L. Allen, H. L. Haves. R. D. Hensley, D A. Carmichael, G. W. Allen. W. M. Smith, W.J. Hightower, C. C. Smith, G. W. Stanford, D. S. Samuel, Revs. C. Drake. A . A Romp. A. T. Brown. N. C. Branch, O. L. Bonner, R. Portis, A. W. Harvey, f. M. Trammel 1. "W. M . Clark, M. Moreland. M. B. Crawford. D. Smith, A. B. Brown. \ MK'UKMMST LUMINARY. 53 E. Tyson. C. Spencer, A. Hulle, J. A. Blackmun, E. Blivins. I.