CORRECTED EDITION. THE r^T, QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH GENERAL CONFERENCE, Convened in Philadelphia, May 2d, 1892. Read by BISHOP TURNER PHILADELPHIA : 1892. THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH IN THE GENERAL CONFERENCE, Convened in Philadelphia, May 2d, 1892. READ BY BISHOP TURNER. PHILADELPHIA: 1892. CONTENTS. PAOB Salutation 5 Our Sainted Dead 8 Our Place of Meeting 11 Ecclesiastical Decorum 12 The State and Progress of the Church 14 Our Book of Discipline 15 Trustees of Churches 16 Assistant Class-leaders 16 Local Preachers 17 Local Preachers and Annual Conferences 19 The Need of Powerful Preaching 20 General Departments should not be Diminished 21 Telegraphic Expenses 22 A Bishop visits Africa 23 Presiding Elder System 24 Family Worship 25 Revised Hymn Book 26 Table Collections 27 Temperance 28 Mite Missionary Society 28 College Titles 30 General Conference Delegates . 31 Compilation of Discipline 32 3 4 CONTENTS. v PAGE Sabbath Morning Service; 33 Ministerial Dependants 34 Committee Work . . . . • 34 The Two Recorders 35 Fast Days 37 Week-Night Preaching 38 Congregational Singing . 39 Boards of General Departments 39 Quarterly Meetings 40 Lord's Supper 41 Itinerant System 43 Assistant Pastors 44 Ministers Leet without Appointments 46 Suing for Back Salaries 47 Revision of Our Annual Conference Procedure 48 Shall the Bishops have Veto Power 49 A New Organization 50 The Publication Department 52 Our Quarterly Review 54 Sunday-School Union 55 Financial Department 56 Educational Department 57 Missionary Department 58 Universities and Colleges 60 Ecumenical Conference 61 Conclusion 62 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. SALUTATION. Members of the General Conference: In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the great Head of the Church, and the pillar and ground of truth, whose ser¬ vants and messengers you are, we offer a fraternal greeting, and bid you welcome to the mother Church of our wide-spread connection. Our prayer is, that the Holy Spirit may preside over our de¬ liberations, inspire each heart, illuminate each mind, and adjust each one to discharge the high duties, and cope with the awful responsibilities, devolving upon the legislators of one of the branches of that Church, which was purchased with the precious blood of the Son of God. We trust you have well considered the grave, solemn, serious, and weighty business which will engage your attention, while here in session; and, that you have made it the subject of fast¬ ing and prayer, as well as deep reflection—with such light as ex¬ perience and protracted reading and labored research have been able to impart. We would not presume, however, that any one in Divine presence has been so intoxicated with a desire for notoriety or fame, as to allow himself to accept of the position of a delegate, in the face of the consciousness of the fact that he is answerable at the bar of God for every resolution he offers, and each vote he may cast. For the duties and responsibilities, before God and man, of the General Conference exceed those of the Annual 5 6 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE Conference, in proportion as the light of the sun exceeds the light of the scintillating stars. The Annual Conference assembles yearly to hear reports, pay in their moneys, admit such preachers as profess to be called of God to dispense His gracious Word, and to ascertain whether or not each member has faithfully observed the rules and regula¬ tions which the General Conference has enacted, and made com¬ pulsory upon its members. Therefore, any omission, neglect or waver seldom affects the Church beyond the sphere of its own territory ; but the actions and products of the General Conference not only affect the entire Connection, wherever its standard is planted, but the prospective possibilities, which inhere in the Church of God, may carry their evil results to the uttermost parts of the earth. And anything done, or neglected to be done, which would hamper or stultify the progress of the Church, and culminate in the ruin of one soul, that might have been saved, would provoke the ire of a just and Holy God. Nor will ignorance be any shield to the offender before God, un¬ less he has exhausted every endeavor to fit himself to discharge the obligations of an intelligent delegate. Men who meet to make laws for the Church, when such aw¬ ful issues are pending, should be familiar with its history, cus¬ toms, and regulations in all ages. But, should he be lacking in this particular, he can find no cause for excuse if he should be ignorant of the history of Methodism; for Methodism at most is only one hundred and fifty (150) years old; and American Methodism, in an organic form, does not exceed one hundred and eight (108) years, while African Methodism was crystalized into a soul-saving agency only seventy-six (76) years ago. Therefore, granting that any delegate, sent here by a constitu¬ ency, may plead justifiable reasons for not being acquainted with the history of the Church—its customs and usages for the past six thousand years—we deny that the humblest member of this body could present any reasons for being ignorant of the history and usages of the Methodist Church, during the short time it has existed, that would not be simply ridiculous, and receive the BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 7 contempt of every intelligent man or woman; and such a dele¬ gate (and Heaven forbid that there should be one) is by no means fitted to analyze the machinery of the Church, and propose measures for more effectiveness; and such a delegate, if one be present, would serve his constituents far better by returning to his home than he could possibly do by remaining here to perform duties for which he is wholly incompetent. The Church of the living God is a sacred institution, and, not¬ withstanding many of its branches are varied in their forms and customs,, yet one purpose and intent runs through its whole machinery, viz., to teach and impress men with the indispensa- bility of glorifying God in their lives and deportment, and endeavor to rescue the ignorant, vicious and corrupt from the ooils of sin and Satan, whose victims they are. Our branch of the Christian Church, while less than a century old, has reached an altitude of giant proportions, when compared with many other Christian denominations, much older and vastly wealthier. A little sober reflection will convince any considerate mind that the A. M. E. Church is the child of Providence, and came into existence about the time that interest would seem to be cen¬ tering in the black man. Phyllis Wheatly had given attestation of the poetic genius of her race, and had become the morning star of the hopes aud better desires of a dehumanized people. Benjamin Banneker, the famous black astronomer, had, de¬ spite the prejudice and ignoble status with which our fathers had to contend, brought Thos. Jefferson to his feet, and forced him to recognize his marvelous mathematical powers. The African slave-trade had been arrested by Congressional inhibition, by reason of a better sentiment, which had begun to leaven the heart of a nation. The American repatriation of the black man was being formed out of a fragmentary sentiment, to do something that would en¬ hance the melioration of the black man; and many other meas¬ ures had been and were being projected for the colored race, which augured a more favorable dispensation for the oppressed negro. 8 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE In the midst of these transitional sentiments and multiplying events, Rev. Richard Allen, Rev. Daniel Coker, and a number of their compeers organized the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and thus, planted firm and deep in the soil of Divine favor, a standard of religious liberty and manhood independence, which has wrought wonders for God and the elevation of the race. At the time the A. M. E^ Church was established, it was like the source of Ezekiel's river, where imperceptible waters issued from the side of the mountain, and ultimately became a river so deep and wide that no one could ford it. The birth of the A. M. E. Church did not, doubtless, demand the presence of the newspaper reporters, nor was the event her¬ alded among the nations of the earth, or promulgated among the Christian denominations of our own land. Possibly there was no religious dignitary, beyond Bishop White, in all the land that had any intimate knowledge of the movement, which has culminated in this already powerful organ¬ ization.; find, likely he had no faith in its final success, by reason of the illiteracy and limited abilities for which the colored race was noted. But, the A. M. E. Church was organized at the foot of a moun¬ tain, and that mountain was Christ Jesus, the Lord. Impercep¬ tible waters issued out, and invisible agencies, except to the eye of an All-seeing God, were operating in song, prayer, feeble preaching, and pious lives; and the sequence has been a river,— deep and wide—that none will attempt to ridicule or gainsay ; a river that is watering the roots of hundreds of thousands of human trees and is sending its vitalizing streams into distant continents. OUR SAINTED DEAD. Since the adjournment of the last General Conference, the Church has had to mourn the loss of two of its chief pastors, in the translation of Richard Randolph Disney, Bishop of the Eighth Episcopal District, and Jabez Pitt Campbell, Bishop of the Second Episcopal District. At no time has our Church been called to mourn the loss of two nobler personages. Graced •with the best gifts and qualities of our common manhood, their BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 9 spiritual character partook strongly of the Divine Sonship. They were both effective in their special spheres, but dissimilar in the application of their great powers, one being signally dis¬ tinguished as an orator and rhetorician, and the other a master theologian and a cogent expounder of the Word of God. Bishop Randolph Disney was born in Cecil County, Md., in 1829; ordained a deacon in 1858; an Elder in I860; conse¬ crated Bishop in 1876, and departed this life, strong in.the faith and in the prospect of a blissful immortality, April 18th, 1891. He left a devoted wife, whose chief pleasure was to administer to his comfort, and is now lamenting the loss of a faithful husband lovingly devoted to her. The Church will, we are sure, take pleasure in making the remainder of her days as cheerful as possible. Bishop Disney was a man of excellent parts; a student of theology, philosophy and science; an able declaimer of the Divine Word, and a peerless orator, when treating subjects in¬ volving profound lore and intricate disquisitions. Men who are able to discuss philosophical and problematic questions in the gorgeous language which Bishop Disney would employ, are few and far between, either in or out of the pulpit. It was through his influence that the B. M. E. Church was re-united with the A. M. E. Church, thereby removing every bar which disabled the bishops and ministers of our Church from claiming the world as our parish. Let the services he rendered and his exemplary life be held in everlasting remem¬ brance. Bishop Jabez Pitt Campbell, D.D., LL.D., was born in the State of Delaware, 1815; elected Bishop May 16th, 1864, and consecrated on the 23d day of the same month, 1864. He left us for a better and heavenly country August 9th, 1891. Bishop Campbell was licensed to preach by Bishop Morris Brown, and had been a potent factor in our itinerant ministry for more than a half century. He had filled the positions of pastor, publisher, editor, representative of the Church to Europe, President of Trustee Board of Wilberforce University, and was the recipient of honors innumerable by his Church and other 10 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE organizations with which he was connected He had rendered marvellous service to the anti-slavery movement in the days when perilous times prevailed. His reading was wdde and om¬ nivorous, and the authors from whom he gleaned were men of the deepest learning. His thirst for knowledge was insatiable, and his intellectual appetite craved every form of instruction. He also left a devoted wife, who was ever ready to speak words of comfort, and render such relief as was in her power, day and night, during the three years of his confinement to a languishing bed. We bespeak for this worthy and intelligent mother in Israel the tenderest affection of the Church. Bishop Campbell was a pulpit master, matchless in Biblical exposition; and, while his diction in the main was not as florid as that employed by Bishop Disney, he was a profound thinker, a deep reasoner and blistered men with the fiery truth of5 reve¬ lation, as few have the ability to do. In short, he was a man of rare natural as well as spiritual endowments, eminent in the holy graces of the Spirit, and pos¬ sessed the combined powers of an apostle, pastor, teacher and evangelist. He seemed to have been forged by the Almighty, amid the fires of the throne, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ. He bore his long affliction with great composure, and died in the consciousness of having a part in the first resurrection. " Brave, brilliant, battling spirit, rest at last; A conqueror, crowned with well-worn laurels, rest I Green grow the sod above thy pulseless breast, Unthrilled—how strange!—by shrillest trumpet blast." But, as you will take note of these two venerable fathers and the work accomplished by them, through a committee appointed for that purpose, we submit the further consideration of the great loss of our church to your final disposition. Other eminent members of our last General Conference, of whom you have been apprised, have also gone to unite with the innumerable host and the Church of the First-born. We com¬ mend also their lives, deaths and usefulness to the attention of the General Conference. BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 11 OUR PLACE OF MEETING. The present session of the General Conference has convened upon the most sacred spot known to our wide-spread Church, and should awe every member of the same into the most solemn and deferential respect for each Other's opinions, and exact the most rigid adherence to the rules of ministerial etiquette and sober thought and reflection. Here Allen, Qoker, Tapsico, Durham, Champion, Harden, Cuff and the other organic founders of our Church assembled April 9th, 1816. Here, if we recognize the organific conven¬ tion which established the Church as a General Conference, eight sessions out of twenty have met, deliberated and devised measures for the salvation of mankind. Here Bishops have been elected and consecrated to superin¬ tend our branch of the Church of God, who have long since gone to join the heavenly host, and whose redeemed spirits are likely hovering over our heads, and will take note of our ac¬ tions, and doubtless will be infinitely more concerned about the measures we shall adopt than they could possibly be if they were present in the flesh. Here preachers have been licensed, deacons' have been or¬ dained, and elders have been consecrated to the exalted work of the ministry, under whose masterly preaching, like Ezekiel of old, the dry bones of unbelief and skepticism have shook in the valley of incredulity, till they have united in the symmetric beauty of a living faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Here the giants of primitive African Methodism have plead with God upon bended knees, and moistened the very ground upon which we stand with their tears, that we might be the recipients of the inestimable privileges, gracious opportunities and mighty possibilities with which every delegate present to¬ day is invested. Here tens of thousands of sinners have heard the Word of Life, felt the arrows of keen conviction, while thousands have accepted of the proffers of salvation through the blood of the Lamb, and are gracing the courts of Heaven to-day, because 12 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE they believed upon Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Therefore, in consideration of the fact that we are standing upon holy ground, and will no doubt be watched by the spirits of the just made perfect, as well as by the public press and pro¬ fessional gossips, who delight to criticise and animadvert upon everything indecorous in a member of an ecclesiastical body, it is to be hoped, and we shall cheerfully presume, that every member of this august assembly will demean himself in such a manner as will honor his exalted position, and promote the glory of God, by his Christian conduct and influence. ECCLESIASTICAL DECORUM. The last three General Conferences have been unpardonably boisterous, and have detracted from the majesty of an assemblage, which should be venerable by reason of its exalted responsibili¬ ties. The sequel of which has been, in too many instances, legislation irregular and inconsistent. The General Conference stands in contra-distinction from an Annual Conference, in the fact that it is presumed, that it rep¬ resents the intelligence, learning, experience, morality and ven- erableness of the connection. Every member is known to represent a constituency. Each minister speaks for twenty others, and the lay delegates may speak for ten thousand or more. Therefore, they cannot afford a preponderance of levity or litigiousness. Our ministry and laity at home take it for granted, that the assembled Avisdom of the Church has met here in coun¬ sel, to devise measures for the good of the same; and that every question, which may arise, will be patiently and protractedly discussed, and both its merits and demerits will be thoroughly analyzed. This cannot be done, however, if a dozeu men are on the floor at the same time, and each is vieing with the other in voice tones. When the presiding officer assigns the floor to a brother, he should be listened to, until he concludes his remarks, or his time expires; besides, business would be transacted more rapidly and infinitely more satisfactorily. BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 13 When a dozen men are clamoring for the floor at the same time, and nobody is allowed to proceed, it is equal to an adjourn¬ ment, for nothing is being done. You owe it to the dignity of yourselves, to clothe the Bishops with extraordinary power, so that they will be able to protect the honor of your deliberations, if it should necessitate the sus¬ pension of twenty men, each day, and reduce the working quo¬ rum to one-fourth the number entitled to seats upon this floor. For, if the condition of things which has marked the proceed¬ ings of the last three General Conferences is to continue, twenty- five members could deliberate and answer the purposes for which we have assembled far more wisely than three hundred. We grant, that our General Conference in late years, has teen composed of men of more literary culture than in the days of the fathers; but our learning must not make us mad. Nor does it follow even that acquaintanceship with a few Greek or Latin roots and some mathematics and philosophy the better fits us for Methodist legislation. It is not unfrequently the case, that men of limited learning possess much more knowledge of Meth¬ odist economy, polity and needs of the Church than many who have had quadruple advantages. We beg to say further that the General Conference is not the place to seek conspicuousness by the use of smart expressions, com¬ monly denominated wit. Ministers of the gospel too frequently seem to covet that cheap and evanescent notoriety founded upon retort, repartee, irony, witticism, flights of oratory, or at times a brilliant quotation. We do not deny that all of these intellect¬ ual flashes may not be of occasional uSe; but certainly they are rarely of use in a General Conference deliberation. Learned and thoughtful men will infer that they are substi¬ tutes for intelligence and a cover for ignorance. Smartness and wisdom are not one and the same; smart men are surface or su¬ perficial thinkers, but wise men constitute that class who deal with fundamentalities and the profound lore of ages. Euripides was asked on one occasion by a poetic comrade, how many lines of poetry he had written on a certain day; the great philosopher said, "four." But his comrade said, " I have 14 THE QUADRENNIAL, ADDRESS OF THE written forty-four." Euripides replied, " You are writing poetry to die, when you die; but I am trying to write poetry that will live through comiDg ages." And every member of the General Conference should aspire to exemplify this great Grecian scholar and philosopher. While the future General Conference may make some modifi¬ cations in the legislation enacted by this General Conference, the spirit, fitness and congruities of this assemblage, should go down to coming ages and commend our wisdom to future generations. Believing, brethren, that enough has been said upon this point to provoke considerateness, and insure belter order than we have been blessed with in some of our past sessions, and to predispose your minds to mature reflection, so that ihe dignity of the Gen¬ eral Conference shall be maintained, and that our constituents at home may read or hear nothing, that will cause a blush, we pray the Holy Spirit may preside over our deliberations, and that all we do may redound to the glory of God and the good of mankind. THE STATE AND PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH. We are thankful to the Father of mercies that we are able to announce that the moral and spiritual life of our Church has suffered no diminution in the past four years. We still hold to those truths which relate to God, to His moral government, to the virtues of the atonement, to the im¬ mortality of the soul, to eternal retribution, to the genuineness and authority of the sacred Scriptures, to the holy sacraments and an effective Christian ministry. We still preach, and trust we will continue to do so, the uni¬ versality of the fall, the fulness of the redemptive scheme, the freeness of divine grace, the everlasting rest which awaits the people of God, and the ultimate perdition of the wicked who refuse the overtures of heaven. The faithful preaching of the Word of God with the force peculiar to Methodism has been productive of gracious results. Soul-saving revivals have been reported from all parts of the Connection; thousands have been added to the Church, and BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 15 scores of our members have made, we trust, considerable growth in faith and holiness. Our members in the main have been true to the principles of vital godliness, of experimental religion, however strong the current of adverse sentiment. The philosophic subtleties, the spec¬ ulative sophistries, and the impalpable theories so common in our day, have not been able to dull the edge of the sword of divine truth. Yet we could heartily wish that our pulpits were manned with more power and invested with more spiritual effi¬ ciency. Nevertheless, we have cause to rejoice, that the Lord of the harvest is still with us. OUR BOOK OF DISCIPLINE. Our Book of Discipline founded, we believe, upon the holy scriptures, is still near and dear to our hearts. The general rules, the twenty-five articles of religion, the catechism of faith, the eucharistic, baptismal, marriage, burial of the dead, and or¬ dination services, though venerable with age, are all that heart could wish ; and indeed our Discipline in the aggregate needs but little improvement. Yet, some modifications and amplifica¬ tions, here and there, might be profitably made provided you have well considered them in advance of your meeting. We trust that no one will attempt to remove the sacred land¬ marks, formulated and lined out by the venerable Wesley, with¬ out having examined and digested the same with great patience and prayerful contemplation. We are of the opinion that the officiary of the Church may wisely remain about the same. We do not refer to bishops, elders, presiding elders, deacons, licentiates, local preachers, and exhorters ; but we do, by the term officiary of the re¬ spective churches, refer to class-leaders, stewards, stewardesses, trustees, Sabbath-school superintendents and teachers, and lay evangelistic workers. Owing to the limited powers of a great many lay officers to understand their duties, as detailed in the Book of Discipline, we think a small elaboration, here and there, would be very useful. 16 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE TRUSTEES OF OUR CHURCHES. For several past General Conferences some efforts have been made to admit trustees as members of the Quarterly Confer¬ ence—following the example of the M. E. Church and the M. E. Church South; but those proposing this alteration, forget that our trustees are elected by the voting members of the re¬ spective churches; while those other venerable bodies of Meth¬ odists elect their trustees in the Quarterly Conference. We cannot admit trustees as members of the Quarterly Con¬ ference, unless the Quarterly Conference elects them and makes them, in every particular, the creatures of the Quarterly Confer¬ ence. Any other course would be inconsistent with Method¬ ism and intelligent government, and would enable the trustees to menace and disorganize (if so disposed) the spiritual depart¬ ments of the Church, while the Quarterly Conference would be largely powerless in their case, as they would claim election by the people. But, to attempt to take away the right of the peo¬ ple to elect their own trustees, after the custom has become a fixture in our Church, might create a friction productive of temporary mischief, if not a protracted contention. We advise that you allow the status of the trustees to re¬ main as it is, as they are now amenable to the Quarterly Con¬ ference. ASSISTANT CLASS-LEADERS. Assistant class-leaders have been recognized by every branch of the Methodist Church from its birth; and, while it is the prerogative of pastors to appoint them still, or, for the class- leaders to designate assistants, from among the members of their classes,—our Book of Discipline seems to be silent upon the question, and therefore, no attention is given to it possibly in too many instances. We think that assistant leaders could be of great practical use—both to old and enfeebled class-leaders—and at the same time, train young men in advance for that useful and respon¬ sible office. For the better the classes are cared for, the sick visited, the negligent sought after, and concern manifested,— BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 17 the better for the Church, the pastor, and the spiritual progress of the same. LOCAL PREACHERS. The status, duties and responsibilities of our local preachers, while very well defined in our Rook of Discipline, could, we think, be amplified with commendable profit to the Church. Our law says that "Local preachers, including deacons and elders, shall teach and labor in our Sabbath schools, and be sub¬ ject to the preacher in charge, in receiving appointments to preach, teach, or otherwise labor in our Sabbath-schools as occa¬ sion may require; and, if they neglect these duties, the Quar¬ terly Conference, if it see proper, may deprive them of their ministerial office." While the preacher in charge or the pastor is authorized, by our law, to give the locali preachers appointments to preach, the inference generally entertained is, that the preacher in charge has no power, or even right to appoint a local preacher to labor outside of his own pulpit; whereas, the spirit and intent of the law is, that the pastor can assign him to preach at any con¬ venient point, and appoint him to fill his own pulpit, should the pastor's judgment so determine. Local preachers, be they licentiates, deacons or elders, were never intended to sit down and wait for the pastor to be absent or sick, or fail to fill his pulpit occasionally, to give them an opportunity to deliver the Word of Life. For the pastor's time is limited, at whatever church he is sent; and the people expect him to preach regularly, and not at intervals, for the convenience of the local ministry. But, while the pastor fills his immediate pulpit, the local ministry is ex¬ pected to canvass and importune the neighborhood, and move the people to repentance and reformation. Local or lay preachers, from the very commencement of Methodism, have formed an integral part of its economy; and, as an efficient section of religious agency, have contributed greatly to its establishment and extension. Thomas Maxwell, the first Methodist local preacher, so stirred the adjacent country, in the early career of Mr. Wesley, that 2 18 THE QUADRENNIEA ADDRESS OF THE the great founder of Methodism himself was inspired and in¬ structed by him. Indeed, history sets forth the fact, that, but for local preachers, who scattered religious fire upon the right and left through the community—Methodism would have scarcely been established and crystalized iuto a denomination. Nor did they wait the order of Mr. Wesley to go out and preach, but they went voluntarily; and indeed Mr. Wesley was pro¬ pelled and doubly quickened by their zeal and example. The letter of our law presumes that the pastors in charge of the respective churches are the commanders of the local ministry, and the local ministers are to go anywhere and preach the pastors order them, unless they are sick, or too enfeebled by age. And the law should be so defined, that the pastor's appointments of local preachers will be as compulsory and as exacting of obedience as the Bishop's appointments are upon the itinerant ministry. In other words, if a pastor appoints a local preacher to go to any convenient point and preach, and he refuses, neglects or fails to do so, he should have power to imme¬ diately suspend him from all ministerial duties until the ensu¬ ing Quarterly Conference, when the case could be disposed of. In revising the course of studies for the ministers of our Church which the General Conference ordered the Bishops to do, you will notice a special course, provided for local preachers, which we hope will be rigidly enforced. Nor should any local preacher be licensed, or have his license renewed, who does not subscribe to and read the Chris¬ tian or Southern Christian Recorder. The sooner you make these requirements emphatic in our Book of Discipline, the sooner will our local ministry become infinitely more efficient. Pastors quite frequently complain at Annual Conference about the number of local preachers they found upon their appoint¬ ments when reaching them, and of their non-usefulness, and, in many instances, of their incompetency. These complaints are all unnecessary, if the law was delineated and so simplified that the pastors could understand the power vested in them and the duties of local preachers were detailed in express terms. BISHOPS OF THF A. M. F. CHURCH. 19 We hope the General Conference will carefully consider and legislate accordingly. LOCAL PREACHERS AND THE ANNUAL CONFER¬ ENCE. Would it not be well to dissolve the membership of local preachers, in the future, as members of the Annual Conference, and relegate and limit the same to the Quarterly Conference? For a generation or two local preachers have been allowed to sustain a membership relation to both. They are naturally members of the Quarterly Conference, and may be members of the Annual Conference, by complying with the provision of the law granting them membership. Neither of the great Methodist bodies in America, nor the Wesleyan Church of England, allow this complex membership in their Annual Conference. Besides, it compels the local preachers' characters to be examined five times a year—-Jour times in their Quarterly Conferences and once in the Annual Confer¬ ence, by virtue of being members of two Conferences—of the which, some have complained and contended that the Annual Conference had no right to pass upon their characters, while they, at the same time, are invested with the right to sit in judg¬ ment upon the character of the itinerant minister, and vote his expulsion, if circumstances in their opinion require it. They seem to forget, if they are full-fledged members of an Annual Conference, they are as responsible to that body in every partic¬ ular as the itinerant minister. If local preachers can be members of the Annual Conference, and take part by vote and otherwise in everything affecting the standing of an itinerant preacher, he should not complain when his character is under review by the Annual Conference. Moreover, this double membership gives the local preacher an advantage over the itinerant preacher in another particular. The local preacher, who is a member of the Annual Conference, can vote for delegates to the General Conference or be voted for, and return home and attend the Electoral College Convention, 20 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE and vote for the lay'delegates and be voted for, the same as at the Annual Conference. Thus he can exercise four franchise privileges, while the itinerant minister can only exercise two. We think the itinerant minister should at least be the equal of the local preacher in suffrage rights. We do not recommend that you sever the relation of those who are now members, but that you admit no more local preach¬ ers in the future. Should the General Conference determine, however, that these rights conferred upon local preachers are fundamental, we suggest that they be referred to a majority vote of the several Annual Conferences for final disposition. THE NEED OF POWERFUL PREACHING. Before diverting your attention from the ministry, however, we think a few remarks upon the simple preaching of the gospel timely and necessary. The literary and intellectual grade of our people, at the present time, demands the most masterly pulpit powers, supported by an eloquence of the highest order. We do not mean florid diction and rhetorical flourishes to the neglect of a logical presentation of the truth; or, that analytical ratiocination, so indispensable in discussing the ethical character of God from the light of nature. But pastors whose eloquence can electrify and fire their congregations and make them feel the force and truth of the gospel are invariably mightier factors for the accomplishment of good than the dull, insipid and conver¬ sational speaker. The day for the indifferent, indolent and careless style of preaching has departed, if it ever had a place in the pulpit at all; and the preacher who is content to deliver his sermons in a slip¬ shod manner, is verily ringing his own death-knell, starving his family, and destroying the Church. People will wait upon your ministry, and give attention and heed to your preaching, in the same proportion that you charm, fascinate and arouse their inner nature. Speaking from spontaneous composition is the highest form of oratory, when it is not burdened too much with non¬ essential and expletive words. To obviate this, the most careful preparation should be made every week for the pulpit upon the following Sabbath. BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E- CHURCH. 21 Many of our pastors, when they find their congregations are running down, and vacant seats are menacing the future pros¬ pects of their churches, attempt to remedy the difficulty by caustic reprimands, abusive terms, and threats of expulsion. Such a procedure is a misconception of the reasons and a misap¬ plication of the necessary correction. There is but one healing virtue in such a contingency, that is, profound preaching, with such eloquent garnish as will captivate the people, and bring them to a sense of their duty. GENERAL. DEPARTMENTS SHOULD NOT BE DIMINISHED. Our Church organs, especially the Christian and Southern Chris¬ tian Recorders, have been burdened from time to time with com¬ munications from a number of brethren, some quite eminent, urging retrenchment and the abolition of some of the general depart¬ ments and the aggregation of their duties by uniting them with some other department. We regret that we cannot concur in these recommendations. Our Church is constantly increasing, and has reached a plane of respectability and influence which is attracting the attention of the Christian world; and, instead of curtailing the agencies necessary to work up its several departments, the responsibilities of the Church need enlargement. We have tens of thousands of members who are virtually doing nothing for the interests of the Church, and they will not subscribe to and read our Church papers and receive a knowl¬ edge of their duties and inspiration from the same. Therefore, our only means of reaching them, is to have a sufficiency of men to travel at intervals among the people and influence them by their immediate presence and a presentation of their religious obligations to the Church. Our Church is yet in a transitional state, and the Christian and Southern Christian Recorders combined do not have a circula¬ tion, among its members, of ten thousand copies weekly; and many of our pastors are quite lethargic in presenting the general in- 22 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE terest of the Church to the people. Therefore, if you diminish the number of general officers, without providing wise and effi¬ cient substitutes, you may endanger the growth of the Church. The old adage is, "What is everybody's business is nobody's business." The general officers are now pressed beyond their wits to keep their respective departments in a living condition, and many of them by no means accomplish the results desired. Now, to put double duties, double responsibilities, and double care upon one man, we apprehend will be productive of a double failure. It is useless to mince words about the matter. Our members are a non-reading people. Some of our itinerant ministers do not take a Church organ, others do not read it, and, until they become readers of our Church news and wants, it is useless to talk about diminishing the general officers of our Church. It might be well, however, to let some of the departments pay their own incumbents. You can better determine that ques¬ tion, however, after having heard their several reports. We confess that it does seem as if some of the departments might pay their own chiefs, and still accomplish much good for the Church. TELEGRAPHIC EXPENSES. The large number of telegrams which are sent to the Bishops, from time to time, and which demand immediate answers, in¬ volve heavy expense; besides, the Bishops are often compelled to answer letters by telegraph and give telegraphic directions in case of an emergency. We think the General Conference should adopt some measure to assist in bearing this expense. The growth of our Church, its extensive notoriety, and the vast amount of business now demanded, not only have increased the literary labors of the Bishops, but entail a great deal more expense. You can scarcely realize the expense which the Bishops incur in purchasing paper, envelopes, stamps, postal cards, and in frequently hiring secretaries to answer the large and increas¬ ing mail which is incessantly coming in. We submit the matter to your sense of fairness and generosity. BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 23 A BISHOP VISITS AFRICA. For the last twelve years the General Conference have been requesting the Bishops, by resolution, to send one of their num¬ ber to Africa, to look after our Church interests and give it such superintendence as his judgment might approve. In obedience to your request, we designated and commissioned one of our number to visit the Continent of Africa, at our Council, which was held in Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 26, 1891. The Bishop Avhom we commissioned began at once to arrange and adjust his official affairs to that end, and on the 14th day of the following October left for that promising field of labor, which visit he accomplished in three months and five days. He met all of our missionaries, both in the colony of Sierra Leone and in the Republic of Liberia, and organized an Annual Conference in each place. He reports nine appointments in the Sierra Leone Annual Conference, and eleven in the Liberia Annual Conference, including two evangelistic workers in the Sierra Leone Conference. He ordained such preachers in each Conference as were able to pass a reasonable examination. He appointed one Presiding Elder for each'Annual Conference, and the Rev. S. J. Campbell as the principal of the coffee farm and the industrial department of the African M. E. Church in Liberia. The Bishop was received by the ministry and people with great rejoicing and loud expressions of gratitude, because this, the mother Church, had remembered them, and sent one of her chief pastors to look after them. The Bishop represents the African Mission field as being fully ripe for the harvest, and assures us that no labor expended or expense incurred will be- fruitless of glorious results—that the people of Africa stand ready to receive the Word of Life and to embrace the same in countless numbers. It will be your duty to consider the African work with protracted meditation. The two Conferences already organized, and the promise of many more along the coast, make Africa a desirable field for missionary operation. A Missionary Bishop, elected and conse- 24 THE QUADRENNIAL, ADDRESS OF THE crated for that field, and that field alone, would doubtless be a wise provision—if a competent man could be found, thoroughly acquainted with our rules and Church economy, who would make it his field of labor, and would consent 4o remain during the pleasure of the General Conference, be it for life or until the contingency of events would necessitate his recall or transfer¬ ence to some other missionary field of labor. A thousand or twelve hundred dollars a year might be a com¬ petent salary, until the enlargement of the work would demand an increase. Two Conferences having already been organized, with flattering promises of rapid growth, will, in the future, re¬ quire the presence of a Bishop annually; and for a Bishop to leave his Episcopal District here, and be absent three or four months every year, and, in some instances, at the very time he should be holding the Conferences at home, would, we fear, in¬ volve more expense and loss to the general work than the salary necessary for the support of a Missionary Bishop in Africa. We submit the question, however, to your mature and wise judgment. PRESIDING ELDER SYSTEM. Our Presiding Elder system has been the object of varied fluctuations for many years. It has alternated between the op¬ tion of the Annual Conferences and the authoritative sanction of the General Conference ever since 1868, and thereby has been the theme of continued discussion, pro and con, through the Church papers during these many years. These discussions, in too many instances, have detracted from the power of the Pre¬ siding Elder to accomplish the good in his grasp and remedy many evils which he saw necessary among the churches in his Districts. The office of the Presiding Elder is a permanent fixture in our Church and cannot now be dispensed with. Somebody, vested with authority, must visit among the churches, superin¬ tend the running machinery, and assist the licentiates and deacons without requiring adjacent Elders to leave their congregations and render the needed aid to the detriment of their own pastor¬ ates. Then it is often the case that these adjacent Elders are BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E- CHURCH. 25 not adepts in Church government, and learned in Church law, hence many decisions at variance with the economy of Method¬ ism are the consequence. The Bishops' time in late years is so monopolized with letters, telegrams, visitors, laying of corner¬ stones, dedication of churches, settling questions, attending college commencements, the Boards of the different General De¬ partments, and such like duties, that they can no longer be expected to visit the churches in their Districts once a year, or even once in four years, as in former days. Regular Episco¬ pal visitation to the several churches is a thing of the past in our Church to the extent the fathers did. The Presiding Eldership is indispensable. "We suggest, there¬ fore, in view of all the facts above stated, with many more not enumerated in this catalogue, that the regular Presiding Eldership should be made universal, and thus settled, and that all discus¬ sion touching the office should be dropped. For, as long as the permanency of the office is the theme of doubt or discussion, so long will this important arm of the Church be more or less impo¬ tent for the accomplishment of the good for which it is designed. FAMILY WORSHIP. As family worship lies at the foundation of Christian growth and spiritual influences, we are forced to say, by reason of the seeming negligence in the observance of this high privilege, that in no part of the body of our Church have we so much cause for solicitude as in the neglect of this important service. The strength of the Church is to be seen in the home-life of its membership; for the Church of God was, first of all, the Church in the house. There the sun first shines when the Saviour crosses its threshold; there the joys of home commend to young hearts the beauty of the Christian religion ; there the sorrows and bereavements of the family draw it tenderly together for mutual support and comfort; and there too a father's authority is con¬ firmed by the office of a daily sacrifice. It is not sufficient that the usual forms of worship be kept up—family worship means much more. It means that proper regulation of temper and conduct, mutual respect for each other's wishes and tastes, the 26 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE cultivation of habits of industry, purity and self-denial. It implies a scrupulous observance of the Sabbath, an unaffected hospitality and that charity of speech, which sacredly guards the character of others. The family altar of Abraham seems to have built itself into the Church of God. We have good reason to apprehend that family worship is unknown in the home circle of many of our ministers, local and itinerant; while others observe the slovenly form of offering an ejaculation without song or the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Whereas every itinerant minister should read, sing and pray at his family altar once a day at least. The General Conference should make it imperative upon all our pastors to rigidly observe this time-honored custom, and thus set an example in every community where our pulpit rep¬ resentatives may chance to be located. REVISED HYMN-BOOK. In 1868, on motion of Rev. Jas. A. Shorter, afterward Bishop, Rev. H. M. Turner was authorized by the General Conference, then sitting in Washington City, to prepare a Hymn-Book for the use of our Church. In 1872 he presented the manuscript of the same to the General Conference, sitting in Nashville, Tenn., but asked for a few months more for its completion. The manuscript was referred to a commiltee, who carefully ex¬ amined it, and gave it their approval and granted the compiler the further time requested. , Nothing more was heard of the said new Hymn-Book until 1876, when Rev. William H. Hunter, then Manager of the Publi¬ cation Department, who had been in possession of the manuscript for three years, presented to the General Conference, sitting in Atlanta, Ga., a portion of it in print; and informed the General Conference, that it would be ready for use in a few months. Dr. Turner succeeded Brother Hunter as manager, and in a short time the new Hymn-Book was ready for use. It was gladly received by the Church, and has been the authorized Hymnal version from that time up to the present. But, owing to the expansion of the Church and the change BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 27 which has taken place in the singing world, many of the hymns in the said Book have fallen into disuse and are practically obsolete. We therefore recommend that a.revised version of our Hymnal be provided for. Yet, owing to the subtle influences for mis¬ chief which the last decade has introduced into religious song and forced into our religious worship, social meetings, Sabbath- schools and frequently into our pulpits, \^e would advise that you be very careful in the selection of the committee. No one should be a member of such a revising-committee but men learned in Methodistic theology. Mere musical talent is no qualification for a Hymnal compiler. Our Church does not need sound at its present stage so much as solid gospel truth, condensed into - soul-inspiring poetry. While we do not desire senseless words set to a pleasant tune, we must guard against the interjection of false theology. To no one cause is the unity and fixedness of Methodist doc¬ trine to be attributed more than to the hymnology and sacred lyrics which the two great Wesleys bequeathed to Methodism. Indeed, more Methodist doctrine has been imparted to the laity through the hymnals of the different branches of Methodism than by the study of Methodist theology. TABLE COLLECTIONS. Almost from the time that memory runneth not to the con¬ trary, table collections have been the universal custom of raising moneys in our Churches on occasions of botti great and ordinary efforts. We think it has done much to illiberalize our members when collections are lifted not accompanied with that personal display exhibited in leaving their seats and going up to the table; and thus contributing for the good of the Church and the glory of God is of secondary consideration. We fear that we have pandered to the vanity of many of our members by encouraging this pageant or spectacular form of donating to the Church; and have failed thereby in impressing the people with a proper sense of their duty to God in dividing their means with His Church. Would it not be well for the General Conference to advise, or order by some enactment or resolution, a return to the old 28 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE method of lifting basket collections, except on extraordinary- occasions ? It may take a little time to educate our people up to a like liberality, but it can be successfully done; and far better order would prevail in closing up our public services, which are often attended with much confusion. TEMPERANCE. The temperance question is still marshaling the forces of the Christian denominations to a greater or less extent in all parts of the civilized world. Methodism and temperance are one and inseparable; and the same may be said of Christianity and tem¬ perance. For no man or woman can be a rum-toper, wine-bibber, lager beer-drinker and a faithful disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bacchanalian ism and Christianity are adverse poles; and no one can be the victim of the former and the adherent of the latter. We mean by temperance absolute and unconditional prohibi¬ tion. Many define the word temperance in its application to whisky-drinking to mean moderation, inexcessiveness, and a sparing use of the intoxicating and deadly drug. But as long as the Bible inhibits the use of fermented wines, and God and nature proclaim against its use in any form, and men by the millions are wrecked who sip it, so long is it our duty as min¬ isters of the Lord Jesus Christ, not only to forbear to touch it; but to lift up our voice like a trumpet and protest against it, as did the prophet, in the days of old, against the altar of Baal. THE MITE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Mite Missionary Society, composed of a number of faithful and persevering lady members of our Church, has not received the support and encouragement to which its labors and liberality entitle it. It has raised hundreds and thousands of dollars in aid of our mission work, and has sent relief to the Islands of the Sea and to the Continent of Africa, which has dried the tear-moistened eye and re-invigorated the spirits of our missionaries in distant lands who were upon the verge of despair. BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 29 This grand association, which has accomplished so much good, in spite of our neglect to support and encourage it in the past, merits our generous and unremitting attention. Ours is the only Methodist Episcopal Church ■ that is not laboring to organize and utilize its female members. Thou¬ sands of our lady members are eagerly hankering for something to do. With proper encouragement upon the part of our bishops and ministry, the ladies of our Church would bring thousands of dollars yearly into the coffers of our Missionary Department; and many would be delighted with the opportu¬ nity of doing something for God and His Church. Women, however, need encouragement, and this has not been given, be¬ yond a few localities, and then very meagerly. We would suggest that the Bishops' wives be requested to meet in convention once a year, or once in two years at least, and that each one be allowed to designate some other lady member of our Church to meet with them; that this Conven¬ tion be recognized as the chief council of the Mite Missionary Society of the A. M. E. Church; that the said council elect their own president, secretary, treasurer and such officers as they may think proper, and adopt measures for the government of said Mite Society throughout the connection. We would also suggest that the Presiding Elders' wives be constituted a similar association within the bounds of each Annual Conference, and that they too be allowed to select some lady members to meet with them, the same as the Bishops' wives; each Presiding Elder's wife being allowed to designate one lady member; and that this Convention have power to adopt such measures, subject to the rules adopted by the Chief Council, to utilize the pastors' wives and other lady members of our respective churches. , We believe, if the General Conference will adppt this meas¬ ure, or something similar to it, we can unite our women through¬ out the general Church, and thereby make them great factors for the accomplishment of much good. In Bible times women were utilized to such an extent that they were prophetesses and deaconesses; and in many other 30 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE respects they were not only subalterns for the prophets of old and the apostles of later times, but they were champions in all movements which advanced and upheld the Church. We trust you will propose and adopt something that will render practical the powers of our women. COLLEGE TITLES. The A. M. E. Church is in great need of ministers profoundly learned,—ministers not only qualified to read books, but to write books,—books that can be received in our universities, colleges, seminaries and other institutions of learning as author¬ ity, and accepted as a part of their curriculum, to .be studied by our students. Some title of distinction should be held up before the minis¬ ters of our Church as an incentive to burn the midnight oil in search of those fundamental truths, and in the acquisition of those literary embellishments, which mark the scholar and unite his name with fame. While it is the province of the trustees and faculties of our universities and colleges to confer titles of distinction upon whomsoever they like, and while the General Conference, per se, has possibly no legitimate jurisdiction over the matter, un¬ less it be upon the ground that they are all assisted more or less financially by order of the General Conference, yet we do think that some expression by the General Conference, in regard to the lavish manner with which D.D.'s are being conferred, would be wise and timely. The term Doctor comes from the Latin root, " docere which means, oue qualified to teach; instruct; a learned man; one skilled in a branch of knowledge; a savant. This use of the term Doctor, has been recognized for twenty-five hundred years. The chief compilers and writers of the old Hebrew Talmuds were entitled Doctors. At an early period, the" Greek Church distinguished four of its celebrated divines as Doctors, viz.: Athanasius, Basil, Gregory and John Chrysostom.- The Latin BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 31 Church also distinguished Augustine, Jerome, Gregory the Great, and Ambrose as Doctors. The University of Bologna promoted Bulgarus to the doctor¬ ate, in the 12th Century; being about the first man upon whom the title was conferred by any institution of learning. The University of Paris, following the example of the University of Bologna, reserved to herself the right to confer the title when it was merited, and conferred the degree of Doctor upon Peter Lombard and Gilbert Parree. In process of time, Oxford and Cambridge began to confer the degree of Doctor, but restricted this honorary title to those ministers, who were of ripe age, and had read the Bible through in Hebrew, Greek, and all the ancient fathers in the original tongue, whether Greek or Latin; and had written a book or books, which had stood the criticism of learned men, and could be used as a text-book in the college conferring the degree. And, notwithstanding the colleges of the United States have shamefully subordinated the degree of D.D., to gratify the whim and caprice of inordinate ambition, it reflects greatly to our discredit, to have D.D.'s, who have never studied a standard work upon theology, and are incompetent to define the doctrines of our Church, which we fear is the case with some of our breth¬ ren upon whom that distinguished title has been conferred. In¬ stead of honoring men by lowering this exalted title, we should compel men to come up to it, in some moderate degree, if not to the standard of perfection. We submit the question to your consideration. GENERAL CONFERENCE DELEGATES. The growth of the Church, and the increase of the ministry, with two lay delegates from each Annual Conference, have made the body of our General Conference too ponderous and unwieldy for intelligent and proper legislation. Half of the present number could accomplish more thoughtful and intelligent work than the large number entitled to seats upon this floor; besides the expense of supporting a Conference of this size is now 32 the; quadrenniar ADDRESS of the very burdensome as well as upon the Annual Conferences, and the burden will continue to increase at each session. You will, unquestionably, be compelled to diminish the mem¬ bership of the General Conference, both for the convenience of the people, at the seat of your session, and for the interest of the Church. You have far more members than will be able to occupy the floor. They will only be able to vote pro or con, and a less number could do the same work with equal intelli¬ gence, with much less confusion, and provide for the needs of the Church more profitably. We therefore recommend, that the basis of membership- for the ministers, shall be one in thirty, instead of one in twenty. COMPILATION OF DISCIPLINE. For the last two General Conferences, the committees created to compile and publish the Book of Discipline have failed to discharge the duties assigned them. We do not make this as a specific charge against the said committees; for we have reason to believe that they are able to show a very reasonable justifi¬ cation. You generally pay your secretaries in advance, for compiling the minutes, and in some instances this is wholly neglected; and the consequence has been, the non-appearance of the minutes for a long time after the General Conference adjourns, and then, in a very imperfect manner. When the committees of revision do meet, some bar has invariably been in the way of accomplishing the work assigned to "their hands; and thus, for the last two General Conferences, our Book of Discipline has appeared from the hands of only one man. The other Methodist Episcopal Churches, submit their Book of Discipline, with the Secretary of the General Conference, to the Bishops for revision and compilation; and we think, in view of the expense of assembling the committees, as provided for in the past, and the failure for the last eight years to dis¬ charge the duties assigned to their hands, that you had better create the Bishops a committee to compile and publish our Book of Discipline. BISHOPS OP THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 33 We hope that the General Conference in the future will under no circumstances pay its secretaries, until they have written the minutes up and arranged them for publication. You can appro¬ priate the money, however, but let it remain in the treasury until the work is done. The honor of being elected as a secretary of a General or Annual Conference should be sufficient pay itself, and is so accepted by nearly all the secretaries of other religious denominations; but as it is presumable that you will pay your secretaries, let them first finish up their work before you com¬ pensate them. No one can find any fault with this, for it i$ strictly a business transaction. For work and pay are indissolu- bly associated with business. SABBATH MORNING SERVICE. The almost universal apathy which prevails among our mem¬ bers, in neglecting church attendance on Sabbath forenoon, de¬ serves serious if not painful consideration. Tens of thousands of our members will sit at home and loiter away the Sabbath mornings, as though they had no souls to save nor God to serve. Whatever excuse might have existed in the past, can have no reasonable existence now. Our people are free, from one end of the nation to the other, and are morally bound to surround themselves with such circum¬ stances and conditions as will enable them to attend Divine services on the Sabbath day. The fact that our churches all over the land are crowded on Sabbath evenings, is no exemption from the responsibility or loss consequent upon neglecting Divine services on Sabbath fore¬ noons. We do not see that the General Conference can remedy this evil, which has so long existed in our Church. Yet, if some expres¬ sion of disapproval were embodied in our Book of Discipline, and the ministry everywhere instructed to preach upon and urge Sabbath morning attendance, it would tend largely to neutralize the habit among our older members, and inspire the young to a better compliance with our rules of worship; and in a short time a universal reformation would be manifest. 3 34 THE QUADRENNIAE ADDRESS OF THE MINISTERIAL DEPENDANTS. Our Book of Discipline makes it incumbent upon every itin¬ erant minister to collect his traveling expenses to and from the Annual Conferences. But hundreds of our preachers appear to be totally ignorant of this requirement, and at the close of our annual sessions there are almost invariably a number of preachers present who are unable to leave for their fields of labor without being assisted by the Conference; or remaining as a burden upon the community for a time, begging money to pay their passage home. Nor does the seeming helplessness stop there. Presiding Elders not unfrequently will bring to the Conferences preachers who are candidates for admission, and who are unable to pay their way, either back to their homes or to the field of labor to which they are sent. We hope the General Conference will, by some legislation, put an immediate end to this condition of affairs; and any preacher who is not able to collect his traveling expenses to and from his Conference, let him be instructed to remain at his post and send his reports to the Conference by his Presiding Elder.. It is certainly time to put an estoppel upon this ministe¬ rial mendicity. Moreover, any preacher who is too devoid of energy to raise his own traveling expenses, is generally a dead weight upon an Annual Conference, except in the case of new missions. Thousands of dollars are wasted annually by the Conferences upon that class of mendicant preachers, which might be devoted to mission churches at-home and mission fields abroad, which would double the membership in a few years and save thousands from everlasting perdition. COMMITTEE WORK. The business of a deliberative body largely depends upon the rapidity and thoroughness with which its committees discharge their duties. It is often the case that the tardy manner in which our General Conference committee execute their work delays many of the most important matters demanding attention, till about the time of adjournment; and things are often rushed through in haste which merit more attention than is given; BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 35 and our good names and judgment suffer by it with our con¬ stituents. Furthermore, heads of departments or general officers are frequently canvassed for by their adherents, for re-election to the same position, or to some other like position, or for the Bishopric. Whereas, no man can rightfully aspire for re-election to the same position, or for promotion in any manner, until his reports have passed the scrutiny of a committee, and been approved ot by the General Conference. Nor can any appropriation be justly and honorably made for any University, College or Seminary, until the Committee on Education, or the committee having the matter in hand, has reported; to do so would be a declaration of our incompetency to review and pass upon these reports, or a pre¬ sumption upon our part that everything was right and no inves¬ tigation was necessary. Hence, no necessity for a General Con¬ ference, except to elect necessary officers and return to our homes. The General Conference appoints a committee to review the quadrennial administration of each Bishop, and. pass upon his character; and they do it rigidly and very thoroughly, which is just and right, aod the same rules should be applied to every general officer and functionary who have had the interests of the Church in their hands for the past four years. No legislation, involving the destiny of the Church, should be enacted until all the reports are read and placed in the hands of the respective committees. And the several committees in turn should proceed with all the care and rapidity possible, to discharge their respective duties, and report their findings and recommendations to the General Conference for final disposal. THE TWO RECORDERS. The time has unquestionably arrived when our Church should have a large and commanding Church organ. One whose size, style and general appearance regardless of its contents should command respect and reflect credit upon our Church. All con¬ cede the ability and learning of the Editor of the Christian Re¬ corder, and no one questions his endeavors to accommodate the general wants and desires of the Church, and to recognize the 36 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE contributions from all sections. But as long as the paper is as small it is, and is necessarily crowded with the standing matter and advertisements, essential to its existence, this cannot be done. Many complaints are made, because the Editor does not publish communications sent to this paper. It is very true, articles are thrown in the waste-basket; but no man in the Church could do otherwise with the limited space allotted him. The growing intelligence and culture of our Church and the increase of contributors call for more space. This space, however, is considerably augmented, we grant, by calling to its aid the Southern Christian Recorder. The Southern Christian Recorder, under the circumstances and embarrassments, which we presented, has done and is still doing an excellent work in the Church, and must be continued. But, even with the aid rendered by this useful organ, the Christian Recorder should be twice or thrice its present size to be creditable to the Church, as its oldest and chief organ. We need a Church paper which will command the respect and admiration of the great organs of other Christian denominations. Our Quarterly Review commands attention throughout the civilized world, because of its size, its neatness, its clear print as well as the articles it contains; it is, therefore, the only organ our Church has which is noticed in common with other first-class publications. This General Conference should devise some plan, make some appropriation, or create some law that the Bishops can enforce, or do something to enlarge and dignify one of our weekly Church organs at least. We had better merge both papers into one if no other remedy can be found than to have no first-class paper at all. This we are sure you will not do, for we cannot afford to have less than two weeklies at least. But if we cannot have two first-class papers we owe it to our honor as a Church to make every effort to have one worthy of the patronage of the entire connection. BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 37 FAST DAYS. The time-honored custom of observing days of fasting and prayer, we fear, has almost become obsolete in our Church, and that our members, and in many instances the ministry, have come to regard it as a defunct rite, or a thing of the hoary past. True, the Fasting service is venerable by reason of its an¬ tiquity. While we find no Fast Observance recorded of the patriarchs, we do find that the Hebrew Church enjoined Fasting by precept and example until the days when Christ became flesh and dwelt among us; and the Hebrew Church became extinct. But so far from Fast duty becoming extinct it was rejuvenated and quickened into fresh life by being re-enjoined and prescribed anew by our Lord Jesus Christ, who also exemplified it by fast¬ ing Himself. In short, fasting seems to have been practiced in all ages and among all nations—in times of mourning, sorrow and affliction, by reason of misfortune, personal or public guilt. Our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples, and in telling them He told the ministers of every age and clime, that the power to cast out devils only came by prayer and fasting. And no min¬ ister of the gospel, in the face of that declaration made by Christ Himself, can expect ultimate success in the ministry, who does not fast and pray, and urge his members to follow his ex¬ ample. It would seem from the trend of the Holy Scriptures that there are devils we cannot cast and keep out of our own hearts without fasting. Just in proportion as fasting is neg¬ lected will holy living and religious power wane, and a spiritual dearth stultify the progress of the Church, and the ministry be impotent for the accomplishment of that good which God will require at the assize of the world. We trust you will by some resolution, expression or enactment, pass upon the duty of fasting so as to quicken our Church into its regular observance; although it may impose upon the Council of Bishops, or each Bishop individually, the duty of proclaim¬ ing a fast day once or twice a year. Would it not be well to make Good Friday a connectional Fast day in our Church? 38 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE We are of the opinion that one Connectional Fast day at least should be established. WEEK-NIGHT PREACHING. Of late years week-night preaching has almost fallen into ab¬ solute disuse through some dangerous hallucination which has seized the pastors of our Churches, and which we believe has proven a great detriment to the progress of Christianity in our Connection. Even prayer-meetings are not supported and en¬ couraged to the extent they were in the days of the fathers. We often speak of the progressive age in which we are living, but any advance made in literature, philosophy, science and the popular knowledge of the times is retrogression instead of pro¬ gression, if the means of grace and the ageanic and progressive influences of the Church are to suffer thereby. Our pastors usually excuse themselves for omitting week-night preaching upon the ground that interest is focalized in class- meeting. But class-meeting, love-feast and such like are held for the benefit of members of the Church, while week-night preach¬ ing should be observed for the benefit of saint and sinner. Thousands of people would come to Church on Wednesday or Thursday night to hear the Word of Life who do not attend on Sabbath, because they are not able to purchase the dress which they think would give them a decent appearance. The number of persons who are out of Church and out of favor with God is incalculable, who would have been members of our Church to-day had week-night preaching been regularly held throughout the Connection by our pastors; besides, the pastors could often utilize the talents and bring into requisition other powers and talents with Bible readings, and thus make them powerful adjuncts in the work of soul-saving. It Would almost be a disgrace to ask the General Conference to enact a law compelling our pastors to set apart a night each week for public preaching. But the passage of a resolution urging our. pastors to do so, we believe, would result in practical good to the Church, and in the ultimate salvation of thousands who will not otherwise be reached. BISHOPS OF THE A. M, E. CHURCH. 39 CONGREGATIONAL SINGING. We are not prepared to say that our Church choirs have had their day; but we are glad to inform you that a great revolution in the singing world is ill process of operation. Among our brethren, both in Europe and America, the tendency is to return to Congregational singing. In many of the most no¬ table and aristocratic churches of the land, one man and the organist lead the singing and the congregations join in from one end of the church edifice to the other. The power to sing is one of the highest gifts of Heaven, and appe&rs to be the employ¬ ment of saints and angels on high. There can be no real wor¬ ship without song. For it is the melody, that comes from the soul of the Christian that makes worship a pleasure and touches the heart of the sinner. Moreover, singing has been the life of Methodism from the beginning. John and Charles Wesley both were famous poets, and signally gifted in vocal music; and, while both were famous preachers, their songs thrilled the multitudes, and possibly melted the hearts of as many as they reached by their eloquent and pathetic preaching. Let all the people praise God, is the gist and spirit of true Methodism. While we enter no protest against faithful Christian choirs, who will study the wants and needs of the congregation, and will sing with a view to the spiritual progress of the people, yet we do insist upon the widest and most liberal latitude in congre¬ gational song and worship, and that the two leading hymns shall be lined out for the benefit of the whole people. BOARDS OF GENERAL DEPARTMENTS. Each General Department of our Connection is under the supervision of a General Board, appointed quadrennially by the General Conference. These Boards or Standing Committees, if you prefer the term, are compelled to meet at least once a year, and often are called together for an extra session. The members of these respective Boards are appointed usually from each Epis- 40 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OP THE copal District; which involves the travel of thousands of miles, and in the space of four years amounts to the expenditure of thousands of dollars. Men are about as honest in one section of thecountiy as in another; and it does appear as if we might contract the sphere or localize these committees somewhat, and have the several departments better looked after, and at the same time, save thousands of dollars to the cause of missions, education and other Church interests. Not one-half of the members of the several Boards ever meet them, and especially where the expense of travel is in doubt; it does appear, that enough honest and faithful ministers can be found in'the Annual Conferences, where the departments are located, in conjunction with the laymen, to discharge these Board duties as well as to bring men from a great distance. They are compelled to leave their churches or Presiding Elder Districts often to the hurt of the same, and be absent for an indefinite time, without any compensation beyond traveling expenses, when they can get it, and incur expense of which they would be relieved at home. Hence many never come at all. But the department goes on all the same. The financial demands upon our Church are so weighty, that some economy in this direction we believe could be profitably made; an ex¬ ecutive committee might be substituted. We respectfully sub¬ mit the question to your wise judgment. QUARTERLY MEETINGS. The theory and practice of the Methodist Church from its organization, have been to unite Saturday and Sunday in holding Quarterly meetings. The fathers invariably began Quarterly meeting by preaching on Friday night, holding two services on Saturday, sometimes three, and three services on the Sabbath Day. Thus the Quarterly meeting was magnified, and the mem¬ bers and people looked forward to it, as a season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; and almost without an excep¬ tion, inestimable good was accomplished in the conversion of souls and the resuscitation of the Church. But somehow of late years, either indifference to the spiritual needs of the Church or BISHOPS OP THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 41 ignorance to the genius of Methodism has allowed this custom to fall into disuse. Hence, Quarterly meetings, as a general rule, are no longer magnified, and the people ordinarily think no more of a Quarterly meeting, than they do qf any other service. We know that the plea is often urged, that the people cannot get to Church on Saturdays, and therefore it is no use to an¬ nounce divine service upon that day. This is a mistake. For thousands of people would come, if the two-days7 meeting was announced, and the people were educated to expect it. Many we grant could not be present, by reason of their secular em¬ ployment, but thousands of others would. School children could come and hear the Word of Life, for that is an off day with them ; and it would render extraordinary our Quarterly meetings, and make them great occasions. Should the Presiding Elder for any justifiable reason be absent a part of Saturday, the pastor could proceed until the Presiding Elder put in his ap¬ pearance. We recommend that Saturday and Sunday be united in holding Quarterly meetings through a special act by this Gen¬ eral Conference. THE LORD'S SUPPER. The Lord's Supper, or as it is commonly called the Holy Eucharist, is the most solemn, yet the most heaven-honored ser¬ vice known to the Christian Church. It sustains the same rela¬ tion (rather more exalted, however,) to the Christian Church that the Passover did to the Hebrew Church. Indeed it is the Paschal service of the New Testament dispensation. It was instituted by Christ when at the last Passover Supper, He ate with His disciples and gave them a sign of His body to eat and a sign of His blood to drink, under the symbol of bread and wine; prefiguring that He should give up His body to the Jews and to death. The Paschal lamb, which the Jews killed and ate, whose blood preserved them from the destroying angel, was a type and figure of our Savior's death and passion, and ot His blood shed for the salvation of the world. During the eight days of the Passover Feast, the Jews ate 42 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE only unleavened bread ; nor could they have in their possession any bread that was leavened or leaven in any form. The houses were all examined with scrupulous care to rid them of anything which contained leaven or fermentation. For God even forbade leaven in any form to be offered to Him in the tabernacle or temple; whether it was in bread, wine, meats or grain; and any priest who would have dared attempt it would have been struck dead. Christ our Passover ate the Paschal Supper on Thursday evening at the same time that the Jews did; that they might not have whereof to accuse Him, and died on Calvary on Friday at the same hour that the Jews offered the Paschal sacrifice in the temple, so that the shadow and substance gloriously har¬ monized in that tragic death, which is yet the wonder of heaven, and will be the theme of angelic study through endless ages. Therefore the facts we have set forth, gleaned as they are from sacred iiistory, establish beyond doubt, that Christ, who was a member of the Jewish Church until after His resurrection from the dead, necessarily conformed to the Jewish custom or law, in eating the Paschal Supper with His disciples, and could not have partaken of leavened bread and of leavened or fermented wine. Otherwise it would not have been eating a genuine Paschal supper. Thus the bread and wine, which Jesus blessed and ordered to be eaten and drank until He shall come again without sin unto salvation, could not have been a piece of cheap baker's bread, such as is generally used of late years in our churches, or any kind of cheap fermented wine that we can purchase from a grocery store. We ought to do away with baker's bread, light bread, or any other kind of leavened bread upon our Sacramental occasions, and let the stewardesses, whose business it is, prepare pure and unleavened bread, when the broken body of our Lord Jesus Christ is being commemorated. Nothing but well-prepared and freshly- baked bread was upon the Lord's Supper table in any Methodist church for eighty years after its organization. Nor is any such bread found in any English Wesleyan church unto this day. Some of us believe that the use of common baker's bread in commem- BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 43 orating the broken body of Christ our Saviour is actually sinful. Fermented wine for the Holy Communion should also be dis¬ carded ; yet we grant it would be more difficult to procure the non-fermented wine in many places than the right kind of bread. But every effort should be made to get the non-fermented wine for Sacramental purposes. For it was the non-fermented wine He gave to His disciples at the Passover, and made at Cana of Galilee; and none other should be used at the Holy Communion. THE ITINERANT SYSTEM. The itinerant ministry is a peculiar feature of Methodistic economy, and is in contrast with a stationary pastorate. It is that system by which annual ministerial changes are made, and in the language of Bishop Simpson, " Among the different forms of Methodism, those which are the most thoroughly itinerant are also the most successful." While the itinerancy does not claim for its peculiar order a Divine injunction, direct and specific, it does claim to follow the example of Christ and of His apostles, as no one of them remained for any considerable time in charge of a single congregation, or preached to the same people. As Methodists, we believe that Christ fundamentalized the itinerant system, when He commanded His disciples to "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Christ and His apostles, Luther and his coadjutors, Wesley and his armor-bearers all traveled from place to place, while the Apostle Paul, like a faithful model for a Presiding Elder, not uufrequently returned to revisit the churches, that he might in¬ struct them and arrange all matters necessary for their growth and efficiency. This ministerial traveling and revolving ar¬ rangement very largely contributes to an equitable distribution of their multifarious gifts and graces among the people. Mr. Wesley says: " We have found by long and consistent experience, that a frequent exchange of preachers is best. This preacher has one talent, that another; no one whom I ever yet knew has all the talents which are needful for beginning, con¬ tinuing, and perfecting the work of grace in a whole congre¬ gation." 44 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE History records no instance, since the apostolic times, where any denomination or sect has been so fruitful of evangelical re¬ sults, in the same length of time, as has been the Methodist denomination, operating under the itinerant system. This alone establishes Divine sanction, regardless of precepts and examples. The object of the itinerant arrangement is to enable, in every particular, the strong to help the weak ; but we fear many of our brethren do not fully comprehend that all-important fact, and thus there is a tendency, of late years, to grade our ministry and limit their spheres of operation. We have good appointments, second-class appointments, third-class appointments, and bad ap¬ pointments—if we are to heed the common verbiage of men who evidently know better. There are no bad appointments, where there are believers to be built up and souls to be snatched from eternal ruin. Every itinerant minister stands upon a level, and the most powerful pulpit orator should feel it an honor to have the opportunity of going into the woods occasion¬ ally, and setting them on fire; arid thus helping the weaker churches and inspiring the weaker ministers. But of late years, in too many instances, brethren seem to think if the Bishop perchance gives them a large city appoint¬ ment, they are to revolve from one large congregation to another the remainder of their days; and should the Bishop, for reasons which he believes will redound to the glory of God, assign them to anything less, they become insulted and charge the Bishop with trying to punish them for some unknown cause. There is no ministerial aristocracy known to Methodism; and when a brother is appointed to a large congregation, where he can ob¬ tain a first-class salary, he should save something to assist him¬ self when he is sent to a weak and poor congregation. ASSISTANT PASTORS. Would it not be well to consider the advisability of providing our large churches and weighty congregations with assistant pastors? Whenever a membership exceeds five hundred, no minister, however active, can discharge the duties to such numbers as are imposed by our Book of Discipline, and have BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 45 time to prosecute the necessary studies which will enable him to intelligently fill the pulpit with that ability which is demanded by the advancing culture and progressive enlightenment of the times. Moreover, when a congregation consists of six or seven hun¬ dred members, almost invariably there are another six or seven hundred congregational attendants, who help support the church by their presence and contributions. These regular visitors and contributors deserve and should have the attention of the pastors, if not in the same proportion to the actual members in such a proportionate ratio as will tax his time and energies. The pas¬ tors are dutjr bound by every equitable consideration to visit the sick chambers, bury the dead, and often baptize the sick or dying infants of the people who wait upon their ministry, and give of their means to the support of their churches. Besides, when such attention is given to those who are generally designated wordly people, their affection for the church is intensified, their respect for Christianity is enhanced, and thousands are reached by this mode of personal contact who would not be reached through the ministrations of the pulpit. When our people were less enlightened and ministers were more rated by their voice tones, one man could better serve these large churches than they can possibly do now, for the reason that the amount of pulpit preparation was not adjudged necessary, nor was their correspondence so burdensome. No one minister can do pastoral justice to anything like a thousand members, much less to the visitors and friends who will naturally be attracted to such a centre of religious influence. There is not a large church in our .connection where scores if not hundreds of grumblers are not found who complain that the pastors pay no attention to them, do not visit them, and in many instances do not speak to them in the streets. The pastors are not to blame, for it is impossible for them to know them all. Their duties, responsibilities, studies and preparations for the pul¬ pit make it absolutely impossible; but with an assistant pastor, ministerial familiarity with the mass of the people could better be obtained. Assistant pastors, moreover, were common in the early days 46 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE of Methodism both in America and Europe, and are still com¬ mon in the Wesleyan Churches of England; and even now they are common among our white brethren in the large churches of the Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Baptist, Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations.» The success of the Roman Catho¬ lic Church is chiefly due to the number of priests who serve as the armor-bearers of the chief father who is in charge of the respective congregations; four, five, six and seven priests are often assigned to a church of a thousand or more members, so as to supply every need, if not every wish, of the people who Jook to that church for spiritual guidance. The assignment of two pastors to some of our large churches would doubtless cause some friction here and there for a few years, the same as the Dollar Money Law produced for a time; but as soon as its advantages were properly discovered, the objections would disappear, and the people would be grateful for the extra attention given and the blessings that would fol¬ low. The expense of the assistant pastor need not by any means be equal to that of the pastor in charge. He should be an unmarried man, and his support might be one-half, and in many instances one-third of the allowance paid to the pastor in charge. Our large churches and congregations must not be held as a gold mine, bonanza or pedestal of ministerial aristoc¬ racy for a select few; but our General Conference should see to it that the members of the same are as well served, as well vis¬ ited, as well supplied with pastoral ministration, and that the entire congregation, saint and sinner, are as well known and as well looked after as our small and medium-sized churches. The demands of the times require more aggressiveness all along the line of our church work. MINISTERS LEFT WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS. We have a connectional custom of granting members of our several Annual Conferences permission to do without active work for a year at a time when they desire to attend some school or college, or visit some foreign country, or for the recu¬ peration of health, or for whatever reason would seem at the BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 47 time justifiable to the Conference. But this usage has never been legalized by the General Conference; hence there is no provision in our Book of Discipline for any Annual Conference interrogatory relative to the same. Thus the status of Confer¬ ence members are often complicated, and require time and trou¬ ble to satisfactorily adjust them. Would it not be well, therefore, to place some question in the Annual Conference proceedings that will compel them to look after the Conference status of such members? Might it not be well to insert the following question in the list of inter¬ rogatories to be asked by the Bishop, to wit: " What member of this Conference has, by its permission, been left without work this year ? " SUING FOR BACK SALARIES. For a number of years ministers have been accustomed to rush into the civil courts and enter suits for back salaries and other demands, after the expiration of their terms of service, which they failed to collect while pastoring churches where their ignorance, laziness or unchristian conduct, in too many instances, prevented them from collecting during their term of service, as our members everywhere do all in their power to support any pastor who labors for the good of souls and renders himself acceptable to the community. But since several ministers have been tried, suspended or expelled for such procedure, this form of ecclesiastical menace and church disturbances has been largely curtailed, and our ministry have learned that we have law, and that it must and shall be respected. If all the Bishops, general officers and ministers of our Church now living, much less the thousands who are dead, were to sue for back allowances, and the courts of the land were to accord the same, it would put every church, parsonage, university, col¬ lege, seminary and general department under the auctioneer's hammer. Our law contemplates that every pastor is to collect his own allowance and thus pay himself, and should he fail to do so he must take the responsibility. While the members are 48 THE QUADRENNIAE ADDRESS OF THE duty bound to pay him he also is duty bound to collect it while he is there. Indeed, this is not only the law of the A. M. E. Church, but of all the Episcopal and non-Episcopal Methodist Churches in the land. REVISION OF OUR ANNUAL, CONFERENCE PRO¬ CEDURE. Our Annual Conference u Mode of Procedure," without doubt, needs some revision, condensation and practical uni¬ formity given to it. The present arrangement is both bung¬ ling and in some particulars useless. Several of the thirty- nine questions to be asked each minister might be lopped off, while the same amount of information might be gathered for the benefit of our members and the use of the future historian. We have the largest and most expensive tables for our Minutes of any Methodist Church in the world; yet it does not appear that we know any more about our statistics than other churches. Let us suppose they are all essential; still, several of the inter¬ rogatories now spread out could be condensed and merged into one, and thus save time and expense in printing. Strange to say, too, we have no questions in our Book of Disci pi ine^relating to our Sabbath- schools, except the follow¬ ing : " How much has been collected for Sunday-school pur¬ poses ? " and, " How much collected on Children's Day ? " All the questions relative to pupils, teachers, superintendents, books in library and such kindred interrogatories have been improvised by the Annual Conferences; hence the lack of that uniformity which is so much in demand, and makes our An¬ nual Conference Minutes so dissimilar. It is very possible that not a half dozen Annual Conferences in the connection can be found that follows the same order of tabular arrangement. While we concede the right of an Annual Conference to sup¬ plement a few local questions, if they choose, which may relate to some special business connected with a college, hospital, edu¬ cation of some student, and other local matters, the vital ques¬ tions bearing upon the general statistics should be uniform and alike from one end of our church to the other. BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 49 We trust you will provide a statistical-form committee to take the matter in hand, and give them full time, if it requires a year, and let them provide the church, with the approval of the bishops, such an Annual Conference "Mode of Procedure" as can be made universal, and that this form shall be obligatory throughout the entire connection. SHALE THE BISHOPS EXERCISE VETO POWER? We are living in perilous times. The so-called higher criti¬ cism and agnosticism of the day is insidiously, but surely weaving itself into the doctrines of our Christianity and under¬ mining our forms and landmarks of ecclesiasticism; and thus the time-honored bulwarks of the Church of God are being assaulted by these would-be transcendental champions, who have never experienced the second birth. Beneath this grade another class of rash, hasty-tempered, less- informed and meagerly-read would-be church leaders are found, who seem to be peculiarly fitted to serve as ecclesiastical icono¬ clasts; and nearly all of the Christian denominations in the civilized world are being interrupted by them. And thus our Christianity, which has the endorsement of centuries, is more or less being brought into disrepute. We apprehend vthat it is time for the A. M. E. Church to put itself upon guard and suf¬ ficiently breastwork the landmarks of the fathers to enable us to preserve our individuality as a church. Without referring to other religious denominations and the efforts they are putting forth to protect their denominational individuality from these would-be ghouls and vampires^ we will confine ourselves to Methodistic spheres. The Methodist Episcopal Church has been so disturbed by hasty measures rushed through their General Conferences, that many of their abler ministers and laymeu are discussing the advisability of creating two houses in their General Confer¬ ence and requiring all acts and resolutions to pass both divi¬ sions before it shall become a law. Many say some estoppel must be placed upon hasty legislation by their General Conference. The Methodist Episcopal Church South, to guard against 4 50 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OE THE encroachment upon their rules and regulations through the in¬ fluence of fiery speeches, rash and hasty legislation, have adopted the following provision : " When any rule or regulation is adopted by the General Conference which, in the opinion of the Bishops, is unconstitutional, the Bishops may present to the General Conference which enacted said rule or regulation their objections thereto, with their reasons in writing, and if the General Conference shall, by two-thirds vote, adhere to its action on said rule or regulation, it shall then go down to the Annual Conferences, and must, before becoming a law, receive the concurrent recommendation of three-fourths of all the members of the several Annual Conferences who shall be present voting." < We call the attention of your venerable body to the consider¬ ation of this subject. We do not offer or propose any plan; we leave the detail to your wise and mature judgment. It is immaterial with us whether the Bishops are invested with veto power or the General Conference is divided into two houses, or any other plan is accepted; but we do think that some arrangement should be made for after thought and cool and deliberate reflection. Questions are often sprung in our General Conferences about which two-thirds of the members have never thought. We ask, Is it wise to rush them through without time for thought and deliberation ? A NEW ORGANIZATION. It is often said, and very properly too, that we are living in a progressive age. All the agencies and organizations looking to commerce, education, science, philosophy and business of every description are being quickened by improved plans and new methods. The Church of God, the pillar and the ground of truth, the perfection of beauty and the light of mankind, must keep pace with other confederations, and project and util¬ ize new methods and instrumentalities. We are happy to say, however, that many Christian denomi¬ nations are not derelict in this respect. The Sabbath-school, the Missionary Department, Temperance Work, Sacred Song, Evangelistic Movements and other religious measures have all been vitalized and intensified within the last dozen years, and our church must not be less vigilant. BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 51 We have hundreds of thousands of members, who could be put to work if the Church would properly harness them and impose official responsibilities. Indeed, scores of thousands would be glad to contribute their services to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, if the Church would recognize their worth. Many malcontents, who are morose, acrimonious and sour because they cannot get to be trustees, class-leaders, stewards or stewardesses, would render infinite service in other directions if they were legitimately employed, and our member¬ ship would be doubled in a few years. Would it not be well, therefore, to provide, by the adoption of some measure, a plan that would enable the pastors through¬ out the connection to organize all of these non-official members into associations, working bands or Christian battalions, and give to the said associations or battalions some title or designa¬ tion which would make them a distinct adjunct to the Church, and clothe them with disciplinary authority to work for the salvation of souls ? We suggest that you give such a new organization the name of The Militant Band, The Church Militia, The Pio¬ neer Battalion, Salvation Alliance, or, as we would prefer, The Salvation League of the A. M. E. Church. Let no ^Salvation League consist of over twenty-four mem¬ bers, nor less than twelve if possible, less than seven by no means. Let the males and females have separate organizations, with the right of the pastor of the church to meet either of the Salvation Leagues at his option, or as many as may be con¬ nected with his church. Let no class-leader, steward or stew¬ ardess or trustee be a member of the Salvation League, as they have enough to do in discharging the duties of their respective offices. Let no local preacher or exhorter be a member who holds any other church office. Let no person be a member of the Salvation League who news-carries, gossips, slanders or exhibits bad tempers. Let any member who shows wrath or in¬ augurates a quarrel, or fails to bridle his or her tongue be immedi¬ ately dropped from the said League, but not expelled, as expulsion would call for a trial, and throw a firebrand into the association. 52 the; quadrennial address of the Let the Salvation League, as an organization, not be a finan¬ cial department of the Church, but purely spiritual. We do not mean they are not to give of their substance, as they con¬ stitute the bone and sinew of the finances of the Church ; but we mean that when they meet in their respective organizations, money matters shall not be an item of business. Let the meet¬ ings of the Salvation League where plans for work are laid out be strictly private, except to the pastor, presiding elder or bishop. Let their business be to visit the sick, poor and needy non-church goers, and induce them to attend public worship; search for Sabbath-school children, hold prayer-meeting at any house where permission may be given, read the Scriptures, com¬ ment upon the same, engage in religious song, urge the observance of the Sabbath, advocate temperance, reprove all kinds of blas¬ phemy and vulgar language, and do such things all and singu¬ lar which will redound to the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Let probationers be members of the same, and the chief command of the whole vest in the pastor in charge. The rules for the League should be drafted with great care, or left to be done after we adjourn and time can be had. THE PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. The Publication Department is the oldest institution of our Church. It was established in this city (Philadelphia), and in¬ corporated by the late Bishop Campbell and others; and has had a peculiar history as well as a career of struggle. It is here at hand, open for the inspection of all, and deserves your attention and careful consideration. It is one of the most important branches of our Church work. From this, our general Publishing House, go forth our ablest productions and chief periodicals—the Discipline, Hymnal, Christian Recorder, Quarterly Review, Catechism and other religious and ecclesiastical works. We aim to develop through the agency of this House, our special and general literature. We mean by special, those per¬ iodical and official publications authorized by the General Con¬ ference from time to time. These should be brought to the BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 53 highest state of perfection and efficiency, and their circulation extended throughout the Church. In the line of general literature, the concern should be able to stimulate the rise and culture of our people in the production of original religious and moral works. It should be able to realize a constantly increasing catalogue until we can present a list of oue hundred or more able and popular publications. These being the demands resting upon it, we should consider, next, its needs. The reports of the Manager and Board will show that the first great need is a strong capital and a more thorough equip¬ ment. The method of raising a capital fund by issuing bonds at a low rate of interest, which will be presented to the General Conference by the Manager, deserves your careful examination. It is believed by him that if the General Conference will authorize the issue of $50,000 or even more of bonds, pledging the faith of the Church for their redemption, the Board will be able to procure all the funds needed from the great moneyed institutions of this and other cities. For details respecting this matter, we refer you to the Report of the management. The advantage of such a fund is easily manifested to all. It would enable the management to purchase materials in large quantities to make up a very large stock of books each year to sell at lower rates, and give longer and easier terms to the men who must handle them in distribution or sale. The Manager has done well during the present term with the work, considering the difficulties and embarrassments with which he has been obliged to contend. The gross receipts of the business he informs us, now amounts to more than one thousand ($1,000) dollars per month, exclusive of any collection. Every department of our Church issuing papers, periodicals or books, complains of non-paying itinerant ministers, much less the local preacher. The General Conference cannot with any consistency with its good name and awful responsibilities auy longer tolerate this condition of things. Our publishers 54 THE QUADRENNIAE ADDRESS OF THE have been complaining to the General Conference about the same species of dishonesty on the part of our ministry ever since 1844. Each consecutive General Conference has been appealed to, to remedy this standing evil. Surely this General Confer¬ ence will no longer wink at its responsibility and evade its duty in the premises. Thousands and thousands of dollars are due our Publication Departments by our ministers and members, dead and alive, which if paid, would put our publishing interest on a solid foundation. Every minister of our Church sending for books or papers should be worthy of trust; and it reflects seriously to our dis¬ credit that the Manager should claim to be forced to either not credit our ministers at all, or necessitated by our bad name, to send our publications by the C. O. D. plan. The Bishops should be authorized to suspend any minister who fails to pay for his books or papers after three months. You must do something, however, to remedy this evil. OUR QUARTERLY REVIEW. The A. M. E. Church Review has been published every quarter regularly for eight years, and is now a fixture. As a literary production it has no equal among us as a race. It is quoted by leading newspapers and magazines as authority upon all subjects which have to do with the moral, religious and in¬ tellectual progress of the people whom it especially represents. It shows the degree of scholarship actually attained among us; the acquisition of property; the ability to establish and manage schools of learning; to organize and successfully carry on great enterprises. This proves much more than mere argument, how¬ ever eloquently made. The circulation is twenty-five hundred copies on an average, with occasionally an edition of three thousand. The circulation is distributed as follows: To all parts of the United States, to Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada, Nova Scotia, Bermuda* St. Thomas, British Guiana, Hayti, San Domingo and St. Croix. Being a purely literary publication, and containing nothi ng of a sensational character, it required some time and no little effort BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 55 to get the Review fully established; but now it is sought for by the most thoughtful, and regarded as a most valuable family journal. The fact that the editor is obliged to travel constantly in order to gather funds, greatly hinders him, he says, in his literary work. The literary character of the Review demands the full time, and best talent of him who would represent us at so im¬ portant a post. The leading Magazines and Reviews in this and other countries, have, on their editorial staffs the best schol¬ arship that can be commanded, and those men are relieved of the worry and oftentimes embarrassment in the business man¬ agement. If our Review is to hold its place and grow as it should; if it is to compare favorably with other publications of its class, its editor thinks he should be given an opportunity to give it the results of his best efforts. THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION. Nothing gives us greater pleasure than to refer to the almost phenomenal success achieved by our Sunday-school Union. This institution is now closing its tenth year of existence and labors. From statements furnished by the Secretary, we are in¬ formed that the Union has thirty thousand dollars worth of property free of all incumbrance, and that the combined circula¬ tion of its periodicals now amounts to nine hundred thousand copies per year. When we consider the humble origin of this institution—how it started with no capital but faith, and with a strong tide of opposition bearing hard against it, and fhen recount its won¬ derful achievements, we are led to exclaim, " Behold what the Lord has wrought!" In the publication of new books our Sunday-school Union deserves special mention, it having added five new volumes to our general Church literature in the last four years. Its great¬ est and crowning achievement in this connection being the pub¬ lication of Volume I of the History of the A. M. E. Church —a result which the Church had been expecting for forty years. 56 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE The publication of this work marks a distinct event in the his¬ tory of our Church literature, and we earnestly advise and recommend that all candidates for our ministry be required to have a fair knowledge of its contents. The dedication of our Sunday-school Union building January, 1889, was participated in by eight of your Bishops and it is but jUst to say that the occasion was a grand and inspiring one. Since the adjournment of the last session of this body the Union has been incorporated and the deed to the property, which was originally made to Charles S. Smith, D.D., trustee, has been transferred to the corporation, and in such a manner as to give the General Conference full and original jurisdiction over it. We know of no reason why any change should be made in the Constitution or the general workings of the Department. FINANCIAL. DEPARTMENT. The Department of Finance, one of the most important arms of our Church organizations, which is under the very efficient management of its Business Secretary, has obtained a proficiency in work and service that claims our highest commendation. An empty treasury with an indebtedness of seventeen thousand ($17,- 000) dollars, confronted that department at the commencement of this quadrennial term. Indeed, our collections of dollar money up to the close of the last quadrennium ending with April, 1888, were inadequate to meet the demands of the Department. It may be well to remind the General Conference that the busi¬ ness of this department, under the late Rev. John H. W. Burley, our first Secretary of Finance, amounted in round numbers to ninety-five thousand ($95,000) dollars. Under Secretary B. W. Arnett, its business increased to two hundred thousand ($200,000) dollars,—an increase of more than one hundred per cent. What the amount is that has been collected by the present incumbent will be presented in his report. We are informed, however, that his receipts for the present term will be over three hundred thousand ($300,000) dollars. We are also informed that the department is out of BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 57 debt, and that the treasury is not empty, with a fair standing in the money markets of the country, and that our credit is equal in standing to any similar institution at the seat of the general government. The secretary, by the consent of his Board, has purchased and paid for a fine property in Washington City for general connectional purposes, in which is located the present Depart¬ ment of Finance, the Bishops' Headquarters, together with a General Bureau of African Methodism. We are further in¬ formed that over eight thousand ($8000) dollars have this year been paid to our institutions of learning, and twelve hundred ($1200) dollars to our Publishing Departments; that one thou¬ sand ($1000) dollars have been set aside for the foundation of our Church Extension Society, which we hope this General Conference will properly formulate and put in operation, even if it involves the creation of another general officer, or a sub- general officer,—one whose business, however, shall be specifi¬ cally devoted to this work. EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT., Our Educational Department still holds a prominent place in the Church and in the hearts of our members; and well it may, as education is the indispensable prerequisite to all progress, ecclesiastical and racial elevation. What other fluctuations and A changes time may project, education must form the base, and can therefore never be alienated from the bosom of the Chris¬ tian Church. It must go down through all future time as an accompaniment of the Christian religion, and broaden and deepen as new facts shall be evolved to public attention, and false hypothecations shall be thrown down as so many gaunt¬ lets to defy the Church of God, as she moves on in stately grandeur to the conquest of the world. Our Secretary of Education, who has held the position for eight years, reports progress all along the line, an increase of graduates every year, educational money also doubling itself annually; our colleges, universities and other centres of learn¬ ing better patronized and supported, till the halls are so 58 THE QUADRENNIAE ADDRESS OF THE crowded in every section of the country that new buildings are in demand. But as this department of our church work will have your patient and diligent attention, we refer you to the elaborate and itemized report which will be made by its secretary. Some improvement, however, we would adjudge necessary as to the manner of distributing the money after its collection. There are evident inconveniences, both to the pastors and to the department, to impose upon the ministers the burden of dividing the money up, and sending a portion here and a little there. There should be a common treasury for the whole Church, and a pro rata distribution of the funds collected, to our several institutions of learning. We also recommend that more atten¬ tion be given to the theological training of young ministers than heretofore. We think our Educational Districts could be wisely and pro¬ fitably readjusted, and we therefore recommend that the Educa¬ tional Districts correspond to the Episcopal Districts, and that the Bishops of the several Episcopal Districts shall be the Pres¬ idents of the Educational District Boards. MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT. The Department of Missions necessarily lies at the founda¬ tion of all church extension and propagation, and no ecclesias¬ tical denomination is entitled to any respect which is devoid ot a fully-equipped missionary machinery. In the language of a distinguished colleague: " The subject of Missions is of funda¬ mental importance. The advance and spread of the Redeemer's kingdom, the reaching out of the gospel to take in and embrace the world, is of far more importance than the parceling out of that work which is already firmly established." The demands of this department deserve the best thought, the most skillful and thorough analysis, that can be given to it. The nature, proportions and scope of the enterprise are but imperfectly ap¬ prehended by our ministry, and understood by our people. If the greatness of the numbers and the depth and urgency of the need of those in foreign lands to whom, in the providence of God, our Church is called to minister the gospel, were fully BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E- CHURCH. 59 known, our apathy would surely give place to the compassion with which the Lord looked down upon the multitude, " scat¬ tered abroad as sheep having no shepherd." The time has fully come when broader and &ore vigorous measures should be devised to satisfy this great and growing demand. Evasive pleas of ignorance, poverty and home wants will no longer relieve us of responsibility. God holds men as much responsible for what they might have known as for what they do not know. It is a standing reflection of our Lord and Saviour—a reflection, too, that we as a church should profit by —that the children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light. At this active and progressive day in the history of the Church, when the world is busy with secu¬ lar affairs, it is more than a censure; in the face of the demands and opportunities of our times, missionary apathy assumes the proportions of a crime. Africa and the Islands of the Sea, where the people of our race are found in large numbers, are not the only places requi¬ ring our attention and interest; but wherever there is a heart unregenerated and a soil pedestrianized by a heathen, a field is found for our prayers, sympathies and operations. At the last General Conference you elected as our Secretary of Missions Rev. James M. Townsend, D.D. In process of time, however, the President of the United States offered Dr. Townsend a position of honor and trust at the National Capital. The doctor, believing that his occupancy of the position prof¬ fered would redound to the credit of our people, accepted of the same. This naturally left the position vacant, and at a called session of the Bishops' Council, which convened in Philadel¬ phia, Rev. W. B. Derrick, D.D., the present incumbent, was elected to fill the vacancy. From that time up to the present the secretary seems to have been quite active, and to all appear¬ ances has been endeavoring to faithfully discharge the duties assigned to him. How well he has done, however, will be for you to determine when he shall have made his report. GO THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES. While our universities, colleges, and other institutions and centres of learning will doubtless be presented to you in detail by our Secretary of Education and by their own Presidents and Secretaries, we nevertheless beg to say, we trust you will give the departments of higher education your undivided attention when the time arrives for their consideration. At the foundation of the Christian ministry should lie a call from God to preach the gospel; but to do this effectively in an age freighted with so much sophistry, falsely called philosophy, which is insidiously working itself into our religious literature, it behooves us to maintain and perpetuate these centres of intel¬ lectual culture, that will enable the coming ministers of our Church to detect and expose these false theories, which are so dangerous to our faith. We take great pleasure in congratulating our Church upon so liberally sustaining our venerable Wilberforce University, our oldest institution of higher learning, which has accomplished so much good during her short career. Wilberforce University is the chief light in the solar system of our ecclesiastical culture and elevation; and around her re¬ volve like so many planets, asteroids and satellites, our younger universities, colleges and seminaries, viz.: Allen University, Paul Quinn College, Kittrell Industrial College, Morris Brown College, Edward Waters College, Bethel University, Western University, Payne "University, The Turner Normal and Indus¬ trial College, J. P. Campbell College, and twenty-one other institutions and schools whose names and locations will be sub¬ mitted to you by our Secretary of Education. It might be a consumption of time to take up and consider these universities, colleges and institutions seriatim, as several of them can lay claim to considerable merit. But they are all before you, and in the discussion of their relative worth and im¬ portance we solicit your profound attention and your most wise and mature judgment in legislating for their sustentation. From the halls of these schools must go forth men and women BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 61 too, who will give character and reputation to the race with which we are identified. We can no longer rest our hopes for recognition in the republic of letters by what history informs us was done by the Hamitic races in the ancient world. But we must give attestation of our abilities in the day in which we live and act. We need scholars profoundly learned—not merely men who can quote the great thoughts of others, but men who can think themselves, and when they have passed through the ordeal of life leave mighty thoughts for others to quote. The ignoble status of our race as held by the learned world, demands the most persistent effort upon our part to show to enlightened mankind, that we are, in every particular, the equal of any class of men made in the similitude and likeness of their Creator. ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE. In 1881 the First Ecumenical Conference met in London, England. Our Church was represented by ten delegates. Bishop Daniel A. Payne presided on September 17, 1881, and other members participated in its deliberations. The Second Ecumenical Conference assembled in Washington, D. C., October 7, 1891, and continued in session until the 20th. Bishop A. W. Wsyman presided October 15, 1891. Bishop B. W. Aruett was a member of the General Executive Commit¬ tee, Dr. B. F. Lee was on the Program Committee, Dr. J. C. Embry was on the Business Committee, Dr. J. A. Handy was on the Finance Committee; in all of the organic work of the Con¬ ference we were fully represented. The Committee on the part of the A. M. E. Church gave a reception to the Conference in the Metropolitan Church on Fri¬ day evening, October 9th. Representatives from all parts of the world were there and engaged in the singing and the speeches. Hon. Frederick Douglass spoke one night in the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church; it was a grand success. This body gave an illustration to the world what Methodism can do toward carrying to its fullest extent the principle of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man; for we were all brethren, from East and West, from North aud South. We 62 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS OF THE sat side by side in the pews, and ate at the same table and drank from the same cup in commemoration of the dying of our Lord. Never in the history of the country did one body do so much for the unity of the faith and the solidarity of man. The representatives of the A. M. E., A. M. E. Zion, and C. M. E. Churches, met and discussed the possibility of organic union between the several Colored Methodist Churches. It was the unanimous opinion that union was desirable and possible. Resolutions recommending that a commission on the part of the several organizations be appointed, said Commission to meet and decide on terms of union. We trust that you will give this sub¬ ject your serious consideration. We therefore congratulate you upon the great success of the Ecumenical Conference. CONCLUSION. Brethren, we cannot close these remarks without magnifying anew the grace of God which has been so wonderfully mani¬ fested toward our beloved Zion during the past seventy-six years. When we review our immediate surroundings and the resources of our Church to-day and revert to our small and unpromising beginning as a Church, remembering how marvellously God protected our fathers, opening up the way before them, honoring them with the accomplishment of mighty results and still realiz¬ ing His presence with us, words are inadequate to express our emotions of joy. We are constrained, therefore, by a sense of our obligation to Divine aid, to humble ourselves and acknowl¬ edge that the power has all been of God and not of our might which has enabled us to accomplish so much. You are here dear brethren to plan and work for God as pos¬ sessors of a priceless heritage. Your action will help or hinder the cause of the Redeemer in this and other lands. It will con¬ serve the precious virtues of our form of Methodism, concept of Christianity, and give new direction to the mighty forces, new impulses to our religious endeavors and that spiritual life so indispensable to the execution of the great work awaiting us. We are accustomed, in speaking of our Church, to put signal emphasis upon the term great, by the use of the following BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. 63 phrases or expressions: such as " Our great Church, the great A. M. E. Church ;" u Our great Connection." To show you how inappropriate the use of these terms is when applied to our Connection we will illustrate as follows: Let us presumably approximate our itinerant ministry at three thousand and five hundred ; and let us divide the people of Af¬ rican descent living upon the globe, and every pastor in the A. M. E. Church would have one hundred and fourteen thousand and three hundred members to visit, baptize and administer the communion to; and if we were to divide the sixteen hundred million of people inhabiting the globe among the same number of pastors each minister would have four hundred and fifty- seven thousand and two hundred and eighty members. In other words each pastor would have about as many members to preach to and serve as there are now in our entire Connection. But to illustrate further: Suppose we deduct from the sixteen hundred million of people living upon the globe, the four hundred million generally ac¬ cepted as constituting Christendom ; twelve hundred million of heathens and people destitute of Christian influences would be left. Now let us divide these twelve hundred million of heathens among the traveling ministry of our Church, and each pastor would have a congregation of three hundred and forty-two thousand and nine hundred persons to serve. You will discover, therefore, from the estimates we have presented that the term great, as applied to our Connection, is frightfully minified if not absolutely ludicrous. Thus the A. M. E. Church, while having accomplished con¬ siderable when taking in the count the difficulties which con¬ fronted it is but little more than a cipher, compared to the enor¬ mous wants of that humanity for which Christ shed His blood. Hence the folly of attempting to reason ourselves into a partial contentment, or upon presuming there is a moment's time for rest. You can but realize the hurt or hinderance which would follow by reason of your negligence and the greatness of the fault, and also the horrible punishment that would ensue. You will, therefore, not lose sight I am sure of the primal cause for 64 THE QUADRENNIAL ADDRESS. which, as a Church we exist, namely: to spread scriptural holiness over the earth. As we have intimated before, not only are the eyes of the assembled multitudes of this city, the entire Church wherever we have existence, our sister churches of every ecclesiastical form and of the entire nation upon us—but the eye of our Chief Shepherd watches from the eternal throne. Hence, we again invoke you to let your deliberations be cool, calm and thorough. Let there be no political manoeuvering or wire-pulling for the adoption of any resolution, or the election of any man to office, however humble or exalted. Let patience have her perfect .work in the discharge of all committee business—whether the committee be one of examination to report upon any depart¬ ment of the Church, or to suggest new measures, formulate new plans and create improved methods for the future success of our Connection. No member of the General Conference can afford to neglect, or omit any work assigned to his hands, to attend any reception, repast or entertainment; or to hear any distinguished orator preach or speak, while this venerable body charged with so many responsibilities is in session. Finally brethren, we desire now again to commend you to God and the Word of His grace, praying the Holy Spirit may be present with you and help in our deliberations to the end, that His name may be glorified and his kingdom enlarged and established in all the earth. Sincerely and affectionately your brothers and fellow-laborers in the gospel of Christ, DANIEL A. PAYNE, A. W. WAYMAN, T. M. D. WARD, JOHN M. BROWN, HENRY M. TURNER, WESLEY J. GAINES, BENJ. W. ARNETT, BEN J. T. TANNER, ABRAHAM GRANT, Bishops.