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Bird's eye view of the general conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, with observations on the progress of the colored people of Louisville, Kentucky, and a history of the movement looking toward the elevation of Rev. Benjamin W. Swain, D. D., to the Bishopric in 1920 / by Jacob W. Powell.

Bird's eye view of the general conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, with observations on the progress of the colored people of Louisville, Kentucky, and a history of the movement looking toward the elevation of Rev. Benjamin W. Swain, D. D., to the Bishopric in 1920 / by Jacob W. Powell. Powell, Jacob W. 400dpi TIFF G4 page images University of Kentucky, Electronic Information Access & Management Center Lexington, Kentucky 2002 b02-000000004 These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Bird's eye view of the general conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, with observations on the progress of the colored people of Louisville, Kentucky, and a history of the movement looking toward the elevation of Rev. Benjamin W. Swain, D. D., to the Bishopric in 1920 / by Jacob W. Powell. Powell, Jacob W. Boston : Lavelle Press, 1918. Boston 1918 IMLS This electronic text file was created by Optical Character Recognition (OCR). No corrections have been made to the OCR-ed text and no editing has been done to the content of the original document. Encoding has been done through an automated process using the recommendations for Level 1 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines. Digital page images are linked to the text file. Bird's Eye View of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church with Observations on the Progress of the Colored People of Louisville, Kentucky and a History of the Movement Looking Toward the Elevation of Rev. Benjamin W. Swain D.D. to the Bishopric in 1920 by Jacob W. Powell 312 Broadway, Malden Mass. 1918 The Lavalle Press This page in the original text is blank. Jacob W. Powell This page in the original text is blank. I Dedicated to the memory of RIGHT REV. ALEXANDER WALTERS (Bishop) whose kindly encouragement was a determining factor in the pastoral development of Rev. Benjamin W. Swain, D. D., and whose assignment of Dr. Swain to the pastorate of COLUMBUS AVENUE A. M. E. ZION CHURCH, Boston, in 1912, made possible the strengthening of ties of Christian comradeship. THE AUTHOR This page in the original text is blank. PREFACE. Life Sketch of Author. (Reprint from the "Kentucky Reporter," May'9, 1916.) Jacob Wesley Powell is among progressive New England men esteemed by bishops, ministers, laymen and women of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion and sister churches. He is a stenographer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Boiler Inspection Depart- ment of the District Police, also secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Boiler Rules, State House, Boston. Religious Training and Experience. Although cradled in Revere Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Boston, of which his father and mother (John D. N. R. Powell of Norfolk, Va., and Deborah Bowser Powell of Baltimore, Md.) w-ere members, Jacob early took to Zion on North Russell Street. He w-as converted at the age of fifteen years, on March 1, 1881, while Rev. Joseph G. Dyson was pastor. During the succeeding pastorates of Revs. J. W. Brown, Samuel C. Birchmore (by whom he was married to Miss M. Georgie Blair on February 12, 1890), George L. Black- well, Thomas H. Johnson, G. W. Offley, and S. F. Dickson, Mr. Pow- ell labored incessantly as loyal churchman, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher, superintendent, also worker in the Christian Endeavor Society, of which he was a charter member in Zion. Miss Eliza A. Gardner was the superintendent to first appoint him a teacher in Zion Sunday school, July 1, 1883. From September 4, 1895, to August 20, 1906, he resided at Clin- ton, Mass. (near Worcester) where there was no Zion church. Offi- cials of the Clinton M. E. Church requested him to take up work with them which he did as chorister, Sunday school teacher, presi- dent of their Epworth League for seven years (two periods), lead- ing tenor in the choir, local preacher from 1900 to 1906, and as member of the board of directors of the then flourishing Clinton Young Men's Christian Association. He was president of the Union comprising the young people's societies of Clinton's four leading evangelical churches. He was moving spirit in establishing and maintaining at Clinton a Union Chapel for the people who came from Virginia and other parts of the southland, to work on the construction of the Wachusett dam, aqueduct and reservoir. Returning to Malden in August, 1906, labors were continued in the Maplewood M. E. Church as local preacher, tenor in the select mixed quartette, Sunday school teacher, also as instructor of mis- sion study classes, including a normal class in which he prepared various "stewards" for their work in the great "World in Boston Exposition" at Mechanics building in 1911. Afterward he became a factor in the work of Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church in Boston, despite the prohibitive distance of the church from Malden, where Mr. and Mrs. Powell have a comfortable home at 218 Broad- way, Maplewood. They received a hearty welcome from Rev. Green W. Johnson and other officers and members of the church, and have continued to labor with untiring zeal. At the New England annual conference at New Bedford, June 23, 1912, he was ordained by Bishop Alexander Walters as deacon. June 6, 1915, at Providence, R. I., he was ordained by Bishop Wal- ters an elder, continuing service in the Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion church, Boston, Rev. Benjamin W. Swain, D. D., pastor. Mr. and Mrs. Powell observed the twenty-fifth anniversary of their mar- riage by a brilliant reception on February 12, 1915, in Auditorium Hall, Malden. Beside the course of study prescribed in the discipline of the M. E. Church, a special course of "Studies in the Life of Christ" was completed. In the winter of 1913-14, he received a certificate of scholarship in Child Psychology upon the completion of the Ford Hall course in Sunday School Teacher Training under Professor Norman E. Richardson of Boston University School of Theology At the Zion Sunday school convention at Portland, Me., August 27, 1914, his address on "Teacher Training in Zion" inspired elec- tion as president of the Sunday School Union of the New England conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church. That election -was confirmed by Bishop Walters' official appointment at the ensuing annual Con- ference at Providence, R. I., in 1915, to which Mr. Powell had been sent for the third time as lay delegate representing the Boston church. He was chairman of the Publicity Committee for the recent great convention of the National Negro Business League in Bos- ton, and, with Dr. Wm. Higgins of Providence, was lay delegate to the General Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church at Louisville, Ky., in May, 1916. 1 Commercial Training and Experience. Graduating from the Phillips GramnmarSchool,Boston, in 1881, he received further commercial training in Boston Evening High School, where he commenced the study of shorthand. He finished steno- graphic studies with Mr. John Gardner, whose certificate of schol- arship to Mr. Powell states the correct transcribing of stenographic notes on July 1, 1885, at the rate of 110 words per minute, besides mastering the typewriting machine, and commends ability as a stenographer, typewriter and reliable business man. Before the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission in 1895 he stood first among writers of 150 words per minute. Record of Employment. 1881-1886. Office boy, stenographer and clerk for John T. Bronson, flour commission merchant, 156 State street, Boston. 1887. Stenographer for Rev. Edw. Everett Hale, D. D., famous Boston preacher, author and philanthropist. 1888-1889. Public stenographer, patrons including Booker T. Washington, President Henry R. Turner of the New England Insur- ance Exchange and President D. N. Holway of the Boston Life Un- derwriters' Association, in connection with whose meetings verba- tim reports were furnished of addresses of such men as ex-Gov. John D. Long and Congressman Wm. E. Barrett. For several years his work included the reporting of the annual encampments of the Massachusetts Division of the Sons of Veterans, of which he is a past camp commander and present patriotic instructor. 1890. Stenographer, National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, at Boston. 1891-1894. Stenographer for the Thomson-Houston (now Gen- eral) Electric Company at Boston. 1895-1906. Stenographer and clerk for the Metropolitan Wa- ter & Sewerage Board of Massachusetts at Clinton, during the con- struction of the Wachusett dam, aqueduct and reservoir. 1906- 1918. Stenographer for Massachusetts District Police and secretary of the Board of Boiler Rules. Mr. Powell's testi- monials are flattering. Literary Training and Experience. His first newspaper work was selling the weekly New York Globe and Boston Leader. He was a debater in the Garrison Lyceum and the Clinton Literary Association, whose successor is the J. C. Price Musical and Literary Society of Zion Church. As teacher of the Maplewood Mission Study Class front 1907 to 1911, he took the twenty-three members on "An Imaginary Trip from Boston to China, via San Francisco," and compiled a 200- page book containing pictures of scenes en-route and letters writ- ten by the various members describing peoples, places and customs. This souvenir book was exhibited at the Baltimore General Confer- ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Sermon Itinerary. Preaching by Rev. Jacob W. Powell has included sermons to the following New England Congregations: Congregations Arlington Heigh Berlin, Mass. Boston (4th M. I Clinton, Leominster, Malden (Linden (Maplewood) Oakdale, Sterling Camp ( Townsend, Amherst, Boston (Columbu Cambridge (Rusi Danbury, Conn. Hartford, Conn. New Bedford, M Portland, Maine Years Pastors Methodist Episcopal. ts, Benj W. Rust .............. 1905 Perry H. Murdick.1901 E.) Willis A. King.............. 1914 A. Morrill Osgood, Geo. H. Cheney, Edward T. Curnick, W. C. Town- send, Levin P. Causey, R. L. Clark .................... 1901-1918 Ernest P. Herrick . ............ 1903 M. S. James.............. 1916 Alfred Woods, Arthur L. Howe 1908-1911 John Peterson.............. 1905 Ground, Joseph H. Mansfield, P. E. ..... 1903 Wm. Hodge ...... 1903-1904 African Methodist Episcopal Zion. Clarence A. Gooding...... 1916 is Ave.) J. H. McMullen, Benj. W. Swain 1905-1918 h) Theo. A. Auten, Dennis Scott, J. A. S. Cole............ 1916-1918 L. T. Conquest............ 1917 Richard R. Ball............ 1917 ass. S. W. Weller ............ 1917 George J. Simms ............ 1918 Worcester (Belmont St.) J. Francis Lee, I. B. Walters ..1903-1918 Other Denominations. Mt. Pleasant Baptist, Robert L. Smith ................. 1917 Apponaug, R. I., Charles St. A. M. E., Montrose W. Thornton ............. 1916 Boston, Church of the Messiah, Powhattan Bagnall . . 1913 (Appleton St., Boston" Congdon St. Baptist, Sidney Smith . 1915 Providence, R. I., Eastern Ave. Baptist, John L. Davis, G. L. Nichols ..1914-1915 Maiden, Mass. St. Mark Congregational,Samuel A. Brown ............ 1917-1918 Boston, Union Baptist, Malden, Solomon M. Carrington ....... ..... 1911 Zion Baptist, Everett, C. H. Johnson, J. Washington 1911-1917 Shiloh Baptist, Hartford, Conn. William B. Reed .................. 1917 Confirmed local preacher at Clinton M. E. Church, December 29, 1900 (Rev. Joseph H. Mansfield, presiding elder; Rev. A. Mor- rill Osgood, pastor). Ordained deacon at New Bedford A. M. E. Zion church, June 23, 1912 (Right Rev. Alexander Walters, bishop). Ordained elder at Providence A. M. E. Zion Church, June 6, 1915 (Bishop Walters). Livihgstone College, Salisbury, N. C., conferred Doctor of Di- vinity Degree, May 23, 1918. This page in the original text is blank. Mrs. Jacob W. Powell This page in the original text is blank. Index To Contents Preface Life sketch of Author (from "The Kentucky Reporter") Chap- Page ter I. Bird's Eye View of the Louisville (1916) General Con- ference 1 II. Historical sketch of the Boston Church, by Miss Eliza A. Gardner (with Author's " Glimpses into Zion's Hall of Fame ") 21 III. The Boston Church and the Bishopric 42 IV. Report of the Boston Church to the Annual Conference, 1918, and names of members who paid "General Fund " 5 1 V. Report of the Mammoth Welcome Reception and Tes- timonial to Dr. Swain and Family, July 10, 1918 (with list of Contributors to the 335.00 Testimonial Fund) 62 VI. Some of the Testimonial addresses Mr. William H. Batum 68 Mrs. Cora F. Saunders 69 Mr. James L. Carter 70 Rev. C. B. Lawyer 72 Rev. Albert L. Scott 74 Mr. Butler R. Wilson 76 Dr. Swain's Response 76 The letters His Excellency, Samuel W. McCall, Governor of Mass. 78 His Honor, Calvin Coolidge, Lieut.-Gov. 79 His Honor, Andrew J. Peters, Mayor of Boston 79 Mr. George G. Bradford 80 Rev. J. W; MacDonald 80 Mr. Henry C. Weeden 81 Miss Elizabeth C. Putnam 81 Miss Cecilia L. Tshabalala 81 Miss S. Catherine Schuyler 82 Mrs. Lelia Walters 82 Mr. Aaron Brown 83 A significant statement by Bishop Walters 83 VII. List of Relatives of members of Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, now in United States War Service. 85 List of Bishops, General Officers and Officers of the W. H. and F. M. S. of the A. M. E. Zion Con- nection 88 Gratitude 92 Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church Boston, Mass. This page in the original text is blank. Chapter One Bird's Eye View Of 25th Quadrennial Session Of The General Conference Of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, With Facts Concerning Negro Progress In Louisville, Kentucky. (This chapter is published as a compliment to the churches of the New England Conference.) It pleased the fourth quarterly conference of Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, Tuesday evening, May 18, 1915, to elect me church delegate to the annual conference at Providence, R. I., from June 1 to June 7, 1915. On Wednesday, June 3, 1915, the lay electoral college elected Dr. William H. Higgins of Providence and myself lay representa- tives of the New England Annual Conference to the General Con- ference. At midnight, Sunday, April 30, 1916, Boston and Cambridge members of the New England delegation bade farewell to relatives and friends at South Station, and started on our 1,104- mile journey. The 214-mile journey from Boston to New York City was with- out special incident. All hands were up bright and early Monday morning,. May 1, 1916, when, at seven o'clock, our train pulled into the Grand Cen- tral Depot. A taxi conveyed us across the city to the Liberty street station of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, passing through the old part of New York, which is largely a business district. Sailing across New York Harbor to Jersey City by ferryboat, the sky-scrapers of the metropolis towered high in air, while the statue. of Liberty, on Bedloe's Island, seemed to welcome us, as truly as it welcomed those who came to our land of liberty from foreign shores. At Jersey City, our party was increased by delegates from the New York conference. We soon found ourselves comfortably seated in Pullman cars, which Bishop Walters had engaged from the BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, to take our party through without change of train to Louisville, Kentucky. The passing of such pala- tial cars, with their precious freight of cultured Negro manhood and womanhood, was prophetic of the time, when, throughout our land, race discriminations shall have ceased, and when true liberty shall be enjoyed without regard to race or color! We left Jersey City at 10 o'clock A. M., passed through Phil- adelphia at 12.30 (the famous city of Brotherly Love); through Bal- timore, my mother's birthplace, at 2.43 P. M., and through Wash- ington, the nation's capital, at 4.05. We could plainly see the Cap- itol, as our train approached the city. Thoughts of the grandeur of our country filled our hearts as we gazed upon the Capitol, yet there was sadness as we thought of lynchings and other wrongs which many of our brethren unjustly suffer! Still we remembered as Sister Eliza A. Gardner often quotes it:-" 'Beyond the dim un- known, standeth God within the shadows, keeping watch above His own. " Upon reaching Washington, D. C., we had covered about one- third of the 1,104-miles from Boston to Louisville, and had reached practically our farthest southern point. Thence our Baltimore & Ohio train sped westerly with increasing momentum through north- ern portions of the states of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and southern portions of Ohio and Indiana. While dining just before sunset, after having left Washington, we noticed on the dining table the "Baltimore & Ohio Employes Magazine," containing the following poem entitled, "On the Old Main Line," which seemed to accurately describe the sensations we felt as our train rattled along at terrific speed: On the Old Main Line. (By John Randolph Stidman.) I 'm off toward the mountains, On a clear, keen day, Outbound, westboufid, Swinging on the way. I feel the pulses throbbing In this mighty steed of mine, Thundering o'er the bridges, Rolling round the ridges, 92 0 -4 6 (: .2 z 0 LJ -4 H 0 e To This page in the original text is blank. BIRD' S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Winding up the valley On the old Main Line. There's music in the singing Of the hard, clean rail. Steel-bound, wheel-bound Strength that cannot fail. It sends the joy of action Sweeping through the blood like wine; Flashing by the meadows, Plunging through the shadows, Winding up the valley On the old Main Line. As the members of our party enjoyed beautiful mountain scen- ery from the train, it brought to mind what the Psalmist David sad. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people, from henceforth, even forever." We felt that we were in our Father's keeping, and were, therefore, safe. It also brought to mind the song which railroad men like to sing,- Life's Railway to Heaven. Life is like a mountain railroad, With an engineer that's brave, We must make the run successful, From the cradle to the grave; Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels, Never falter, never fail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, And your eye upon the rail. You will roll up grades of trial, You will cross the bridge of strife, See that Christ is your Conductor On this lightning train of life; Always mindful of obstruction, Do your duty, never fail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, And your eye upon the rail. 3 4BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE You will often find obstructions; Look for storms of wind and rain; On a curve or fill or trestle They will almost ditch your train: Put your trust alone in Jesus; Never falter, never fail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, And your eye upon the rail. As you roll across the trestle, Spanning Jordan's swelling tide, You behold the Union Depot into Which your train will glide; There you'll meet our blessed Leader, God the Father, God the Son, With the hearty, joyous plaudit, "Weary pilgrim, welcome home." Blessed Saviour, Thou wilt guide us Till we reach that blissful shore, Where the angels wait to join us In Thy praise, forevermore. Delight thrilled us as our train stopped at Harper's Ferry. If hats had not been off, we would have taken them off in becoming reverence, as we gazed upon the monument to John Brown of Os- sawatomie, with stone slabs on either side of the monument in honor of the men, who, with John Brown, stood up for liberty! The fact that John Brown was born May 9, 1800, made recollec- tions of him all the more vivid and sweet, as we looked upon his monument at Harper's Ferry during the moment or two our train stopped at the station. Just before midnight Monday, May 1, 1916, our train crossed over from Maryland into West Virginia. We slumbered and slept while the train thundered on at terrific pace. Five o'clock, Tues- day morning, May 2nd, found us at Chillicothe, Ohio. Upon com- paring our timepieces with the porter we found that our Boston watches were one hour fast, due to the fact that we had changed from Eastern to Western time during the night. A "high-cost-of- living breakfast," on the train, served in first class style, occupied our attention as the train continued to Cincinnati, from which point we made a three-hour run to Louisville, Kentucky. We then found 4 Rev. William J. Walls, D.D. Pastor, Broadway Temple Louisville, Ky. This page in the original text is blank. BIRD S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE ourselves 1,104 miles from Boston, at the gateway to the southwest, but not a southern city (as a Louisville young lady informed us). Suit cases, bags and paraphernalia of various descriptions were hustled onto the station platform, and we soon found ourselves in the midst of the advance guard of our hosts, the members of the reception committee of the Louisville A. M. E. Zion Church! Some delegates called taxis into service, but most of us fol- lowed Bishop Walters and huddled merrily into a belt line street car, which car was very similar to Boston electrics, excepting that the end entrances are wider, and that each entrance is divided by an iron partition for the convenience of passengers getting in on one side, or out on the other. Thanks to the wisdom of the Ken- tucky legislature, there was no segregation on street cars! A fifteen minute car ride brought us to Broadway Temple,. cor- ner of Broadway and Thirteenth street, Louisville, which is the home of the leading Zion congregation, and where the general confer- ence held its sessions beginning Wednesday, May 3, 1916. It had been just forty years (1876) since a Zion general conference had been held in Louisville. THE HOUSE OF GOD. (By Miss Bettiola H. Fortson, of Chicago, Ill.) How beautiful: the House of God Where one can sit and hear the story Of Him who reigns in all His glory: How beautiful! How beautiful; the House of God Where songs of praise ring through the air Whose echoes ascend the golden stair: How beautiful! How beautiful: the House of God Where man can worship Him, the Crucified The only One who gladly for us died: How beautiful! 5 6BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLt GENERAL CONFEBNCR How beautiful: the louse of God Where one can softly whisper in His ear Through prayer the things they do fear: How beautiful! How beautiful: the House of God To stand within this sacred wall And help the men who ofttimes fall: How beautiful! How beautiful: the House of God Where death is welcomed as but a dream As angels stoop to kiss the sunbeam: How beautiful! How beautiful: the House of God When we no more shall be alone But with Him, at the Heavenly throne: How beautiful! Our first impressions upon entering Broadway Temple were pleasing. Here was a church designed and built by Mr. Samuel Plato, an enterprising Colored man. Praccically all work done on it by masons, carpenters and laborers, was performed by Colored men. During the progress of the structure many white masons wagged their heads and said that colored people could not build it, but while they were saying so the colored men just went ahead and did it! Not only that, but, when the outlook was dark from a financial standpoint, Mr. Plato advanced sufficient of his own money to enable Rev. Wm. J. Walls and his faithful congregation to finish the building without embarassment. The church is built of concrete masonry, costing 32,000, of which amount about 17,000 had been raised. This does not include either the cost of furnish- ing the church or the pipe organ. The fact that the money has been raised and the church erected inside of two years, speaks vol- umes for the people of Zion in Louisville! All was bustle and excitement in Broadway Temple after the arrival of the 369 delegates. Conference sessions commenced at ten o'clock Wednesday morning, May 3. There was a procession of the Broadway Temple Choir (a vested choir of ladies and gentlemen), followed by the right bishops in their black robes, general officers of the connec- tion and delegates-an impressive scene. The names of bishops and date each was consecrated are as follows: 6 JOHN BROWN Freedom's Champion - BISHOP G. L. BLACKWELL BISHOP JAMES W. HOOD Died October 80, 1918 This page in the original text is blank. BIRD S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Right Rev. James Walker Hood ........................... 1872 Right Rev. Cicero R. Harris ...... .... 1888 (Died June 24, 1917) (The above bishops were retired at this general conference.) Right Reverend Alexander Walters 1892 (Died February 1, 1917) Right Reverend George Wylie Clinton ..................... 1896 Right Reverend George Lincoln Blackwell ................. 1908 Right Reverend J. W. Alstork ............................ 1900 Right Reverend J. S. Caldwell ............................ 1904 Right Reverend A. J. Warner ............................. 1908 Eight bishops and sixteen general officers were in attendance. Bishop Clinton preached the opening sermon, which was fol- lowed by Holy Communion. It was the largest communion service we had ever witnessed, and put the Bishops, Ministers and Dele- gates in. spiritual frame for the transaction of the important busi- ness which had called them together from all quarters of Zion's world. Each Bishop presided over the General Conference in turn for a day. There were three sessions a day besides the meetings of the various committees. To avoid needless detail, suffice it to say that the General Con- ference lasted 20 days, from Wednesday, May 3rd, to and including Monday, May 22. During the first week or so. the tide of interest perceptibly rose, as reports of general officers of the connection sup- plemented the splendid 19-page quadrennial address of the bishops, which was read by Bishop Caldwell, sounding the keynote of the General Conference. This quadrennial report contained 23 recom- mendations which were referred to appropriate committees. The report included the statement that, last year, 80,000 had been re- ceived from the membership of Zion connection for general claims. Committee Assignments. The pastor and delegate from Boston fared well in assignments on committees' of the conference. Rev. Swain, as connectional pres- ident of the Varick Christian Endeavor Society, was chairman of the Committee on Christian Endeavor Society. He was also a mem- ber of the conference committee on auditing, in some respects the most important committee of the conference. It was that commit- tee which had to straighten out the accounts of the former financial secretary. Bro. Swain was also on the Committee on Episcopal Districts and Assignment of Bishops, which committee was instru- mental in so arranging the new districts that the New England Conference is to remain for another four years under Bishop Alex- ander Walters, although this conference is now included with the 7 . BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE New York and other conferences to make up what is now known as the First Episcopal District. Brother Powell was appointed one of the marshals of the con- ference, in which capacity he endeavored to pour oil upon troubled waters whenever there was undue excitement over the financial matters, or balloting for bishops. The position of marshal afforded splendid opportunity to meet a large number of people of Louis- ville, as well as visiting delegates and friends. The four committees upon which it was my privilege to serve were: Committee on Devotions, on Varick Christian Endeavor, on Sabbath Observance, and the Committee on Evangelism. The work of the conference itself was so constant and strenuous, that it was often difficult to find time or place for extended committee work; yet it imust be borne in mind that the real legislation of the General Conference was largely determined in the various committees where- matters introduced in the form of resolutions or motions, were threshed out. Special Features. The event to which everybody looked forward with greatest interest was the election of bishops. In fact, it almost seemed that everybody you met in Louisville was a bishop, or a candidate for the bishopric. Anybody who had a vote in the general conference was a much sought man or woman, which fact had a tendency to enlarge our circle of acquaintances. The handbook of the General Conference had been patronized by many candidates to acquaint delegates with facts and fancies concerning the lives of those who had brooded long and anxiously over the declaration of the apos- tle, Paul, to Timothy, that "Whosoever desireth the office of a bishop desireth a good work." Circulars of information, cards of all sizes and descriptions, and copious articles in the Colored Louisville papers (The Louisville News, the Kentucky Reporter and the Louis- ville Defender) set forth claims of rival candidates. It was an in- teresting sight to watch the contest for various positions, and the anxiety to secure plums for increased service to the church. From Wednesday, May 10, to Saturday, May 13, ten ballots were cast without any one receiving the necessary two-thirds of all votes cast. At this time the excitement ran high, just as it does in any large convention of diversified ambitions, and it seemed as though there would be a deadlock as there had been four years before in Charlotte, N. C., in 1912. We felt quite confident, however, that a Sabbath of rest and worship- would put us all in better spiritual 8 Bishop William L. Lee This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE 9 frame for this important work and so it proved, but, although there was a marked improvement in temper, the first indications of Mon- day morning were that the deadlock was likely to continue. It was at this point that the masterly control of bishops wras made man- ifest. After a hurried consultation between them, Bishop Caldwell rapped to order and counselled the delegates to quit their foolish- ness, get down to business and elect somebody! On the eleventh bal- lot, Rev. L. W. Kyles received 260 votes out of 357 cast, and being de- clared elected bishop amid the greatest demonstration thus far in the conference, was carried high up in the air upon the shoulders of sev- eral admiring delegates. On the twelfthballot Rev.RobertB.Bruce re- ceived 241 votes out of 343, and was declared elected bishop, he also being borne aloft upon the shoulders of ardent admirers. Three more ballots were taken without result. It looked as though the election would be halted, and that only two would be elected (as the bishops had recommended in their quadrennial report), in spite of the fact that the General Conference itself had voted to elect four. All other business of the General Conference was practically at a standstill, and it was evident that little if anything could be done until the deadlock was broken. Finally, on the sixteenth ballot, Rev. G. C. Clement and Rev. William L. Lee were elected bishops, and were likewise carried on the shoulders of friends, in spite of the fact that Brother Lee is a man of tremendous avoirdupois. Thus was closed the election of bishops, making 10 active bishops on the bench at the end of the General Conference besides the two retired on half pay who continl- ued to serve the church as far as physical condition would allow. Two things were noticeable as a result of the election; first, that North Carolina is the storm center of Zion Methodism, as North Caro- lina is the storm center of Zion Methodism in Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church in Boston! Three of the four bishops elected were from North Carolina. Second, that the surest way to get higher honors in the General Conference has heretofore been to have served well in a connectional office. Bishop Kyle had brought the Quarterly Review to a very high point of excellence; Bishop Bruce had been editor of the Sunday school literature; and Bishop Clement had been a very efficient manager of the Publication House at Charlotte. As Presiding Elder Whitted remarked, Bishop Lee was the only one elected from the rank and file of the ministry, and that seemed to be the result of a feeling that at least one bishop ought to be taken from the "trenches." Our own pastor, Dr. Swain, was voted for on several ballots, but held me back from booming him in earnest, as I was prepared 10 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE to do if the best interests of the Boston Church and the New Eng- land Conference had demanded it. It may yet be, Bishop Swain, formerly of New England, Western New York, Virginia and North Carolina! Some of the principal statistics of the connection as given in the quadrennial report of the General Secretary, Rev. M. D. Lee,' are as follows: Members .................... Churches ..................... Value of churches ............. Organizations ................ Schools ...........I ......... Property value of schools ....... Sunday schools ................ Officers and teachers ........... Scholars .............. : Books in libraries .............. Children baptized in last 4 years.. Adult baptisms ................ Cash received during last 4 yrs. Expended .......... 568,608 3,150 5,900,000 5,700 27 375,000 3,220 15,520 251,730 238,133 1,850 17,000 342,422.11 329,198.54 The Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society held meet- ings whenever they could get a chance, making encouraging reports of their work and holding a successful Tag Day. Rev. Florence Ran- dolph of Jersey City, N. J., was elected president. One of the thrilling episodes of the General Conference was the appearance of Mrs. Henrietta E. Peters, who, with her husband, is in charge of our missionary work at Quittah, Gold Coast, West Africa. She related coming through the submarine-infested zone in the English Channel, and said that the ship on which she ar- rived in England rescued drifting passengers from another ship vwhich had been torpedeod by the Germans the night before. Another thrilling address was that of Rev. William Henry Shep- pard, of Louisville, one of the world's great missionaries, and liber- ator of 400,000 of our people in the Congo district of Africa, so shamefully treated, in 1909, on the rubber plantations. There were tears in hundreds of eyes as Mrs. Peters and Dr. Sheppard told us of conditions in Africa. Rev. W. A. Dean, our missionary at Demarara, South America, was also thrilling as he told of labors to build up Zion in that con- tinent. Bishop Walters was in charge of all this foreign work. In re- Zion's Representatives At The S.S. Council Of Evangelical Denominations, Boston Prof. James W. Eichelberger, General Supt. (sitting) Rev. Jacob W. Powell and Rev. Benjamin W. Swain This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE sponse to his masterly appeal, pledges of dollars came like sniow- flakes in a January storm. When the excitement was over, there were 757.00 in pledges, 53.18 in cash, and 155.94 raised by the ladies in the Tag Day effort, which, with 28.30 given to Dr. Dean the next morning made a total missionary collection of 994.42. A pleasant feature of the work of the women was the exhibi- tion of the handsome quilt sent by Miss Eliza A. Gardner, of Boston. One hundred little squares were subscribed for, netting ten dollars for the missionary work, the quilt itself to be presented to the first new-born baby at our mission station in Africa! Sermons. Spiritual food was abundant every day, especially Sundays. A half-hour devotional service preceded each conference session. Bishop Clinton's sermon on May 3, 1916, the opening day, was a. masterly one upon "The Optimism of Jesus"; text, "He shall not fail or be discouraged till He have set righteousness in the earth". Bishop Harris's sermon on Sunday morning, May 7, was clear- cut and convincing, from the text, "Gather my saints together'. Bishop Caldwell's sermon Sunday afternoon was dedicatory for the Broadway Temple, which was filled to its utmost seating capa- city, and hundreds of people standing. His sermon was from the text, "Who is this that cometh up like the moon" He said that the light of the moon was a reflection from the sun, and that the Christian gets his light.from Jesus who is the Light of the world. Rev. Benj. G. Shaw, pastor of the 200,000 institutional church of Zion in St. Louis, Mo., was preacher in the evening. Bishop Blackwell preached a magnificent sermon in the Jacob Street church the first Sunday morning. A friend told me he never heard Bishop Blackwell better; in fact there was a request that fur- ther opportunity be given to hear Bishop Blackwell, whose success- ful pastorate in Boston is still fresh in our minds. Probably the most scholarly sermon of the conference was by Dr. W. 0. Carrington, Dean of Hood Theological Seminary, Salis- bury, N. C., on the second Sunday morning, May 14, 1916. His text was, "He that taketh not up his cross and followveth after me, is not worthy of me". Dr. Carrington (whose sermon was especially interesting because he had preached at my ordination as elder, in Providence last June), corrected several common misunderstand- ings as to what taking up one 's cross meant. Many think that when they are sick that is a cross, or, if they lose loved ones, that such I1I 12 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE is a cross. Dr. Carrington explained that none of the things which are the common lot of humanity, or which we cannot help are crosses, but when we deny ourselves for others, or crucify the lower nature for higher spiritual attainments, we are taking up our cross. He told the story by Conan Doyle, of a man who had a fierce strug- gle with a supposed enemy by the roadside on a dark night, only to discover, by a streak of light from the moon, that the enemy was himself. Dr. Carrington said, our chief fight is often with our- selves; we must crucify self in order to win in life's strenuous bat- tle. Bishop Blackwell advised the ministers to take note of Dr. Carrington's sermon and manner of delivery. Reports. It took several days to listen to reports of the general officers, 16 or more of them. The future of Zion depends so much upon the education of our rising generation, that some of the facts given in the report of Prof. S. G. Atkins for 20 years our Secretary of Edu- cation, will prove interesting and instructive. Quoting from Bishop Hendrix of the M. E. Church South, Prof. Atkins said: "The traditions of all great growing Protestant church- es tell of a teaching ministry from the beginning, and of their part in Christian education." The greater the passion for education, the more commanding its influence, and the more respectable the church. The absence of schools means either a feeble, or a borrowed minis- try, and loss of influence with intelligent people. The schools of the Roman Catholic church, with which the Jesuits have girdled the globe, saved it when it seemed tottering to its fall. The church and the school stand or fall together, around the world. Thus the church fortifies as she goes, and is in no land stronger than her in- stitutions of learning." Prof. Atkins' statement of expenditures during the past four years will show us the amount spent for each of our educational in- stitutions: Atkinson College, Madisonville, Ky ..................... 2,455.31 Walters Institute, Warren, Ark. ..................... 1,546.15 Clinton Institute, Rock Hill, S. C. 1,435.84 Lancaster Normal & Indus. Sch., Lancaster, S. C. 952.65 Eastern No. Carolina High School, Newbern, N. C .... 2,000.03 Lomax Hannon High School, Greenville, Ala .. 2,524.25 Greeneville College, Greeneville, Tenn. 1,605.50 Dinwiddie A. & I. School, Dinwiddie, Va.... 2,364.78 Rev. Florence Randolph President, W.H. and F.M.S. This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S NYB VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Livingstone College, Salisbury, N. C . ............ 1,250.00 Edenton High School, Edenton, N. C . ........... 2,047.01 African Mission Schools ............................. 2,045.65 Macon Industrial School, Macon, Ga . ............. 1,274.22 Zion Institute, Mobile, Ala . . .......................... 215.87 Total for above schools ....................... 21,717.26 Grand total for all schools .................... 27,882.37 ADDRESSES. Time fails to think of doing justice to the admirable address of Bishop Alexander Walters before the great audience which filled the Gaiety Theatre on the night of Tuesday, May 9, 1916, when he spoke eloquently upon "The Brotherhood of Man". This address was sent by me to each of our Boston colored papers-the Guardian, the Advocate, and the Chronicle, so that the folks at home might be informed, in advance, of the beauty and strength of what was re- garded as the best address of the General Conference, from a race and patriotic standpoint. He referred to "our magnificent church structure at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Northampton Street in Boston, Mass.", and then called the roll of Zion churches in the principal cities of the country, as evidence of the great religious progress of the connection and the race! He described our finan- cial and industrial progress, and descanted upon "The Brotherhood of Man" as only one filled with .the love of God and man can do. The address of Governor A. 0. Stanley at the General Confer. ence on Tuesday night, May 16, 1916, was also noteworthy. He paid tribute to our race, by stating that not one of the four mil- lions of slaves betrayed the trust imposed upon them during 'the absence of fathers and sons from southern homes during the civil war! He said, "I am a Southerner in every fiber, the son of slave- holders for generations; yet I rejoice tonight that no man is subject to the lash, and that there is not a slave under the Stars and Stripes!" Hon. John C. Dancy's response was just what we would expect from Zion's most eminent layman. Each bishop read his Episcopal Address, reviewing the work of his district for the past four years (1912 to 1916), excepting that Miss Gertrude Hood read the report of her honored father, Bishop Hood. Inadvertently, Bishop Walters' stenographer had omitted the part of his address which referred to the Boston church. Upon discovering this, I immediately handed the bishop the following memorandum of the Boston church: BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Boston Church. (Memorandum by Jacob W. Powell.) 1. Rev. Benjamin Wilson Swain, D. D., pastor, is now finishing his fourth successful year at Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston, Mass. 2. The membership has steadily increased from year to year, and the moral, spiritual and financial condition of the church has greatly improved. 3. During the four years' pastorate of Dr. Swain, four hundred (400) new members have joined the Boston church, which repre- sents one-half of the present nominal membership of eight hun- dred (800). 4. The financial progress of the Boston church has been equally encouraging during the past four years. All connectional claims have been paid. The first mortgage has been further reduced from 25,000 to 20,000. The burdensome second mortgage has been further reduced from 5,525 to 3,525, and there is a promising prospect of still further reductions in the near fu- ture. The estimated value of the church is 60,000. 5. On December 16, 1914, the Boston church observed the 25th an- niversary of Dr. Swain as a minister in the A. M. E. Zion Church by a banquet at which citizens joined in esteem of this noble pastor and ideal public servant. 6. The church has the confidence'and support of the citizens to a greater degree than ever before, and the pastor and members are looking forward to entertaining the Annual Conference of the New England District on July 5, 1916. ORDINATION. The ordination of the four newly elected bishops took place Friday afternoon, May 19, 1916, and was a most impressive and solemn service, each of the eight other bishops taking part. Bishop Alexander Walters preached the sermon. 1 4 Rev. C.C. Alleyne, A.M. Editor, A.M.E. Zion "Quarterly Review" This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Impressions of Louisville. We were anxious to find out the condition of our people in Louisville. In conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Sam Burbank in their home on South Brook street we were given facts and figures, which were later substantiated by Nathaniel R. Harper, Esq., the oldest colored lawyer, who has resided in Louisville ever since 1870, and has been the organizer of several church choirs in that locality. Out of a total population of 300,000, there are 45,000 colored people in Louisville. There are a large number of churches, with all colored officers and congregations. 2 Zion churches: Jacob street, and Broadway Temple. (There are 6 Zion churches in and around the city.) 2 A. M. E. churches. 2 M. E. churches. 1 Catholic church (directly opposite Broadway Temple). 1 Presbyterian church. 2 Christian churches. 1 Episcopal church (where the General Citizens Committee met to prepare for the coming of the-.General Conference). It is greatly to the credit of the Christian people of Louisville that the members of these churches worked together to assist Zion in entertaining the General Conference. The conference was made memorable by a fraternal visit of Bishops of the M. E. Church South, which was reported as the first time their bishops had officially attended a Negro Church General Conference. There are 6 colored schools in Louisville, having 134 colored teachers. The number of scholars follows: Central Colored High. School ....... ............. 277 Elementary Colored Schools ....... .............. 5,086 Normal School .............. ................... 36 Kindergarten Schools ......... .................. 385 Night Schools ................ .................. 402 Total colored pupils.. 6,186 We have a picture of the New Central Colored High School Building, now being constructed (or rather remodeled) at the corner of Ninth and Chestnut streets. We were told that the former en- trance had to be closed, and a new one put on the other street, be- 15 BIRD' S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE cause one entrance was in a white district and the other in a col- ored district. The segregation idea prevails to this extent, that colored people cannot live in a white district, and vice-versa, unless they own the house where they live, in which case they cannot re- turn to the district if they move away. We were told, however, that many white people are dissatisfied with the way this segrega- tion works in Louisville. Our Boston party took an automobile ride the day before we left Louisville for home. Part of our ride included a visit to the Central Colored High School, and to another school where we inspected work of girls in domestic science; and of boys in the rudiments of Carpentry and cabinet making; also of a mixed class in gymnastics. Miss Lulu Flint, the young lady who entertained us, was teacher of manual training in the colored schools, and a charming personality. We were told that Louisville had numbers of colored profes- sional men and women-doctors, lawyers, ministers, dentists, chirop- odists, manicurists, undertakers, contractors, masons, plasterers, dressmakers, editors, shoemakers, tailors, milliners, chauffeurs, jani- tors, letter carriers, school teachers etc., and there is also a well ap- pointed stenography and typewriting office kept by a colored man, w-hich, however, wNre were too busy with conference matters, to find time to visit. There are also several grocery stores, two colored drug stores, and. other evidences of commercial enterprise. Speaking of drug stores, it is well known that most of the drug stores of Louisville, while accepting colored people's money for drugs and medicines, yet often refuse to serve them with ice cream soda ,etc. Prominent among the great buildings owned by our people in Louisville is the Pythian Temple, corner 10th and Chestnut streets, erected by the Pythian Mutual Association of the Grand Lodge, K. of P., at a cost of 130,000. It contains 100 rooms, including 46 dormi- tories, 24 office rooms and many business rooms; electric light, steam heat, tub and shower baths, living and transient rooms, let to men only. Practically everything any one wants to buy can be secured under the roof of this magnificent temple. We visited the Red Cross Sanitarium, 1436 South Shelby street, which has been in operation 16 year's. It is modern in its appoint- ments, well equipped, and is the only hospital in Louisville up to date and constructed for the exclusive purpose of caring for colored patients. The Mammoth Life and Accident Insurance Company is doing large business in Louisville. This is the first and only insurance 16 WESTERN COLORED BRANCH Louisville Free Public Library EASTERN COLORED BRANCH Louisville Free Public Library This page in the original text is blank. BIRD S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE company ever organized in the state of Kentucky by Negroes. On July 10, 1915, ten thousand dollars in bonds were deposited with the state treasurer, for the protection of the policy holders, and license to begin business was granted by the insurance commissioner. On July 12, 1915, the agents of the company began to deliver policies to the five thousand members who had previously applied for insur- ance in the company. By December 1st, 1915, more than eight hun- dred thousand dollars of insurance had been issued, and about nine thousand dollars had been paid back to policy holders in claims. All of the religious denominations and fraternal organizations of the state pledged their support to the company before the organization had taken definite form, which is further evidence that our people can be united! The Colored Branch Young Men's Christian Association claims distinction as "A home for young men away from home", and as "The only place in the city open 365 days in each year for whole- some recreation and instruction". It was established in 1893, and has a full complement of colored officers, workers and members. It fills an actual need! Louisville has two colored public libraries, 52 class room col- lections in 13 school buildings, and six stations, a total of sixty cen- ters for the circulation of books for home use for colored readers. The circulation of books through these centers last year was 104,771 volumes! We have a picture showing the Western Colored Branch, and the building of the Eastern Colored Branch of the Louisville public library, both of which are in charge of Air. Thonias F. Blue. The Western Branch building is 77 feet long by 45 feet wide, built of brick and stone, with red tile roof, heated throughout by hot water, and cost 47,410.64, a large part of which was donated from the well known Carnegie fund. The work of the Western Branch was so successful that a second Carnegie building was erected in 1914, size of building 60x80 feet, of brick, concrete and stone with red tile roof, at a cost of 31,024.31. There are other buildings, such as the Odd Fellows Building, the Building of the United Brethren, etc., which are less pretentious, but evidential of the financial power and progress of our race. Individual homes of the people of Louisville are also models of neatness and attractiveness. They compare well with homes of pro- gressive people anywhere. While there are many three-story dwvell- ings, we noticed the bungalow style of dwvelling very largely in evi- dence, with brick walks leading from the front sidewalk to thie 1 7 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE houses. These walks were treated with a solution of red mixture each Saturday morning, so as to be (like the people) well dressed for Sunday! Where a second story was added to a bungalow, it was .generally not put on the front part of the house, but added above the rear part. The drainage of the city was not as perfect as it is in Boston, the laundry water from some of the homes being poured out onto the sidewalk and running down the gutters of the street. This may not be a general condition, but it struck us as be- ing unsanitary, however limited! The larger the number of people of a certain race in any see- tion, the larger must be the number of poor whom Jesus said "ye have always with you". When we went out from the midst of the culture and refinement represented so largely in the general con- ference, we could not help being impressed with the large un- churched portion of our people in Louisville, living amid open sa- loons. It is true that, in every city and among people of every race, there are those who appear to be "without God and having no hope in the world". Great as the work of our churches is in Louis- ville, in Boston and elsewhere, there are yet multitudes who are by their own choice or misfortune, as sheep having no shepherd. We were told that the children in one of the schools we visited, were from homes in what was regarded as the poorest colored quarter of the city. How our hearts went up to God in prayer as we wit- nessed the work of these boys and girls, many of whom had serious handicaps! We rejoiced that God could make Booker T. Washing- tons, Joseph C. Prices, Frederick Douglasses, Paul Lawrence Dun- bars, Frances Harpers, Amanda Smiths, Sojourner Truths, and equal- ly worthy race leaders from the ranks of boys and girls such as we saw in Louisville! The work of Mrs. Bessie Allen, Superintendent of the Newsboys' Sunday School, which meets every Sunday after- noon in Odd Fellows Building, and gathers colored children from several blocks in that vicinity, appealed to us as a very worthy meet- ing of one of the great problems of our race. Let us in Boston do more than ever before, for the uplift of the people living about us who have not had as good a chance to start with as we! Four and one-half years ago, the National Home Finding So- ciety, incorporated under the laws' of the state of Kentucky, pur- chased a beautiful home in a choice section of Louisville, on Chest- nut street, between -17th and 18th streets. This home is dedicated to the care and training of homeless, destitute and neglected colored children. Children of any state in the United States whose parents die and leave them homeless may be committed to the care of this 1 8 Mr. Thomas F. Blue and Staff, Colored Branches Louisville Free Public Library SENIOR BISHOP, GEORGE W. CLINTON This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE National Home Finding Society, which has received and cared for 105 children. There are now 25 children in this home. There is also a Kentucky Home Society for Colored Children, which society has handled over 300 children, placing theni in good homes and other- -vise looking after their welfare. These facts and figures show that our people are wide awake in the city of Louisville! An evidence of industrial progress in an Indiana city just across the Ohio river, and through which we passed on our way to and from Louisville, was the Mill City Cotton Mills, of which Mr. J. E. Wiley is treasurer and manager, and in which several Boston people are interested as shareholders. I appreciate the privilege of being delegate from the New Eng- land Annual Conference to the General Conference. It has been one of the most instructive experiences of my life, yet I must con- Tess to you, as the queen of Sheba said, after her visit to King Solo- mon, "The half has not been told". The Conference Handbook, edited by our friend, Rev. Jesse 13. Colbert, D. D., Presiding Elder, containing the following, which makes a fitting close to the Bird's Eye View: The General Conference Hymn, 1916. (Respectfully dedicated to the Bishops, General Officers and Del, egates of the General Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church.) Words written by Miss Eva Virginia Johnson, graduate in music of the University of Pennsylvania, daughter of Rev. Logan Johnson, D. D. (To be sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.) OUR ZION. Zion has many loyal sons wherever she is found, Men of God and faithfulness throughout the country 1round, Bearing the Gospel message, this their duty they perform For God and Zion. CHORUS. Glory, glory to our Zion, Glory, glory to our Zion, Glory, glory to our Zion, Our Zion is marching on, J.9 20 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE She has sent the Gospel message to the lands across the sea, To help the lost in Africa wherever they may be, She has tried to make men holy and has tried to make men free For God and Zion. CHORUS. ZION is our watchword, ever onward let it be, Our aim is for our God and to help humanity, We are ever going forward with our banner waving highl For God and Zion. CHORUS. Let us then be up and doing, ever forward in the fight, Saving souls of men for God, and teaching them the right, We are ever going forward, never faltering on the way, For God and Zion. CHORUS. Miss Eliza A. Gardner President, Butler Club This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE CHAPTER TWO. Historical Sketch of A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston, Mass., U. S. A. (By Miss Eliza A. Gardner.) The A. M. E. Zion Church of Boston was organized June 13, 1838, with seventeen persons who had withdrawn from the commun- ion of the Methodist Episcopal Church, then located on May Street (now Revere street), for more religious freedom and with a desire to become part and parcel of the A. M. E. Zion connection which was manned and controlled by men of their own race. Their pre- liminary meetings were held in the home of William Riley on Southac (now Phillips) street. They selected a place of worship in a hall on Cambridge street, and organized a Board of Trustees, of which Solomon R. Alexander was the first chairman. The congregation then decided to call a pastor. Joseph Butler was chosen delegate to the New York Annual Conference to petition for a pastor. Their petition was granted. They were received into the said conference and Rev. Jehiel C. Bea- man, the first pastor, served the church seven years. Later the New England Conference was organized. From their first place of worship, the congregation moved into Parkman hall at the corner of North Grove and Cambridge streets at the west end; thence, in 1841, to a small chapel on West Center street (now Anderson street), which was named "Rush Chapel." In 1866 they moved to North Russell street, to the church edifice for- merly occupied by the First Methodist Episcopal Church, which is now located on Temple street.. After worshipping on North Russell street for thirty-seven years it was decided by the church, in view of the fact that a large majority of the membership had removed from the west end to the south end of the city. and the further fact that the old location had become un- desirable as a place of worship for many reasons, they decided to seek a more desirable place. The pastor, Rev. J. H. McMullen, and the trustees, sought for a place, and finally secured and purchased the present church home for the sum of 59,500 at the corner of Columbus avenue and Northamp- ton street, which had been used as a place of worship by the congre- gation of the Temple Adath Israel. 21 2BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE -The new church was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, under the auspices of the A. M. E. Zion Church, by Bishop James Walker Hood, D. D., Rev. E. George Biddle, a former member of this church, and Rev. J. H. McMullen, the pastor, on June 7, 1903. Since 1903 the church has been under the pastorates of four other clergymen. Our present much loved pastor, who has served us so faithfully, Rev. Benjamin Wilson Swain, is the thirty-second pastor of Zion in Boston, and the fifth pastor since we occupied this building in 1903. Our first treasurer was Mr. Thomas Dalton, who was well known to old Bostonians. The second treasurer was Mr. James Gardner, the father of Miss Eliza A. Gardner, who has the honor of being the oldest member today in Zion connection, having united with the church one or two years before Bishop J. W. Hood, our oldest bishop. The pastors who have served our church in Boston have been as follows: Pastors of A. M. E. Zion Church in Boston, Mass., U. S. A. (1838-1918) Conference Years Total Name beginning May Years Jehiel C. Beaman..................... 1838-1844 7 Daniel Vandem . .................. 1845 1 George Spywood . ................. 1846-1847 2 James Simmons . ................. 1848-1849 2 William H. Bishop . ................ 1850-1851 2 Prince West. ................... 1852 1 J. P. Thompson . ................. 1853 1 S. Tolbert................... 1854-1855 2 Alexander Posey . ................. 1856-1857 2 David Stevens . .................. 1858-1859 2 S. Tolbert (second time) .................. 1860-1861 2 Wm. F. Butler . .................. 1862-1863 2 Peter Ross ................... 1864 1 George H. Washington ................... 1865-1868 4 William Abbott . ................. 1869 1 Jenkins Williams. ..................1870 1 William H. Decker . ................ 1871-1872 2 Allen Walker . .................. 1873 1 Major Ross ................... 1874-1875 2 R. H. G. Dyson.......... 1876-1880 5 John W. Brown . . ........ 1881-1884 4 22 OUR FIRST PASTOR, 1838-1844 This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE George E. Smith............... 1885-1887 3 Samuel C. Birchmore............... 1888-1890 3 George L. Blackwell............... 1891-1892 2 Thomas H. Johnson ............... 1893-1894 2 G. W. Offley............... 1895 1 S. F. Dickson................. 1896-1899 4 J. H. McMullen ............... 1900-1903 4 H. J. Callis............... 1904-1907 4 G. L. White............... 1908-1909 2 G. W. Johnson............... 1910-1911 2 B. W. Swain............... 1912-1918 6 Consecrated bishop after serving Boston church. THE RECORDS OF THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION'S CHURCH CONFERENCE MEETING In Boston, Mass., June 13th, 1838. The organization of the First M. E. P. Z. Church in Boston took place at the house of Brother William Riley, Southack street, under the direction of Jehiel C. Beaman, Elder of the New York Zion's Con- ference. The meeting was opened by prayer, after which the Elder proceeded to nominate trustees for the supervision of the church. The following brethren were nominated: Solomon R. Alexander ) William Riley ) Simpson H. Lewis ) Joseph W. Butler ) Trustees church Wm. W. Rich ) for one year John St. Pierre ) C. Robinson Weeden ) Win. Lawson ) Henry Robinson ) The above brethren were then taken up singly and received and constituted a Board of Trustees. The trustees then proceeded to ap- point their foreman. On motion and second, S. R. Alexander, Fore- man; C. R. Weeden, Secretary; Wm. Riley, Treasurer. Motioned, that we meet on the following Monday, the 25th of June, to organize the regularly Quarterly Conference; resolve en- acting this. (Signed) J. C. BEAMAN, in the Chair. S. R. ALEXANDER, Secretary. (Abstract from records of meeting held at residence of William Riley, August 6, 1838): 28 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE " . . . . . Motioned and seconded that we take the hall adjoining the market in Cambridge street with the advice and consent of the brethren." (Abstract from records of meeting held October 8, 1838): "The Trustees of the Methodist E. P. Z. Church assembled at their regular monthly meeting together with the brethren of the church at the hall in Cambridge street. . . . . ) ACT OF INCORPORATION. (Chapter 5, Acts of 1839.) COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty-Nine. Au Act to Incorporate the Methodist Episcopal Zion's Church in the City of Boston. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the, same as follows: Section 1. Solomon R. Alexander, Joseph W. Butler and Simp- son H. Lewis, their associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation by the name of the METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION'S CHURCH in the city of Boston, with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties, restrictions and liabilities, contained in the twentieth chapter of the Revised Statutes relating to parishes and the support of public worship. Section 2. Said church shall have power to hold real and per- sonal estate to an amount not exceeding five thousand dollars, ex- clusive of their meeting house: provided, that the whole annual in- come thereof shall be appropriated to parochial purposes. (January 29, 1839.) HONOR ROLL. Pastor and members who worshipped in the old Anderson street church, and whose subscriptions, on July 12, 1865, started the pur- chase of the North Russell street edifice, which was the Boston place of worship of the A. M. E. Zion Church from 1866 to 1903: Rev. George H. Washington Mrs. Catharine Hix William H. Logan Mrs. Matilda A. Quals Sidney Dorsey Mrs. Sophia Wood John J. Smith Mrs. Eliza Long Jacob J. Moore Mrs. Elizabeth E. Walker John H. Long Mrs. Anna Hix Daniel F. F. Johnston Mrs. Maria E. Powell 24 This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE David Brown David Walker Thomas Dalton M. Hilman J. L. Edwards B. Freeman James W. Marshall J. Loper Clark Wm. H. Corsey John Williams S. Emerson H. McGill Calvin Terry George Silvers Thomas Taylor Dr. Bond Mrs. Harriet Gray Mrs. Eliza King Mrs. Mary Darling Mrs. Clara Volt Mrs. Ann Coleman Mrs. Eliza Tidd Mrs. Anna Logan Patience Davis Eliza Duciene Catharine Bell Mrs. Georgianna 0. Smith Mrs. Emily E. Baldwin Mrs. Anna E. Green Mrs. Nancy A. Fowler Mrs. Mary A. Malone Mrs. Mary Jane Norris Mrs. Eleanor A. Brown Mrs. Sarah L. Matthews ,Mrs. Mary Redman Mrs. Sarah E. Edwards Mrs. Mary E. Jones Mrs. Mary C. Gurley Mrs. Catherine Cornet Mrs. Maria Jane Emerson Mrs. Sarah Silvers , Mrs. Francis P. Clark Mrs. Eliza Lane Howard Mrs. Mary Harris Mrs. Maria Bond Mrs. Mary Gilbert Mrs. Martha Brandon Mrs. Maria Peterson Mrs. Ellen Backus Mrs. Eliza Knox Mrs. Nancy Aiken Eliza A. Gardner Mrs. Eliza Gardner Mrs. Louisa Jackson Mrs. Adeline Nichols Mrs. Maria Emerson Mrs. A. N. Powell -s. Mary Burr Sale of the North Russell Street Church. (copy) Boston, Mass., May 28, 1903. The Trustees of A. M. E. Zion Church and Society sold the church on North Russell street for the sum of seventeen thousand dollars (17,000), purchasing the Temple Adath Israel on the cor- ner of Columbus avenue and Northampton street for the sum of fifty-nine thousand five hundred dollars (59,500), paying twenty- five thousand dollars (25,000) cash, and placing mortgages for the balance as follows: FIRST MORTGAGE of 25,000 with the Franklin Savings Bank, said mortgage to run five years with interest at 5 per cent., 25 26 BIRD S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE payable semi-annually. SECOND MORTGAGE of 9,500 with Mr. H. Crine, said mort- gage to run five years with interest at 8 per cent., payable semi-an- nually. The pastor in charge is Rev. J. H. McMullen. Trustees: Scott Robinson, Chairman Board of Trustees; Atlas Skinner, Treasurer; William H. Batum, Clerk; L. H. Galloway, Wil- liam H. McIntire, John H. Long, Jacob W. Fowler, Darby Hill, E. P. Crawford. PAPERS PASSED. (Copy) "Boston, Mass., June 1, 1903. "Today at 4.30 p. m., the papers were passed between the A. M. E. Zion Church and the Temple Adath Israel. The deeds were re- corded . . . Dedication of Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church. (Copy) Boston, Mass., June 7, 1903. The dedication of the Columbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Church took place today (Sunday, June 7, 1903), and was as follows: Service began at 10.30 A. M. with singing of the Doxology. Reading of announcement in the book of discipline on the subject of Dedication, by the pastor, Rev. James H. McMullen. Singing, Hymn 1202. Reading 1st Scripture Lesson, 2nd Chronicles, portions of 6th and 7th chapters, by the P. E., Rev. E. Geo. Biddle. The second Scripture lesson was read by the pastor, from 10 He- brews 19-26. Prayer by the presiding elder. Singing, "Nearer, My God, to Thee," followed by ritual service. Singing, Hymn 1096, lined by Bishop Hood. Preaching of Dedicatory Sermon by Rt. Rev. James Walker Hood, D. D., LL. D., from 1st chapter Genesis, 3rd verse. Prayer by Rev. J. H. McMullen. Singing by the choir, Prof. John F. Ransom, chorister. Doors of church opened; several came forward and gave their names to the pastor. Reading, by the pastor, of letters from Gov. John L. Bates, Acting Mayor Jas. H. Doyle and Rabbi Charles Fleiseher, the former rabbi of this temple. The public contribution was then taken up, after which came the solemn dedicatory serviees as follows: JOHN J. SMITH, Chairman Board of Trustees, 1842-1889 This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Reading responsively, Psalm 122, by Bishop Hood and P. E. Rev. E. Geo. Biddle. The Board of Trustees, together with the Building Committee gathered around the altar, and the chairman of the Building Com- mittee, John H. Banks, presented the keys of the church to the pas- tor, Rev. James H. McMullen, who gave them to the presiding elder, Rev. E. George Biddle. The P. E. then passed them to Bishop J. W. Hood, who presented them to Scott Robinson, chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Bishop, Rt. Rev. James Walker Hood, D. D. LL. D., read the Declaration (see discipline, page 351) contained in the Dis- cipline, dedicating the church according to the Discipline and Usages of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Doxology. Benediction. In the afternoon at 3.00 o'clock the Rev. J. Henry Duckery, of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, of Cambridge, preached from 10th chapter, Numbers, 29th verse. The choir of the above named church furnished music. J. Sherman Jones was the chorister. In the evening at 7.30 o'clock the Rev. E. George Biddle, pre. siding elder of the New England District, preached. Singing by 30 voices, assisted by violinist from the Symphony orchestra, of Han- del's "Hallelujah Chorus". Total collection for the day was 444.42. During the following week entertainments were held every night; the total amount for the opening week being 638.66. 28 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE NUMERICAL AND FINANCIAL PROGRESS OF THE A. M. E. ZION CHURCH IN BOSTON, 1903 1918 CONFERENCE YEAR ENDING IN JUNE No. RUSSELL ST. 1903 COLUMBUS AVE. 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 The 1904 the North WHOLE NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN CHURCH 258 859 400 450 500 564 598 602 612 614 712 898 974 1079 1184 1475 receipts Russell VARICK SUNDAY SCHOOL C. E. SOCI ETY 129 108 165 250 850 400 475. 482 350 368 372 460 483 499 532 552 .569 112 135 160 190 203 214 848 398 399 310 490 274 183 269 308 TOTAL RECEIPTS 3 1,56..06 7,618.23 7,287.04 6,000.00 6,810.98 6,266.60 8,084.34 6,167.11 5,405.85 7,314.12 8,259.27 7,048.41 6,996.88 12.445.18 9,440.04 include 17,000 received by selling Street Church l ....... - -1 I I . -i JOHN W. WILLIAMS JOHN H. LONG Former Class Leader Former Trustee REV. J. H. McMULLEN JACOB J. MOORE First Pastor, Columbus Avenue Former Treasurer This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE GLIMPSES IN ZION'S HALL OF FAME-1838-1918. "Part of the host have crossed the flood, and part are crossing now" Trustees -1838- Solomon R. Alexander William Riley Simpson H. Lewis Joseph W. Butler William W. Rich John St. Pierre Christopher R. Weeden William Lawson Henry Robinson -1839- John Bentley Dessaline L. Carteaux Eli Caesar William Junior Henry Nichols John B. Cutler -1840- William H. Logan Thomas Dalton John Williams -1841- William Winston William H. Gray -1842- John J. Smith -1843- John Thompson Henry Watson James Gardner William H. Alley Horace Barr -1844- Cato Freeman Henry Emery -1845- Edward H. Williams Isaac Messick -1846- Henry L. W. Thacker. Joseph Russell Barzilla Freeman -1847- Thomas H. Tompkins Charles Mahoney Edward Waldron James Turner -1850- William Bennett Benjamin Wilson -1851- John P. Armstead George H. Turner John W. Webb Jacob J. Moore -1852- Rufus Gilbert Calvin Turnage Moses Manning William Terry -1853- Thomas A. Davis Lewis Smith Sidney Dorsey -1855- Daniel F. Johnston -1856- Hiram Mingo John Blunt -1858- William H. Cosey Ottaway Jackson -1859- David Walker Calvin Terry Francis Moore 29 so BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE -1861 James L. Carter David Bush Noble Christy Charles Taylor Atlas Skinner -1863 Jacob W. Fowler John H. Long Amos M. Spence . Thomas Taylor Winfield S. Price -1864 Charles H. Saunders G. Posey Class Leaders David Brown -1838 James L. Edwards John Williams James Marshall Joseph W. Butler -1866 S. R. Alexander Eli George Biddle William W. Rich -1868 -1839 Robert Brooks John B. Cutler Henry Woodest -1840 -1869 William Logan A. B. Canaday David Roberts =-1877 -1842 Stephen Emerson Charles Williams Henry Fletcher William Lawson Joseph Allston John J. Smith Jackson Abraham P. Simpson George Turner David Tillman -Later 1843 E. P. Crawford William H. Gray William H. McIntire .-1846 J. Henderson Allston Thomas H. Tompkins Hezekiah Henderson Henry L. W. Thacker Alexander Young Barzilla Freeman Evins J. Brewer -1847 Henry Sport William Johnson Rev. E. George Biddle Former Supt. Of S.S. This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Moses Manning -1853- Sidney Dorsey -1854- S. Gurley -1859- Francis Moore -1862- David Bush -1865- Thomas Loper -1866- James W. Marshall -1870- Edward Williams -1873- 13. Freeman -Later- John H. Hammond Edward W. Barrows William H. Franklyn Samuel Allen John W. Williams Henry Benders G. W. Franklin Nathan Tasco Allen Schmidt Sidney L. Smith Henry Harding Marion W. Addison T. W. Swan Scott Robinson Mrs. Ella W. Richie William Reddick Charles H. Saunders Richard Bernard Marion Falawn J. T. Battles --Present Class Leaders- Lewis H. Galloway ,D. W. Cartwright Lewis Garrett John T. Counsel James A. Peck Ernest L. Vick John A. McLeod Simon R. Tuggle James L. Carter Charles G. Williamson Jacob W. Powell William A. Beckett William T. Alford Edward Richardson Arthur Cousens Mrs. Matilda A. Cartwright George McCain Exhorters -1838- S. R. Alexander John William.-s Mrs. Juliana Tillman -1839- David Roberts -1845- William Dove -1846- Solomon Cephas -1847- William Johnson -1851- Robert A. Tripp -1852- John P. Arimstead Moses Manning -1862- Thomas Loper -1863- David Hill -1869- James W. Marshall -1870- Rufus Gilbert -1873- George W. Alexander ,31 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Local Preachers -1844- Andrew V. Lewis -1846- Henry Wilson -1847- John Williams -1848- William J. Fuller -1849- George H. Washington -1852- Jacob Matthews Samuel T. Birmingham -1854- Thomas Sunrise Moses Manning -1863- David Hill Thomas Loper -1864- H. MeHill Noah Brooks -1867- Wim. Henry Hatton B. Freeman Mrs. Anna Freeman -1871- James W. Marshall Rufus Gilbert David Smith Moses P. Hawkins -Later- Henry Wilson John Wilson John W. Ghant Nathaniel Young Arthur A. Challenger A. H. Scales Ira N. Sisco Frank C. Gibson Clarence A. Broding William H. Franklyn Jacob W. Powell David C. Lynch Felix S. Anderson George H. Hamilton Thomas W. Lamb Sidney L. Smith Stewards -1846- Joseph Russell -1863- William H. Cosey Moses Hillman -1873- Sidney Dorsey Present Board of Stewardesses Mrs. Victoria Salgado Mrs. Matilda A. Cartwright Mrs. Jennie G. Cropp Mrs. Sarah A. Butler Sarah R. Swain Mrs. Laura Brewer Mrs. Margaret A. Caines Mrs. Mary E. Suggs Georgianna Oatfield Mrs. Minerva Thompson Mrs. Sarah A. Gaskins Mrs. Ellen Dorsey Mrs. Phoebe Walker Mrs. Mary Washington Mrs. Harriet E. Mitchell Annie Johnson Mrs. Susan -Cutrell Fannie Kennebrew Choristers Jacob J. Moore Francis Moore Joseph Wallace John R. Franklin Mrs. Adelaide Smith Terry John F. Ransome Walter 0. Taylor 32 Rev. Samuel C. Birchmore Former Pastor This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Organists Mrs. Georgianna Smith Grant Mrs. Maria Marshall Bryant Rachel Thompson Elizabeth Stewart Frederick E. Lewis Mrs. Cecilia B. Washington Maria Simmons Mrs. Alice H. Thibou J. D. Martin F. C. Gilbert Percy R. Parham Mrs. Lillian I. Harding Mrs. Lida T. Bright John H. Barkley, Jr. Some Former Singers Mrs. Flora Batson Bergen Mrs. Martha Farrar McGill Bertha Norris Sarah Selby Mrs. Mary Batoms Dandridge Pat Rollins Mrs. Effie Rollins Mrs. Ida Betts Harriet L. Smith Mary Florence Smith Mrs. Florida Holmes Clough Mrs. Annie Allston Sylvester Mrs. Mabel Barrows Peyton John E. Drummond Ethel M. Butler Mrs. Cecelia F. Johnson Present Choir Dr. Walter 0. Taylor Mrs. Lillian I. Harding Georgetta D. Woodest Mrs. Ella Richie Mrs. Carrie R. Christy Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor Mrs. Mamie C. Smith Mrs. Ida Lawrence Mrs. Malinda C. Stewart Mrs. Emily Mitchell Mrs. Polly Gallamore Mrs. Grace Storms Bertha E. Thomas Mrs. Una C. Blacklock Mrs. Marie Cheek Lillian Griffin William T. Alford William Beckett Rodney Burton C. Hilton Green John Rainer Herbert Richardson James Storms Thomas A. Webster Robert Wilson Shirley Caine Oscar B. Cheek Varick C. E. Choir Mrs. Zoe A. Milbery Hetty B. Randall Amy C. Hinton Mrs. Edna Medley Mildred Turner Edna Galloway Charlotte Pinckney Marion Brown Mrs. Malinda C. Stewart Mrs. Grace Storms William Argro George McCain Junior Choir Bertha Addison Elsie Banks Sarah Jackson Elizabeth Jackson Samuella Washington May Beckett Dorothy Phillips Minnie Lattimer Barbara Benjamin Victoria Baumgardner 33 BIRD'S BYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Beatrice Taylor Present S. S. Officers and Eva Marshall Teachers Helen Gillard William H. Batum, Supt. Eleanor Megginson Rev. J. W. Powell, Asst. Supt Annie Taylor Richard Bernard, Asst. Supt. Ralph Banks Charles W. M. Williams, Asst. Emerson J. Pierce Supt. Taswell Goode Mrs. Matilda A. Cartwright, Arthur Montgomery Asst. Supt. Eugene Johnson Minnie Walker, Supt. Cradle James Jones Roll Sunday School Superintendents Mrs. Margaret B. Williams, Supt. Horace Barr (1838) Home Department Joseph W. Butler Mrs. Jessye E. Walker, Secretary George W. Lowther Elizabeth German, Asst. Sec'y Robert Morris Edna Galloway, Asst. Sec'y William H. Cosey (1866-7) Mrs. M. A. Cartwright, Treas. Charles A. C. Beaman (1868-9) Lawrence Banks, Librarian Eli George Biddle (1870-82) Mrs. Una C. Blacklock, Pianist Eliza A. Gardner (1883-89) Gladys Moore, Pianist 'Philip J. Allston (1890-94) Eliza A. Gardner Jacob W. Powell (1895) Dr. Walter 0. Taylor Arthur A. Challenger (1896) J. Henderson Allston Harry F. Briscoe (1897) Mrs. M. Georgie Powell John W. Williams (1898; 1900-4;Mrs. Minerva Thompson 1906-10) Nellie R. Reynolds John F. Dent (1899) Mrs. Alice E. Banks William T. Richie (1905) Mrs. L. L. E. Perry William H. Batum (1911-18) Martha J. Traynham Sunday School Pianists C. Hilton Green Mrs. Emma Butler Horton Mrs. Zoe A. Milbery Mrs. Cornelia Windsor White Florence Williams Mabel C. Rickards William T. Richie Maud Pitman Theresa A. Gaines Mrs. Lurenna Walker Kemp Otis A. B. Skinner Susie Jones Mrs. Marie Ward Cleland Mrs. Una C. Blacklock Mrs. Ella Richie Theresa A. Gaines' Deceased Elsie Banks Rev. Nathaniel Young, Chaplain Gladys Moore Varick tChrigtdan Endeavor Dora Freeman Stevens Society Presidents 84 MISS SARAH J. SELBY JAMES W. MARSHALL Former Class Leader MRS. SIDNEY W. PATTERSON MRS. JENNIE G. CROPP Former Pres., Willing Workers Secretary Board of Stewardesses This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE -Senior- Sextons John H. Banks (1892-1893) William W. Rich (1838) Edward Richardson (1894-5) Edward Williams (1850) Edward W. Barrows (1899-1901) Stephen Emerson Frank C. Gibson (1902) Peter Peterson (1858) Philip J. Allston (1896-8, 1903-4)Abraham Dailey (1878) Amos M. Spence (1905) Henry Williams (1884) Walden Banks (1906-7) Wm. H. B. Roberson (1895) James L. Carter (1908) John W. Brown (1900) Winfield S. Price (1909) Darby Hill (1902) Mrs. Cora F. Saunders (1910) James A. Peck (1903) Mrs. 0. V. Barker Bishops Otis A. B. Skinner (1911-13) (Via Boston Pastorate) Mrs. Zoe A. Milbery (1914-18) George Spywood Junior Superintendents James Simmons Mrs. Ella Richie (1903) Wm. H. Bishop Mrs. Minerva Thompson Joseph P. Thompson Mrs. Green W. Johnson Peter Ross Alva W. Milbery George L. Blackwell Mrs. Cora F. Saunders Martin R. Franklin Mrs. Eva Washington Presiding Elders Mrs. Zoe A. Milbery E. George Biddle Mrs. L. L. E. Perry Moses P. Hawkins Mrs. Lena Coombs Presidents S. S. Union Hetty B. Randall (1917) Otis A. B. Skinner Anna E. Cheek (1918) Jacob W. Powell Mrs. C. E. Henderson (1918) Present Church Ushers Junior Presidents Amos M. Spence Mrs. Emily Allston Skinner Otis A. B. Skinner Bertha Addison Henry Maynard Samuella Washington George Thompson Beatrice Taylor Henry Clay Present Junior Officers Simon R. Tuggle Beatrice Taylor, President John W. Watkins Rita Harris, Secretary Arthur Cousens Victoria Baumgardner, TreasurerCharles A. Minton Officers of Daughters of DeLacey Wright Conference Officers of Glad Club Mrs. Sarah A. Butler, President Mrs. Rosa L. Taylor, President Mrs. A. C. Benjamin, Vice Pres.Alice Williams, Vice-President Mrs. Rosa L. Taylor, Secretary Mrs. Edna Medley, Secretary Mrs. E. Williams, Chaplain Annie Chase, Treasurer Mrs. Elizabeth Spence, Treas. Present Varick C. E. Society BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Officers Mrs. Zoe A. Milbery, President Henry Clay, Vice Pres. Elizabeth German, Rec. See. Edna Galloway, Cor. See. Mrs. Victoria Salgado, Treas. Bertha Addison, Pianist Margaret Garrett, Asst. Pianist Victoria Lockhart, Chorister Amy Hinton, Asst. Chorister Bertha Thomas, Soloist Mrs. Carrie Christy, Soloist Constance Green, Librarian Anna E. Cheek, Junior Supt. Lillian C. Bishop Grace C. Briggs Mrs. J. Mardo Brown Mrs. Matilda A. Cartwright Annie Chase Henry Clay Anna E. Cheek Mrs. Lena A. Coombs Mrs. Lena Cupee Mrs. Jennie Cropp Mrs. Mattie G. Ellis Mrs. Mary E. Feggins Theresa A. Gaines Edna Galloway Mrs. Cordelia E. Henderson,Eliza A. Gardner Asst. Jun. Supt. Elizabeth German C'omnittqe Chairmen C. Hilton Green D. W. Cartwright (Prayer Meet-Constance Green ing) Mrs. Sarah Green Amanda Evans (Lookout) Mirs. Annie H. Goldston Helen E. Vick (Social) Mirs. Mary C. Hall Charlotte Pinckney (Sewing Cir-Mrs. Lillian Harding cle) Mrs. Cordelia E. Henderson William Argro (Good Citizen-Mrs. Rebecca A. Hipps ship) Ida Jackson Georgianna Oatfield (Missionary)Mrs. Jennie C. Jerrod Mrs. Margaret P. Turnage( Tem-Mrs. Ella E. Johnstone perance) Nellie Jones Mrs. Annie Goldston (Flower) David C. Lynch Mrs. Cordelia E. Henderson (QuietMrs. Edna 0. Medley Hour) Mrs. Zoe A. Milbery Mrs. Pearl Cupitt (Visiting) Mrs. Jennie Mills Teacher-Training Class Solomon Moody Mrs. Agnes Adams Caroline Nelson Ella Anderson Mrs. Cora A. O 'Brien Imogene Andress Georgianna Oatfield William Argro Mrs. Luiu Osborn Mrs. Florence A. Auten Dora E. Parsons Mrs. Alice E. Banks Mrs. L. L. E. Perry Frank A. Barnes Rev. Jacob W. Powell (Teacher) Mrs. Sarah A. Barnes Mrs. M. Georgie Powell William H. Batum (Supt.) Mrs. Phoebe Price Mirs. Anna C. Benjamin Annie M. Purnell 36 Scott Robinson Chairman, Board Of Trustees Since 1889 This page in the original text is blank. BIRD 'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Joseph Reece William T. Richie Nellie R. Reynolds Mrs.Ella Sandifer Mrs.Eva Scarborough Mrs. Minnie Skinner Mrs. Mamie Pendleton Spencer Mrs. Malinda C. Stewart Rev. Benj. W. Swain (Pastor) Walter 0. Taylor Mrs. Minerva Thompson Susan Tillery Martha J. Traynham Mrs. Margaret Tunsel Mrs. Margaret P. Turnage Mrs. Sarah E. Vick Mrs. Marie Ward Cleland Mrs. Eva B. Washington Caroline Williams Charles W. M. Williams Mrs. Elizabeth M. Williams Mrs. Margaret B. Williams Maud Wilson Nellie Wilson S. S. Cradle Roll Department (Miss Minnie Walker, Supt.) Harley MeNair Ruth L. Goosby Eleanor Garner Ernestine Johnson Daisy M. Lewis Elizabeth Leoney Roderick E. Parham Alvin J. Medley Benjamin A. Tuggle Jane L. Lovelace Beatrice J. Smith Milton E. Granville Elizabeth L. Strother James S. Oakley Gertrude Reynolds Marjorie L. DeBoise June L. Lovelace Beatrice J. Goosby Samuel M. Shepherd, Jr. Charles J. Allen Doreatha Elliott Thomas P. McNair Oren E. Walker Pauline L. Hudson J. Elbert Hudson Ellswer Marie Walker Kenneth T. Alford James W. S. Oakley Oreath Elliott Joseph H. Ryles, Jr. Bernice Ridley Rose V. Randolph Mary D. E. Caines Lewis E. Galloway Beatrice S. Bowden Leroy E. Brown Leonard M. Brown Philip E. Medley Helen M. Douglass Ruth H. Jones Mildred E. Bryant Merite Louise Bryant Helen R. Watson Herbert T. Cheltenham Edward J. Watson Thomas Duren, Jr. Thelma E. Chase Virginia D. Doughtry Iona B. Doughtry Ella Jane Buchanan Arbella F. Walby Eva Alice Physic Lucy L. Price Wilson Swan Note: Infants should be re- ported for the Cradle Roll at birth, and at three years of age should be brought by their parents to the Beginners' Department of the Church School. 37 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE LIST OF MEMBERS OF NORTH RUSSELL STREET A. M. E. ZION CHURCH, JUNE, 1903. class No. 1 LEWIS H. GALLOWAY George A. Clark Silas M. Nelson Eliza A. Gardner Mrs. Sarah A. Thornton Mrs. Rachel A. Johnson Mrs. Carrie A. Clark L. H. Gaskins Rebecca Perry Gabriel Williams Drusilla Long Henry Sport S. B. McIntyre Mrs. Susan Marrs John W. Harvey Augustine Carter Mrs. Grace Williams Bernetta Bowen Mrs. Mary A. Woodest Georgetta D. Woodest Samuel Hawkins Mrs. Lillian I. Harding Lillian Williams Ella Miller G. W. Snowden Josephine Williams Elizabeth Arnett Amos M. Spence Franklin E. Brown Annie Campbell Arthur Dickerson Sarah Dickerson Mrs. Sarah J. David Alice Morehead Philip J. Allston Lewis Garrett Mrs. Margaret A. Allston Mrs. Helen Maynard Class No. 2 D. W. CARTWRIGHT Mrs. Jennie A. Banks Mabel M. Banks Isabella Walker Scott Robinson Mrs. Sarah A. Butler Jacob W. Fowler Mrs. Sarah A. Richardson John H. Long Stephen Harvey Susan Frazier Florence Countee Mrs. Charlotte Cox Brooks Hattie Bayne Rebecca Lewis Mrs. Sarah A. Moore Rodney Burton E. P. Crawford Annie Allston Matilda Grantham Mrs. Annie Saunders Mrs. Scott Robinson Henry A. Barnes Mrs. C. E. Hunter Mrs. Louisa M. Hunter Class No. 3 THOMAS W. SWAN Henry Respass Henry Washington Joseph J. Bailey I1annah Smith Lucy Holmes Mrs. Anna Bailey Mrs. Sadie Holmes Mrs. Letitia Sorricks Mrs. Caroline Swan Mrs. Margaret Bell 88 Lewis H. Galloway Class Leader And Vice Chairman Board Of Trustees This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Lizzie Massingill Isadora Small Hattie Green Rebecca Gardner Mrs. Mary Respass Mrs. Celia Taylor Mrs. Isabella Moore Clss No. 4 JOHN W. WILLIAMS Mrs. Jennie Williams Mrs. Henrietta Braxton Mrs. Hattie Burr Mrs. Ida Howard George James Mrs. Annie B. Merrick Edward Richardson Annie Scott Mary A. Townsend Mrs. Ellen B. Thompson Maggie Vandeburg Mrs. Sidney W. Patterson Henry Webb Mrs. Annie White Mrs. Harriet Young Sarah Yaden Mrs. Katherine Hudson Mrs. Annie Rhone Mrs. Julia Benders Sylvester Butler Letitia Emlo Mrs. Lavinia Price Prince Moore Mrs. Moore Atlas Skinner Mrs. Matilda Cartwright Mrs. Meade Sister Daniels Mrs. Sophie Edwards Annie Hill Mrs. Eliza Magruder Annie Newman Marlow Falawn Mrs. Kate Falawn Mrs. Peterson Rebecca Hill Mrs. Ellen Williams Selina Cole Hattie Washington Miss E. K. Oldroyd Mrs. Bovell Class No. 5 JAMES T. BATTLES William H. Batum Henry Clay John Kemp Walter Grant Mrs. Lucy Grant Thomas White Mrs. Mary White Virginia Rodgers Rufus Gilbert Darby Hill Mrs. Ella White Nehemiah Hopewell Mrs. M. Hopewell Mrs. Lavinia Holsey Mrs. Grace Williams Mrs. Lavinia Bishop Mrs. M. Johnson Mrs. R. Hunter Brother Hunter Brother Ross Sister M. Williams Sister Franklin Gilbert Moran Mrs. Minnie Reddick Lizzie McMaln Mrs. Charlotte Marshall Class No. 6 NATHANIEL J. YOUNG John Davis Myrene Barrows Mary Wilson Lewis N. Williams 39 40 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Miss E. E. Skinner Carrie Richardson Mrs. Hattie Hart Mrs. Lavinia A. Rogers Annie Rogers Joseph Caines Harriet F. Jones Mrs. Alice Thibou Mrs. Martha Taylor Mrs. Isabella Pierson Charles H. Saunders Wesley Harris Agnes McDuffie Ernest L. Vick Mrs. Mary J. Harris Helen Carrington H. W. Turner Annie Respass Mrs. Mary Grice Class No. 7 EDWARD W. BARROWS Mrs. Emily Allston Mrs. Alice E. Banks Fannie S. Butler Evins J. Brewer Mrs. Annie Brewer Mrs. 0. J. Clarke Mrs. Mary Carroll Mrs. Charlotte C. Counsellor Mrs. E. Goffekin Miss H. Johnson Georgianna Oatfield M. M. Peters Mrs. Louisa E. Tasco Mrs. Sarah E. Holmes Mrs. Harriet Peck Mrs. Mary Washington James Jefferson Elizabeth Adams Fannie E. F. Jones Harriet McIntire John Forsythe Waverley Lockett Ida White Mrs. Lucy Wilkes Class No. 8 HENRY BENDERS Mrs. Maggie Owens Carrie A. Owens William Reddick Mrs. Minnie Skinner Mrs. Maria Skinner Percy Stanton Hortense Tyreas Mrs. Edith Young I. Moses Mrs. Mary Bryant Brother Bryant Mary E. Walker ` Nancy Robinson J. F. Smoot Luke Respass H. A. Collyer Amelia Tutt Mrs.. Eliza T. Anderson Solomon Moody Alice Williams Brother Hill Annie Fuller Lulu Ford Samuel Bryant John H. Banks Mary F. Winlie Elizabeth Brown Thomas Gaskins Class No. 9 F. CLAUDIUS GIBSON Isaac M. Wheeler Alexander Young Mrs. Caroline Bailey Mrs. Nancy Swan Mrs. Annie Clark Mrs. Maggie B. Williams Mrs. Fannie Smith EDWARD RICHARDSON, Class Leader WILLIAM BECKETT, Class Leader LEWIS GARRETT, Class Leader ERNEST L. VICK, Class Leader This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE David Hull John J. Smith Mrs. Emily Lee Ada A. Smith Stephen Williams Lizzie Williams Mrs. Caroline Davis Mrs. Sarah J. Jackson Oscar Harper Mary E. Harrison Mrs. Phoebe Walker Mrs. Sadie E. Vick Sarah Wilson Mary E. Stackhouse Richard Wilder Mrs. Harriet E. Young James W. Lowry Benjamin A. Goddard Mrs. B. A. Goddard Moses Elliott Rachel Allen Sister S. A. Dean Nannie Thomas Lucy Dorsey M. E. Williams Dinah Henry Henry Mason Mrs. Annie E. Gibson 41 42 BIRD S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE CHAPTER THREE. THE BOSTON CHURCH AND THE BISHOPRIC. The movement which was commenced by certain delegates giv- ing Dr. Swain encouraging votes at the last General Conference, has progressed as follows: Minutes of the New England Conference-Church Progress. Boston, Mass. (Page 48.) (From report of Rev. T. A. Auten, Presiding Elder.) "A resolution read by Rev. J. W. Powell endorsing Rev. Swain for the Bishopric at the next General Conference, was unanimously carried at the Fourth Quarterly Conference." Following is the resolution adopted by the Annual Conference at Hartford, Conn., June 9, 1917. (See Page 26 of the Conference minutes.) Resolutions. Right Reverend W. L. Lee, Presiding Bishop, Annual Conference of New England A. M. E. Zion Church, at Hartford, Conn., and Brethren. Greeting: On May 29, 1917, the Fourth Quarterly Conference of Colum- bus Avenue African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church at Boston, Mass., heartily adopted the following resolution, which was still further adopted at a largely attended meeting of the church mem- bership at the close of a Love Feast of unusual fervor Thursday evening, May 31, 1917. Copy. Resolution. (Offered by Rev. Jacob W. Powell.) WHEREAS, Rev. Benjamin Wilson Swain, D. D., has faithful- ly served Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church and the City of Boston, as our efficient Pastor durifg the past five years, endear- ing himself to us and to the people of our great city: and WHEREAS, in the Providence of God, the call is already be- ing heard for efficient men to serve the church in her highest coun- cils for the reason that the hand of death has created another vacancy in the honored Board of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church: therefore, be it A MAN OF RIPE EXPERIENCE! IN THE PRIME, POWER, PROGRESS AND PROMISE OF ECCLESIASTICAL MANHOOD! REVEREND BENJAMIN WILSON SWAIN, D.D., Pastor Columbus Ave. A. AM. E. Zi.'n Churhb, IBostZ,, Mass. "eLET ZION'S 'FIRST-LINE TRENCHES' (the Pastorate) furnish the FIRST man to go " Over the Top " for the Bishopric in 1920, and let that man be BENJAMIN WILSON SWAIN, of Boston." Jacob W. Powell lo I This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE RESOLVED, That the members of the Fourth Quarterly Con- ference of Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church of Boston, Mass., U. S. A., earnestly commend Rev. Benjamin W. Swain, D. D., for election as a Bishop at the next General Conference of the church to be held in the year 1920, and hereby request the coming Annual Conference to pass a resolution to the same effect. Respectfully submitted, JACOB W. POWELL. B-W-S. 218 Broadway (Maplewood), Malden, Mass., June 5, 1918. At the Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church at Provi- dence, R. I., in 1915, Rev. Jacob W. Powell, then delegate from Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church of. Boston, informed the bishop and delegates that the initials B-W-S signified that BOSTON- WANTS-SWAIN. Bishop Alexander Walters acceded to the desire of the Boston church, whose spiritual and financial work has gone on by leaps and bounds during the six years pastorate of Rev. Benjamin Wilson Swain, P. D. Last year the Annual Conference at Hartford, Conn., presided over by Bishop William L. Lee, accepted the resolution presented by Rev. Powell at the previous Quarterly Conference of the Boston church, presenting Dr. Swain for elevation in 1920 to the highest position in Zion connection-therefore the initials B-W-S have been given the added signification that the BISHOPRIC-WANTS- SWAIN. With due regard to other worthy sons of the church men- tioned or to be mentioned for deserved promotion, how fitting it will be to have it said two years from now at the General Con- ference in 1920, that "The BISHOPRIC-WINS-SWAIN." "Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate, Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait." Let us remember, too, that "Prayer is the key of heaven, and Faith unlocks the door." May He who always has a noble man for every emergency, guide the approaching General Conference in the selection of those who shall sit in the highest councils of our beloved Zion! JACOB W. POWELL. 43 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Reprinted from the A. M. E. Zion Quarterly Review, Rev. C. C. Alleyne, A. M., Editor, third quarter, 1917. Benjamin Wilson Swain, D. D. (An Appreciation.) By Rev. Jacob W. Powell. While Rev. B. W. Swain was pastoring Belmont Street A. M. E. Zion Church at Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1904, he visited Clinton, and lent encouragement and inspiration to the work of the Union Chapel which had been.maintained ever since 1895 for the colored people from Virginia, North Carolina and other south- ern points, employed in the construction of the great Wachusett dam, aqueduct and reservoir to supply Boston and vicinity with water. At the New England Annual Conference in June, 1912, Bishop Alexander Walters, who knew the capabilities of men, sent Dr. Swain to Boston, where he has made good as energetic, loving pas- tor of Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church. It was our good fortune to personally welcome Dr. Swain to Boston, and to believe that God had sent him in answer to the earnest prayers of our people whose co-operation has been the joy of his heart ever since. Constant personal association enables us to speak this simple tribute of appreciation. First. He is a man of God. He knows God and loves God. He is a brother beloved, not only in Boston, but wherever he has served his Divine Master. Second. He is a loyal Zionite, keenly alive to the interests of the great connection, of which he is a part. There is nothing half hearted about him. Early in his pastorate in Boston, we heard him say, "I would walk my shoes off to go after a Zion member." He loves his people and spends himself for them. Third. He is a real gospel preacher. Like Paul, the great Apostle, he preaches Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. As a friend said to me, "I like Dr. Swain's preaching, because you can feel him." Boston realizes that Dr. Swain lives the life of Him whose gospel he preaches. "With malice toward none, and charity for all", it is true that Dr. Swain is recognized as prince among our Boston clergy, and is in close touch with the ministers of all lead- ing congregations. In the Billy Sunday campaign, he was an ar- dent enthusiast, loyally supported by his people. Practically every sermon results in accessions to the church, more than 90 having joined during the past three-months. Between 400 and 500 per- 44 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE sons have joined during his pastorate, from 1912 to date, which represents practically one-half of the present membership of the church. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Fourth. God has blessed hini also as a revivalist. This wvin- ter we have enjoyed a real season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and many for whom prayers ascended for years gave their hearts to Jesus. This promises well for the future of Zion in Boston. Fifth. God has blessed him and the church financially. The 25,000 first mortgage has been reduced from 22,000 to 20,000 during his pastorate. The 9,500 second mortgage, which was 5,525 when Dr. Swain came to Boston, has been entirely wiped out as a result of the earnest prayers and joint labors of pastor and people, with special outside aid. Other indebtednesses have been either cancelled or reduced. The Board of Trustees, of which Mr. Scott Robinson has been chairman for quarter of a century, de- serves great credit with all the other church officials and members, especially Rev. A. H. Scales, authorized agent of the New England Conference Mission 1Board, of which Dr. Swain is Secretary. There has been a total reduction of over 8,625 in the debt of Col. umbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church since June, 1912. The fact that we are saved annual interest charges on this vast sum puts Zion in a better financial condition than we have enjoyed since Brother George L. Blackwell, under God, led us out of the wilder- ness of debt by cancellation of the 1,600 mortgage on the old North Russell Street Church after our revival way back in the nineties. Sixth. After all is said and done, however, the best that can be recorded of any minister is that he is "faithful" to his trust. The promise is, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." Brother Swain has been faithful, during all his pastorates, from Bath, N. Y., where he commenced as pastor in 1890, through Berkeley, Va., Paterson, N. J., Jamestown, N. Y., Worcester, Mass., Hartford, Conn., to and including his thus far crowning work in Boston. May he continue to be "blessed of the Lord" in his herculean labors for the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom and the uplift of humanity. 218 Broadway (Maplewood), Malden, Mass., March 12, 1917. 45 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE ORIGIN OF THE METHODIST CHURCHES. (Reprinted from the Discipline.) 1. In the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten persons came to Mr. Wesley, in London, who appeared to be deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for redemption. They earnestly desired (as did two or three more the next day) that he would spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee the wrath to come, which they saw continually hanging over their heads. That he might have more time for this great work, he appointed a day when they might all come together; which from thenceforward they did every week, namely, on Thursday in the evening. To these, and as many more as desired to join with them (for their number increased daily) he gave such advice, from time to time, as he thought most needful for them, and they always concluded their meetings with prayer suited to their several necessities. 2. This was the rise of the United Societies, first in 1urope, then in America. Such a society is no less than "a company of men hav- ing the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation." ORIGIN OF ZION CONNECTION. By those who are acquainted with the history of Methodism in this country, it is generally conceded that its first light shone forth in the city of New York about the year 1765. The John Street Church was the first Methodist Church erected in that city. There wnrere several Colored members in this church from its first organ- ization. Between the years 1765 and 1796 the number of Colored members largely increased, so much so that caste prejudice forbade their taking the Sacrament until the white members were all served. This, and the desire for other church privileges denied them, induced them to organize among themselves, which they did in the year 1796. THIS WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN METHODIST EPIS- COPAL CHURCH OF WHICH WE HAVE ANY ACCOUNT. In the year 1800 they built a church and called it Zion. This 46 VI E -J LU 0 -o Cu LU co LU LU r V) a- z Cua 0 1- LU =: I This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE church, unlike the other Colored Methodist churches formed about the same period, was, as regards its temporal economy, separate from the Methodist Episcopal Church from its first organization. They drew up articles of agreement with the Methodist Episcopal Church, under which she supplied them with ministers for about twenty years. So that ZION, the oldest Church of the Connection, that has by general consent taken her name, MUST BE CONCED- ED TO BE THE OLDEST METHODIST ORGANIZATION, SEP- ARATE FROM THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IN THIS COUNTRY. As we have shown, the Connection is generally called Zion out of respect to that first church. But the style and title of the church, as the founders tell us, is the AFRICAN METH- ODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. And if there is any body of Meth- odists in the world that has a pre-eminent right to this title it is the Zion Connection, for she assumed it before there was a.ay other to assume it. ORDER OF CONSECRATION OF PAST AND PRESENT BISHOPS OF THE A. M. E. ZION CONNECTION: Beginning Conse- of crated Name Born Ministry Bishop Died 1. James Varick . . .1768 1821 1821 1827 2. Christopher Rush. .......... 1777 1822 1828 1872 3.. William Miller. ........... 1775 1821 1840 1849 4. George Galbraith ............. 1799 1830 1848 1853 5. WilliamH. Bishop ......... 1793 1837 1852 1873 6. George Spywood ............. 1798 1842 1852 1876 7. John Tappan . ............ 1799 1833 1854 1862 8. Solomon T. Scott .............. 1790 1844 1856 1873 9. James Simmons .............. 1792 1832 1856 1870 10. Joseph J. Clinton ............. 1823 1843 1856 1881 11. Peter Ross .................. 1821 1834 1856 1889 12. John D. Brooks ............... 1803 1832 1864 1874 13. Samson D. Talbot ............ 1819 1844 1864 1878 14. John J. Moore ................ 1818 1839 1868 1893 15. Singleton T. Jones ............ 1825 1839 1868 1891 16. Jeremiah W. Logan . .1843 1868 1873 17. James W. Hood.............. 1831 1859 1872 .... BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE 18. Thomas H. Lomax . .......... 1842 19. William H. Hillary . .......... 1842 20. Joseph P. Thompson.. 188........ I 21. Cicero R. Harris . ........... 1844 22. C. C. Petty . ............. 1849 23. I. C. Clinton ................. 1830 24. Alexander Walters . .......... 1858 25. George W. Clinton . .......... 1859 26. J. B. Small . ............. 1845 27. John Holliday . ............ 1827 28. J. W. Alstork . ............ 1852 29. J. W. Smith . ............. 1862 30. J. S. Caldwell ................ 1861 31. Martin R. Franklin .......... 1853 32. George L. Blackwell" ......... 1861 33. A. J. Warner ................. 1850 34. L. W. Kyles ...................... 35. Robert Blair Bruce ................ 36. George G. Clement ................ 37. William L. Lee .................... Served as pastor of Boston Church 1867 1863 1844 1872 1872 1866 1878 1879 1871 1866 1879 1880 1884 1884 1881 1875 ... . ... . . ... .... 1876 1876 1876 1888 1888 1892 1892 1896 1896 1896 1900 1904 1904 1908 1908 1908 1916 1916 1916 1916 1907 1893 1894 1917 1900 1904 1917 1905 1899 1910 1909 ... . .... ... . ... . ... . prior to consecratiou as bishop (excepting Bishop Franklin, who began in Boston as Local Preacher). 48 AMOS M. SPENCE ATLAS SKINNER Trustee Trustee Dr. ALFRED P. RUSSELL, Jr. Pres. B. W. Swain Brotherhood CHARLES H. SAUNDERS Trustee This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE "A Candidacy Built Upon Prayer and the Welfare of Zion." (The Master) "Thy Will Be Done" (The Candidate) Thy Will Be done. By John Greenleaf Whittier. We see not, know not: all our way Is night, with thee alone is day. From out the torrent's troubled drift, Above the storm, our prayers we lift, Thy will be done! The flesh may fail, the heart may faint, But who are we to make complaint, Or dare to plead, in times like these, The weakness of our love of ease Thy will be done! We take with solemn thankfulness Our burden up, nor ask it less; And count it joy that even we May suffer, serve, or wait for thee, Whose will be done! Though dim as yet in tint and line, We trace thy picture's wise design, And thank thee that our age supplies Its dark relief of sacrifice. Thy will be done! And if, in our unworthiness Thy sacrificial wine we press; If from thy ordeal's heated bars Our feet are seamed with crimson scars, Thy will be done! 49 BIRDS EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE If, for the age to come, this hour Of trial hath vicarious power, And, blest by thee, our present pain Be liberty's eternal gain, Thy will be done! Strike, thou the Master, we thy keys, The anthem of the destinies! The minor of thy loftier strain Our hearts shall breathe the old refrain, Thy will be done! JAMES A. PECK Class Leader This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE CHAPTER FOUR. REPORT OF THE BOSTON CHURCH TO THE ANNUAL CON- FERENCE AT WORCESTER. SCOTT ROBINSON, DELE- GATE. READ BY MRS. CORA F. SAUNDERS, ALTERNATE. To the Seventy-Fourth Session of the New England Annual Con- ference of the A. M. E. Zion Church, Worcester, Mass. The Presiding Bishop, Visiting Bishops, Presiding Elder, Elders, Delegates, and Friends. GREETINGS: We, the representatives of the Boston Church, beg leave to sub- mit the following report. The year just closed has been remarkable, and in every respect a successful one. We return heartfelt thanks to the Almighty for His wonderful dealings with our church. There are evidences every- where of Christian growth, and the spirit of progress. Harmony and peace exist within our ranks and strangers come flocking to Zion, "The friendly church". The church is steadily on the upward climb, subduing as she moves on in the strength of her Lord. In the six years of Dr. B. W. Swain's administration in Boston, 880 persons have united with the church, 317 of whom joined in the year just ended. The financial record of the church is one which we are proud of. Time would fail to tell to this conference the splen- did work being done in Zion and in the community by a large corps of Christian workers Connected with the various alliances of the church. The work that has been and is being done cannot be measured by words, be they ever so eloquent, but in the great eter- nity of God, when the record of every man is reviewed by the Great Impartial Judge, and witnessed by angelic hosts, then shall we be able to appreciate the services being rendered to the cause of right- eousness and truth by such noble characters as Miss Eliza A. Gardi- ner, Jacob W. Powell, Matilda A. Cartwright, Wm. H. Batum, Vic- toria Salgado, Chas. W. Williams, Zoe A. Milbery, Lewis H. Gallo- way, Ella Richie, Scott Robinson, D. W. Cartwright, and a host of other devoted workers in the various societies and Sunday school. Every department is at work, love prevails, God is leading, and Zion moves on. The record of Rev. B. W. Swain, D. D., our beloved pastor, the 51 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE man, preacher of the word of God, a Christian gentleman-speaks far more eloquently than any word which we might add-untarnished, the genuine goods. This has been the most successful of all years for the Boston Church. In Dr. Swain we have a pastor whom we are proud to honor and respect. He is held in high esteem as one example in Boston of what a Christian minister should be, and one whose ministry God honors by effectual results. Notwithstanding the splendid record of the past six years along all lines of church endeavor, the best of Dr. Swain's record lies in the future as pastor of the Boston Church. He will prove more and more effective as the days come and go. God is doing a great and tangible work in Boston through His servant, B. W. Swain. Boston needs B. W. Swain, he knows the people, and the peo- ple know him; and to know him is to love and respect him. Zion is now where she has never attained unto before, in service, in unity, in love, and in practical endeavor-Zion has a real leader, God grant that we may still have this "Moses". The Fourth Quarterly Conference held on the evening of May 29, 1918, passed a unanimous vote, requesting the presiding bishop, Rt. Rev. W. L. Lee, D. D., to return to Boston for another conference year our present pastor, Rev. B. W. Swain, D. D. A similar vote was passed making the same request to the bishop as regards the able presiding elder, Rev. Theo. A. Auten, D. D. The splendid manner exhibited, and the executive ability practiced by this efficient elder has been, is now, and will continue to reflect credit and honor upon the cause of righteousness in New England. The church assembled in members' meeting on Monday, June 3, voted unanimously to petition the bishop to return Rev. B. W. Swain, D. D., to Boston for another conference year, and also for the return of Presiding Elder T. A. Auten to the district of New England. The prayers of the Boston Church are given in humility to Our Heavenly Father that the deliberations of this session may be every way pleasant, helpful, and constructive, that this may be a memor- able conference of devout, Christian workers, and that all that shall be said or done will redound to the glory and honor of God, and the extension of Zion. The financial record of the Boston Church for the past year is as follows: Moore Class Unique Circle Young Men's Bible Class This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE 53 Financial Report of Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston. June 4,1918. LIABILITIES. First Mortgage .......... ..20,000.00 Note .................................. 2,500.00 Notes .................................. 200.00 Interest on Notes ............ ............. 6.00 Interest on Note .............. ............ 90.00 Total ............................... RECEIPTS. Balance Forward ......................... Public Collections ........................ Class Collections ........................ Rally Collections ........................ Penny Collections ........................ Sinking Fund ............................ Annual Fair ............................. Charity ................................. Church Hire ............................. Donations ............................... Miscellaneous ........................... Sunday School........................... Christian Endeavor ...................... Stewardess Board ........................ Missionary Society ...................... Daughters of Conference .................. Pastor's Club ............................ Glad Club .............................. General Assessment ...................... Total ... DISBURSEMENTS. Pastor's Salary ........................... Sexton's Salary .......................... Clerk's Salary ..........; Organist's Salary ......................... Parsonage ............................. Interest ................................. 22,796.0) 104.67 2,021.46 1,725.36 1,343.55 476.31 350.43 656.43 94.06 112.75 237.93 177.72 558.32 356.55 116.36 207.36 39.28 100.00 11.50 750.00 9,440.04 1,200.00 420.00 72.00 267.50 363.00 1,542.14 54 BIRDS EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERA Notes (principal) ....................... Electricity ............................. Gas ................................... Coal ........................... Insurance .............................. Repairs ............................... Printing ............................... Presiding Elder ......................... Boiler ................................. Sundries ................................ Sunday School .......................... Christian Endeavor ..................... Stewardess Board ........................ Missionary ............................ Daughters of Conference ................. Pastor's Club ............................ Glad Club ............................. General Assessment ..................... L CONFERENCE 639.00 243.20 107.28 466.25 390.19 281.39 124.60 120.00 239.30 812.81 526.81 326.06 116.36 207.36 39.28 100.00 11.50 750.00 9,366.03 Balance ................................. 74.01 Total . ............................... 9,440.04 Supplementary Report for the Past Six Years Ending June 3, 1918. Total Debt, June 1, 1912 .................. 31,337.59 Total Debt, June 1, 1918 ....... ........... 22,796.00 Decrease last six years .............. 8,541.59 First mortgage reduced ....... ........... 2,000.00 Second mortgage cancelled ...... ......... 5,525.00 Notes paid .............................. 839.00 Interest paid .............. ............. 11,549.60 Running expenses and connectional payments ............. ............. 31,270.97 Totals ........... 51,184.57 Yearly receipts: 1912-13 ........... 7,314.22 1913-14 ........... 8,259.27 1914-15 ............................ 7,048.41 I REV. R.H.G. DYSON, Former Pastor REV. JOHN W. BROWN, Former Pastor OTIS A.B. SKINNER, Former President V.C.E. Society MRS. AUGUSTINE BARROWS, Former Chorister This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S BYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE 1915-16 ............................ 6,996.88 1916-17 ............................. 12,445.13 1917-18 ............................. 9,440.04 Average yearly receipts .................. Average weekly receipts ................. 51,503.95 8,584.00 165.00 General Fund List of the Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church. June, 1918. Class No. 1. LEWIS GALLOWAY, Leader Ponney Thompson L. H. Gaskins Mary E. Harris Nancy Johnson Eliza Gardiner Sarah Jackson W.m. Cropp Jennie Cropp M. Caines Jessie Farrier Mary Ebrom George Lathrop Mehalia Allston Lavinia Bishop Annie Midgett Alice Banks Nathan Tasco Ella Lewis Louisa Proctor Lena Coombs Mrs. J. Farrier Sarah McIntyre Mary E. Williams Annie Hill John T. Kelley Wm. Davis Beverly Henderson Luella Briggs Ruth Jones Grace Williams Josephine Williams Minnie Griffin T. J. Jones Elizabeth Spence Alice Sparrow. Getsie Sparrow Sarah Selby Annie Purnell Nora Williams William Galloway Mildred Galloway C. Smith Sadie Hill Julia Ghant James H. Watkins Wm. Tucker Isadora Tucker George Hall Amos Spence Agnes Simms Tillman Simms Laura Middleton Lillian Harding Henry Harding Betsey Thompson Amelia Randolph Lillian Griffin Josephine Lee Cana Pitman Anna Wadell 65 56 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Frank Norwell Mary Samuels Wm. Winslow Alice Williams W. H. Blackwell Ellen Williams Alice Morehead Rebecca Smith Helen Russell H. C. Hemingway S. C. Hemingway Cornelius Garland Class No. 2. D. W. CARTWRIGHT; Annie Washington Mary Washington Ella Lathrop Annie Dickerson Laura Waterhouse Gertrude Hill Fannie Kennebrew Dora Johnson William Johnson Sarah Green Lucy Tate R. W. Jones William Dancy Robert Crane C. W. Palmer Rosa Randolph Florence Williams Annie Benjamin Annie Schenck J. L. Goode Hattie Bayne A. W. Wood Elizabeth Irving Jacob Fowler Evelina Gray Louisia Robinson Ellen Sandifer Ella J. Freeman Nellie Jones Caroline Williams Cora Saunders Annie Upshire Lelia Wright Laura Brewer Elizabeth German Samuel Hutchinson Scott Robinson Ellen Carter Noble Christy Hattie Montgomery William Sparrow Leader Olivia Spicer Albert Spicer Josephine Campbell George McCain. Jennie Banks Robert Barber Stella Smith L. L. E. Perry Carrie Smith Annie Harris Ella Ritchie Mrs. Walter Neal Walter Neal Constance Green Isabella Oakley Pearl Cupitt Arthur Cupitt Carrie Christy Florence Williams Lillian C. Bishop Maude Kelley Georgia Robinson William Taylor Laura Taylor Oscar Childs Mary Bell Mattie Parsons Fannie Bundy Dora Parsons EDWARDI) H. WIILLIAMS Former Church Clerk EDWARD W. BARROWS Former Class Leader JOHN H. HAMMOND Former Class Leader FRANCIS MOORE Former Class Leader This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Hilton Green Charles Saunders Ethel Butler Sarah Butler Julia Sandifer Annie Foye Cora O'Brien Eliza McCain Charlotte Pinckney Florence Scott Etta Esser Helen Martin Mary Feggins Elizabeth Scarborough William Feggins Joseph Waterhouse Mrs. Wm. Harris Rodney Burton Julia Goodrum Paul Moore Lavinia Powell Annie Robinson Sarah Richardson Drusilla Morris Joseph Robinson Rosa Taylor Mabel Polk Rebecca King Martha Menefee Marie Cheek Oscar Cheek Cordelia Harvey Class No. 3. LEWIS GARRETT, Leader Margaret Garrett Ida Williams Lizzie Massingill Hilda Jackson E. H. Scott E. G. Scott Beatrice Hunt E. M. Robinson Ellen Dotson Ella Brown Benjamin Callendar Turner Gray Frank Farrell Annie Bailey Lucy Holmes Lula Wilson Caroline Swan Ida Clarke Mary leckett Ida Lawrence Class No. 4. JOHN COUNSEL, LeIader Letitia Emlo Annie Merrick Theresa Hill Lavinia Price Selina Coles Chas. Minton Minnie Skinner W. A. Skinner J. W. Watkins Hattie Parish Peter Payne Atlas Skinner Harriet Thornell Sophia Edwards Bettie Barton Margaret Vandeburg Harriet Guilford J. E. Cooley Steven Mitchell Maria Skinner Augusta Jones Martha Summers Class No. 5. JAMES PECK, Leader Sarah Gaskins Mary Hudson Eliza Gaskins Sarah Skinner 57 58 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Wesley Harris Mary Steward Minnie Walker Henrietta Hayward Wm. Batum Etta Francis P. W. Weeks Marie Reed Mr. Lawrence Mrs. Ida Lawrence Class No. 6 ERNEST VICK, Leader Lewis Williams Lucinda Hobbs Margaret Ford Bertha Gross Hattie Mitchell Alice Thomas Elizabeth Borden Emma Logwood ,._;la Morrison Mary Good Eliza Anderson Carrie Pennycook Mrs. Jas. Brooks Elena Callendar Cordelia Hobbs Hugh Jackson Eliza Jackson Lucy Mitchell Iona Doherty Mary Ford Mary Schuyler Delacy Wright Susie Allen Daisy Bell Fanny Webb Marie Barrows Lillian Silby Carroll Bell Maria Smith Sadie Barnett Idel Bell Mary Queen Clifford Johnson Wm. Perry Lavinia Holsey Class No. 7. JAMES McLEOD, Leader A. M. McLeod M. Wadsworth Elnora Lockett Ella Lockett Mary Bates G. Thompson J. E. Bailey J. Hasbrouck Georgianna Oatfield A. Doyle Ella Francis J. Rayner Class No. 8. JAMES CARTER, Leader Mary Langshaw Amanda Evans John Evans Mary Crutcher Portia Skinner Annie Chase Henrietta Cousens Ella Johnstone Addie Griffin Emily Lee Susan Cutrell Chas. Johnson Henry Clay Phoebe Walker Sarah E. Vick Hazel L. Keene Laura Hayward Hazel Parkes Martha Tunsell L. E. Dorsey Charity White MRS.CHARLOTTE COUNSELLOR MR RS. CHARLOTTE MARSHALL Zion's First No. Russell St. Bride MRS. LILLIAN I. HARDING Chorister and Composer This page in the original text is blank. BIRD' S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Minerva Thompson Walter Johnson Flora Reece Wm. Hemingway Martha Hill Mollie Griffin David Lynch Traverse Colston Annie Loveland Bessie Colston Lula Osborn Elnora Nichols Harry Quarles Soponia Shirely Alice Mowbray Emily Mitchell E. L. Granville Margaret Williams Class No. 9. EDWARD RICHARDSON, Leader Solomon Moody Francis Morse J. Mardo Brown Emma Gray Victoria Salgado Mary Frohman Thomas Webster Alice Enslow Edna Richardson Gertrude Hogan Lelia Fray Ida Howard Sarah Mercer Joseph Enslow Estelle Hatfield Zoe Milbery Hetty Randall Emma Woodson Gena Brown Daisy Sayles Willa Smith Wilson Smith Josephine Lewis William Hodge Marie Ghant Hattie V. Coursey Katy Jones Alice Ashbee Marguerite M. Brown Fannie Wayner Class No. 10. SIMON TUOGGLE, Leader Elizabeth Whitfield Jennie Jarrod Henry Jarrod Mary Lewis Mr. Haynes Clara Simmons Wm. Addison Amelia Henderson Hezekiah Henderson Julia Tate Ella Caine D. M. Clemmons Class No. 11. CHAS. G. WILLIAMSON, Leader Martha Moody Julia Baldwin Fannie Mason Robt. Aikens Ella Anderson W. Goldston Henry Maynard E. B. Barco Mrs. E. B. Barco Annie Johnson Eliza Bryant Sister Elliott Mrs. J. C. Able J. C. Able Nora McLane Christopher Lance 59 60 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Virginia Lewis J. R. Lewis Isadora Rayner Class No. 12. WM. T. ALFORD, Leader Aurelie Brody Jas. Alford Cornelius Dorsey Wm. Argro Ellen Dorsey W. 0. Taylor Maggie King M. Georgie Powell Harley McNair Class No. 13. ARTHUR COUSENS, Leader Sadie Garner Arthur Cousens Emma Anderson J. Anderson Elizabeth Hurt Minnie Smith Martha Thomas Catherine Elliot Emma Jones Class No. 14. JACOB W. POWELL, Leader Frank Barnes Sarah Barnes, Anna Cheek Lillian Fawcett Annie Goldston Rebecca Hipps Mrs. Mamie Pendleton Spencer Anna L. Quarles Nellie R. Reynolds Cornelia Scott Mary E. Suggs Louise Holman Uriah Muir Lavinia Rogers .Sarah R. Swain Mary Brown Carrie Wise Marianna Pinckney Martha Williams Bettie Troy Rosa Reed Frank Reed James Sharp Maria Sharp L. Belle Smith Cordelia Henderson Rosa Hunter S. Catherine Schuyler Elizabeth Young Elizabeth Taylor Louisa Strother Louisa Tripp Catherine Williams Lula Crockett John Crockett Edna Galloway Alexander Turnage Margaret P. Turnage Martha Shields Anita Kennedy Class No. 15. WILLIAM BECKETT, Leader Martha Taylor Mattie Ferguson A. Atkins Flossie Johnson E. McIntosh Theo Grice E. Belton G. Batson Henry Mills Maude Davis PHILIP J. ALLSTON J. HENDERSON ALLSTON Former Trustee & S. S. Supt. Former Church Clerk JOHN. D. ALLSTON This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Reba Portlock Lucille Monk Caroline Nelson Wesley Nixon Class No. 16. JOHN REECE, Leader Win. Ancrum W. A. Taylor Class No. 17. MRS. MATILD7A CART- WRIGHT, Leader Barbara Benjamin Thelma Scott Elena Callendar Adele Callendar Esther Dorr 61 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE CHAPTER FIVE. WELCOME RECEPTION AND TESTIMONIAL THE INVITATION Aom aend yotme Jwed alwe cowpa4 invilted 4ef2 9y/tanca nclXtsdJ 4m W ia &nelewedlce 6e O lc, a n d C zai N d4 0/ lolen SvicqJn enfze eS/ A/ j T2ern leltaw -qewewcen ge ynz wzan 0e'9 63 8O'4nz .A .s cOren4e Zce4! e.Aeeex to 40 &ewcG956C&xale ce .4entlb'g yeaa- 0/7gw. ywi6's zcase ogs. acwz fZ ecwzadc'a,/as 6(I. (9 20) pound;leq e rndai d" lwiOd rl9 'ca n Fae d o Ae+z eoFa && 'eazl. ejaA e3ee ./ C&C/mftfa14 Ace cI Thessalonins 12 at I. oTimot hy ,3 e Id w d ayslnin5/ 4 121 1T 1 h3 62 WILLIAM H. BATUM Superintendent of Sunday School Former Chtirch Clerk WINFIELD S. PRICE Former Church Clerk CHARLES W. M. WILLIAMS JAMES L. CARTER Assistant Superintendent Church Clerk This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE DR. SWAIN'S RECEPTION AND TESTIMONIAL! (Reprinted from "Boston Chronicle".) Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston, Mass., was the scene of a notable reception and testimonial to its esteemed pastor, Rev. Benjamin Wilson Swain, D. D., July 10, 1918, to mark the beginning of his seventh year as pastor in Boston, and to give direction and impetus to that church's nomination of him as a candidate for bishop in 1920. In rseponse to neat invitations is- sued by the officers, members and friends forming the committee, the guests began to arrive shortly before eight o'clock, Wednes- day evening, July tenth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and, with constantly increasing numbers, were welcomed by the gentlemen of the B. W. Swain Brotherhood (Dr. A. P. Russell, president), and the members of the Young Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society (Mrs. Margaret P. Turnage, president) in charge of the check room. The Board of Church Ushers (Mr. Amos Spence, pres- ident) seated the guests in the auditorium, which, with the ves- tries, had been tastefully decorated in' variegated and national colors by the Tarick Christian Endeavor Society (Mrs. Zoe A. Mil- bery, president) and the J. C. Price Musical and Literary Society (Mr. Butler R. Wilson, president). Rev. Theo. A. Auten, presiding elder of the New England Con- ference, invoked the divine blessing at the commencement of the festivities, as the pastor and associates took their places in the re- ceiving line in front of the pulpit as follows: Rev. B. W. Swain, Miss Sarah R. Swain, Rev. T. A. Auten and Mrs. T. A. Auten, Rev. and Mrs. Jacob W. Powell, Mr. William H. Batum, Mfiss Eliza A. Gardner (the eldest living member of Zion in Boston), and the two flower girls, who were stationed at either end of the line (Miss Beatrice Taylor, president of the Junior C. E. Society, and Mliss Barbara Benjamin, president of the Buds of Promise.) Rev. Jacob Powell, Chairman of the General Committee, then introduced Madam n ULida Thomas Bright, church organist, who rendered a pleasing organ recital during the half hour the members of the Butler Club (Miss Eliza A. Gardner, presidelit), introduced the guests to those in the receiving line. Then followed a musical and literary program, over which Mr. William H. Batum, Superin- 63 6BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE tendent of the Sunday School, presided as master of ceremonies, as follows: Anthem by the choir, "Gloria", by Mozart. Report of Mrs. Cora F. Saunders, Delegate to Annual Confer- ence. Solo, "Awake, 'Tis the Dawn", Miss Ethel M. Butler. WELCOME GREETINGS:-The Church, Mr. James L. Carter. The Conference, Rev. The.o. A. Auten, A. M., S. T. B. The Connection, Rev. A. H. Scales. Sister Churches, Rev. C. B. Lawyer of Cambridge. The Mother Methodism, Rev. Albert L Scott. The Clergy, Rev. D. S. Klugh, D. D. The Ladies, Miss Eliza A. Gardner The Friends, Mr. Butler R. Wilson. Anthem by the choir, "Angels of Jesus". The testimonial offerings were then presented by Mrs. Luella Briggs (president of the Pastor's Club), and Mrs. Rosa L. Taylor (president of the Glad Club). After the shower of dollars, the pastor and his devoted sister were almost buried with a profusion of flowers by the flower girls, assisted by Mrs. Margaret B. Wil- liams, chief decorator, Misses Nellie Jones, Caroline Williams, Miss Helen Vick and others who presented personal bouquets. Dr. Swain was very happy in his iesponse, expressing grati- tude in behalf of himself, his sister and his noble sons (George, Lloyd and Earle), two of whom are in the war service of the na- tion. The flower girls then led the way to the vestry to the strains of "Onward, Christian Soldiers", the entire party forming a sort of triumphal procession, the speakers and the choir following the lead of pastor and special guests. Fruit punch and cake were the refreshments, and individual congratulations occupied the later moments of the memorable reception and testimonial,. the Board of Stewardesses (Mrs. Victoria Salgado, president), serving beauti- fully. Complimentary letters were received from Governor Samuel W. McCall, Lieutenant-Governor 'Calvin Coolidge, Mayor Andrew J. Peters, Hon. Moorfield Storey, Mr. George G. Bradford, Rev. J. W. MacDonald, Miss Elizabeth C. Putnam, Miss Cecelia L. Tshabalala Mrs. Lelia Walters, Miss S. Cathrine Schuyler and Rev. H. C. Weeden. The General Committee were: Rev. Jacob W. Powell, Chair- 64 MRS. ANNIE B. MERRICK MRS. VICTORIA SALGADO President Board of Stewardesses EVINS J. BREWER DR. WILLIAM H. HIGGINS Former Trustee General Conference Delegate This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE man; James L. Carter, Vice Chairman; Miss Elizabeth German, Sec- retary; Mrs. Jennie G. Cropp, Treasurer; Mrs. Margaret Caines, As- sistant Treasurer, supported by the various clubs and auxiliaries of the church, the Board of Trustees, Scott Robinson (Chairman), Lewis Galloway, James L. Carter, Noble Christy, Jacob W. Fowler, Atlas Skinner, Winfield S. Price, Amos Spence and Charles Saun- ders, and the class leaders, Lewis H. Galloway, D. W. Cartwright, Lewis Garrett, John T. Counsel, James A. Peck, Ernest L. Vick, John A. McLeod, Simon R. Tuggle, James L. Carter, Charles G. William- son, Rev. Jacob W. Powell, William A. Beckett, William T. Alford, Edward Richardson, Arthur Cousens, Mrs. Matilda A. Cartwright and George McCain. The committee procuring homes for out-of-town guests were members of the Daughters of Conference (Mrs. Sarah A. Butler, president), and the Willing Workers (James A. Peck, president), co-operated in preparing and serving the re- freshments. The niusic by the choir, and especially the solos by Miss Ethel M. Butler and Mrs. Una Blacklock, deserve special mention. Auxiliary Societies. SUNDAY SCHOOL (William H. Batuni, Superintendent) VARICK CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY (Mrs. Zoe A. Mil- bery, President) CHURCH CHOIR (Dr. Walter 0. Taylor, Chorister; John H. Bark- ley, Jr., Organist) NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE HONORARY COMMITTEE: (Rev. Richard R. Ball, Rev. E. George Biddle, Rev. E. A. Carroll, Rev. J. A. S. Cole) STEWARDESSES (Mrs. Victoria Salgado, President) INTERDENOMINATIONAL MINISTERS UNION (Reverends Al. bert L. Scott, C. B. Lawyer, D. S. Klugh, Walter D. MeClane, A. H. Scales) GLAD CLUB (Mrs. Rosa L. Taylor, President) PASTOR'S CLUB (Mrs. Luella Briggs, Vice President) USHERS (Amos Spence, President) B. W. SWAIN BROTHERHOOD (Dr. Alfred P. Russell, President) JUNIOR C. E. SOCIETY (Mrs. Anna E. Cheek, Supt.; Miss Beatrice Taylor, President) BUDS OF PROMISE (Mrs. Matilda A. Cartwright, Supt.; Miss Bar- bara Benjamin, President) WOMEN'S HOME & FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY (Mrs. 65 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Cora F. Saunders, President) YOUNG WOMEN'S H. & F. M. SOCIETY (Mrs. Margaret P. Tur- nage, President) BUTLER CLUB (Miss Eliza A. Gardner, President) DAUGHTERS OF CONFERENCE (Mrs. Sarah A. Butler, President) WILLING WORKERS (James A. Peck, President) COMMUNITY SUNDAY SCHOOL OF GREATER BOSTON (Mrs. Agnes Adams, Supt.) ZION CALENDAR CLUB (Mrs. Gertrude C. Batson, President) DEPENDABLE CLUB (Mrs. Alice E. Banks, President) ORGANIZED BIBLE CLASSES IN S. S.: Moore Class Unique Circle (Mrs. Cordelia E. Henderson, Pres- ident; Rev. Jacob W. Powell, Teacher) Young Women's Bible Class (J. Henderson Allston, Teacher) Young Men's Bible Class (M. Wilson Addison, President; Dr. Walter 0. Taylor, Teacher) Blackwell Class (Bernice Lawrence, President; Mrs, M. Georgie Powell, Teacher) Names of Contributors to the 335 Benjamin W. Swain Testimonial Fund, July 10, 1918. Imogene Andress Mrs. Agnes Adams Mrs. A. Atkins Rev. T. A. Auten Mrs. Alice Banks Mrs. Jennie Banks William H. Batum Mrs. Gertrude C. Batson Mrs. M. L. Batum Mrs. Anna E. Benjamin Miss L. N. Bishop Mrs. Lavinia Bishop Mary E. Borden George G. Bradford William H. Bright Aaron Brown Ella Brown Mrs. Fanny Bundy Mr. & Mrs. James Bryant Mrs. Margaret A. Caines Mrs. Ellen Carter Anna E. Cheek Mrs. Pearl P. Collins Mrs. H. Coursey Mrs. A. U. Dennis A. Dona C. I. Dorsey Mrs. L. G. Eades Mary Ebrom Mrs. M. G. Ellis Mrs. Fiske Mrs. Ella J. Freenman Firiend (several) Eliza A. Gardner Elizabeth German Mrs. Sarah Greene Bertie Gross Mr. & Mrs. John Hasbouck 66 MRS. ELLEN SANDIFER MISS ETHEL M. BUTLER MRS. PHOEBE WALKER, Stewardess MRS. CORA F. SAUNDERS, President, W.H. and F.M.S. This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Mr. & Mrs. H. Henderson William J. Henderson Mrs. Higgins Annie Hill Mrs. Lavinia Holsey Mr. & Mrs., C. E. Hudson Mrs. Rosa Hunter & Son S. M. Jeter W. E. Johnson Benjamin F. Jones Mrs. M. H. Jones Mrs. Maude Kelley Mr. & Mrs. C. A. King Rev. D. S. Klugh Mary Langshaw Minnie Latimer Leaders' Board Mrs. Emily Lee Mrs. Minnie Lewis Joseph P. Loud William C. Lovett E. M. Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Madison Henry Maynard Mrs. Zoe A. Milbery C. A. Minton Mrs. Hattie E. Mitchell Margaret Moore Mrs. Drusilla Morris Caroline Nelson Mrs. Elizabeth Norwell Georgianna Oatfield Mrs. Lulu Osborne Charles W. Palmer Mrs. Hattie Parish Pastor's Club Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Paterson Rev. & Mrs. Jacob W. Powell Mabel Presbery Mrs. Purnell Elizabeth C. Putnam Mrs. Mary Queen Etta Ramsay Amelia Randolph Mrs. Randolph Mr. & Mrs. Julius Riddick Mrs. S. A. Richardson Mrs. Victoria Salgado Mrs. Ellen Sandifer Charles H. Saunders Mrs. Cora F. Saunders S. Cathrine Schuyler Cornelia Scott Drusilla Smith James F. Sharp Mamie C. Smith Mrs. Mary Skinner Mrs. Alice Sparrow Nancy Swan Moorfield Storey Mrs. Mary E. Suggs Marhaar Taylor George E. Thomipson Ponnie Thompson Cecilia L. Tshabalala Mrs. H. C. Thornell A. H. Upshur Varick C. E. Society Minnie V. Walker Charles Williams Mirs. Lulu V. Wilson Butler R. Wilson Mrs. W. Wilson Mrs. Lelie Wright Olive Watson Mrs. Phoebe Walker Mrs. Lelia Walters Mrs. Ellen Williams T. Alonzo Webster Mary E. Wilkshelmos Mrs. M. J. Young Young Men's Bible Class Zion Sunday School 67 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE CHAPTER SIX. TESTIMONIAL ADDRESSES. Address of Supt. William H. Batum, Master of Ceremonies. Within one year after the close of the w ar there was born in the little town of Southport, N. C., Sept. 23, 1866, Benj. Wilson Swain, destined by Providence, we hope, to l)e elected a bishop in the great African Mlethodist Episcopal Zion Church in 1920. Child of George and Sarah SwNain, he grew in favor with God and imian. At the early age of seven years he was converted to Christ a'nd mustered into the t army of the Church Militant by the Rev. A. 1. Smnyer, recruiting offi- cer for God in Southport. On the 13th of April, 1889, influenced by the players and godly counsel of Rev. E. A. Carroll, nowe Zion pastor in Torrington, Conn., he made a definite start oni his ministerial career, having beein ap- pointed local preacher in his home chnrcli by the presiding elder, Rev. John lHooper, thus becoming-, as it w-ere, a non-commnissioned officer in the army of the Lord. One year, five milontlhs and one day fromn that time he -was or- dained deacon at Saratoga Spring-s, N. Y., by Bisho'i Josephl P. ThomtpsoIn, thouoh he had not yet reachled his 24thl birthday. A full- fledged lieutenant (if I may continue the analogy) in the ever-in- creasing army of Christ, he wN as againi, because of meritorious work, ordained an elder, a captain, at Eltaira, N. Y., on Sept. 21, 1892. During almost three decades he has broadened in experience, in things teniporal and spiritual. Of broad symiipathies, he has shared the joys and sorrowis of his people, whether ini Bath, Johnstown, Jamestown or Canandagua, N. Y., 13erkeley, Va., EmIglewood or Paterson, N. J., Worcester, M aass., artford, Conn., or Boston, the Hub. A inan wfiih a vision-but not a visionary-le brought to Bos- ton the accumulation of years of thoughlit, prayer and endeavor. A mian of rare tact, uneompromilisin-g Chllistian integrity, a deep student of the Scriptures, and a forceful preacher, lhe has united not only Zion but the entire community in the things wshich stand for mlian- hood. He has compelled-and nothing compels like uprightness of character-the resp)ect of saint and silnner, Christian and non-Chris- tian. His ow n life has squared w itlh his preaching. Boston believes that the- cr1ownig1 work of the late lamented 68 MRS. ZOE A. MILLBERY MRS. LUELLA BRIGGS President, Varick C. E. Society Vice President, Pastor's Club ..... . MRS. ROSA L. TAYLOR President, Glad Club MRS. CORDELIA HENDERSON President, Moore Class Unique Circle This page in the original text is blank. BIRD S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENC6 Bishop Alexander Walters -was his appointment of Dr. Swain to Boston, ini 1912, whose mneritorious service has been endorsed year after year by Bishops Clinton andl Lee. Elis return to Boston for the seventh year breaks the record of tenire of service in thiis church. This is the man whomw the people of Boston, represented by this audience, delight to lhonor, a straighitforward, fearless, upstanding soldier of Chlrist, one who has beeii ini the trenclhes for 29 years; whllo has been bonibarded by the shrapinel of Hell aid ra.ked by the mur- derous fire, as it wvere, of the powers of (larkness; but; the helmet of salvation anid the breastplate of riglhltousniess lhave protected hini thus far as a captain, aidl we trisit will save hiim rwheni, as bishop- a general of a division of our great cliurch army-he shiall lead the forces of righteousness ini a finial assault oln the strongholds of the enemy of manikind. Address of Mrs. Cora F. Saunders, Delegate. President of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society. It is iny privilege to l)rin g'reetiings from the 74th session of the Aniual Conferen-ce of the A. Al. E. Zioni Chlurch, Aw-hich Awas held in the Belmont Street A. Al. E. Zion Church, Worcester, Mass., from Wednesday, June 5, to and in-cluding Sunday, June 9, 1918. Your humble servanlt read the splenidid repoi.t of this church for the past year, and requested Bishop William L. Lee to return our pastor, Rev. Benijamin W. Swain, D. D., for a seventh year. The report ineluded a resunie of the splendid work done during the past six years of Dr. Swain's pastorate. Tiree hlundred seventeen (317) nenibers w ere added duringi the past eonferenice year, making a total of 800 additions to the membershiip during Pastor Swain's six years. Brother Scott Robinson told the bishop and conference of the splendid financial progress of this church, of the harmony existingg, and of the urgent desire for the pastor's return. We all rejoiced wrihen, on Sunday niighit, Bishop Lee announced Rev. B. W. Swvain, D. D., as our pastor for a sevenith year. We w-ill do our part, as we always have, to make our church a glory for God and a beacon light in the commniil;y. "Let Zion's Watchmen all awake Anid take the alarm they give: Now let theum fromn the mouthl of God Their solenin charge receive. 69 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE " 'Tis not a cause of small import, The pastor's care demands, But what might fill an angel's heart, And filled a Saviour's hands. "They watch for souls for which the Lord Did heavenly bliss forego, For souls which must forever live In raptures or in woe. "May they, that Jesus whom they preach, Their own Redeemer see, And watch thou daily o'er their souls, That they may watch for thee!" Welcome Address of James L. Carter, Church Clerk. "The Church." It is a pleasure for me to speak officially for our great church, and to express our delight because of the return of our beloved pas- tor, Rev. Benjamin W. Swain, D. D., for the seventh year. Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church of Boston extends hearty welcome to you, Dr. Swain, and to the members of your family. We pledge unstinted support and whole-souled co-operation in the endeavor put forth to advance the cause of Jesus Christ in this community. The pastor and Board of Trustees have worked together in har- mony and unity during the past six years for the upbuilding of a church institution, which heaven would be pleased to honor and which men would be bound to respect. We look back over those six years, and recall the strides this church has made, the obstacles removed, and victories achieved, as, under God, we have moved on with this God-fearing preacher at the helm. We want to proclaim to Boston, New England, and the world, that the united support of this churich and congregation is behind our pastor. I do not hesitate to endorse the candidacy of Rev. B. W. Swain, for the highest office within the gift of the church. Yes, we are be- hind our own Dr. Jacob W. Powell in presenting Dr. Swain to our Zion connection for bishop in 1920, and that in every practical way. 70 EVELAND B. WASHINGTON Former President, J. C. Price M. & L. S. BUTLER R. WILSON President, J. C. Price Musical and Literary Society THOMAS G. SCHUYLER WILLIAM H. RICHARDSON This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE We hope, under God, to show to the world that a man qualified by personal character and years of practical experience as a leader, may receive the "well done" of his larger constituency. Zion, listen, while to you I speak Of a neat, little man whom you should meet. He is pastor in Boston, a port by the sea, Where he rings out the echo, " Salvation is free!" He is not a stranger at all, For thirty years he has stood on the wall Driving sin far and wide by the crimson tide And teaching that all in Christ may abide. He is a manly man among men, For the truth he stands To help all of human kind And ever lend a helping hand. His record is untarnished As pastor and as man. The mark he has made in Boston Is known throughout the land. He has the goods, deliver he can, In church and state he pleads; With fearless courage he upright stands And bids all the Light to heed. At every turn of the city roads, Every avenue or street, A sincere friend of this holy man You are quite sure to meet. He has made deep impressions As God's work he has striven to do, And we who have had large dealings with him, Have always found Swain true. He is our favorite candidate Among those of the church of his choice, 71 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE For the honored office of bishop, And for Swain we lift up our voice. Behind him in force we are marshalled, Our faces all beaming with joy, And urge all our friends to join with us, Every worthy method to employ. "Over the top through merit" Our slogan for Swain shall be. His past record now is open That the world may scan and see. Dr. Swain will prove a credit And a blessing to the cause By just interpretation And obedience to Zion's laws. Of whom is it thus I fondly speak Do you inquire his name It is a close follower of the Master, meek, BENJAMIN-WILSON-SWAIN. Address of Rev. C. B. Lawyer, Representing Sister Churches. I am truly delighted to be present on this very auspicious occa- sion, and in this most picturesque edifice, dedicated for the wor- ship of God, by man, the highest of His creation. The greatest thing in the world is man, and the greatest thin'g in man is mind, as the poet truly portrayed in these words: "If I could reach from pole to pole and grasp the ocean in my span, I must be measured by my soul for mind is the master of the man". Cicero, on one occasion, said: "I hold no man deserves to be crowned with honor whose life is a failure; he who lives only to eat, and drink, and accumulate money, is, a failure. The world is no bet- ter for his living in it. He never wiped a tear from a sad face, never kindled a fire upon a frozen hearth. I repeat, said the heathen philosopher, "He is a failure". Man is to be rated not by his hoards of gold, not by the simple or temporary influence he may for a time exert, nor by his scholarly attainments, but by his exceptionable 729 MRS. MARGARET P. TURNAGE President, Y. W. H. & F. M. S. MRS. ANNA E. CHEEK Supt., Junior V. C. E. S. ELSWER MARIE WALKER MISS MINNIE V. WALKER Member Cradle Roll Dept. Superintendent, Cradle Roll Dept. This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE principles relative both to religion and character. Strike out these, and you have a brute without a virtue, a savage without sylpatlthy. Take these away and his manship is gone; he no longer lives ill the image of his Maker. That which distinguishes a high order froml a lower order, that which constitutes human goodness, human great- ness, or human nobleness, is surely not the degree of enlightenment with which men pursue their own advantage, but it is self-forgetful- ness, it is self-sacrifice, it is the disregard of personal pleasure, per- sonal indulgence, personal advantage, for the good of others. Let man go abroad with just and upright principles and he is, as an ex- haustless fountain in a vast desert-a glorious sun. shining and ever dispelling every vestige of darkness. Love animates his heart, syll- pathy breathes in every tone, tears of pity, which are dew-drops of the soul, gather in his eye and flowa impetuously down his cheek. A good man is abroad, and the world knows and feels it. Beneath his smile lurk no degrading passions. Within his heart there slumbers no guile. lie is not exalted in moral pride, not elevated in his own view, but honest before the world. He stands throned on truth; his fortune is wisdom, and his dominion the vast and limitless world.. Always uprighlt, kind and sympathizing, always attached to just principles, actuated by the same, and governed by the hightest motives for doing good. We can say candidly, without a word of flattery, that the life of this gentleman whom we have assembled here to hohor, fully measures up to the type and character of man we have described. This audience and this occasion, more loudly than words, tell us that a useful life has been busy. We heartily join with you ill hon1- oring this distinguished prelate who has been your untiring and successful shepherd for the past six years with an unprecedented record, and who now triumphantly enters upon his seventh. When a minister pastors a congregation of our people in a AMeth- odist church six years successfully, and they ask for his return the seventh, he should take off his hat to the Lord. (Laughter.) During his administration he has not only concerned himself about the re- ligious welfare of the people, but the moral, civil, political, social, material and intellectual as well. Such service has caused to be mys- teriously wrapped about him, the undying and everlasting affections of us all. Our presence here is an evidence of our joining with you in grooming this great and good man for the highest. honors in the gift of the church of God-the Bishopric! We believe that a bishop should be a wise man, of sober thought, discreet judgment, warm 78 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE feet and heart, cool head, ripe in experience, cosmopolitan in ideas, metropolitan in the pastorate, erudite in scholarship, and a preacher of power. Such a character is in the exemplary life of our honored guest. We congratulate you, sir, on the excellent standard set for our Interdenominational. Union, and the herculean work you have accom- plished. We wish for you unbounded success in this seventh year of your administration here. And it is our unstinted wish and sincere prayer, that when the ballots are counted in Knoxville, Tenn., A. D. 1920, among those who will be chosen of God and elected by the people for Episcopal honors, one will be our own admired and es- teemed prince of pastors, the Rev. Benjamin Wilson Swain: (Ap- plause.) Address of Rev. Albert L. Scott. Mr. Chairman, Esteemed Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am very deeply indebted to the author of this program for having regarded me worthy to appear here among so many, who -ire by far my superiors in practically every respect, to offer greet- ing on behalf of my fellow clergymen in this city. It was my good fortune, not long since, to listen attentively to a distinguished English theologian and critic, addressing a body of fellow clergymen of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Among his remarks none cut more deep into my interest and thought-life than these words:-" My Brethren, the church's message may well be affected first of all by the fact that the war must have done some- thing to call men away from shallow views of progress, sin and creed. The mere existence of such a world conflict should demon- strate that progress is not a matter that takes care of itself. No man can shake off the conviction that, in this war, God is sifting out the true from the false Christianity; primarily, it is being forced home upon the reason and consciousness of men today that a Chris- tianity primarily theological, a Christianity primarily emotional, a Christianity primarily ceremonial, has failed utterly to stand the test in these crucial days: and the churches will have to be more sure than ever in their history, after this war is over, that the Chris- tianity which they are teaching is the Christianity of Christ Him- self." If I were called upon to simplify the common sense of this remark dropped from the mouth of a tried thinker and theologian by experience and investigation, I could do no better than to say, 74 Henry M. Harding Former Class Leader This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE that he is here stressing the inevitable challenge to every church group and religious body, the far reaching significance of placinlg its best personalities in those strategic centres in that particular body, for the express purpose of not only safeguarding its con- tributed ideals, but to mold the lives of those who will come with the New World Order, for the Kingdom of God. There can be no doubt that all institutions are to justify their right to live and claim the best in every section of the world (whether this world is to be divided up into communities or not), by the type of leader- ship it will bring forward to preserve the dynamic eleiiients of its life, and this was never more true, with the Church of God., than at this epoch of its history. In this respect, I am especially delighted, Mr. Chairman, to note that you, as a church, have originated and developed this occasion, to emphasize to your church, your deter- mination to indicate in no uncertain manner, your ambition to bring into the most important sphere of activity in your connection, your pastor, who not only you, but others, are fully persuaded in be- lieving, ought to be given an opportunity to watch and safeguard the contributed ideals of your beloved Zion. I am very firm in the belief, that my good friend, and your be- loved pastor, Doctor Swain, is fully able to show himself a Man ill the complete sense of the term. My few years of intimate associa- tion with him, have confirmed me in this conviction. A man w fith his ideals and vision of this inevitable New World Order, dleserves to work them out through the highest office in your church and subsequently our common Methodism. This branch of our Methodism, represented in this severe and matter-of-fact section of the East, has received much note from the founders of Anierican Methodism, and this is primarily to be attributed to the way in which Dr. Swvain has allied himself with the reckoning powers of our New England Methodism, both our white and colored brethren, he being an associate member of the Boston Preachers Meeting of the Great Methodist Episcopal church, and warmly spoken of by men of scholarship and experi- ence. I have no doubt of the validity of the sentiment of my fellow clergymen of the city, when I say, that we stand committed to the policy of crystalizing every legitimate sentiment, to the end that he be placed in the church's most strategic sphere of activity, that he may give definite account of himself, as we are sure he will, to the credit and satisfaction of all of us, interested in the genuine propagation of American Methodism, and the kingdom of our Christ. 75 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE From Address of Mr. Butler R. Wilson. Dr. Swain is my friend. I have observed him closely, and have seen him grow, broaden and take a useful and commanding place in this comuwnity. The people have gradually come to look to him for counsel and guidance. Because he is modest, sturdy, un- selfish, eager to serve, dependable, sound in mind, and with a Chris- tian character that shines in a white light, his influence is a power, not only in the A. M. E. Zion Church, but all through this great city! We all rely upon him with confidence, and trust him. He is a faithful wl atchman. Fromn the channel to Switzerland there started, tonight, from the lines of our Allies in France, small groups of sentinels. As ftie group leader headed for "No Man's Land", he stationed a man here, a mian there, and another a little farther along at inter- vals, within easy communication, until the last of the group-the leader-reached the most advanced position, the place of greatest dangerer-the listening post. There, alert, keenly sensitive to his task, with his eyes toward the enemy, his whole soul in his w, ork, his duty is to watch the enemy, and report every enemy action or move- mient to his own headquarters, by means of that line of sentinels. I need not tell you that these sentinels are picked men. They are the eyes of the army. Upon their devotion to duty, its safety and the safety of the cause for which the army fights, depend. Upon the leader at the listening post, all depends. If he fails, every man in that line fails, and the army is in danger of disaster. Here in this com- u11unity, Dr. Swain is one of our sentinels at the listening post. I(i has never failed us. We sleep safer at night, our little children walk in a cleaner, better city by day, because he is at the listening post. It is a pleasure to join with you in a tribute of sincere affection and love for a man who deserves all that has been said of him. Dr. Swain's Response. Master of Ceremonies, Members of Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, Fellow Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen: It seldom falls to the lot of any minister to be honored as you have honored me and mine here tonight. This vast concourse of people who have thought it worth while to turn out on this hot night, these able and eloquent addresses to which we have listened, in which the speakers have sought to 76 Walden Danks Former President, Varick C.E. Society This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE set forth our worth and character, the spirit and enthusiasm with which you have arranged this splendid reception, together with your oft repeated evidences of appreciation of the services which we have tried to render to the people of Boston as pastor of this great and historic church, place us under renewed debts of gratitude to you. I wish to especially thank lily good friend and brother, the Rev. Jacob W. Powell, D. D., and his fine committee, for this great honor. Every moveineiit must have a leader if it would l)e successful. This movement has been enthusiastically led by this methodical man of God, and I cannot find words with which to express the feel- ings of my heart. In his endeavor to reach every mellll)er of mly famiily with in- formation of this reception, and, an earnest invitation to be present., lie has crossed the ocean with his letters and stood by my boy on the blood-soaked battle-fields of France. That boy (Georgre) is too far away to speak for himself and so you will permit mie to speak for him. His grateful appreciation comes across the wrhite-capped Atlantic tonight, and he says: "My duty to my country bids me remain where I am. But all that you do in honor of miy father, 'I hope to reciprocate in sacrifice for the welfare of illy country. Keep the fires burning on the home altars until we return.'' My son in the Navy (Earl) writes: "I regret that I cannot be present, but my duty demands that I remain where I am. Th11,nlk Mr. Powell and everybody for me." I regret the absence of these boys, but since their duty to the country calls them elsewhere, for George, who is in the Armny fight- ing in France, for Earl, who is in the U. S. Navy, and for Lloyd, who is also absent, as well as for miy good sister, Sarah, who has stood by ie in all the affairs of life, making hioni pleasant. for my- self and my children, I winsh to thank you all w,6itlh a full heart. Much has been said here tonight about my service to this church end to the city of Boston. May I say that my conception of a plas- tor is, that he should be a shepherd caring for his sheep. No nar- row, self-conceited man cani hope to succeed in these large and cos- mnopolitan city churches today. The successful pastor must have vision and courage. His parish must be the world, and he ullust be willing to cover it with his sympathies, his prayers, and, as far as possible, his presence. I have tried to be all things to all iimen that I might win some to Christ. Just how well we have succeeded in that, you must answer. Much has been said here tonight about my candidacy for Epis- 77 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE copal honors. I should be an ingrate if I did not appreciate your kindly feeling toward me in that respect. It is an honor in a great church that any man might feel himself complimented to be serious- ly mentioned in connection with. One who traveled much and suf- fered more than any of us has said, "This is a true saying. If any man desire the office of a bishop he desireth a good work." It should be kept in mind that the resolution adopted by the Quarterly Conference of this church, then by the church, and later by the New England Annual Conference, asking the 1920 General Conference to honor me with this high and exalted office, was passed without suggestion on my part. Do not misunderstand me. I stand for all that my friends are saying about me in this connection, and if they and the Almighty want my service in that high office I shall be glad to serve there. This holy office, like the holy office of any other part of our ministry, is too sacred to play with. If it is to come to me, it must come in the most honorable kind of a way. God forbid that I should ever do any thing, for the sake of an office, that would not be pleasing in His sight. My great ambition is, not for office but for service. I am mindful that in the high office of bishop there are golden opportunities for service which will not come to one in any other position, and if God should promote me to that office, I shall continue to make it the rule of my life to give him my best service. Just now my ambition is to serve to the very best of my abil- .ity the church and community in which I live. Under God, I prom- ise you the best there is within me for Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, the city of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, the United States of America and the world. Again I thank you for the honor you have shown me and my family here tonight. LETTERS. (Copy) The Comnuoinvealth of Massachusetts. Executive Department, State House, Boston. July 3, 1918. Rev. Jacob W. Powell, D. D., Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston, Mass. My Dear Sir: 78 JOHN D. POWELL, Jr, BENJAMIN F. POWELL G. HENRY POWELL This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Your kind invitation for Governor McCall to attend the Wel- come Reception and Testimonial of the Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church to Rev. Benjamin Wilson Swain, D. D., has been re- ceived during the absence of His Excellency from the Commonw\i ealth on a vacation. He does not expect to return in tihe to be present at your gathering, but I know he would wish me to thank you for your courtesy in extending the invitation to him. Yours very truly, HENRY F. LONG, Secretary to the Governor. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Office of the Lieutenant- Governor, State House, Boston. July 8, 1918. A. M. E. Zion Church, Columbus Ave., Boston. Benjamin Wilson Swain, D. D., My Dear Doctor Swain: I have the invitation to attend the reception in your honor, and regret that my arrangemiients are such that I eannot be piesnt. I want to take this opportunity to wish you every success and congratulate you on the good work you are doing. Very truly yours, CALVIN COOLIDGE. City of Boston. Office of the Mayor. July 3, 1918. Rev. Benjamin W. Swain, D). D., Columbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston, Mass. Dear Sir: I have today received an invitation to be present at the Wel- come Reception and Testimonial to be tendered to you by the metam- bers of your congregation' on Wednesday, July 10th. Owing to the fact that I shall be out of town, I regret that I shall be unable to extend to you my greetings on that day. With best wishes for the future, I am Sincerely yours, ANDREW J. PETERS, Mayor. 79 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE George G. Bradford, 50 State Street. Boston, Mass., July 5, 1918. Rev. Jacob W. Powell, Columbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Church. Mly Dear Mr. Powell: It would give me the greatest pleasure to be present at the re- ception to Dr. Swain next Wednesday night, but as another engage- ment wvill prevent, will you permit me to express my high apprecia- tion of the service Dr. Swain has rendered this community. I have considered that his continued stay in Boston has been a very valu- able contribution to our city and have used such little influence as I had to keep him here. I hope the new honors and responsibilities that are sure to comn e to him in the near future will not take him from Boston before wve have had at least one more year of his active as- sistance in our community work. Sincerely, GEORGE G. BRADFORD. Mt. Olive A. M. E. Zion Church, 84 Pearl Street, Waterbury, Coun. Rev. J. W. MacDonald, Pastor. July 5th, 1918. Rev. Jacob W. Powvell, D. D., Chairman of General Committee, Welcome Reception and Testi- monial to Rev. B. W. Swain, D. D., Pastor Columbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston, Mass. Mlly Dear Dr. Powell and Committee: It is a source of inexpressible regret to convey to you my in- ability to be present and participate in the welcome exercise and testimonials of Coluinbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Church, its members and friends, in expression of your high esteem and profound admir- alion of the unselfish sacrifice, sincere devotion and unprecedented labors of your noble pastor, the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Wilson Swain for the past six years. It may be of interest to say that I have known Dr. Swain intimately for 14 full years and I have watched with care and increasing pride his progressive steps up the ladder of well merited and hard won fame as a teacher of evangelical doctrine and fearless advocate of practical Christianity. In every charge he has served he has embellished the parish with a stainless moral life, the pulpit with a mind brilliant from arduous study, the sick- room with an angel of mercy, and the Sunday school with an exem- plar who could be safely followed by both teachers and pupils. He 80 Columbus Ave. A.M.E. Zion Church Choir This page in the original text is blank. BIRD S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE 81 has given full measure of devotion, a dynamic energy, and a vigi- lant attention to the minutest detail to every interest of the work. Not only Columbus Avenue, Boston, and New England, but the en- tire Zion connection feel proud of the life, labors and achievements of Benjamin Swain; and they take a profound interest in his noble and honorable aspirations to a seat with the highest in Methodist ecclesiasticism. We, one and all, share with you the honors and de- votion you bestow upon our co-laborer in the kingdom of our God and his Christ. Yours sincerely, J. W. MacDONALD. Louisville, Ky., July 8, 1918. My Dear Doctor Swain: I regret that it is impossible for me to be present at the Recep- tion and Testimonial to be given you on the tenth inst. I trust, however, that it will measure up to its full intents and purposes, and that it will serve to strengthen your ambition and aspirations. Yours truly, H. C. WEEDEN, 816 S. Hancock Strect. 104 Marlborough Street, July 9, 1918. To Miss Elizabeth German, See., or Mrs. Jennie G. Cropp, Treasurer. Dear Friends: It is a pleasure to join in this testimonial to the Reverend B. W. Swain, D. D., and family, for his hearty and untiring work for his parishioners and for the general ideal, to "Keep Massachusetts in the forefront of righteousness", is and should always be an in- spiration to his fellow citizens. Yours truly, ELIZABETH C. PUTNAM. 77 South Pleasant St., Amherst, Mass., July 9, 1918. Rev. J. W. Powell, D. D., Boston, Mass. Dear Sir: With great delight I received the letter of invitation and I -am BIyS EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE so sorry I cannot be present in person to join you all in the Welcome Reception. I wish all the well wishers a grand success.- I have not forgotten the happy hour we all spent at the res- taurant one Sunday evening. I would like to write to the lady, Mrs. Powell, but somehow I misplaced the card with her address. The book, "The Christian Occupation of Africa," with the address has been loaned to Rev. Ricks and therefore cannot find the address. Remember me to Mrs. Powell. Very sincerely yours, C. L. TSHABALALA. Greenwich, N. Y., R. F. D. 4. Rev. Jacob W. Powell. Dear Teacher and Friend: The announcement of the Reception and Testimonial to be giv- en Rev. B. W. Swain on the evening of July tenth has just reached me. I regret I cannot be present at the reception. I am delighted to hear you will have Rev. Swain with you at Zion for another year, and should be glad to be with you all this evening, were it possible. However I expect the attendance will be so large you will hardly miss me. I am enclosing a small amount as greeting with best wishes, sorry I haven't more to send. This will hardly reach you by nine-fifteen this evening. I trust you will accept it, though late. With kindest regards to Mrs. Powell and yourself. Yours hastily, S. CATHRINE SCHUYLER. July 10, 1918. Pilgrims' Rest. Residence of the Bishop of the First Episcopal District of A. M. E. Zion Church, 208 West 134th Street, New York City. July 11, 1918. Rev. B. W. Swain, D. D., 702 Columbus Ave., Boston, Mass. My Dear Doctor Swain: I am enclosing a small contribution to your reception, and my only wish is that my contribution bore some relation to the weight Members Of Columbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Choir Miss Lillian Griffin, Mrs Ella Richie and Miss Bertha E. Thomas This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE of my high esteem and profound regards for its recipient. Your reception brings up to memory the fond recollection of the reception given to Bishop Walters but a few years ago in the Columbus Avenue Church. I trust and know that yours will be equal in pleasure and grandeur to that one, if not surpassing it. I am sure that in honoring you the church but does itself the more highly honor. I am glad to add my word of testimony to your worth to the connection you have so honorably served throughout the years of your loyal and brilliant ministry, and trust that your reward may be that high office in the church to which you aspire. My very kindest regards to the fine boys and to dear sister who was always so kind to my dear one. Again with all best wishes for your health and continued suc- cess. I am yours in Christian fellowship. LELIA WALTERS. Pensacola, Fla., July 9, 1918. My Dear Dr. Swain: Please find enclosed our check covering a token of our appre- ciation of your fine record at Boston and your excellent standing throughout the connection. I join with your host of friends in ten- dering you the very fitting and worthy Testimonial, and my candid opinion is that if you STAY in the race thel920 delegates will ilot forget you when they cast their ballots. Yours very sincerely, AARON BROWN. A Significant Statement From Our Late Lamented Bishop Alexander Walters ("He, being dead, yet speaketh") Concerning Benjamin Wilson Swain, D. D., of Boston (Reprinted fromn Page 61 of the Minutes of the Seventieth Session of the New England Annual Conference, held at Bridgeport, Conn., June 3 to 8, 1914.) BOSTON. I presume that the great financial work of the conference year has been achieved at this point. Rev. Swain and his people, with 88 84 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE the aid of the Church Extension Society, started out to raise 5000, and THEY HAVE SURPRISED US ALL in the collection of 3500. This money is to aid in paying off the second mortgage which has been sapping the very life out of the church, owing to the fact that they are paying the high rate of fifteen per cent. interest on this mortgage. MANY THOUGHT THAT I HAD MADE A MISTAKE WHEN I SENT REV. SWAIN TO BOSTON, the Athens of America, that it was impossible for him to become a spoke in the hub of this intellectual wheel; but TIME HAS PROVEN THE WISDOM OF THE CHOICE. HE HAS MET EVERY EMERGENCY AND BORNE THE BANNER OF ZION ALOFT, and comes from the field A COMPLETE VICTOR. Swain is a little giant, ABLE TO HOLD HIS OWN ANYWHERE. We are all proud of him, and the church was never in a more prosperous condition than it is today. MRS. MARGARET SASSER WILLIAMS MR. & MRS. JAMES G. STORMS Superintendent of Home Dept. Members of Choir MRS. CECELIA F. JOHNSON This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE CHAPTER SEVEN. List of relatives of members of Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston, now in United States service, and for whom the handsome Service Flag was unfurled by Adjutant Isaac S. Mullen and Comrades Charles Palmer, George W. Sharper and Thomas Cannon of Robert A. Bell Post, 134, G. A. R., under the auspices of the Benjamin W. Swain Brotherhood at 3.00 P. M., Sunday, July 14, 1918. John Joseph Bacchus Isaac S. Bailey Malcolm C. Banks Otis R. Banks Parnell Barnett William F. Beckett Chester L. Brown Francis P. Brown Samuel Bryant Henry Butler Marshall Cass Charles Cheeks Henry Clark Arthur Clement William Crosby Alphonso Clarence Douglass Stephen Douglass Louis Charles Edney Lewis R. Gardiner John A. Hasbrouck Clarence E. Henderson Bolton R. Hill Walter H. Hill Irving C. Howe Samuel Byam Hutchinson Earl S. Johnson Thomas A. Lewis William H. McIntire Brooks Morris Fred S. O'Brien Charles Oliver E. Louis Palmer Percy R. Parham Cecil F. Phillips William Lawrence Powell Percy Richardson Chisholm Shears Otis A. B. Skinner 8.5 86 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Walter Gaskins Eugene Glenn John Hubert Glenn George A. Griffin Joseph H. Sparrow Walter B. Stevens William Strother Earle A. W. Swain George R. Swain Francis Tate Robert Graham Taylor Elmer Smith Frederick Smith J. Wilford Smith John Sparrow William H. Taylor Richard O. Tucker Hezekiah Turner James A. Williams William Wilson Thomas Yancey Rev. And Mrs. R.E. Peters A.M.E. Zion Missionaries Quittah, West Gold Coast, Africa This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE MIZPAH. (Author not known.) "Pray without ceasing!" So I do ; Each waking hour, a prayer for you To Him who slumbers not, nor sleeps, But loving watch forever keeps Over His own, on land or sea, In peace or strife, whbre'er they be. "Pray without ceasing! " This my prayer, "Lord, let Thy tender, loving care Be ever o'er the soldier brave; The sailor, on the ocean wave; The men, who in the regions high Above, through unknown perils fly." "Pray without ceasing!" Day by day From him, my lad, so far away From me, where swift, relentness death In shot and shell, in choking breath Of fumes that slay, on sea and shore, Lurks and pursues, forevermore. "Pray without ceasing!" Far apart Each for the other lifts the heart In earnest supplication: "Lord, O'er those we love keep watch and ward; While absent from each other. So We shall be safe where'er we go." "Pray without ceasing!" Though no more Of earth we meet, the grave the door Of Paradise for us shall be, Where peace and joy eternally Abide for those whose earnest prayer Is answered by His loving care. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE OFFICIAL DIRECTORY OF THE A. M. E. ZION CONNECTION. Plan of Episcopal Districts. Bishop James Walker Hood, D.D., LL.D. (retired, Senior Bishop), 445 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, N. C. Bishop Cicero R. Harris, A.M., D.D., (retired, deceased). First Episcopal District. Bishop Alexander Walters, A.M., D.D., (deceased), 208 W. 134th St., New York City, N. Y. Conferences: New York Confer- enee,New England Conference, Central North Carolina Conference, African Conferences (three). Second Episcopal District. Senior Bishop George Wylie Clinton, A.M., D.D., LL.D., 415 N. Myers St., Charlotte, N. C.; New Jersey Conference, East Ten- nessee and Virginia Conference, Blue Ridge Conference, Western North Carolina Conference. Third Episcopal District. Bishop John Wesley Alstork, D.D., LL. D., 231 Cleveland Ave., Montgomery, Ala.; Alabama Conference, South East Alabama Con- ference, North Alabama Conference, Cahaba Conference, South Ala- bama Conference, Demerara Conference (South America). Fourth Episcopal District. Bishop Josiah Samuel Caldwell, A.M., D. D., 420 S. 11th St., Phliladelphia, Pa., Philadelphia and Baltimore Conference, Alle- gheny Conference, Ohio Conference, West Alabama Conference. Fifth Episcopal District. Bishop George Lincoln Blackwell, A. M., S. T. B., 420 S. 11th St., Philadelphia, Pa.; Michigan Conference, Western New York Conference, Albemarle Conference, West Central North Carolina Conference, Virginia Conference. Sixth Episcopal District. Bishop Andrew Jackson Warner, A. M., D. D., 220 E. Bound- ary St., Charlotte, N. C.; Cape Fear Conference, Florida Confer- ence, South Florida Conference, Philippine Islands Mission Con- ference. 88 Rev. Lucy B. Dorsey This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE Seventh Episcopal District. Bishop Linwood Westinghouse Kyles, A. M., S. T. D., 4301 West Bell Place, St. Louis, Mo.; California Conference, Oregon- Washington Conference, North Arkansas Conference, Arkansas Con- ference. Eighth Episcopal District. Bishop Robert Blair Bruce, 203 S. Brevard St., Charlotte, N. C. Georgia Conference, South Georgia Conference, Palmietto Confer- enice, South Carolina Conference. Ninth Episcopal District. Bishop William L. Lee, D. D., 450 Quincy St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Conferences: Mississippi, Louisiana, North Louisiana, Texas. Tenth Episcopal District. Bishop George C. Clement, A.M., D. D., 1425 W. Walnut St., Louisville, Ky., Conferences: Tennessee, W. Kentucky, West Ten- nessee and Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kentucky. Editors. Rev. J. Harvey Anderson, D.D., Ph.D., Editor of the Star of Zion, Box 117, Charlotte, N. C. Residence, 82 Clinton St., Pater- son, N. J. Rev. Thomas W. Wallace, A. M., D. D., Editor of the Western Star of Zion, 1843 Bond Ave., East St. Louis, Ill. Rev. C. C. Alleyne, A.M., Editor of the A. M. E. Zion Quarterly Review, 87 Winyah Ave., New Rochelle, N. Y. Rev. J. Francis Lee, A.M., S. T. D., Editor of the Sunday School Literature, Box 1093, Charlotte, N. C. Rev. J. W. Wood, D. D., Editor of the Missionary Seer, 1231 Cornell Ave., Indianapolis, Ind., 420 S. Eleventh Street, Phila- delphia, Pa. General Officers. General Secretary, Rev. F. M. Jacobs, A. M., D. D., M. D., 416 Gold St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Financial Secretary (Connectional Treasurer), Rev. W. H. Goler, A.M., D.D., LL. D., 420 S. 11th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Manager of the Publication House, Prof. J. W. Crockett, A. M., Box 117, Charlotte, N. C. Secretary of Education, Rev. J. W. Martin, A.M., D.D., 4428 89 90 BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE West Bell Place, St. Louis, Mo. Secretary of Chturch Extension and Home Missions, Hon. John C. Dancy, A.M., LL.D., 420 S. 11th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Secretary of Foreign Missions, Rev. J. W. Wood, D.D., 420 S 11th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 1231 Cornell Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Secretary of Ministerial Brotherhood and Benevolent Depart- ]ent, Rev. C. S. Whitted, A.M., D.D., 420 S. 11th St., Philadel- phia, Pa. Secretary of A. M. E. Zion Legion of Financiers, Rev. J. J. Simyer, D. D. (deceased), 24 School St., Yonkers, N. Y. Field Secretary of Education, Rev. R. J. Crockett, A. M., York, S. C. Secretary of the Varick Christian Endeavor Union, Prof. Aaron Brown, A.M., Box 859, Pensacola, Fla. Connectional Evangelist, Rev. F. D. Douglass, D.D., 2414 Mont- gall Ave., Kansas City, Mo. Connectional Evangelist, Rev. Wm. Lyons, D. D., 8 McDowell St., Asheville, N. C. Prof. J. W. Eichelberger, Jr., A. M. General Superintendent of Sunday Schools, Warren, Ark. Official Directory of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society. Mrs. Florence Randolph, President, 103 Astor St., Jersey City, N. J. Mrs. Mary E. Washington, First Vice President, New Albany, Ind. Mrs. A. W. Blackwell, Corresponding Secretary, 624 16th St.. Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. L. B. Evans-Pierce, Recording Secretary, S. Preston (op- posite Jacob St., Louisville, Ky. Mrs. Ida V. Smith, Treasurer, 1309 R. St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Mrs. M. L. Clinton, Superintendent of Buds of Promise, 415 N. Myers St., Charlotte, N. C. I Miss Victoria Richardson, Secretary of Y. W. H. and F. M. So- ciety, 803 W. Monroe St., Salisbury, N. C. Mrs. Annie L. Anderson, National Organizer, 6617 Frankstown Ave., Pittsburg, Pa. Mrs. Missouri Moore, National Organizer, New York City. Mrs. Ida L. Hall, National Organizer, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Ulysses G. Powell This page in the original text is blank. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE 91 Mrs. J. W. Brown, Supply Department, 110 W. 139th St., New York City. Principals of Schools of the A. M. E. Zion Church. Livingstone College. Salisbury, N. C., Prof. S. D. Suggs, A.M., Ph.D., President. Atkinson College, Madisonville, Ky., Prof. James Muir, A.B., S. T.B., President. Dinwiddie College, Dinws iddie, Va., Prof. W. E. Woodward, A.B., Principal. Walters' Institute, Warren, Ark., Prof. J. W. Eiehelberger, Jr., A.M., Principal. Clinton Institute, Rock Hill, S. C., Prof. R. J. Boulware, A.B., Principal. .......................... Lomax and iHannon Institute, Greenville, Ala., Rev. J. R. Wing- field, D.D., President. Eastern North Carolina Industrial Academy, Newbern, N. C., Rev. W. M. Sutton, D.D., President. Greenville College, Greenville, Tenn., Arthur A. Madison, A.M., Principal. Lancaster Normal and Industrial Institute, Lancaster, S. C., Rev. M. L. Lee, D.D., President. Edenton Industrial Institute, Edenton, N. C., Prof. Geo. W. McCorkle, A.M., Principal. Macon Industrial Institute, Macon, Ga., Prof. B. J. Bridges, A.M., Principal. BIRD S EYE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE GENERAL CONFERENCE GRATITUDE. Grateful acknowledgment is hereby made to all who have assisted in any way in the preparation of this volume. Their kind co-operation is appreciated. Among them are the following.- COLUMBUS AVENUE A. M. E. ZION CHURCH, Boston, Mass. (Rev. Benjamin W. Swain, D. D., Pastor), especially officers, mein- bers and friends wrho furnished information or cuts. The records furnished by James L. Carter, Church Clerk, Mrs. Cora F. Saun- ders, Secretary of the Quarterly Conference, former Church Clerks, J. Henderson Allston, William H. Batum and Winfield S. Price added greatly to the wealth of the data which had been so care- fully preserved in book form by Miss Eliza A. Gardiner, who is the only living link binding the Zion of the present to the Zion of the remote past. BROADWAY TEMPLE A. M. E. ZION CHURCH, Louisville, Kentucky (Rev. William J. Walls, D. D., Pastor), w-ho furnished cuts of the church and pastor. BOSTON GUARDIAN (William MI. Trotter, Editor) by whom several cuts were loaned. The large number of pictures, and the array of facts and fig- z-res, show the extent of assistance without which it would have been impossible to satisfactorily complete this addition to the literature of Zion. JACOB W. POWELL. 92 New England Sunday School Union Delegates to Northfield Summer School of S. S. Methods TEACHER TRAINING CLASS This page in the original text is blank. A CANDIDACY BUILT UPON "PRAYER" and "eThe WELFARE of ZION" The Master "Thy Will Be Pone" The Candidate Greetings: Kindly make known to Rev. Jacob W. Powell, 218 Broadway, Maiden Mass., your willing- ness to co-operate in the PLAN of RAYER URITY UBLICITY (your articles to periodicals, and letters to friends) ATIENCE ROMPTNESS, (neither too fast nor too slow) ERSEVERANCE and USH (in all proper ways) to make known the QUALIFICATIONS for the BISHOPRIC in the AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CONNECTION, of the REV. BENJAMIN WILSON SWAIN, D. D. Pastor since 1912 of Columbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Church, BOSTON, MASS., U. S. A., and to promote his election at the 26th Quadrennial Session of the GENERAL CONFERENCE to be held at Knoxville, Tenn., in May, 1920 4 YOUR SUPPORT, ADVICE and HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS EARNESTLY REQUESTED Friends of Dr. Swain, and all others interested are hereby invited to send for extra copies of this leaflet. En- close two cents postage stamps for each name to cover cost of mailing to friends whose names and addresses you furnish to us for copies of this leaflet. MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS AVENUE A. M. E. ZION CHURCH. BOSTON. MASS. TESTIMONIAL COMMITTEE: JULY 10. 1918 REV. JACOB W. POWELL (Associate Pastor), Chairman Residence, 218 Broadway (Maplewood), Malden, Mass. Jarres L. Carter. Vice Chairman Miss Elizabeth German, Secretary Mrs. Jennie G. Cropp. Treasurer Mrs. Margaret Caines, Asst. Treas. CLASS LEADERS: Lewis H. Galloway, D. W. Cartwright, Lewis Garrett, John T. Counsel, Jas. A. Peck Ernest L. Vick, John A. McLeod. Simon R. Tuggle, James L. Carter, Charles G. Williamson, Rev. Jacob W. Powell, Wm. A. Beckett, Wm. T. Alford, Edward Richardson, Arthur Cousens, Mrs. Matilda A. Cartwright, George McCain TRUSTEES; Scott Robinson, Chairman. Lewis H. Galloway, James L. Carter, Noble Christy, Atlas Skinner, Jacob W Fowler, Amos M. Spence, Winfield S. Price, Charles H. Saunders AUXILIARY SOCIETIES SUNDAY SCHOOL, Wm. H. Batum, Superintendent VARICK CHRISTIAN EN DEAVOR SOCIETY, Mrs. Zoe A. Milbery. President CHURCH CHOIR, Dr. Walter 0. Taylor, Chorister ; John H. Barklay. Jr. Organist NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE HONORARY COMMITTEE, Rev. Richard R. Ball. Rev. E. George Biddle, Rev E. A Carroll., Rev. J. A. S. Cole. STEWARDESSES. Mrs. Victoria Salgado. Pres. INTERDENOMINATIONAL MINISTERS' UNION. Revs. Albert L. Scott. C. B. Lawyer, D. S. Klugh. A. H. Scales GLAD CLUB. Mrs. Rosa L Taylor, P'es. USHERS. Amos M. Spence, Pres. PASTOR'S CLUB. Mrs Luella Briggs, Vice Pres. BENJAMIN W. SWAIN BROTHERHOOD, Dr. Alfred P. Russell. Pres. JUNIOR C. E. SOCIETY, Mrs. Anna E. Cheek. Supt.; Miss Beatrice Taylor, Pres. BUDS OF PROMISE. Mrs. Matilda A. Cartwright. Supt.; Miss Barbara Benjamin, Pres. WOMEN'S HOME and FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Mrs. Cora F. Saunders, Pres. YOUNG WOMEN'S H. and F. M. SOCIETY. Mrs. Margaret P. Turnage, Pres. BUTLER CLUB, Miss Eliza A. Gardner, Pres. DAUGHTERS of CONFERENCE. Mrs. Sarah A. Butler, Pres. WILLING WORKERS. James A. Peck, Pres, J. C. PRICE MUSICAL and LITERARY SOCIETY, Butler R. Wilson, Pres. COMMUNITY SUNDAY SCHOOL of GREATER BOSTON, Mrs. Agnes Adarhs,-Supt. ZION CALENDAR CLUB, Mrs. Gertrude C. Batson'. Pres. DEPENDABLE' CLUB. Mrs. AlicetE. Banks, Pres. ORGANIZED ADULT BIBLE CLASSES IN S. S. MOORE CLASS UNIQUE CIRCLE. Mrs. Cordelia E. Henderson, Pres.; Rev. Jacob W. Powell. Teacher YOUNC WOMEN'S BIBLE CLASS. J. Henderson Allston, Teacher YOUNG MEN'S BIBLE CLASS. M. Wilson Addison. Pres.; Dr. Walter 0. Taylor. Teacher BLACKWELL CLASS, Miss Bernice Lawrence, Pres ; Mrs. M. Georgie Powell, Teacher READ INSIDE PAGES ABOUT DR. SWAIN'S MINISTERIAL CAREER NOTE: In every letter you write to anybody anywhere. and in all forms of public or private speech, tell your friends how BOSTON IS PRAYING AND WORKING for the elevation of Dr. Swain to the Bishopric in 1920. and ask them to CO-OPERATE GENERAL CONFERENCE REPORT - A. M. E. ZION CHURCH Every person, delegate or otherwise, who was interested in the last GENERAL CONFERENCE, Louisville Ky., 1916, or is interested in the NEXT GENERAL CONFERENCE, Knoxville, Tenn., should purchase a copy of the "Bird's Fye View of the Louisville General Conference, with Observations on the Progress of the Colored People of. Louisville" by Rev. Jacob W. Powell, 218 Broadway, Malden, Mass., Lay Delegate to that Conference, President of the Sunday School Union of the New England Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church, and Associate Pastor Columbus Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston. THE BOOK GIVES A CLEAR IDEA OF THE EXPERIENCES OF A DELE GATE TO, AT AND FROM A LIVELY GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION AN IMPRESSION (Abstract from a letter written to the Author, June 19. 1916, by Mr. Wm. H. Batum) " Let me congratulate you on your masterly address yesterday afternoon. It was superb. Every one is talking about it. who had the pleasure of hearing it. You covered so much ground, and dealt with the conference in such a comprehensive manner, that your auditors were transported, on the wings of imagination, to Louisville.". The "Glimpses into ZION'S HALL of FAME" embrace a wealth of items of personal interest to all members and friends of Zion Church, and especially to everybody whose ancestors, descendants or other relatives or friends have been identified with the amazing progress of ZION CHURCH in BOSTON. CONTENTS OF THE BOOK PREFACE- Life sketch of Author from the "Kentucky Reporter" Chapter 1. "Bird's Eye View of the General Conference" including, pictures of the author, Rev. B. W. Swain, Miss Eliza A.Gardner, Columbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Church, Boston, Broadway Temple, Louisville, and Rev. Wm. J. Walls, its Pastor. Chapter 2. Miss Eliza A. Gardner's Historical Sketch of Columbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Church of Boston, with list of Pastors and years of service from 1838 to date, and "Glimpses into Zion's Hall of Fame." Chapter 3. "The Boston Church and the Bishopric," varied literature commencing with the General Conference of 1916. Chapter 4. Report of the Boston Church to the Annual Conference at Worcester, Mass., June 5-9. 1918, by Mr. Scott Robinson, delegate, and Mrs. Cora F. Saunders, alternate, and names of members who paid "General Fund." Chapter 5. Account of the MAMMOTH WELCOME RECEPTION and TESTIMONIAL to Rev. Benj. W. Swain, D. D. and family, July 10, 1918, inaugurating his seventh year as Pastor in Boston, and giving impetus to our nomination of him for the Bishopric. Chapter 6. Some of the testimonial addresses delivered, and letters received. Response by Dr. Swain. Chapter 7. Contributors to the 335.00 TESTIMONIAL FUND. List of Bishops, General Officers and Officers of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of Zion Connection. List of relatives of members of Columbus Ave. A. M. E. Zion Church now in United States War Service. The Illustrated Books are now being printed and will be ready for delivery on and after Thursday, October 31, 1918, while they last. Send your written order now with cash or money order to Rev. JACOB W. POWELL, 218 Broadway, Malden, Mass., or at COLUMBUS AVE. A. M. E. ZION CHURCH Boston. It will be impossible to secure a copy after the supply is exhausted. Be sure to give your full name, number, street, city and state, and do not expect your book before October 31, 1918 PRICE OF COMPLETE BOOK (delivered anywhere in the United States) Cloth cover - - 1.2S per copy (delivered) Paper cover - - 1.00 per copy (delivered)

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