New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-02-19
From Ohio.
CINCINNATI, Feb. II, 1874

CIV. lc'H'
r, ,.s Editor erhe Ne,0 National Era and Cn-en:
The past has been an eventful week with
us. The celebration of the fifticth anniver-
sory of the establishment of African Method
ism here was begun on Sunday morning, at
Allen Temple, which had been appropriately
decorated with cvergreens for the occasion.
Pictures and names Of nearly all who had
been prominent in this church hung upon the
walls or were suspended from the galleries,
many o: them cncirclcd with wrcaths Of
cedar.
Back of the pulpit were displayed large
in which the congregation had wor-
shipped, relieved OH the right and left
respectively 10y the anchor Of hope and the
cross of faith, done in evergreens.
REV. L. w. ARNETT,
pastor. delivered the historical and semi
centenary address at ii a. M, rccounting,
graphically, the various difficulties through
which they had passed, steadily progressing
onward, nevertheless, from the old "Red
Church on the Green" and the 'Iime- house
Church, to the present grand temple, which
was the largest and most commodious house
of worship belonging to the connection.
Brother Arnett gave description of the
rise and progress of education in this city,
assuming, it seemed, all the credit to his
church, which / can hardly concsalc it enti
tied to. He gave statistics of local affairs
aud events that were interesting, if not val
liable, and closed with a biography of the
present officers O! the church.
At three O'Clock
BISHOP ID. 4. PAYNE, DID,,
of Wberforce University, the most scholarly
colorcd ihcolcgian in the country, preached
the semi-centcnnary sermon 20 n large and
apprcciatiyc audience.
Rev IL. 4. johnson, of Columbus, read
from the fifth to the twcnty-Gfih verses, in
elusive, of the second chapter fPaul's Epistle
to Timothy, which the Bishop took for his
theme, and dwelt exclusively On the ncccs-
sary qualifications to the character of Chris
tan minister. was particularly struck by
the carncstncss with which he urged that the
days of inspiration had passed and the neces-
sity for n preacher 10 be student. ''Study
all books" said he, Sand you can better
then study the Bible. Hard work is the only
way TO acquire knowledge. Learn thor
oughly that which you study. Strive to imi-
tate God in holiness. which was in active
opposition to sin.
Nerer 90 into tie pulpit uaprcpared, or yon
miH fail. Fill the head, and the mouth will
al, L.
enough in 4 clergyman. lie must be ac-
lively, acgrcssiycly vrtuous. He should
morally he so clean that his enemies could
say, IL know no evil of him."
After the sermon, Thomas Z. Knox was
ordained, and general baptism of infants
closed the afternoons exercises.
In the evening, Elder Johnson delivered
a sacramcntal sermon on the next. "Lct us
consider" from the 9th verse, seventy
fourth psalm.
THE GENERAL REUNION,
on Monday evening, was highly enjoyed by
another large audience. The programme was
as follows:
Original Poem, "Now and Them" Hon. j.
Madison Bell, Toledo, Ohio.
The CiviliZing Power OF Christianity, by
Judge Is. S. Storer, LID.
Our Sister Churches, or Unity 10 Spirit
without Uniformity in Service, Rev. j. IL.
Ma:cc, of Union Baptist Church.
The Developing Power Of African Method
ism. Prof. T.. ii. Clark. Principal Gaines
High School.
The Public Schools, the Citadel of Liberty
and the Bulwarks of Christianity, Prof. w.
ii. Parham, Superintendent of Colored
Schools.
Our Country, the Land of the Free and the
Asylum of the Oppressed, Ex-Governor f.
L. Moves.
Gu: City, the Queen Of the West, Mayor
e.. w. {. Johnston.
Christian Women, their Work and their
lniluencc, Rev. j. Il. Wills, Of Zion Baptist
Church.
The Sunday-School, the Future Church
and the Hope of the Nation, Rev. J. l.. H..
Swears, of NJ. +. Union Chapel.
The Press, its Power and Responsibility,
DIR. +. 5. IIoyt, Editor of "W. Christian Adj
vocate.'
Obedience to Law, the Palladium of True
Liberty, Rufus King, President Of Ohio Con-
stitutional Convention.
The Modern Pulpit and its Relations to
the Community, Rev. Rufus Conrad, Of the
Christian Church.
Our pioneers and their Work, Rev. j. L.
Underwood, of Cleveland.
II was pleasant to sec the cordial esteem
manifested by our prominent city and State
officials, Democratic and Republican, by ac-
cepting an invitation to join in aiding negro
celebration.
Fifty years seems too late Il time to reckon
the difference between two Democratic
Mayors, one of whom, when asked to protect
this same church, refused it, and when en-.
treated to say what they shall do, replied
run, damn you, run.' And yet, less than
twenty years effected the change. The
present incumbent publicly proclaims his
pride in the progress of the colorcd institu
IONS OF the Queen City. But you may dc
The moralzing in this while / go on to the
remaining history of the week. Tuesda,
evening closed the Allen Temple demonstra
ton by a big .'lovefeast." AS 1 had duly
invested all that article under my control in
young lady, (ahemy!) l could not join
them.
On Wednesday morning the
LEXINGTON CONFERENCE
oi colored ministers under the administration
Oh bishop Merrel, (white,) began its sessions
al The Union Church, in this city. Ths
Bishop called the meeting To order and con