American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-23
CoIored Conference.

The first Conference of the a. NJ.
Z. Zion Connection, District No. 5,
convened in Sharon, Madison coun-
ty, Miss, OH Dec. ii, 1876 Elder
T. A. Hopkins, presiding.
Conference was opened by the
Elder, reading the 25th chapter OF
st. Matthew. Singing and prayer
by ii. Plingle. Opening sermon by
the Rev. ID. Pitts, assisted by p.
Adams. Conference then adjourn
Ell to meet ut 10 o'clock, A. NJ. on the
18th. Btnedictiol by the Rev.
ID. Pitts.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS
Prayer meeting ut 0 O'clocI :,
by Mr.. Moore and NJ. Pringlr.
Conference met at 10 o'clock.
Reading of 4Sth Psalm by Elder 7.
A. Hopkins; also singing ard pray
er Ivy the Rev. ID. PITTS.
The first days proceedings we're
read and approved. Elder Hopkins
then delivered the following al
dress to the Conference.
Members Of the A. II. e. Zion Con-
terence, and Brothers in Christ:
We are assembled in a District
Conference 10 Regulate the business
of this Conferences. God has been
unmis, akably kind to us to spare
our lives and health amid all on,
infirmIties and short comings; aud
how gr iteful we ought to he to him
foI the loving care and umdiminish
ed solicii ule with which his guar
dianship has been exercis ed over
us. Let rs search anL try our wa, s.
'sthat we may the more earnestly
and devote,lly lit mp our hearts
with OIff hands unto God III the
heavens.
l am proud to meet this large
delegation. This may be our last
time to See each others faces in n
District Conference. THIS is my
last time here until | 60 to the An
mial Conference. l may he sent
back here ami may not; 1 can not
tell. but l can say that L have
been treated with marked respect
since l have been presiding over
you. was told by both white and
colOred persons when started here,
that l W you'd be murdered and never
see home again. But az 1 had
promised to go wherever the Con
ference sent me, when the appoint
I'd time arrived, [ started TO the
South, and was kindly received b.
all of my people wherever l went;
and not DULY l.y my people, but by
white people also. Not whi'e
person has spoken an angry word
to me sine l have been i'm this
State. was OH my to New Orleans
this summer, and the cars fell in IA
cnIvert, aud l was severely wound
eel, and the white pr ople took care
Of me until l could take care OF
myself. Therefore Brothers, 1 am
bound to respect this community
wherever l go, both black and white.
| will pray FOR you all and love you.
and wherever l go, [ will remember
tuIS COu'uu1iIN at large.
Now Brethren, | charge you to
continue 10 carry lions flag, and
never let it trail in the dust, aud if
f Zion gees down it will be your
fault, for God has promised 10 build
il mp, and if yOu continue IN your
course, it will forever prosper as
she is now doing.
NO Of
New York, in 1875, and have in
from q mere handful, com
to more than two hun
ired thousand members. The An
iual Conference whicliwas original
y composed Of six ministers is now |
increased to the large number of
me thousand ak hundred. The
lumber of Annual Conferences held
y the Zlon Connection, is eighteen.
! was at the General Conference
which convened at Louisville KY,
II June, and the delegates from the
Mother Church spoke in. Conference
md said that the Zion Church was
he largest body of colored people I
m the Western Continent, and
ecOg lied us as the same MethU-
list and hope that the day is not
ar distant when we viii all be one
The nj. Il. Bethel Church also
aid that it hoped that in four years
We would all meet in one hall and
ny wherever thou goest will L GO,
nj wherever thou dicst will 1 die,
to- The African Church in
AMERICA also sent her fraternaI uel
gate OH consolidation, and We
greed TO cons pii.iate on proper
erus. hope that that you all
Vill pray for general coming to-
ether of Me;hO,lists, and that we
,ill drop the different names and
II become as one.
Alter the Elders address, Con-
resumed her bushes.
Delegates handed IN their reports
nd they we've all received. a,
Conference then proceeded to the
lection of delegates to the Annual
which will convene at
atesviIle, Miss, on he 81 of Jan
airy 1877, which resulted as follows:
OF the Rev. Ii. Wells Circuit,
, represent lions Chapel and
haron, Fl. j. Jones
OF the Rev. E. Masey's Circuit,
} represent Free Union and Du-