Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-06-22
OF REv. xvNT. ID. JOHN
son, AW.


1uclQE, IOr Vl6 DCHSUt Ol our uIdily
readers, the following addresses.
The first was delivered at Atlanta,
Ga, by the Rev. VIM. ID. Johnson,
A. NJ, fraternal delegate from the
NJ. E. Church, to the Gen
eral Conference ofthe NJ. E. Church,
South. The reply, SO happy in
thought and style, is from Bishop
McTyeire, who was the presiding
officer on the occasion. Mr.. John
son is an African of the purest type.
We commend the perusal of his adj
dress, because it shows what Gull
ture can do for the race; because it
expresses tine normal relation of the
two races in the South when not
controlled and warped by the arts
of Northern politicians, and because
of its intelligence, fervOr and elO-
quence:
Jh.. Chairman, Bishops, and Breth-
eJH ia Christ
Let me here state a circumstance
which has just now occurred.
When in the vestry there we were
consulting your committee, among
whom is your illustrious Christian
Governor, the Hon. A. II. COlquitt
Applause feeling an unusual thirst,
and expecting in few moments to
appear before you, thoughtlessly, /
asked him if there was water to
drink. He, looking about the room,
answered, "There is none; | will
get you some" / insisted not but
presently it was brought by broth
er minister, and handed me by the
Governor. / said, "GOvenor you
must allow me to deny myself this
distinguished favor, as it recalls so
viVidly the episode of the Warrior
king of Isreal, when with parched
lips he cried from the rocky cave
of Adullam, ooh that one would
give me drink of the well of Beth
lehem that is at the gate" And
when three of his valiant captains
broke through the hosts of the enc
my and returned to him with the
water, for which his soul was long
ing, regarding it as the water of
life, he would not drink of it, but
poured it out to the Lord" APP
plause. $50 may this transcendent
emblem of purity and love, from
the hands of your most hOnOred CO.
labOrer and friend of the human
race, ever remain as a memorial
unto the Lord of the friendship eX-
listing between the Methodist Epis-
cOpal Church, South, and the Afri-
can Methodist Episcopal Church,
upon this first exchange of formal
fraternal greeting" APPLAUSE
1t was not without great reluc-
lance that l was hurried away
from the quiet of my pastoral work
tOa position Ofthe highest eminence,
in appearing before you! as fra
ternaI messenger Of the African NJ.
T.. Church, as you are doubtless
aware, that certain others had been
expected to do this distinguished
service; and since we are here, it
strikes me that silence to the next
quadrennial would be for us the most
becoming introduction to your
graces. But since the world is wait
ing for some indication Of the real
animus of the two races brought,
for once face to face in authoritative
assembly, let me speak, and God
grant me words befitting the Occa-
sion.
And, Mr.. Chairman, your Gener-
al Conference being made up as it is
of the best intellects and purest
hearts of the land, and seeing we
come as the fraternal messengers OF
peculiar people, who sustain also
peculiar relations with yourselves,
coming at a peculiar time, | can
very readily conceive that you are
making all allowance for informal
tiles and sayings, just state your OBJ
SerVatiOnS as best you may.
First of all then, in the name Of
our six Bishops, eight thousand itin.
Grant and local preachers, our mem.
bers and congregations, aggregating
nearly a half million souls; anO
above all in the name of Jesus
Christ our Lord, we greet you. We
rejoice at your triumph andar anX'
iOus to assure you of our hearty
good will. [Applause.l
| trust | shall here be pardOned
for obtruding what might in some
way contribute to more solid judg
mentS upon whatever may be adj
vanced by your humble speaker to
day. Born upon your strong Dor
der State of Maryland, my father {
slave, and his own father a planter
of the royal type, my mother fl et
woman decended from African
kings, educated in Pennsylvania
through the patronage of that grea
and good man, so justly esteemed il
this State, the Hon. VIM. f. Dodge
Iapplausel and from the further fac
that / was raised in our Sabbath
schools, graduated as a stewart
class leader, eXhOrter, local preacher
deacon and elder, being for the las
ten years preacher in Florida anC
Georgia, and and Il member of GU
last general Conference in view 0
all this, l shall no doubt obtain, i
not the appreciation of many, a
least the credit of knowing where
of / affirm.
There was once 4 question as t
the maternal relation of a certain
child, and when the question cOulC
not be settled by the parties NOR
Immediately interested, it was de
cided as a stroke. by the wisest o
all judges, when he said, "Dividt
the living child" The precariou
condition of the living child bears
strong analogy to the history w,
might repeat in the hearing of on
mothertO-day. Atlast, you were on
mother when we left the grand ole
mansion of American Methodistisn
many years ago.
We have never forgotten thOs,
tender years, nor the deep concern
of our mother. But we return to
day with our sheaVes of rejoicing
to tell only to cOnfiding ears on
deep regard for you, and to stat
some little part of our experience.
Bishops and brethren, the African
people of the United States, lon,
silentthemselves, being COMPOUNDED
like job and his friends, by tn
deep suffering and untOwardness @
our situation, presenting, as w
have done and do to-day, the grea
human problem of the Nineteent
Century, often misiudged by on
foes and miSrepresented by thos
unauthorized TO speak or unaC
quainted with our heart and tru
condition, and, as for the first time
we have the high privilege of you
NpnpTab BILE prpSpDpp and nltipO