Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-14
SgllruaI sao Coarisr.
Monday, May 14. 1888.
Bethel A. M. E. Church.

The Pastors Vyork Since the New Church
 Was Commenced-Facts and Figures
 An Appeal for Aid.
 During the past week 8 temporary roof has been place, over the partly finished Bethel A. M E. church on Sperry street. The front has been boarded up, and yesterday the con- gregation worshipped in it for the first time. It is not pleasant place for worship and it seemed to disinterested parties present as though the structure should have been con- pleted before it was used for religious pur- poses. The funds did not hold out, howev- CT, and not desiring to entail heavy debt the building has remained in it's present con- dition for nearly year. The society pro- pose to orship there during the summer. and in the meantime hope to obtain funds from the charitably disposed sufficient to complete the edifce. At the afternoon ser
 vice yesterday the pastor, Rev. Arthur J.
 Chambers, made the following statement,
 which will be read with interest. He said:
 lowe it to myself and the interest commit
 ted to my charge, as well as to New Haven
 and those generous friends who have aided
 us in our great struggle, to make the follow
 ing statement of facts. l came to this city
 March 10th, 1881, to supersede in this pas
 torate minister whose relationship with the
 church was infelicitous religiously and ten-
 porally things wore an lnausplc1ous Iook
 My bishop knowing the state of things eau
 tioned me against despair before leaving
 Washington. I did the best could until the
 meeting of the New England Annual Confer
 ence, from which, against my unequivocal protest. was returned to this city to build a church. In July, 1881, I called the socle- tv together to know their wishes In the mat
 ter and it WAS voted, with but two dlssenung
 voices, to build church in keeping with tne times and of such material and nnlsn as would invite non-church going people within
 it's portals. This action I laid before the
 board of ministers and requested thelr VleWs'
 which confirmed the action of the members.
 I then asked for plentpotentiary power
 from them to select building committee
 and manage the whole matter, as I thought
 to the highest interest of all which was un-
 animously granted. I selected the best
 judgment of the church at that time. and
 freely discussed matters for the general good
 of the community and our church and race especially. It was not long, however, before found myself hampered and baked Tn every effort; not that my views were an tagonized, but on the contrary were heartily indorsed in our meetings; but opposed,
 ieered and ridieuled on the street corners.
 resolved to proceed however, and to insure
 the co operation of my church urged upon
 Hon. H. B. BigeIow to become treasurer of
 the funds we raised for this object, as
 there had been six hundred dollars
 raised by Elder Laws in '75 for new
 church and used by the officers for pastors
 salary, house rents and things for the old
 church, and the members declared they
 would not give Q cent if the officers were to
 hold the money. Then to give us the benefit of the business capacity of the white people I appealed to Mayor Robertson, Hon. H. D. Sperry, General Ford and others to become Irnn that they could, if they would, collect thousand dollars by repeals where we collected ten. The three gentlemen named kindly consent ed to do so. These things were causes of mourning because some said it showed 8 want of confidence in the integrity and pres tige of my own race I did not care what 1t demonstrated, just so it built this church and helped us onward and heavenward- Some then objected to giving unless work began so they could see it. Many of our white friends promised liberal aid when we gave evidence by beginning work of doing some- thing worthy and grand. So we began by tearing away ths old house or selling it and
 having it removed. We bought pass books and printed appeals and put in them and also effort was the $1,30O rally of which We shall soon speak. Before it came off we re- quested the finance committee to be present and receive the money. Hon. H. D. Sperry
 replied by letter that if in the city on the day designated he would do SO. He was in Washington, Mayor Robertson was in Charleston General Ford did not come be- cause they were not present. As the booA ! had been out for near three months, snow was several inches deep. Many who had | solicited money were outS of work. and I did not think 1t judiciout to tempt poor man witE
 family by waiting until all the committee onuld oak fooether This beinO tha TlrinciDa cash rally made have thought it neces sary to invite the committee to be present since, but have received and deposited al \ monies myself or have had reliable persons to do so.
 We raised for general church purposes and for building from November, 1881, tc January, 1883, $3, POS. .19. Of this sum $2,
 344. 10 was especially collected for the new
 church on the following dates: