Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-10-16
BISHOP JONES.

-- 8iOh Shui I'll al
America. The Bishop complains Of
the MESSENGER garbling his SER
mon and ignorantly and maliciously
placing him in false light before
the people. A denial Of malicious
treatment against Bishop, Zion, or
any person, is unnecessary from us.
Our patrons and the people Of our
native State know us too well for
that. We made no second hand re-
port, but took the Bishops words
ourself and commented upon them
in the light which he placed himself
before thinking people. One young
lady who has been very anxious to
go to Zion Wesley, came to us be-
fore we left our seat and remarked:
Don't you think the Bishops SER
mon was very discouraging to one
wanting an education?" 1t was
generally taken by thinking, un-
biased people as bad language on
the stand from any person.
The Bishop says we envy the pro-
gress Of Zion!
Well, we will not, like the Bishop,
rehearse our past life to tell what we
have done, but will simply say there
is colored Episcopal and Presby-
terrain church here, and we have not
been inside the Episcopal church
once in two years, and in the Pres
byterian church but once. We are
Zion Methodist, attend Clinton
Chapel regularly, and contribute to
both church and Sabbath-school as
much as the average member. The
files of the MESSENGER may be
taken as one evidence Of our envy
against Zion Wesley, the Star, and
all branches of the Church. The
one fact of our mother belonging to
Zion would be sufficient for us to
love and cherish her-the Church Of
our choice.
We spoke against the use of Ian
guage that may be construed into
harm against Zion, and especially
coming from a Bishop or leading
man in the connection. We here
speak against Bishop Jones mimicing
style of preaching in our Southern
cities. We have intelligence in every
Southern town, and it generally turns
out to hear our leading men regard
less of denomination. They expect
much from our leaders, and it is
Notifying to see them disappointed
in Zion. We speak now, as we did
before, for the good of Zion-be-
cause we love her. We know it was
a bold and daring step, but what is a
newspaper for but to say what in the
judgment of the editor will benefit
our people9
Of course we know the Bishop is
great man in Zion-we l.nnu he
delivered the first annual address
that it was published and sold
throughout the country; and we
heard his address at the laying OF
the corner-stones Of the two magnifi-
cent buildings at Zion Wesley Col
lege which are now completed. But
alas! We are thus the more sadly
disappointed in the Bishops failures
when we hear him.
The Bishop is right when he says
there was no solicitation from the
Presbyterians and Episcopalians to
publish the article referred to. 1t
was Bishop Jones and his style" we
aimed at. The shortcomings Of the
Church should be published if they
cannot be remedied by milder means,
and the heads Of the Church are re-
sponsible for them all. For all that
Zion has done for us we feel grateful,
and she shall have our allegiance
while we live. We court no recog-
milton by repeating our past acts as
do the Bishop in his article. AS to
being beneficiary of Zion, we have
tried always to give an honest days
labor for each days pay we received
have generally done two men S
work on the Star for thirds one
mans pay; and the last time we
worked on that paper we resigned a
good light place to take charge Of
the paper for one-half the pay, in
order that the paper might be
manned, &C., by colored men.
But why don't the Bishop dispute
our article? Why does he indulge
in so much abuse? Such a course
always shows weakness, and the
Bishop thereby fails.
We admit there are many edu-
Gated women in Zion, as the Bishop
says; we admit they can send us
to our books. And here we will
remark, we have said nothing to re-
fleet upon the ladies of Zion; and
how such a construction could be
placed upon our article, only a
wicked and malicious heart could
conceive. We know there are some
educated ministers in Zion-and the
Bishop knows that our position on
the Star and the Educator for about
tour .,aorc anf;fiaI &c 60 1r,<... 1. -