The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-07

doubtless the Oldest preacher Of any denomina-
ton. He 10 older than the African N. y.
Church itself, which was organized Ia lIss. He
was born In Maryland March 10. 1854 and
joined the church when be was ten years old.
He began preaching four years later. and has
CONTINUED st 10 more or less regularly ever since
Preaching the gospel for ninety years 10 some-
thing that has scarcely been heard Of Mr. Smith
came alone from his home in Xsnis. and 10 the
guest OF Rev. j. w. Gazaway. the pastor Of
Bethel Church His face does not bear test-
mony TO bis Ave score years. but his body In
measure does. The lower portion Of his limbs
are moro or less dwArfed and bent and he moves
about slowly. yet those Who are acquainted with
him declare that he still retains considerable
vieor. He Is announced TO offer prayer O. the
services 1t Bethel Church this morning. and
VIII, IL said. deliver . sermon some time dur
ing the conference.
This church has nine bishops, and in 1884 it
bad fossy-ons annual conferences: 2, $40 min
listers, under whose control were 2742 church
buildings; $50. 900 members. and 10. 900 proba-
TONERS. making in all. 405. 900. 1t has the larg
United States In 1854 the African Ms.hod list
Episcopal lions Church had 800. 900 members;
colored Methodist Episcopal Church, 155, 900;
the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1856 1s4, and
the Union Methodist Episcopal Church. 8 500.
The whole number of colored communicates In
all the churches is estimated ct i, zoo. 900. one
Tor $40 OF the whole colored population OF the
United States
The whole number of Sunday schools in the
African Methodist Episcopal Church vas in "a
returned a. BIZ. with &c, 440 officers and teach
ers, and l16, 2S4 pupils. Four years ago the re-
eeipts Of tie church were So, $50, and its dis
burseinents so. 625 Nearly ali its receipts came
IN the way Of dollar money The educational
ed by the General Conference, the institutions
being as follows: Wilbeforce University, lWilber-
force, o.. with 800 students; johnson High
school. Raleigh. n. c.. 333 students; Allen Unit
versity. Columbia, s. c., $40 students; ST
James Academy New Orleans. $50 students; Di-
vinity and High school. jacksonville. Fla; Ward
Normal Collegiate Institute. Huntsville. Texas;
Turner College, Hernandez, MISS; Western
University. Quindora, Kan; Morris Brown Uni
versity, Atlanta, Ca, and Garfield University.
Montgomery. Ala. All but the fret two OF
these institutions have become active since 1880.
The total value of educational property 10 given
at $751;. 900. Thirty-fve subordinate schools are
also sustained in South Carolina. The Home
and Foreign Missionary Society. organized in
1880, is doing good work. The church has e.
t.aSlshed number OF missions in Africa and
San Domingo. In the home missions the in
crease has been 90 rapid that several branch
5ocietes have been formed. The church also
maintains publishing house in New York.
from which the income was over $63, 900 in
1884
The conference begins this morning at 8
o'clock. The following is the programme for to-
day:
9A.M-Church open to the public.
$50 A. M.-Meeting Of bishops and delegates in
lecture-voom.
GAO A. M.-Procession to form md move to main
auditorium in the following order: The bishops viii
seat Themselves the platform. and the conference
will open by singing PRAISE God from whom all
blessing fow. and singing by the choir; prayer by
Bishop A. w. Wayman; Scriptural lesson by Bishop
R. r. Disney; singing, "And are we yet alive" lined
by Rev. John Turner, of Denver, Coli reading of
ritual by Bishop III. NJ Turner; prayer by Rev. David
Smith of Xsnia, O.; welcome addresses. by Bishop j.
p. Campbell and Rev. j. W. Gazaway.
Quadrennial sermon. by Bishop d. A Payne; quad
rennial address, by Bishop T. NJ. D. Ward Notice Of
the time of their delivery will be given.
3P. M.-Oommunion, conducted by Bishops d. A.
Payne and A. w. Wayman.
Many Of the pulpits in the city. both Of white
and colored churches, were filed yesterday by
the visiting ministers.