The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-07
A BODY OF COLORED DIvINES
Men Who, Under Discouraging Condi-
tons, Have Attained Distinction.
Personnel Of the General Conferences Of the
A. N. 3. Church, Sermon Of Bishop
Payne-Accounts of Various Services.
CELEBRITIES OF coLoRED MErHoDIsnI

-
Other OfHcers OF the Conference.
The General Conferences Of the African d. T..
Church begins to-day st Bethel Church. on Yer
mont. between Missouri and West streets, and
will continue three weeks This conferences Is
held ones in every four years, The last one hav-
ing been at Baltimore. There are about two
hundred and sixty regular delegates, including
delegates from every State and many Terrific
ries in the Union besides Canada and the Ber-
muda and Demerars islands In addition there
are many visitors aud men of moro or less note
in eolored Methodism. The session viii b
presided over by David Alexander Payne. Of
Wilbsrforce, o.. senior bishop, and the more
Important matters to oe considered are the rsvi-
siou of the laws and the election Of three bish-
ops, TO succeed those who have died during the
last four years. These were Bishop Dickerson,
of South Carolina, who died Dee. IS, 1884; Blsh-
Cd Cain, Of Washington, whose death occurred
Jan. Is, 1887, and Bishop Shorter, of WILDER
force O., who passed away in December last.
The election Of the successors to these bishops
vill. Of course be among the most important
matters to be considered. Among those who are
prominently spoken of for the places are DIR. b.
W. Arnett. Wilberforce, o.; DR.. ". j. Gaines,
Atlanta. Ga: DR.. B. T. Tanner, DIR. B. F.
Lee and Dr. j. c. Embry. Philadelphia;
Pa: DR.. J. n Townsend. Richmond, Ind; DR..
". Derrick. New York city. who Is known as
'ths colorsd Roscoe Conkline," because of his
powers Of eloquence; DR.. A. Grant, Texas. and
DR.. John Turner. Denver, Col In case the lat
ter should be chosen there would be two Bishop
Turner's
Probably the brightest minds in the colored
population Of the United States are Represented
1t the present conference Those who heard
Bishop Paynss address Yesterday morning ct
Msridian-street Church have some idea of the
ability which is to be found among the
leaders of the colored race. Bishop
Payne is but one among . number Of the men
now here who have under Instantaneous cir
tumstauces attained an elevation In education
and culture which Is far above that tn which the
average American citizen sspires. The lives Of
many or these men, a majority or whom were
born in the Southern States. some OF whom
were slaves, would make interesting reading If
related BY q careful historian.
Bishop Payne. the senior Bishop, was born in
charleston. 8 O., in 1SlL When ten years OF /,
age he learned the earpen ter's trade. At the
age Of eighteen be began TO teach school that
became so popular and infusntia in Charleston
that it was finally suppressed by the whites.
On one occasion. while he was walking along
she streets Of Charleston, carrying q small cane.
white man snstchsd 1t frosi MIN and struck
him. being indignant at the idea Of "a niger
carrying . cane" Young Payne retail
lated, aud was imprisoned therefor. He
was not slave, and in 1885 he left
Charleston and never returned until thirty
years later. when he came as Bishop OF the A.
ID. =. Church. For several years he taught in
Philadelphis. In May. 1s43. he became trav-
cling preacher in the Philadephis Conference.
He was elected bishop on May 10. 1852 He
ored men at Wilberforce. o., and was at one
time its president. The territory over
which he now presides bishop is
Florida and Alabama. He is an
eloquent speaker, and IL beloved by cnlored
Methodists everywhere. and IL greatly respected
by all Meshodists. As an evidence of the latter.
he presided for one day over the Eccunlenical
Conference In London. In 1881, to which no was
a delegate. He Is the only colorsd man who has
ever been accorded that distinction. Although
sevsnty-one years of age. he still retains much
OF his old-time yigor, and those who meet him
are greatly surprised to see how well he has
borne his years.
Bishop Alexander W. wayman was born IN
Caroline county, Maryland. IN September, 1921.
He was farm boy and learned his letters Of
HE father. In 1843 he was admitted to the
Philadelphia Conference, and in 1864 was made
bishop. The degree Of ID. ID. was conferred
upon him by Harvard University, and he Is con-
s6ersd one OK the best theologians ir the eolored
church. He will assist Bishop Payne In the
communion service this afternoon.
Blshop Jabez b. Campbell was born in Della
ware In 1915 When he was quite young his father
gave man mortgage on him and then went
away. When the money was due the mortgage
was forecosed and On attempt was made to sell
the future bishop. but he got wind Of the affair
and fed TO Philadelphia, where his mother
sided. He became q minister in 1856, was
elecred editor Of the Christian Recorder. and In
1864 was chosen bishop. In 1876 he was sent
- delegate TO the Wesleyan General Confer
euee In England. He Is the president OF the
board OF trustees of Wilbsrforce University.
The territory over which he presides as bishop
10 Indiana, Ohio. Michigan and West Virginia.
Bishop John Mifin Brown was born in Odessa,
New Castle county, Delaware. Sept 8, 1917. He
attended college at Oberlin. o.. and afterwards
entered the ministry. In 1853 he was appointed
in charge of the mission in New Orleans, and re-
NAMED several years, b1t was so prosecuted by
the whites that he finally left He was impris-
onsd many times on trivial pretexts. He be-
came bishop IN 1868. His territory il large,
being Illinois. lows, Missouri, Kansas Mime
sots Colorado, California and IN fact, all Of tie
extreme West 49,
Bishop Henry Mcneil Turner was born IN
South Carolina in February, 1893 He was ad.
mitted to the Missouri Conference In 1853 Dur
ing the war he was commissioned. the frat col
ored chaplain in the United States army. He
lived some time in Georgia where he served
. member Of the constitutional convention and
State Senator He was elected bishop in 1880.
His bshooric extends over Kentucky. Tonnes
see and Virginia
Bishop Thomas Ward was born in Pennsyl-
vania In 1923 At early age he was con-
verted and joined the A. N. E. Church. and soon
after moved to Philadelphia, where he was Ii
scspd to preach For eighteen years ne was a
missionary on the Pacific coast He was elected
b!shop In 1868. His present territory 10 Ar
kAnsas. Mississippi and Indian Territory He
10 hns orator and is to deliver Quadrennial
address on next Monday.
bishop in the person of r r. Disney IL also
here. He 10 popular. we'll educated and man
OF ability. His territory Is Ontario. Canada,
Nova Scotia. the Bermudas. Demarara and
other islands and South America. To the bsh.
op the general officers of the church next In
prominence. and all of them are present. They
are DR.. j. G. Embry. manager of the publish
ing department OF the church, with headquar-
tiers ~ Philadelphia; Dr. B. F. Lee. Of the
same city, editor Of the Christian
Issordss. rhish is the church organ.
editor of the A. NJ. T. Quarterly Review; DR.. ].
NJ Townsend. of Richmond. Ind secretary of
the Parent Home aud Foreign Missions Society;
DIR. Wm. ID. johnson, of Athens, Ga, secretary
Of education; Rev. C. 5. Smith, of Nashville,
Tenn. secretary of the Sunday school Union,
and DIR. b. w. Arnett, of Wilberforcs. o..
financial secretary. The latter Is probably
more familiar with the affairs Of the church
and more widely acquainted with its ministers
and members than any other member OF the
conference. Esis man Of ability, having been
. member OF the Ohio Legislature for several
yeas