Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-05


II the people who attended Asbury A. M. E.
Church last night failed to have what is popu-
larly known as "a good time" they can neither
blame the Methodist Episcopal board of bishops
nor the church authorities Methodists of the
CaucaJian race gave their episcopal leaders a
receptional greeting last Friday night; yester-
day evening the dignitaries were made welcome
by the representatives of long -despised race,
the members of which "hayo come up through
great tribulation-"
LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE
Possibly few more people might have found
seats in the weil-known structure on the south
west corner of 18th and X streets but their
presence would have added but little to the en-
thusiasm that moved in waves from one end of
the audience chamber to the other in response
TO the sentiments expressed by the dis
tlnguished speakers. Tho meeting was thor
Oughly unlike any other which the bishops
have participated in since they came here q
week ago. but that II was enjoyed to the full
YVES evident to the least-obseryant witness.
SonorOus 'Amcns' were by no means uncom-
mon; many a half-uttcrcd sentence was broken
with Praise the Lord" and it was always in
order to say "Gory." Applause WAS frequent
and laughter moved freely along without let or
hindrance.
Suspended on a curved wire over the pulpit
was the word welcome" cut out of some pol
ished material that glistened in the gaslight
ike the regulation hotel clerks diamond.
Palms decorated the approaches to the pulpit
and there was also nice display of cut flowers.
The audience almost wholly OF Ethiopian
descent, but here and there white face peeped
out from the midst of an ordinarily dark-hued
throng.
OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
When Bishop Hurst called upon choir and
cohgre CATION to sing 20. For a Thousand
Tongues to Sing My Great EeGeemer's Iraise."
there were a round dozen of bishops in the
pulpit The hymn was sung in characteristic
manner. WIGS raced through rs though the
choir had private advices that there was some-
thing better on the program that might escape
them If they failed to hurry up.
Bishop Hurst followed the runaway hymn
with brief speech full of thankfulness He
said that OF all the kindness and courtesy
which had been showered down on the bishops
none was more highly appreciated than that
which characterized this especial occasion.
This remark was applauded by Bishops Bow
man. NIHde. Newman. Warren. Vincent Fos-
ter. Mallalieu, Fitzgerald. Foss Fowler joyce
and Merrill Bishop Walden would have APP
plauded, too, but he did not arrive until some
time afterward. Bishop Hurst apologiZed for
absent bishops and said their absence was
unavoidable.
REV. J. W. E BowEN's ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Tho pastor. Rev. j. ". E. Bowen, was intro
duced by Presiding Elder W. T. Ryder Mr.
Bowen said twas rather late to say welcome"
but he. nevertheless. did so. He welcomed
the bishops to the hospitality prepared, to the
Asbury Church, to the best the people of As
bury had Upon the Methodist Episcopal
church would fall the greater weight OF the
race problem burden; the colored member of
that church was aware of the difficulties that
stood IN his way; he was patient-willing to
wait his time. Mr.. Bowen was most emphatic
IN his statement that the Methodist church
was church for the might he rod
Or brown, or black. or white-color was no
longer a consideration-but it was enough that
he was man. The history of the colored man
and that of the early Methodist evangelists
was shown 70 be closely intertwined. In con-
cIuslon. Mr.. Bowen said that the colored man
was going to work to become a real part and
parcel OF the country; to be counted and voted
and recognized.
BISHOP FOSTER on EQUALITY.
Loud applause followed this declaration, and
wher things were again calm Bishop Hurst in
PRODUCED Bishop Foster, who was heartily
greeted Bishop Foster claimed to be the
father of Asbury Church. for he had sent to her
lone OF the noblest men in the Countrywide
speaker who had just demonstrated his equality
with any white man in the land" Applause
Bishop Foster stated that one of the most I'M
portant tasks which kept the board busy was
the continuous search for men. Ten thousand
puiplts IN this land were hungry for men, bu:
the supply was not abundant. He wished he
had the power to create a thousand such men
as Pastor Bowen. The bishop was very sympa-
thetic IN his declaration of love and respect Tor
tine colored race and he complimented it on
having. in the short space of thirty years,
Travelled fully half as far the race that had
had the privilege of centuries. God bless you
and prosper you, said he in conclusion, land
maze you great people. Be loyal to your
selves and to your church and the Lord will
pour His blessing out upon YOU" The speech
was punctuated throughout with pious eiacula-
lions and applause. and it's conclusion was
greeted with chorus of vehement ..amens"
Another hymn was sung, principally by the
choir Its movement was extremely rapid, but
1t had IN IL the characteristic racial swing and
most OF those who sang not kept time with their
hands and feet.
BISHOP BOWMAN on THE PROGRESS OF THE COL
oRED RACE.
Bishop Bowman made the next address, His
speech was largely reminiscent and was most
interesting. number of ludcrous anecdotes
were related in Bishop Bowman's inimitable
style and then he became more serious He
talked OF the marvellous progress the colored
race had made; warned them that they did
things to each other that if done by white
people to them would be stigmatized as results
OF race prejudice, and adjurcd them to keep
marching onward and upward He recalled
the fact that Methodists i'll Pennsylvania as
late as thirty years ago, were treated much as
the negro now Is in the south; no one other
than those OF his faith would associate with
MN ana II 1t was possible he prevented
from preaching. He wanted the negro to be
hopeful and good. There was d good deal of
laughter and lot Of applause in and around
the bishops remarks.
DEFENDED NEGROES FROM REBELS AND DEVILS
According to program the meeting would
have ended at this point. but there were loud
calls FOR Bishop Newman. He responded in
MS usually cheerful manner and talked of the
days when he had to defend the negro from
the rebels and the devils-when he spent the
years from 1864 to 1869 in Louisiana Nissis-
s1ppl and Texas. He had no doubt as to the
ability OF the AmerIcanized negro to cone with
any situation, 10 meet any emergency to bear
any responsibility. The day was coming, he
was satisfied. when the descendant of Shem
Ham and Japheth would mingle as one and
then old Noah could look down on his reunited
family. Bishop Newman's remarks were re-
eeived with enthusiasm
THE LUNCH.
Down stairs there was e great spread-a
buffet lunch of the most elaborate description.
The room was decorated with bunting and
flowers and the tables could hardly have been
improved upon. The bishops were not in good
eating condition. for they had Just come from
. magnificent dinner given in their honor and
for their satisfaction by MIR. W. j. Hutchinson
Everybody seemed to enjoy the occasion very
much, and the bishops most certainly did One
OF those who took u noticeably deep interest in
The proceedings was Bishop Walden. who began
70 work for the colored people a good MANY
He waa he first sacvatorv ~ tb.