Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-11
MET in CONFERENCE
Assemblage of Baltimore and Wash
ington A. M. E. Clergymen.
LIVELY DISCUSSION OF CHURCH MUSIC
Race Pride and Its Various In
terests.
AN INTERESTING MEETING

The fourth annual meeting Of the Poto-
mac district conference Of the Baltimore
annual conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church assembled at 10 o'clock
today in the st. Paups A. NJ. E. Church, on
Sth street southwest between d and E
streets.
Rev. John H. Collett presiding elder,
acted as moderator. Devotional exercises
opened the session, Rev. Elijah P. Grinage
offering prayer and Revs. Scott and Jeni-
fer reading Scripture selections. Roll call
showed many absentees, a greater part of
them being Baltimore members of the
conference, who were detained by the fune-
raj of one Of their nuAber-Rev. w. H.
Brown.
Rev. J. c. Melody was chosen secretary
of the conference and Rev. J. o. Gusts as
sistant secretary.
Mr.. George w. Smallwood welcomed the
conference to the church in a brief speech,
to which Rev. James Scott responded very
happily.
Members Present.
Roll call found the following clergymen
present: John H. Collett, John T. Jenifer,
D. D.. John w. Norris, John W. Brown,
John r. Johnston, John Q. Custis, John B.
Wallace. James H. Scott, Joseph K. Plato,
Jacob Melody, Joseph H. Robinson, Isaiah
F. Aldridge. Daniel G. Hill, Daniel P. Sea-
ton. D. D.. M. D.; Arthur Jones, Richard
Thompson, George w. Nicholson, Francis
s. Dennis. Elijah P. Grinage, Samuel c.
Butler. William H. Williams, A. A. Muir
ray, Lynn H. Jackson, and the following
laymen: H. H. Burke, John RobEts, B. H.
Davis. David Dock. John W. Mitchell
Richard Delaney. John w. Martin, Jas
H. Young, L. M. Beckett, ]. T. Bond, Rob-
ert Holland.
Committees Appointed.
The following committees were appointed:
On memoirs-Revs John S. Jenifer, Elijah
P. Grinage. John r. Johnston, ]. b. Wal
lace and Laymen j. w. Martin and John
Roberts
On finance-Revs. John w. Norris. j. H.
Robinson, ]. c. Melody, Laymen H. H.
Burk and r. Delaney.
Financial condition of churches-Revs. J.
T; Jenifer, VIM. H. Williams and Mr.. John
w. Martin.
Spiritual condition of churches F,
S. Dennis, A Jones and Mr.. John Roberts.
Condition of colored public schools-Revs
VIM H. Williams, A. A. Murray and 1. F.
Aldridge.
Sunday schools-Revs E. P. Grinage, J.
o. Gusts and S. c. Butler.
Presiding Elders Address.
Rev. John H. Collett, the presiding elder
Of the Potomac district, in his opening ad-
dress reviewed the temporal and spiritual
condition of the people and the churches in
the district during the year. He spoke of
the district as the banner district in the
Baltimore conference as shown by it's sue
cessful financial condition and the increas-
ing membership of all its churches in the
cities of Washington and Baltimore. All
its people and its pastors are alive to earn
est work. Generous giving and true hospi-
tally mark all church work. The Sunday
schools are all prosperous special topic
in the address that created something of a
stir was an allusion to the character of
camp meetings, once such a powerful means
of good. In these days of strong and
commodious churches camp meetings are
no longer necessity" he said.
Public Schools.
Mr.. Collett also spoke frankly on the
wretched condition of colored schools in
Maryland. In Baltimore, he said, the color
ed schools are frightfully crowded. All are
filthy and unhealthy. and must be large
cause of the fearful death rate there. He
urged agitation, and advised his brethren
to preach sermons against such school aG-
offered, and the conference adopted, resolu-
items of respect to the late Rev. w. H.
Brown of Baltimore Bethel Church, who
died in Baltimore Monday. at the age of
pastor in the A. NJ. E. Church. Rev. Eli
jah P. Grinage was elected AS a committee
to attend the funeral of Rev. Mr.. Brown
this afternoon, and present to his people
the resolutions adopted by the conference.
Music In the Church.
Rev. J. H. Robinson of Garfield Church
presented a carefully prepared paper on
the topic, Some of the Best Methods Of
Holding Our Young People in the Church"
DR.. Jenifer spoke briefly on the same topic
abiding to the apparent disposition of the
young people to go from the Methodist to
other churches, and mentioning several
cases in his own church where young peo-
pie had gone out from his flock and in
some instances Joined an Episcopal church.
people were outgrowing their church and
SUI day school influences. They go to the
public schools, and have the best Of op-
pc rtunities, and they soon see that many
behind the times. Another thing is that
young folks like to be cheerful and happy,
and they love to dance. They believe the
Methodist Church is too strict, and they
go elsewhere.
Rev. James H. Scott of Baltimore
thought much of the trouble lay in illit-
eracy. The parents of children pledged to
the church were not competent to train
ings of the Methodist Church. He thought
the remedy was to redouble efforts to teach
the truth, and, by beginning with the child,
lead 1t on through youth to manhood
and womanhood in full and Intelligent
belief in what the church teaches.
Rev. John w. Norris of ST. Pauls Church
said the trouble Was not entirely confined
to the Method Church. All denomina-
lions felt it. Young people dislike the
shouting ard singing end the old-time
forms and want something more modern
He urged new ideas as counter attrac-
ton. Bring In good music-even such as
the cololed people have carried on the
stage and into various public entertain
ments. Services, he thought, were too dry.
Music would draw the young people. Other
things were necessary, Of course, All the
time the children of colored people were
being educated outside of the church faster
than they are In it. The young people are
studying music, and they don't like the old
fashioned shouting and singing of the
churches. IF I could have the Marine
Band in this church to praise God" said
Mr.. Norris, I'D fill this whole square every
Sunday"
Rev DR.. Hunter of Richmond, one of the
founders of st. Paurs Church, was invited
to address the conference on the topic I'M
der discussion. He told how in Boston he
had brought an orchestra into his church
and trained musical conductor, and the re-
suit was remarkable in its effect upon the
growth Of the church. He also related sew
eral interesting anecdotes Of the early his
tory of st. Paurs Church.
Race Journalism.
W. Calvin Chase was introduced to the