The morning times., 1896-06-20

The celebration Of the centennial snni
versary OF the establishment Of the Africal
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was con
tinued In the Metropolitan Wesley Churcl
on ID street southwest last night. Despite
the excessive heat the church edifice wa.
nearly filled, the interesting program being
the means OF drawing out the large gather
ing of kethcdists and their friends The
| centennial observances were hegun yes
terday morning. the program OF the MORE
| ing and afternoon being published in full
| In The Evening Times.
Bishop j. b. Small presided. and the
singing was d feature or the evening. The
old centennial hymns were sung, and in
addition to these there was special mosic
by the choir, under the direction OF Prof
Furby.
In beginning the evening session Rev. Mr.
Mcintosh offered feryeEt pra yer invoking
divine blessing on the church and the entire
race. The Rev. j. Boiden presented the re-
port Of the tempe rance committee. which,
as u oie.irepcrted progress. The COM
mittee, in the report, rect mmended to the
bishop the necessity and Importance Of
appointing on the committees cnly those
ministers who did net Use tobacco them
selves, but who were opposed to its Use.
This created a storm of opposition on
the part OF several of the delegates. some
Of them being ministers, who objected to
the tobacco paragraph. A motion to lay
the report over until today was lost, as was
also a motion to accept the report After
lively discussion. in which the presiding
officer had trouble in keeping order, the
report wassad6 pied after the paragraph
relating toItGbacco had been stricken out.
WHAT Is BEING CELEBRATED.
n;al ;nt, . col.
dists are celebrating is tie establishment
OF the Colored Methodist Church. The
first Methodist church ever built III America
stOvd in the city Of New York and was
known as the John Street Methodist Church.
In this church were a small number Of
eoiored people, and the husba nd Of the
minister's Coiored cook was the laBitor of
the church. In 1896 these colcIed people
becoming dissatisfied with the treatment
they received, Withdrew from the church,
and under the guidance OF james Varick
worshiped wherever they Could until finally
they built q church OF their own at what
is now Church and Leonard streets, New
York. This they held and wurshiped in
until 1858, when they sold the property
for $50 ,O00 and erected a u edifice ut West
Tenth and Bleecher streets, and which Is
now valued at $12O,OCO.
In view OF the fact that the Tooth
anniversary has been Te1ched, a monster
Jubilee centennial celebration has been
arranged for, which will he held in the
Methodist church, New York, i'm October
and continuing twelve days. Efforts are
being made TO raise $1Oo, coo TO enable
the church 10 60 forward in the work of
church extension with renewed confidence
at the beginning Of the new century.
The first speaker last evening was Mrs.
C. N. Robinson, OF Harrisburg, Pa. She
delivered the address of welcome, aud
spoke OF the good qualities OF the women
in the church, the aid they gave
the pastor, the building committee, the
trustees, and called attention 10 the i'm
mense amounts OF money they had raised
TO extend the church work, and to advance
the Christian religion throughout the world.
WORD TO THE GIRLS.
sour Girls aud Their Possibilities" was
the subject OF the Rev. DR.. w. h. Chambers
and to the splendid qualities and
achievements OF the young women he paid
Q glowing tribute.
After selection by the choir, en-
titled calling. Today" the Rev. DR..
g. S. Adams spoke on "Our Numerical,
and Religious Strength" DIR.
Adams said the A. NJ. E. Zion Church was
Tie largest and oldest church in the coun. !
try: that it was the largest colored organ |
ZatioD in America. He said at tile present |
time there were 1851 communicates, |
900 ministers, 4,O73 churches and SUM- |
lay schools. and over 125,OOU Sunday |
school children.
DIR. Adams briefly reviewed the history |
Of the church for the 100 years. and |
men who. as colored men, had been con- |
nected with the Zion Church. The race. |
he said. was making great progress in |
Ihc world. and the church was keeping |
Up with the procession.
]. C. Dancy spoke at some length on |
Our Civil and Religious Liberty" He !
reviewed the progress OF the |
colored race from the time of the church's |
organization down to the emancipation
1f the slaves. and the great progress of
.hc colored man up to the present time.
Mrs. ]. H. Small. wife of the bishop. |
poke on "Woman's place in the church."
md pointed out the duties OF the women of
he congregation. She told of how help
ul they could be to the pastor and to the
hurch and how they could aid in many
ways. THE origin and development OF
ur Sunday School work." was the theme
pon which the Rev. W. J. Holland spoke
cry entertainingly for some time.
The collection taken up was a very
ubstantial one and was followed by the
oxology and benediction.