The record-union., 1897-08-21
MINISTER'S QUALIFICATIONS.
IN THE FIRST PLACE HE OUGHT
TO MARRY.
Interesting Proceedings at the Col
ored Methodist Conference
Yesterday.

The third days session of the an
nua1 conference of the African Metho-
dist Episcopal Church was called to
order at TO o'clock yesterday morning.
Praise service was conducted by Rev.
J. E. Edwards of Oakland. and all
joined in singing appropriate hymns.
The Committee on Admission 10 the
Ministry favorably reported the names
of Edward F. Lee of Oakland and
Robert Herring of Mare Island, and
Bishop Gaines proceeded with the usual
test questions.
The Bishops methods were unique IN
that they conveyed to the licentiates
practical information well intended to
assist them in the labors on which
they We're about to enter.
Deacon Lee was questioned as to his
condition in life, and admitted that he
was unmarried. He was advised to
hunt himself a wife at the earliest op-
portunity, the Bishop impressing upon
him that a good woman can, more than
any other agency, uplift man and
spur him on to success. As for himself,
Bishop Gaines said he had been mar
ried thirty-four years, and never for
one instant had couse to regret his ac-
ton.
Ministers, the Bishop explained,
should be Temperate, and not literally
translate Timothy, and daily take
wine for the stomach's sake" He had
heard, he said, of a minister who Sc
cured a prescription from a doctor, and
always kept the bottle filled, though
the same roots remained in it for f1f-
teen years.
Ministers should understand how to
keep peace in a community, and should
so conduct themselves as to be re-
spected and reverenced by their con-
gregations 1t would not do, he said,
to go to a brother as though clothed
with the power of a policeman and or
der him to do a certain thing, for a
great distance separated persuasion
and command, and a Christian talk in
a Christian spirit was the one and
only way in which to reveal the faults
of the erring, with a chance of practi-
cal reformation.
Bishop Gaines further advised the IL
centiates to practice punctuality, par
ticularly in pecuniary matters. If a
promise was made to pay a bill at a
certain time, it was best to meet that
promise and not dodge around a cor
ner to escape meeting the creditor.
Nothing would so soon cause lack of
confidence as failure to meet promises
and personally he wouldn't care to
hear a man preach whose word could
not be depended upon.
He advised the young men to be
gracious to ALL and particularly to the
poor and humble. A prayer at the bed
side of a poor parishoner was a good
the bed, the subject would have much
more confidence in the efficacy of that
prayer
The several committees handed in re-
ports, most of which were of salts
factory nature That handed in by
Reverends Wilson and Edwards, re-
specting church entertainments was
particularly well received and approved
by the entire conference.
The report suggested that the usual
church fair entertainments and others
of a similar nature be relegated to the
obseurity from which they sprung, and
the probabilities are that the African
Methodist Episcopal Church in Califor-
MIA has Seen the last of the regulation
church entertainment for the purpose
Of raising funds for church or pastor
At y ClOEh u. Ill all
was taken until 10 O'Clock this morn
ing.
THE ANNUAL SERMON.
In the evening the services there
opened with singing. Rev. ]. E. Edwards
of Oakland giving out the hymn, Equip
Me for the War
Rev r. T. Cottman of Los Angeles
made an eloquent prayer for the young
men and the old men in the work in
which they were engaged.
The speaker of the evening. Rev. J. E.
Edwards, was introduced by the Bishop,
who announced that he would preach
the annual sermon on Education
He took for his text Acts 24-25; And
as He reasoned of Righteousness, Tenn
perance and the Judgment to Come,
Felix Trembled." He depicted the scene
as Paul appeared before his accusers
and said that he appeared throughout
the most celebrated trial except that of
our Savior, to lose sight of himself and
his position. 1t made no difference to
him whether or not he was condemned
to suffer. His business was 10 preach
the Gospel and disseminate its doctrines
wherever he could.
His training as Saul of Tarsus, before
his conversion, was the most full and
thorough. He was given the highest
education at the feet of Gamaliel, fitting
him for his later life work. Ae we so
back in history, we find Joseph. whose
life had such an effect on the welfare
and history of his people. His life
showed that God had marked him out
for a great work. So with Moses, born
in slavery. saved from the edict that
doomed all the male children TO death
and taken care of until the appointed
time when he should lead his people.
Education is great thing, great aid
in the work that is given us to do. But
he wanted his hearers to remember that
all education is not gathered in the
schoolhouse. Shall a young man sit
down and say Il cannot go through the
High School. The University is closed
10 me as if it did not exist. There is
nothing left to me but TO sit down and
so without an education" II all the
world did so. what would become of
progress and knowledge? The scientist
devotes his energies to research and in
vestigation. He uses his understanding
10 increase his knowledge. He does not
sit down and wait to be taught.
Education is the handmade of Chris
tianity. 1t is a great mistake we make