Richmond planet., 1898-04-16
REV. ADAMS SPEAKS.
The Truth, The Whole Truth
And Nothing But The
Truth.
THE AN E. ZION OHUROH-THE A.
NJ. E. BETHEL OHUROH.

Mr.. Editor:-
As a reader Of the Planet I have
taken great interest in the lively dis
cussions between the intellectual Glad
iators who have crossed pens in defence
of their cherished opinions, and pro-
ductions as published by the Planet,
have been of great benefit to the pub-
lie, and sir would have nothing to
say but for the seeming slight and
vain attempt to place the A. NJ. E.
Zion Church in false light before the
public. The writer of the article in
last weeks Issue entitled, "The Vital
Question" aud other previous articles
seem to be trying to make great deal
out of your statement, that the A. NJ.
E. Bethel Church was the grandest Ne
gro religious organization in the world,
and greatly at the expense of the A NJ
K. Zion Church In giving dates of
organizations they seem to be'oblivious
TO the fact that the A NJ. Z. Zion
Church ever had birth, or that it WIS
so much older, they could not refer
back to the date of its origin. Now, 1
have no desire 70 claim any glory that
belongs to the A. NJ. E. Bethel Church.
Nor should she attempt to eradicate
any houor that belongs to the A. NJ. K.
Zion Church. lam generous enough
TO say that they both are grand religi-
GUS organizations and each have suffi-
cient honors to designate them as the
most progressive Negro religious or
ganizations in the world. But, why,
should they be so unwilling to give
honor to whom honor is due, and since
they were givingdates OF organizations
why not say that the A. IA. E. Zion
Church was organized in New York
City. in the year 1856, and that it was
Incorporated in the year 1901, and that
the act of Incorporation is still on re-
cord liz the county clerks office in New
York City.
The A. M. + Bethel Church was or
ganized in 1915 as you have stated and
as Bishop Paynes' History Of the A. NJ.
r. Bethel Church bears you out, and
as Bishop J. w. Hoods History of One
/ Hundred Years Of the A NJ Z Zion
Church published in 1896, also tells us,
/ Bishop Hoods mother was a member
with Richard Allen in the Methodist
Episcopal Church in 1918, in Philadel-
phia, and as Richard Allen was the
founder of the NJ. i Bethel Church
it must have occurred at subsequent
date-1S16 is about right. Again, I
learn that many Of the present leaders
of the A. M. E. Bethel Church, seem to
object to the wCrd Bethel in their title.
| Or course A M K. Zion is our name.
The word Zion was adopted by our
General Conference to designate it as
both Churches we're called the A. NJ.
K. Church for a long time, so we adopt
ed the word Zion after our first church
mother Zion in New York City and be-
cause their first church was called
/ Bethel. The two churches have been
generally spoken os as the Zion and
Bethel Churches. We are proud OF
our Mother Zion and in the North
East and West, the other church is in
variably spoken of as the Bethel
Church. AS to which is the grandest,
l will only say, we have our own
Board of Bishops and general officers
at the head of each department of our
church. our own publishing house. the
Star our leading church organ, DIR. j.
w. Smith editer, several other papers,
our own Sunday School literature
book of discipline, church hymnal
church history and everything that
any other church has, debts included
and has produced such men as the late
Hon. Frederick Douglas, j. @ Price
4
Rev. O. w L. Smith, j. @ DAncy. Col
lecter of Port at Wilmington, N. G
and many other notable men of the
race.
We have now nearly 6OG 900 commu-
Inicants. So that when you count al
1.-THE colored Methodists of the A. M. Z
Zion and the .. A. M. E. and Others
there are nearly two millions colorec
Methodists in the United States. / an
mot seeking a controversy but wan
the truth stated.
On April the 10Th to 25th, 1898, the
Board of Bishops and General Officers
of the A. M. E. Zion Connection will
hold their semi.annual meeting at the
Oak Street A. NJ. IL. Zion Church o
Petersburg, Va, to which you, Mr.
Editor and all others are cordially in
vited to attend and learn much more
of our grand old church.
]. J. ADAMS, Pastor
Oak Sta NJ. E. Zion Church.
Petersburg, Va