Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-17
BISHOP DENOUNCED.
SERIOUS CHARGES BY GEORGE w.
SLATER, RESIGNED PASTOR
OF HYDE PARK, ILL.
Sensational Development Promised at
A. M. e. Conference Which Opens at
Des Moines Today-Rev. M. l. Cor
don in Attendance.
From Tuesdays Daily.


Rev. NJ /. Gordon, pastor of the
African Methodist Episcopal church
of Ottumwa, left last evening to at
tend the Iowa annual conference and
missionary convention of the A. M.
E. church, which convenes for a five
days session in Des Moines today. 1t
is expected that this meeting will be
one of the largest meetings of repre-
sentative colored men ever held in
the state.
1t is thought that there will be
some sensational developments arise
when the charges made by Rev. Geo.
w. Slater, the colored pastor who
recently resigned from the Hyde Park
chapel, at Hyde Park, ILL.,, against
Bishop Grant and other officers of the
Iowa conference, comes up for inves-
tigation.
Makes Open Charges.
The matter is being freely discuss
ed by the Des Moines and Chicago pa
pers devoted to the interests of the
colored people. In communications in
the Broad Axe of Chicago the Rev.
Mr.. Slater openly accuses Bishop
Grant with stealing the election Of
two bishops in 1900, and declares the
A. M. Z. church is corrupt from the
bishops bench down to the pew.
In letter written by MIR. Slater to
J. L. Thompson, editor of the Bystand.
er of Des Moines, the preacher tells
of his resignation from the pulpit be-
cause of the unfair and ungodly treat
ment of leading ministers in the Iowa
conference. In his letter, which
abounds in scathing denunciation of
the leaders of the church, the Rev.
Mr.. Slater has this to say:
A scathing Denunciation.
f'There is no Disgusting the fact that
no self-respecting, honest Christian
minister can congenially remain in
her ranks. If he does he must either
compromise or be kicked and cuffed
about. No woman missionary or
evangelist can maintain her place un-
less she bows at the behest of wicked
men. These bad, bold men demand
that the other ministers, women and
men be quiescent while they rob the
church treasury and lead the flower of
our womanhood from the paths OF
virtue to lewdness, disgrace and
death.
These bad men have such a hold on
the church that they defy law and
everything else They ride rough
shod over, everybody and everything.
They drink whisky, gamble, commit
adultery and, in fact, commit almost
every deed in the category of crime
with impunity. They have so polluted
the church until she lies helpless at
their feet. Not one of them can be
convicted for their deeds. Has it not
been tried? Hasn't it been proven that
the bishop protects them, while at
the same time he knows of their PERM
cious acts?"
Demand Full investigation.
The matter has created great ex-
citement among members of the local
church, and they say it has reached
point that nothing Short of full
and free investigation by the confer
ence will be satisfactory. In fact, it
is claimed the charges are such that
the bishop cannot ignore them, and
it is likely the Rev. Mr.. Slater will
be given opportunity to prove his as
sertions.
From Wednesdays Daily.
The third annual session of the Iowa
African Methodist conference opened
at Des Moines. yesterday morning with
a meeting of the missionary society
an auxiliary of the conference. The
Iowa conference comprises the church
es of Iowa, part of Illinois, Michigan
Wisconsin,, parts of North Dakota and
Washington. The conference is being
held in st. Paurs A. M. E. church. The
regular sessions OF the conference be
gan this morning,
A Missionary Meeting.
The session was given over to the
reports of the secretaries and treasur
ers and the addresses of welcome anG
the address by the president, Mrs. M
c. Malone of Keokuk. The correspond
ing secretary, Mrs G. NJ Tillman oil
Chicago, ILL.,, made her report for the
past three years The total amount
of money taken in for missionary work
during that period was $1,079.69. Mos
of this sum has been used to further
the cause of the church work in Africa
and the Philippines A memorial of {
half hour was given in honor of Mrs
Agnes Moody, who died during the pas
year. Mrs. Moody was conference
branch organizer and held the place
until her death during this year. Shor
talks concerning her and her life were
made by many of those of her most in
innate co-workers. The reports of thu
secretaries show the church to be il
a f1ourishing condition financially al
well as spiritually.
Mrs. H. Graves of the Des Mines SO
ciety and Mrs. Hale on behalf o
the missionary societies of the city eX
tended greetings. Mrs. G. M. Tillmal
responded in a neat little speech.
Dr.. carey's Address.
mo decent negro would vote tn
democratic ticket" declared DR.. A.
Carey, pastor of Quinn chapel, Chica
go, in an address last evening at tn
ST. Paul's A. NJ. E. church before tn
members of the Ladies Mite Mission
airy and visiting members of the con
| ference that have arrived in the cit
| to attend the annual conference of tn
Iowa district DR.. Carey is pastor c
| the church III Chicago where Presiden
Mckinley made his last Chicago ad
| dress, and the church is the largest i
| the Iowa district A star marks tn
| place in the pulpit where Presiden
| Mckinley stood when making his az