New-York tribune., 1906-06-24
NEGROES TO CONVENE.
EIghty-third annual COnUenti0n of
african ". T.. Church.

The eighty-third annual session Of the New York
Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church will be held on Wednesday in Bethel Afri-
can Methodist Episcopal Church. in West 18th
street. near Eighth avenue, of which Dr. T w
Henderson is pastor. Several questions Of import
10 the connection. which is the Oldest Negro re-
hs1ous denomination IN the world. are be con-
sidered.
Bethel Church for the last four years during
which time he has added thirteen hundred men,
bers TO that congregation. The officers of the
church have made elaborate preparations FOR the
accommodation of the delegates
Since the adjournment of the last session of the
conference which held in Buffalo. the African
Methodist Episcopal Church in this state has been
In grave crisis. several of the leading churches
have been threatening TO withdraw from the con-
nection. and II has required diplomacy and tact
on the part of the bishops of the denomination to
keep them in the fold
Besides Bishop Arnett. all of the general officers
Of the Church. including DR.. L. H. hampton, the
financial secretary; Dr. H. Blanton Parks the
secretary OF home and foreign missions: DR.. H. T.
johnson, the Editor of The Christian Recorder"
the official organ of the connection; Dr. B. F.
Watson. of the Church Extension Society: the
Rev d. W. ChappellA. of the Sunday school de-
partment; DR.. ". H. Heard formerly United States
Minister to Liberia and the secretary of the Con-
nectional Preachers Aid Society. and others will
lie ia attendance upon the conference.
The most important question that will occupy the
division of the churches of the state two pre-
siding elder districts. Prior 10 the last annual
conference there were two districts, but at Buffalo
last June the two were consolidated. and il was
this action on the part of the conference that was
responsible for all of the troubles TO which the
connection has been heir during the present CON
ierence year Bishop Arnett. al Buffalo, appointed
Dr- ). Timothy Tice the pI Iesiding elder of the
consolidated district but DIR. Tice supported
Judge Parker Tor the Presidency against Presi-
dent Roosevelt the Negro church people rehelled
retirement several Of the churches threatened TO
= Tlthdraw from the connection. Bishop Arnett re-
moved Dr. Iice and appointed the Rev. Dr. J. NJ.
Proctor presiding elder of the churches OF
Brooklyn and on Long Island and the Rev. DR.. y.
b Stuart presiding elder of the churches of
Manhattan and for those up the state, which
stored harZn0uy.
Next IN Importance will be the consideration by
the conference of conditions in the Bridge Street
African Methodist Episcopal Church, Of Brooklyn.
where the trustees Of the church locked the doors
against DR.. B. ". Arnett jr., OF the bishop.
The trustees also in rebellion against Dr. II.
II. Butler, the present incumbent
Reports from the churches throughout the states
VIII be read. the moral, spiritual and financial
the status OF the will be submitted, and
the rise of the conference the Bishop will n
nounce the appointment of the pastors of
churches for the ensuing year.
AS the result Of his treatment by church
officials and worry the troubles in the
churches. Bishop Arnett was attacked by a para
lytic stroke several months ago, from which he
has completely recovered, he will be
conference but will have associated with him Bish-
ops ". B. Derrick and AbTam Grant, formerly
Bishop of the New York diocese; Bishop Levi J.
COppin. who held the New Jersey and Philddel-
phIa conferences for Bishop Aruett. and Bishop
b. T. Tanner. who has been supervising the work
in the New York and New England conferences