The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-02-13
Staff Correspondence

Staff Correspondence.
Washington, ID. c.. Feb. 12.-
The semi-annual meeting Of the
| Bishops Council Of the A. NJ L.
Zion church brought together this
| week seven of The eight bishops Of
the connection, nearly all Of the
general officers and many ministers
| and friends from all parts Of the
country. The sessions have been
held in the auditorium os the Tn
ION Wesley church, Of which Rev.
w. H. Davenport is pastor, and the
delegates and visitors have been
ably cared for by the local commit
tees named by him. Bishop J. W.
Smith, of this city conducted the
opening exercises on last Wedues-
day evening Addresses of welcome
we're delivered by Hon. John G.. DAN
| ~, recorder Of deeds; on behalf Of
he citizens; by Bishop, @. w. Gin
} .On on behalf Of the Sixth Episcopal
district; Rev. S. l.. Corrothers on be-
half Of the churches; Prof. Kelly
Miller on behalf Of the schools; and
| by DR.. F. }. Grimke on behelf of the
ministers denominational union
Responses on behalf Of the
| council were made by. Bishop ]. S.
l. Caldwell, Rev. r. A. MorrisSey, of
Philadelphia and Rev. H. j. Calls,
| Of Boston
The several days were taken up in
| hearing reports from the general Of
Ulcers on the condition Of the church.
arranging plans for the coming gen
eral conference, discussion of how
| BEST to bring about organic union of
III the Methodist bodies, and cleo
| tion of Episcopal delegates to the
| Philadelphia conference. The re-
! port Of Rev. M. r. Franklin, finan-
/ ;ial secretary, showed that the con-
| 1ection is raising annually over $780,
| 200 for general purposes alone and
| hat all Of the departments are on
| a solid foundation. His disburse-
| nents for the year were $45,332S9,
| with balance on hand Of $939.35.
The report Of Rev G. l.. Blackwell
showed a total disbursement of $685.
! 057.05, and a balance on hand of
s969.35. Rev. w. H. Coffey, speak
ing for the church extension board,
reported a large increase in new Zion
4
country and a correspondingly large
increase in membership, the total
'eaching nearly 100000. The ex-
! :cellent, sermon on Friday evening
by Rev. J. B. Colbert on THE Elk
:ension of Gods church." has had a
profound effect in inspiring the Of
1cers and membership generally tc
enlarge the sphere OF Zion's influ
ence, and instead Of being content
70 allow the organization to restrict
its operations to the South and At
| I lantic seaboard, with only a fail
Sprinkling in the central states ant
Middle West, the borders Of The
| church should be extended through
out the Far West to the Golden Gate
of the Pacific, and that the virgin
| soil Of the rich northern states from
| the Canadian line and the lake ter
ritory, should be given careful atten
1 lion. DR.. Colbert is satisfied that i
| congregations can be developed II
! | he broad stretch between the Mis-
sissippi and the Rockies the return
4 n few years will more than justi
! fy the outlay, and several stron;
y conferences can be organized YER
|
Michigan, Indiana and Ohio region
Ewhere only the Kentucky and Mis-
/ souri, conference are now known. /
A is foregOne conclusion that tn
Philadelphia conference will legis
late vigorously on this subject, AM
he result will no doubt have an i'm
| Dortant effect on the number of bish
4 ops elected. Dr. Colbert is bein;
pushed for the BishroDic, as a spec
4 ial representative Of the West, anC
! he is making decided impression
for his cause.
The attendance this session il
8 larger than usual, and the interes
l is more intense than has been thu
; case for years, signs that augu
well for the future Of the Ziol
church. The bishops present we're
4 J. w. HOOD, Cicero r. Harris ant
G.. w. Clinton, Of North Carolina
Alexander Walkers, Of New York; J
w. Alstork, Of Alabama, J. S. Cald
well, Of Illinois; and J. w. Smith
s Of the District Of Columbia Gen
eral officers: Drs. NJ. r. Franklin
financial secretary; G. l.. Blackwell
] general and missionary secretary
4 w. II. Coffey, secretary church ex
tension board; G. G.. Clement, edito
Of the Star Of Zion J. G.. Dancy, ed
q it0r Of the Quarterly Review; J. f
q MOreland, manager Of publishing
4 house; f, II. Hill, clerk Of the pub
B fishing department; s. G. Atkins
3 secretary of education; J. II. Ander
son, general statistician; J. E. Ma
! son, assistant secretary Of education
e. George Biddle, editor Of Zion
Trumpet; r.. s, Bruce, editor Sunda.
School Literature; w. H. Goler, pres
i1ent Of Livingstone College; f. NJ
Jacobs, as>lstant general secretary
Other prominent divines in attend
anCe we're: Drs. J. 3. Colbert, Mime