The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-12-30

AVAILABLE. CANDIDATE IF THE
WEST CAN, DECIDE. ON THE
't,"\.' MAN III WANTS. 81 : ..
EMINENT CHQRC Gilman:
Grand Master, of the Free and Ac-
cepted Masons Of His State.
Prominetn In Politics, He will be
Powerful Factor In the Race
for g. M. II. Bishopric. -
(Horace D. S1atter. }

NHophAAS'AAC, ny, DSC. 1O.-1n
such a MANNER as not to be construed
an particularly drawing the sectional
hne, the West is clamoring for a
member OF the Episcopacy In the Col
ored Methodist Episcopal Church.
While two OF the general officers OF
the church live west Off, the Mssissip-
pi river that section has. never had q
blsho p who has lived there, all: Of the
Ave bishops residing on~.tRe eastern
side. 49,. Nrt+<
Bishop Il. H. Holsey and Bis shop R.
s.. Williams each Hive in Georgia, at
Atlanta and - Augusta, respectively;
bishop Lame at Jackson, Tenn, and
Bishop Phillips at Nashville, Tenn,
while Bishop Elias Cottrell resides at
Holly Springs. Miss, :, - -.
If the West will decide; on any one
unai, Its demands will he needed. No
one can tell what kind Of a combina-
tion will be made, or how such combi-
nation will affect this or that candi-
date: Texas has made many steps
FORWARD: In the last quhdrennium
and Its large reputation in the general
conference. as Well as the ability and
moral worth Of many of its men will
compel certain -forcible recognition. =
The Rev. J. w. Mckinney, of Sher-
man, Texas, Grand Master. of the Free
aud. Accepted Masons in that state
and a recognized factor in the relis-
1ous, g educational and commercial
activities Of our people In that com
monwealth Is to be a powerful factor
in the race, ..;.-
He will certainly be felt, for there
is none with a cleaner record, or who
stands better. He was born In Texas
in 1864 and all his Afe and, work
has been expended for the betterrneTnt
Of his people IN that western state.
Arriving at scholastic age he dIYid-
ed isstirde ;bstweeh work ON the farm
and attending school when the rainy
season came. Until his sixteenth
winter, this process was followed.
Afterwards he became country
school teacher and student in a high
school at Sherman. He completed
the Normal course at the Prairie View
Normal school at Fl years Of age.
The early portion Of his career was
spent in the school room, in Jasper
county, at, his home town, and at
Sherman. -.
In order to increase his fitness for
his work, he arranged with the presi-
dent Of Austin college, white insti-
tuition, to pursue the study Of the
languages after school hours, and
alternately taught school and pursued
his studies until the satisfactory
course was concluded. This occupied
three years Of his time. He began the
study OF law, and received license to
practice in all the course Of Texas
In 1892. His law examination has
been declared to have been one Of the
most rigid ever given to an applicant
in the state. The learned Hon. Frank
billiard, who now stands at the head
Of the legal profession In Texas, and
who handles all the immense law bus
iness OF the Hartman Systems was a
member OF the examining committee1
DR.. McKfnney's success as g. lawyer
was phenomenal and he has to his
credit some we'll earned legal vieto-
ries, both in tho criminal and civil
courts. T.
DR.. Mckinney has been likewise
very prominent In Texas politics, and
was member Of the national Repub-
lican convention that nominated Har~
rison for the presidency for the Sec
ond time He was rewarded for his
political services by thu, appointment
as Deputy United States Marshall for
the Eastern District of sTexas, in
which Office he served for more than
four years. I1fi s., ~,...,r... =:
DR.. MoKinney's career. as a. 1ninia-
ter has been leesened not. one iota
by his other work. He became q
member of the ~.Colored Methodist
Church at the age of eleven. When
he bad reached the age of fifteen he
is said to have filled every office in his
church except pastor. He was licens-
ed to preach in 1888 and preached his
first sermon under a brush harbor.
In the fall of 1894 he joined the an
nual conference under Bishop Bebee,
in the city of Fort Worth and later
was admitted into full connection
uader the same bishop.
For many years, at bis own request
he was placed on the mission fields
and In that way became thoroughly
familiar with the. hardsbips OF the it.
iDerant minister who has to eerve
the charges that are not self support
ing. In 1904, he was sent by Bishop
X. s. williams to the pastorate OF the