The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-11-24
FOR WESTERN Nd SOT,fN&
HOLDS TWBNTIETH,aARi.ss .iy
NUAL SESSIO N.i n II 81 sssst ssssS
DR.. Clinton Presld 3
And Delivers A Stirring Address 6ass
Affairs Of National Import TO I1ia
Negro, Laying Special Stress Upo1xs
OWL and Political Rights. 4. s4s.9sss ~ ~
(By Geo. F. Kine.),

Statesville, N. c., Nov. 224A.phas
goth annual session of the Western 4
North Carolina Conferences of thaEst
African Methodist Episcopal zion S
Church, which convened in this town
last week is unprecedented, when tts 4
former reports, harmonious sessions
and eXpediting business are consider
ed. Rt. Rev. Geo. w. Clinton, d, ID. ,E
scholar, thelogian, race leader ana III
foremost in planning and In making
the recent tour Of North. Carolina y
by DR.. Booker r. Washington aa
triumphant beneficial one to 2ohth i
races, presided over the conference.
This conference embraces the
Western portion of the state and has
tive Presiding Elders districts and
about ninety appointments, Including
missions. The presiding eIderSE az;
these districts are Revs. M. " MarBiaSS
Fl. L. Simmons, S. D. Watkins. EF M.
Blake and H. B. Bennett In; this y
conference district is located Livin
stone college, at Salisbury, N.sE.ss
which is this denominations Oldest
and strongest institution, has prop
erty valuation of 1925 900 and AID
enrolment Of over 800 Students. &. IN /.
the same district will be found thsaE
A. M. e. Zion publishing house, los
Gated at Charlotte, which is probably
the best and largest property owned
by any Negro :; publishing house. siRg
the United States, The present
'build1ng ip Which the ,prineipal part
of the. printing business OF this dss.S5s
nomination is done was erected ,titisS
year at. a cost of SIS, 900. {: ~ !
There are over 10000 members I'm {;
this conference and the churches
within this conference have contrib
uted more than 100000 for general
and local church work, OF tl,iss /;
amount for the year the fund for the
general church has reached $10,-S
900. '..' ,gE :G&
During the year several new So i
cletles have been organized and al
number. of new church :. buildings
have been erected. The, church an. q
which the conferences is convening Isl 81
a credit to the Negro race. - ~ +
The conference is composed os
representative ministers, many Of
whom have had the advantage Of col Z,ss
lege- and seminary training Bishnua y
Clinton especially requires that hiasl
ministers must have the required 4
training to meet the peculiar neefIa
of their people. .$%s III
The annual address Of Bishop Ciinsg
ton ELECTED hearty applause His
pertinent utterances on affairs Of meg
tlonaI import revealed his ability To n
advise sanely. Among his significant
statements we're: .....s.y 4. !: IKE t$s.as;4t
Whilc we should be concerned
about the nations welfare and should Il
contribute as much as possbbte to ftsyT
general development as we'll as to,S!
the good Of the local community. 8
there are some matters of special kn- IS
terest to us as a people. The inalien h
able rights Of life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness; the oonstatuyl3
uonal privilege Of EXERCISING the y
franchise; the opportunity to labor
so that we may secure sufficient
means to provide a decent living. Eor::
ourselves and our families; The
privilege OF enjoying the benefits OF
a free school system that furnishes
adequate primary training for thag
youth Of our race; and the Impartial =
rights promised by Just laws fafrlYks
administered, are matters. about
which Negroes should deeply oou+S
Germ themselves at this time. The
very fact that our right to enjoy the
above mentioned blessings has been
curtailed In some sections and denfSNa g
in others makes 1t necessary some
steps be taken to prevent, If poSsfbi8s !,
the further curtallment OF ouYss
privileges along tho above lines, aaH s
to endeavor to regain ground ola:
ready lost in o measure becauga Uf
our indifference or Inactivity in our
own behalf" j,sts$&>t'sT
He met the appreciation of the
large audience when he enunctakad!a a
Il think that I speak advisedly whan q
/ say that the Negro who has kIs8
best interest of his country and the
welfare Of his race at heart is wfllinx
to welcome any regulation og SHag'
franchise which de- reasonable, fAtk
y ~: 8s5,iE sffskf
.-..., , CONTINUED ON PAdH 1rvn ssS 4ts ~
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