Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-02-24

fled by Education and Experience
For the Position.
Montgomery, Ala.-The approaching
general conference of the African Meth
odist Episcopal Zion church, which will
be held in Charlotte, n. c., in May.
opens up some interesting questions
with reference to the elevation of
prominent men to the bishopric and to
other high positions in the church. To
be sure, he that desireth the office of a
bishop desireth good thing, but from
the point of influence and in the mat
ter of gaining place in the affections
of the people no position is quite so
desirable as the office of editor of one
of the church organs.
In the African Methodist Episcopal
| Zion church the publication that wields
the greatest influence and whose ap-
pearance is looked forward to weekly
with a great manifestation of interest
is the Star of Zion, published in Char
lotte, n. c.. which has been so long
and so ably edited by DR.. G.. C. Glenn
ents, prospective bishop.
Out of the large number of aSpirantS
in the field for the editorship there are
number of men whom the church
could well afford to honor, but for spe-
cial fitness for this particular place DR..
w. A Blackwell. now pastor of the
celebrated Old Ship A. NJ. E. Zion
church in this city, seems to lead.
DR.. Blackwell has held a number of
important places in the church and
has been signally successful because of
his fitness, ability and sterling quail
ties of honesty and integrity. He is
every inch a Christian gentleman,
scholar. and has done considerable
newspaper work of the class that
stamps him as the possessor of the
keenest kind of newspaper instinct.
While pastor at Little Rock he edited
the Western Alarm and at Montgomery
the Old Ship Visitor. He has served
as a widely read correspondent for the
Star of Zion, for the Boston Advocate.
and has done considerable reportorial
work on the Elevator as well as serv
ing as correspondent for the Era,
weekly white paper in South Carolina.
DR. Blackwell is only forty-two years
old. but he has done large amount OF
work in the Zion church. He has been
in the pastorate about twenty-four
years. and. besides serving period as
presiding elder, he has been the sue
cessful pastor of some of the largest
churches in the connection.
At Lancaster, S. c.; at John Wesley
church, Washington; at the Little Rock
church. in Arkansas; the Pennsylvania
Avenue church, in Baltimore. and at
Old Ship church, in Montgomery, he
has established a record as pastor
that is country wide. In his work he Is
affable, congenial yet firm, having but
few superiors either as public speak
er or preacher. At three points in par
ticular in the ministry he has erected
commodious and worthy structures.
These places are Lancaster, S. c.;
Statesville, n. c., and Wilmot, Ark.
For sixteen years he taught in con
nection with his ministerial work. He
has an unusual grasp of public ques-
tions and often discusses many live
subjects from his pulpit here, which
is peculiarly regarded as the most at
tractive in the city among our people.
His speeches, addresses and sermons
show careful preparation and are al
ways delivered in convincing and
painstaking manner with thorough
ness not academic, but born of kind
of preparation that betrays the man OF
deep study and research.
He is in great demand as a lecturer
before schools in the south, and since
coming to Montgomery he has been
81, a
Phelps Hall Bible Training school,
Tuskegee institute, and has delivered
annual sermons or addresses at Tuske-
gee institute, Miles Memorial college,
Corona institute, Lomax-Hanon High
and Industrial school, Mount Meigs
and the Calhoun Normal and Industrial
institute.
For the work Of editor OF the star OF
Zion Dr. Blackwell is undoubtedly well
qualified. He writes, as he speaks, with
thoroughness of detail and candOr and
truthfulness Of statement and is Of
such high order of intelligence and
dignity that he could easily satisfy the
many sided and cosmopolitan readers
of the Star Of Zion. He thoroughly
knows the colored man. He is deeply
interested in his people, as his frequent
participation in all kinds of beneficent
movements will show.
His standing in the church and with
his fellow ministers is of gilt edge
variety as can be seen in the fact that
he has been a member Of the general
conference since 1892. He was edu-
Gated at Albion academy and State
Normal school Of Franklinton, N. c..
and Livingston college He was Or
dained deacon by Bishop Harris at
Parksdale, Ark, In 1891, aud an elder
by Bishop Walters in 1892 at Little
Rock. For the consideration Of the del
aootac tn the general conference and