Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-06-07

Heroism 10 always sublime and NO
Aner illustration Of that was ever wit
messed on this earth than was exhib-
tied by hundreds Of men and women
who were on the Inflated ship. Titanic.
There were the musicians who. max
ing NO effect to save themselves. con-
tinued playing to revive the spirits OF
others until their instruments were
filled with water and their music was
hushed forever. They played rag
time" military music, waltz music
anything to keep up the courage OF
the passengers. The conduct Of the
men in giving the life boats to wom-
en- and children. rather than take
them themselves was great. Among
the steerage passengers--that Is. the
common people"--there were far DIFF
ferent scenes. There was praying
and weeping. Men trampled down
women and children In order to save
themselves. Why this difference in
conduct In the presence OF death? An
other heroic figure that doomed sub
lime was that Of the captain. Amid
scenes OF confusion and imminent
death no remained calm, resolute, ef-
flcient to the last. After seeing that
all the women and children had been
crowded for, he relaxed the discipline,
commended the mer for having done
their duty so faithfully and then did
the only proper thing to be done
committed suicide. II theer are de-
grees In greatness In a scene where
greatness was the rule, the palm for
that quality must be awarded to Phil
lip, the wireless operator. This man
chung to his machine and continued
TO send C. ID. @. and 8. o.. 8. messages
till the last. He was not deferred BY
the fact that hundreds OF men were
rushing by him each trying to save
al. It was In vain that the captain
relieved him OF further duty. The op-
orator seemed oblivious Of everything
save that high sense OF duty. Seeing
that he would not quit. his assistant
thoroughly fastened life belt on him
this was subsequently stolen from
the devoted operator. This hero was
later on found strapped to piece Of
floating timber, and dead
The most compact and powerful
Of the negro churches IL the African
Methodist Episcopal church. Its mem
bership has grown from AZ members
in 1857 to 100000 members In 1875
and 494.777 members In 1906. 1t 10
governed by a board Of bishops. fifteen
to eighteen In number, over whom the
senior bishop, at present the Ri. Rev.
Henry M. Turner, presides.
The church has 1000 local organiza-
lions, with property worth over $11,-
100000. It raises about 100000 a
year; Of this about 100000 goes to
pastors, 100000 to bishops and pre-
siding elders. and the other million
to schools, missions and general ex-
penses.
There are two publication houses,
weekly papers and quarterly maya
zine and some publication Of books.
The church supports over forty
schools, of which the largest and old
est Is Wilberforce university, in Ohio.
The church, however, is chiefly note
worthy on account Of it's board Of
bishops. These bishops are elected
for life by general conference meet
ing every four years. The member
ship Of the general conference con-
lsts Of ministerial and lay delegates;
the clerical delegates are elected from
the annual conferences, one for every
thirty ministers. Two lay delegates
for each annual conference are select
ed by the representatives Of the Off
cial church boards in the conference.
Thus we have a peculiar case OF ne
gro government. with elaborate ma
chinery and the experience Of a hun
bred years. How has 1t succeeded?
Its financial and numerical success
has been remarkable. as has been
shown. Moreover, the bishops elect
ed form a remarkable series Of per
sonalities. Together the assembled
bishops are perhaps the most striking
body OF negroes In the world in per-
sonal appearance: men Of massive
physique, clear-cut faces and undoubt-
ed intelligence.
y The negro race cannot afford to in
dulge In the Injuries and extrava-
1ancn that the very rich of other ma
tionalities do, and hope to overtake
them In accommodating wealth, power
and influence. They have had centu-
ries for accumulation. They can in
dulge in luxuries Of all kinds, wear
extra fine clothing, have all OF the lat
est styles of the expensive fabrics;
engage in all kinds Of amusements;
eat the richest and costliest diet. be In
expensive operas and constantly trav-
FL extensively, and still have an abund-
ance Of money and other resources to
draw upon, but when the negro tries
this for little while he Is "satiated."
Wisdom ard common sense would say
70 the negro Live within you- means
and not up to the limit Of your
means" (. IN
4 II matters little how fine the mate
rial or costly the goods may be II a,
suit Of clothes do not At man he will
look bad with that suit on. And the
more attractive the material, the more
l.. 4 In 4