The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-16
NEGRO BISHOPS
ARE IN SESSION.
Organization Perfected and
Several Reports Are
Heard
BY HORACE ID. SLATER

With religious exercises, conducted
by Bishop j. W. Alstork of Montgom-
cry and Bishop C. r. Harris ofSsalis-
bury. y. C., the semi-annual meeting
of the council of bishops of the African
Methodist Episcopal Zion church was
opened yesterday morning at the Met
ropolitan church, corner Sixteenth
street and Fourth avenue, north. At
tending the initial session and par
ticipating in the ceremonies incident to
the administration of the communion
were the eight bishops of the church, all
the general officers. ministers, pastors
presiding elders and laymen from all
portions of the country
Following the religious ceremony. the
organization was perfected by nam
ing Bishop Alexander Walters secre-
tary of the council, to be assisted by
DR.. NJ. d. Lee of Rock Hill, S. c., the
general secretary Of the connection.
Bishop c. r. Harris presided.
At the afternoon session much dis
cussion was provoked over the reports
of the general secretary and the finan-
cial secretary of the church. NJ. ID. Lee
general secretary, in beginning his re-
port, pleaded for better salaries for the
general officers and declared that since
the general conference the general Of
flcers and the bishops had been work.
ing in harmony for the good of the
church.
He considered the removal of the
headquarters of the financial depart
ment from Philadelphia to Birming
ham, one of the most important steps
taken. He made several important rec
concentrations.
With reference to the finances of the
chureh, Bishop Harris and Bishop Al
story called attention to certain omis-
sions. throughout the secretary's re-
port for the past six months, in that
the amount appropriated for certain in
stitutions in which they were interested
|seemed to have been overlooked. Bishop
Harris was interested in the church
lat Elizabeth City, \. c., in the Abe
marie conference, while Bishop Alstorll
Iof Montgomery was interested in the
$500 appropriated for the Hannon-
Lomax High and Industrial school.
located at Greenville. The appropria-
tion made by the general conference
for these two enterprises had been
overlooked.
Considerable money had been spent
In the effort to save the Harlem church
in New York city, to help Livingston
college. Salisbury, n. c., and other en-
terprises. Bishop Alstork thought the
procedure to be a usurpation of au-
thority and declared that the secre-
tary ought to follow the law in max
ing the pro rata payments of these ap-
propriations.
The report of DIR. J. S. Jackson of
this city. financial secretary of the
conference, showed the total collection
of SS6,740.4S. The annual conferences
recently held reported $50,S06.SS. Ac-
cording to the report of DIR. Jackson,
practically $4,000 had been raised by
his department during the year for
the purpose of saving the Harlem
church in New York city, upon which
more than $4,000 had already been
spent. Upon this statement Bishop
Harris again interposed an objection in
view of the fact that this particular
cause had received four times more
than was appropriated by the general
conference, while two other causes had
received none. Several hours were con-
sumed in these reports, many questions
we're asked, and general satisfaction
given the council by the general and
financial secretaries.
Bishop G. w. Clinton of Charlotte, n.
lC., preached last night at the Metro
politan church before a large audience.
The reports of the general Officers
will be- continued throughout today.
Tonight at the Metropolitan church, a
platform mass meeting will be held,
at which Bishop Alexander Walters.
the leader of the negro democratic
forces of the country, will deliver the
principal address. Other members of
the epiSocopacy will speak