The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-09-09

Been Richly Rewarded With Success.
Up From Country Farm to Promi-
hence In the Ministry.
Decatur, Ala. - While the colored
Methodist Episcopal church is compar-
atively newJin this country, yet 1t has
given to the race some able men and
women, ministers who are well edu-
Gated and devoted to the work. These
men are not making much noise, but
are doing actual work. In this class is
to be found the Rev. II. NJ. Mckenzie
A. b., b. d., pastor of the Bailey
temple, colored Methodist Episcopal
church In this town.
Like most men of the race, the Rev
| Mr.. Mckenzie was not born with Il sill
yer spoon in his mouth nor was he
| surrounded with gold and silver, but
in a humble country home in Monroe
county Feb. 81, 1870. He is Alabamas
| gift to the colored Methodist Episcopal
church. Just vt the same time he real
| ly needed the care of mother she was
| called away by death. He was then
! twelve years old, and n sister three
days old was left to the care of
| grandmother while four other children
remained with their father.
Wesley Mckenzie, his grandfather,
purchased twenty acres of Alabama
land, or, at least, had contracted for 1t,
and erected a house. but death claim
ed him before he could pay for It, But
this brilliant preacher started his ca
reer ON the farm, yet he had a great
desire for knowledge. He had heard
big men preach and said he wanted to
be useful man some day.
1t is needless to say that his early
school advantages We're limited, being
In the rural districts where only
three months was allowed for school,
thus 1t would take child long time
to get an education going to school
three months out of the twelve. Young
Mckenzie had been inspired by his
mother, who spent much of her time
on her knees praying to God for the
life of her children, and then around
the fireside she would talk to them
about the future She had faith in her
own children.
Seeing his education was coming
slow, this young boy started cut one
day to seek better educational facili-
ties and walked from Riley to Thorn
asvllle, Ala, distance of fifty miles.
Wanting more education and knowing
that it required money, he left the
farm. got a job at a saw mill, where
hn Ia Iofd Il
aside until he got enough to enter Sci
ma university All the time he had
been reading the lives of Abraham
Lincoln. Frederick Douglass and other
men who had worked to the top and
this helped him to think that there
was a future for him.
After being in Selma university for
short time he took the county ex-
animation and became small profess
sor. but at the same time continued to
study, saving his money TO better pre-
pare himself. Much of his early re
ligious training is due to the Sunday
school. and 1t was when thirteen that
he was converted and Joined Anderson
chapel, eolored Methodist Episcopal
church. While yet under his majority
years he held FIVE offices in the church
trustee, steward, class leader, Sun
day school superintendent and church
secretary
1t was in February. 1901, In the
church of his choice and wherG he had
started his Christian career that he
was licensed to preach by the Rev. p.
Wheels. presiding elder; ]. H. Buster,
pastor In November of the same year
he was admitted into the conference at
Opelika. Ala, Bishop L. II. Holsey pre-.
siding, and the same conference reeog-
nized him by eleeting him lay dele
gate to the general conference.
Now he thought that il was time for
him to better prepare for the ministry,
so he closed out his school and then
| entered Paine college, Augusta, Ca.
He worked in lumber mills and doing
other hard work during vacations pre-
pairing for college. He graduated from
Paine college department, 1909 and
then went TO Cannon Theological
seminary, Atlanta, Ga, and completed
the theological course there 1911. Since
entering the active ministry he has
continued his studies. He has pastored
at the following places with gratifying
success, beginning at Tallahassee, Fla,
in 1906. where he served one year; sha-
ron. CA. one year; Augusta. Ga, one
year; Atlanta, one year; Sharon, Ga,
one year; Congers. Ga; Bessemer,
Ala; Admission, Ala, and his present
charge in this town. Additions to the
membership and increase in active
Christian work were noted at each
church which he served. DR.. McKen-
zie IS one Of the men whom the church
will surely call to even higher official
1 duties in the near future
Injunction Against Race Segregation.