Year: 1860

------a- -
HOW TO UNITE OUR BELOVED ZION.


Mr.. EDToR:-Having seen a communi-
cation in the columns of the "Anglo-Afri-
can" of JAN %, addressed to the brethren
of Zion's Connexion, stating that the cleo
ton of Superintendents was approaching,
and inquiring if we were prepared to meet
the General Conference at the appointed
time, 1 reply in behalf of our Zion, that
we are all ready to meet said Conference,
which is to convene at Philadelphia on the
last Wednesday in May next, in Wesley
Church, Lombard St., between Fifth and
Sixth streets / also have received a let
ter from member of the Connexion under
the Rev. James Simmons, asking me if
there was any way by which we could be-
come united as one body. In reply, |
would say to that portion of the brethren
who are under the Rev. James Simmons
and Rev. Solomon T. Scott, that we are
all prepared to unite in one general body,
according to the rule laid down in the book
of the discipline of our Zion's Connexion,
found on page l24, section ". GLOW
shall Society that wishes to unite with
us be received? Answer.-They shall
present to the minister a list of their names,
accompanying their desire to become con-
nected. The minister shall then read to
them the general rules of our church, and
if they are willing to comply with the
same, he shall read the list of names and
declare them members in full standing in
the A. M. Z. Zion Church"


Secoudly-We will unite according to
the rule of our discipline, found on page
GA, section VIII, which says: GLOW shall
the rights and privileges of the laity be
most permanently and effectually secured?
Answer.-By making it a party through
representation, in legislating for the better
government of the church. Therefore each
station and each circuit shall have the priv
ilege of sending a delegate to the General
Conference, who shall have power tospeak,
vote and act in common with the ministers
composing that body All such delegates
shall be elected by the Quarterly Confer
ence or Conferences, or the male members
of the circuit or station which they repre-
sent, and shall be entitled to seat in the
general body upon showing their creden-
tials, properly authenticated by the officers
of the meeting in which they were elected.
Each circuit and station shall also have
power to send lay delegate to the Annual
Conference under the above regulations,
provided that their privileges shall be re-
stricted to making known to that body the
wants and wishes of their various charges.
The expenses of all such delegates both to
the General and Annual Conferences shall
be betrayed by the society or societies from
which they come"


SO you will perceive, Mr.. Editor, that it
is in the power of both ministers and laity
to unite, if they choose SO to do on
proper groAhd. The membership of each
society have the power with and without
the minister to unite, by sending lay
delegate to the Conference to speak and
hear for themselves. We, ministers and
laity of our Connexion, will comply with
the rule already mentioned in our book of
discipline revised in 1856 and published in
1858 know of no other plan by which
we could unite, rightly and truthfully.
The delegates on our side have as much to
say on the union as the ministers; therefore
the ministers of our Zion dare not attempt
to take away the power of our delegates in
the General Conference and Annual Con-
ference. If the elders and ministers were
to attempt to do so independent of the lay
delegation, the last state of our Connexion
would be worse than the first, and as we
have seven conference districts, and lay
delegation connected with the whole, we
must be careful that we do not create dis
turbance among ourselves.


If any of the brethren on either side can
see any better way than what is laid down
in the Book of Discipline, in order to effect
a union, here is my heart and hand for
peaceable one. think [ have written the
sentiments of the brethren in general. /
am confident that the people are all ready
for the union. 1t is only for the ministers
to say they will unite, and the people will
concur with them. | repeat, that door
is open for the laity to unite independent
&c tho ,,o;n;Ctoro ;f tbav saa 6t IN do So