WHAT OUR AFRICAN METHODIST FRIENDS THINK.
The Christian Recorder asks: “What is the lesson taught us by the rapid growth of our sister colored churches, the Presbyterian and Episcopal especially? That they are growing, and most rapidly, too, he who runs may read. But what is the lesson it has for us Methodists? Plainly that we shall put no more ignorant men and no more trifling men into the ministry. To continue to do so is to sound our death knell for the future. Ignorant men and trifling men as religious teachers may satisfy the older generations of our people, but the younger will insist upon one of two things—give us an intelligent, dignified pulpit, or we will go where we can get it. We are already losing too many of our children; nor will the stampede ever stop, until our conferences stop opening the door to every one who knocks.”
This is from the able and influential organ of the African M. E. Church, published at Philadelphia. Not long since we transferred to these columns, from the same paper, a similar article, in which the editor used the high quality of the educational and church work of the A. M. A. at the South in the same way, as a spur to his people. We commend his wisdom in the case. Perhaps no more effective stimulus could be applied. Surely this great and growing denomination, with its own “Wilberforce University,” and with access to all of our institutions for the training of its ministers, cannot afford to put off “ignorant and trifling” pastors upon the young America of its constituency. They must have “an intelligent and a dignified pulpit” or these young folks will stampede. That former article warned its hearers that the greatest rival of the A. M. E. was the A. M. A. In the sense of provoking to love and to good works we are willing to enter the lists. And herein—the helping of the old-time colored churches of the South to a public sentiment that demands more of purity and of education in their ministry—we find much of our incentive and of our mission. Their children come to our schools and soon learn to call for more intellectual and moral cultivation in their preachers. Not a few of their best pastors were trained in our institutions.
GENERAL NOTES.
Africa.
—A third telegraphic cable has been laid between Marseilles and Algiers.
—Twelve International African exploring and scientific associations have recently been constituted.
—Algeria exports $5,000,000 worth of wheat annually, of oxen and sheep $3,000,000, wool $3,500,000, and grasses $2,000,000.