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A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COIXIREI) AMERICANS.
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor
$2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA. NEBRASKA. OCTOBER 12. 1918 Vol. IV. No. 15 (Whole No. 171)
First Negro Bishop
For American Church
s
Solemn, Stately and Impressive Cere
monies Mark Consecration of Fa
ther Demby as Bishop Suffragan of
Arkansas.
HI NDREDS WITNESS CEREMONY
Bishop Tuttle Chief Sonsecrator. As
sisted by Six Other Prelates and
Ecclesiastics-—Sermon hy Bishop
Bailor—An Epoch-Marking Event.
(Special to The Monitor by Staff Cor
respondent.)
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 4.-—An event of na
tion-wide importance took place in
the beautiful All Saints’ Episcopal
church of this city Sunday morn'ng,
September 2'*, when the Venerable Ed
ward Thomas Demby, archdeacon of
Tennessee, was consecrated Bishop
Suffragan of Arkansas especially for
work among h's own race n that Dio
cese and in the Province of the South
west. m
__ The event is considered an epoch
marking one in the history of the
Episcopal church indicating a deter
mination to aggressively prosecute
missionary work among the Colored
people of the southland. Certainly
everything surrounding this great and
impressive service of elevating the
first Negro priest to the high and
responsible office of the episcopate
for work in the United States, seems
most propitious. The weather was
ideal, a bright and beautiful day. The
stately, impressive and dignified serv
ice moved like clockwork from begin
ning to end. The arrangements for
this solemn function were carefully
planned and executed down to the min
utest detail. This was due to the
* thorough work of preparation by the
rector of All Saints, the Rev. D. K.
Clarke, and the skill and efficiency
of the incomparable master of cere
monies, the Rev. Henry Mizner, rector
' of St. Stephen’s parish.
Service Starts Promptly
Promptly on the minute, at half
past 10 o’clock, the appointed hour,
the processional hymn, “Jesus with
Thy Church Abide," was begun and
the precession into the church started.
It was in three divisions, each headed
by a crucifier, bearing aloft the sym
bol of the Christian faith. First tame
»
THE REV. I). R. CLARKE, B. D.
Rector of All Saints.
*
the cross bearer, Ernest Harris, Jr.,
leading the choir, in the midst of
which marched Henry O’Fallon carry
ing a large American flag. In this
division, following the choir, marched
first the lay and clerical members of
the standing committee of the Dio
cese of Missouri, next in order the
clergy of Missouri and then the visit
ing clergy.
The Official Group.
The second division, or official
group, was headed by Merrill Wil
liams, crucifier. Following him came
in ordac the rectir of All Saints’ par
ish, tne Rev. D. R. Clarke; the Rev.
D. E. Johnson, Jr., and the Rev. M. E.
Spatches, .readers of certificates of
election and ordination, respectively;
the Rt. Rev. Sidney C. Partridge, bish
on of West Missouri, reader of the evi
dence of election, and the Rev. Claude
R-'inick, deputy registrar. Immediate
ly following these came the two at
tend'ng presbyters, the Rev. D. E.
Johnson, of Little Rock, and the Rev.
• Frederick C. Garrett, of Memphis,
Tenn., preceding the bishop-elect, who
was vested in his well-fitting purple
cassock and linen rochet. Behind him
walked his two presenters, the Rt.
Rev. James Wise, bishop of Kansas,
and the Rt. Rev. Edwin W. Saphore,
suffragan bishop of Arkansas. Then
followed the Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Gail
or, preacher, and the two co-consecrat
ors, the P.t. Rev. James R. Winchester, j
bishop of Arkansas, and Frederick F.!
Johnson, bishop coadjutor of Missouri.,
The Presiding Bishop.
Preced.d by the third cross, carried
by Stanton Page, came two acolytes,
Leroy Roberson and John Gossin. Be
hind these was the Rev. Henry Mizncr,
the master of ceremonies, immediate
ly preceding the Rt. Rev. Daniel Syl
vester Tuttle, bishop of Missouri, pre
siding bishop of the American Episco
pal church, a most remarkable man,
eighty-one years of age and a bishop
for fifty years, holding the honored
distinction of having consecrated more
bishops than any bishop in the world,,
throughout the church’s long and
eventful history.
Bishop-elect Demby took his seat
in the nave at the foot of the chancel
between his two attending presbyters.
Chief Consecrator *tegins Service.
Bishop Tuttle proceeded at once to
the altar, which was beautiful with
flowers and brilliant with many lights,
and began the communion service.
The epistle which was I. Tim. iii: 1-7,
and deals with the qualifications of a
bishop, was read by Bishop Johnson;
;nd the Holy Gospel, which was St.
John xx:15-l8, was read by Bishop
Winchester. Next came the recitation
of the Nicene Creed, which gets its
name from the Council of Nice in 325,
(ailed by Constantine to define the
Christian faith as to the Deity of
Christ. The hymn, “The Son of God
Goes Forth to War,” was sung, which
being ended, the Rt. Rev. Thomas F.
Gailor, D. !)., bishop of Tennessee,
whose drastic denunciation of lynching
and fearless stand for law and order
has won for him the admiration of
thousands, and who had ordained the
bishop-elect to the diaeonate and
priesthood, preached the consecration
sermon on “The Qualifications for
Christian Leadership.”
Bishop (Jailor's personal address to
the bishop elect was most effective
and touching.
Bishop-Elect Presented.
After the sermon, Bishop-elect
Demby was conducted by his present
ers, Bishops Wise and Sanhore, to
Bishop Tuttle, who was seated at the
appointed place in the sanctuary, just
before the altar, with the two co-con
secrators, Bishops Winchester and
Johnson on either side. The present
ers said, in the language prescribed by
the ordinal:
“Reverend Father in (Jed, .we pre
sent unto you this Godly and well
learned man to be ordained and con
secrated bishop.”
The presiding bishop in a loud voice
su'd; “Let the testimonials be read.”
The Canon law of the Episcopal
church requires that testimonials of
election, ordination and confirmation
by and consent of the bishops and
standing committees of the American
Episcopal church be read. These were
read by the P.ev. D. E. Johnson, Jr., of
Hot Springs, Ark.; the Rev. M. E.
Spatches, of Kansas City, Kas.; Bish
op Partridge of West Missouri; Bishop
Wise of Kansas, and Mr. R. B. Ban-1
croft, secretary of the standing com
mittee of Arkansas. H was noticeable
that the consent of the bishops and
standing committees was practically
unanimous, although the consent of a
majority of both is all that is canonic
ally required.
Following, the reading of the testi
monials the bishop-designate read in
a clear voice his promise of conform
ity to the law of the church and dec
laration of faith in the Holy Script
ures. the former of which was:
Reads Declarations.
“In *he name of God. amen. I, Ed
ward Thomas Demby, chosen bishop of
the Protestant Episcopal church, do
promise conformity and obedience to
(he doctrine, discipline and worship
of the Protestant Episcopal church
in the United States of America. So
help me God. through Jesus Christ.”
Such declarations have to be signed
and publicly read by every bishop of
ihe Episcopal church before bis con
secration.
Commended to Prayers of Congrega
tion.
Following the declaration, the pre
siding bishop, commended the bishop
elect to the prayers of the congre
gation, and Bishop Saphore said the
Litany in which was inserted the
I etition.
“That it may please thee to bless
this our brother elected, and to send
Thy grace upon him, that he may duly
execute the office whereunto he is
called, to the edifying of thy church,
and to the honor, praise and glory of
Thy name; we beseech thee to hear
us. good Lord.”
Examination and Investiture.
Then came the examination of the
bishop-elect, covering many questions
THE RT. REV. EDWARD THOMAS DEMBY, D. D..
Bishop Suffragan of Arkansas.
—Photograph bv Maxwell, St. I.ouis
X
ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, ST. LOUIS, MO.
One of (he Most Beautiful and Costly Edifices in the Country, Owned by
Colored Episcopalians, Where Co isecration Services Were Held.
-—-Photograph by Maxwell, St. Louis .
among them his willingness to teach
and exhort with wholesome doctrines,
to guard the faith, to live soberly,
righteously and godly, showing him
self an example of good v.or>-; to
others, to set forward peace and good
will among men, and to show him
self gentle, and merciful for Christ’s
sake e0 r,aor and needy people and
to all strangers destitute of help. To
each of these questions he replied, “1
will do so, by God's help.”
After his examination his attend
ing presbyters invested him with the
rest, of his episcopal robes. During
this investiture the following hymn
was sung:
Lord of the living harvest
That whitens o’er the plain,
Where angels soon shall gather
Their sheaves of golden grain;
Accept these hands to labour,
This heart to trust and love,
And deign with them to hasten
Thy kingdom from above.
Gome down, Thou Holy Spirit,
And fill his soul with light;
Clothe him in spotless raiment,
In vesture clean and white;
With'n Thy sacred temple,
Be with him! let him stand,
To guide and teach Thy people
Throughout our native land.
Invocation of Holy Spirit and Imposi
tion of Hands.
Then came perhaps the most im
pressive part of the service. The
bishop-elect knelt at the prayer desk
at the appointed place in the choir
before the patriarchial form of Bishop
Tuttle, on either side of whom stood
Bishops Winchester and Johnson,
while the other four bishops, Gailor,
Partridge, Wise and Saphore, stood
two on th" r ght hand and two on the
left of the 'neeling bishop-elect. There
was a brief silence. The organ gave
the note. Bishop Wise began chanting
the ancient hymn, "Veni. Creator
Spiritus,” “Come, Holy Ghost, Our
Souls Inspire,” invoking the Holy
Spirit. This being ended, Bishop Tut
t'e said the prescribed prayer. The
bishops ail laid their hands upon the
head of the bishop-elect, while Bishop
Tuttle said:
The Words of Consecration.
“Receive the Holy Ghost for the
Office and Work of a Bishop in the
Church of God, now committed unto
thee by the Imposition of our hands;
•n the Name of the Father and or 'he
Son and of the Holy Ghost. And re
member that thou stir up the grace of
Gcd, which is given thee by this Im
position of our hands; for God hath
not given us the spirit of fear, hut of
power and love and soberness."
Delivery of Bible.
Then delivering the Bible into his
hands the Bishop continued:
“Give heed unto reading, exhorta
tion and doctrine. Think upon the
things contained in this hook. Be
diligent in them, tlat the increase
coming thereby may he manifest unto
all men; for hv so doing thou slialt
both save thyself and them that hear
thee. Be to the flock of Christ a shep
herd, not a wolf; feed them; devour
them not. Hold up the wea1 heal the
sick, hind up the broken, bring again
the outcasts, seek tie lost. Be so
merciful, that you be not too remiss;
so minister discipline 'hat you forget
not mercy; that when the Chief Shep
herd shall appear you may receive the
never-fading crown of glory; through
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Bishop a Successor o*' the Apostles.
He then placed the gold chain from
which was suspended the pectoral
cross, a gift from his parishioneis,
around his neck, and Edward Thomas
Demby arose a Bishop in the Church
of God in that long and illustrious line
(Continued on Fifth Page.)
GROUP OF BISHOPS. CLERGY AND LAY MEMBERS OF STANDING COMMITTEE AT CON
SECRATION OF BISHOP DEMBY.
Bishops, in reading from right to left, are—Wise of Kansas; Gailor of Tennessee: Partridge
of West Misouri; Johnson, coadjutor of Missouri; Tuttle of Missouri, presiding bishop; Winchester
of Arkansas; Demby, suffragan of Arkansas, and Saphore, suffragan of Arkansas. Immediately
behind Bishop Dembv are Archdeacon Johnson, Archdeacon Phillips of Pennsylvania, and the Rev.
F. C. Garrett. Standing immediately to the right of Bishop Saphore is the Rev. I). B. Clarke, rector
of All Saints, and behind him the Rev. Henry Mizner, master ol ceremonies. —Sexton Photo, St. Louis.
\«onal Race
\Congress Meets
%. —
Important, sful and Well At
tended Held at Seat
of G .imcnt,
AUDIENCE BY THE PRESIDENT
Who Is Deeply Moved by Judge Har
rison’s Earnest Words For Re
moval of Grievances.
W/ASHINGTON, D. C.—The Na
*» tional Pace Congress, which met
in Washington October 1, 2 and 3,
held, perhaps, the most successful and
most influential meeting ever held in
its history and the largest delegation
took part. The sessions were held in
the Metropolitan Wesleyan A. M. E.
Zion church and were presided overby
President W. H. Jernagin.
The following officers were elected:
Rev. W. H. Jernagin, D. D., Washing
ton, D. C., president; Bishop I. N.
Ross, Washington, D .C., vice presi
dent; Rev. C. H. Stepteau, Baltimore,
secretary; Rev. J. H. Randolph, Wash
ington, D. C., assistant secretary; Rev.
A. A. Grahamm, Phoebus, Va., corre
sponding and financial secretary; W.
H. Dean, Washington, D. C,, treasurer;
E. A. P. Cheek, Newark, N. J., chap
lain.; William H. Harrison, Chicago,
national organizer; H. J. Callis, hair
man executive board.
There were a number of things ac
complished looking forward to racial
betterment. President Woodrow Wil
son received the whole convention in
the executive office, and the racial
conditions were laid before him. Then
a conference was held with Director
General William G. McAdoo, and he
was told by representatives of the
lace the treatment received in some
sections of the country on railroads,
and it was decided to send a represen
tative to France to study the morale
of the Negro soldiers, and they are
going to ask for a representative on
the peace commission, and five men
will be sent to the commission wher
ever it meets.
Some strong addresses were deliver
ed during the week, and Judge Wil
liam H. Harrison presented the case
of the whole race to the president in a
manner which held the president spell
bound and at times he was almost
moved to teais.
Emmett J. Scott, special assistant
to Secretary Baker of the war depart
ment, delivered a special address and
breught before the congress some val
uable information concerning the
Negro in the war. He said that 350,
000 members of the race were in the
military service of the country and
I, 200 commissioned officeis.
Delegation to the White House.
The most encouraging and most
hopeful incident in the history of the
race for many years was the cordial
reception and democratic expressions
of the president of the United States
when he received the delegates to the
Negro Race Congress, sitting in Wash
ington, D. C., October 1, 2 and 3.
The delegation was led by Rev. W.
H. Jernigan, D. D., Washington, D. C.,
president and bishop; I. N. Ross, 0. D.,
Washington, D. C., vice president, into
the White House. Promptly at 4:30
p. m., the secretary, Mr. Tumulty, ad
vised the delegation that he chief ex
ecutive wras ready' for the reception,
whereupon the delegation walked in
and stood in a crescent about the nrrsi
dent. Judge William Harrison of Chi
cago was introduced to the president
by Rev. W. H. Jernigan as spokesman.
Judge Harrison asked the president’s
permission for a word of prayer, and
(Continue! on Page S)
MRS. EDWARD THOM AS DEM BY,
Wife of the Bishop.
—Photograph by Maxwell, St. Louis
