The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-19
NEGRO 0o1GvHMrIo19S.
Meeting or the Colored Clergy

iseefVsy loIsuoou, y meeting was noiu Ia tue
Bethel toolorsd) urch, seosnd street to organise
convention Of the reverend gentlemen of color in this
,ity and ts vicinity. The number in attendance was
about twenty. The proceedings having been opened
With prayer the following call OF The meeting Was
resd:-
NoTcEThe csnventon Of coored clergy Of this city aLd
vicinity noticed in several OF the in times past
in the Bethel church. in ssooas sssss - ten oSloes
1s sUoh osss sha sd - better
ing the condition Of the snersy Come one
l. r., scsretary.
Rev NJ. vARIcK, Of WiniAmsburgh, sedats sensible
sable brother, wearing snow white orsvst, sp.
pointss President and tzosher Edward Atsicanus
chosoz Secretary.
Though the meeting called . meeting Of the
colorsd clergy SEINE isymen attended, and took part
In the preliminary proceedings as we ss in the M
eures for calling the convention Some OF the clergy
en wished to have the matter all to themselves and
discussion spi ung up to the proper constitution
Of the cor vsntion conteHdng tina. it ought to
consist entirely Of the clergy, while Others. who
Jealous OF clerical influence hello thst gh have
prinkiing OF the sity as 50 much sat to preserve
this TO what description Of individuals constitute
clergy whether they were ministers who had charge
of particular congregation whether the term did
not embrace Methodist local presche aad exhoster
and Presbyterian elders.
Brother GARorsEs, an elder in the Presbyteriar
church in High street, Brooklyn. grave elderly ws
looking gentleman, dressed IN black, ami having
reverend silver gray head, commended tor tas laty
being admitted TO the councils Of the convention, par
ticuarly they had seen permitted to take part in
the preliminary proceedings. Brother Gardiner Is
raid TO be gentleman of color hut has so little black
blood in him apparently, that any person not wing
his extraction might mistake him for white man.
Prssby terrain church folio I'D the side and
esid be sorry to such exhibition there this
morning. There was nothing practical done thougR
there Was great deal OF useless talk about nothing
He reminded them that the rep, rter present
from the Ne~ York Herald, who would publish their
.syngs ard doings, ana make holy show OF them.
Brother Still panied this remark with an air
exultstioE of contem pt for the
Judgment OF the conclave, as he turned round aud
looked in the direction of the chiel Snsag the IN
takin notes. whose patton TO this
appeared TO be unknosn but the moment the cat
let out of the bag, every brother turned his eyes on
the reporter most of them with evident Expression
OF surprise and alarm.
At length q motion made that this laity shoali
constitute part and parcel OF the convention watch
the President declared at first to be carried but which
afterwards, objection being raised that the motion
was no. Understood ne declared to be lost.
Brother Still and brother Gardiner, and others, APP
ps AIRED TO be in high dudgeon at thi, anal decision
and moved away tor time, to more disaut part OF
the building
Here the PRECEDENT rebuked brother for whisper
ing
that all lay men, VIII the clergy thought proper
admit might take a part in that convention.
This resolution was adj pied
A committee OF three, on business were nex. ap.
pointed 1t then proposed tina. brother Still
tain the relation he had heretofore sustained to that
convention.
This was laughed at by than one gentleman of
color, - a self stufcation of the convention
Another brother said there necessity for
such m otion brother Still ought to be looked
minister being the representative of Presbyte-
riaD church, and having come In place OF the clergy
man.
An honest looking negro replied that this was q
mistake and he hoped brother Still would set them
right on the point
Mr. STILL here rose with demure dignity having
been sometime before adjusting fashionable muffe r
cut the connection. He said that he came there that
moIn ing expecting that something would be done.
but from the exhibitions be witnessed he sorry
say there was very little prospect OF any practical con-
Here he was interrupted BY brother at his elbov,
when the chairman said be would not sllo~ Brother
Still to be interrupted He had hoped that these pro.
Gee dinss would be carried on In gentlemanly igni
fed manner.
Brother srrLL, who during the foregoing speech 40.
peares to be moving towards the door In pet resumed
the thread Of his discourse, and said he quite
satished nothing pr actical wosld be done by that
meeting and he would therefore retire He had bus.
ness Of mportance to attendto.
He then moved towards the door, holding in his
han d. set OF revolutions which be had drawn up TOR
the meeting but which he resolved to carry away
with him Several of the brethren appeared to take
alarm for the double loss of Mr. Still and his rs.olu-
tions and looked imploripgly at him. He on the
other harc, looked isexorsble, and bustoned up his
The PRECEDENT, in thi, sad AZ, said Brother Still
vish to ray few words to you.
Brother 5till paused.
-
symen; but now that the resolution has pc ssed 1t IL
right that it's object should not be msunderstood 1t
sgainst having the time Of that convention wasted
With either frivolous motions or mprudent speeches.
The meeting called as meeting OF the clergy aud
do net wish that any hot headed preston. should
forth 10 the public for not posed TO array
Ourselves against the Laws sssome of the lsy
appear to have done We sre not yet from under the
protection OF this community and want resolutions
hat We need not be ashamed Of
Mr. srILL said he hoped they would not pass the re-.
solution for be had no right TO any exclusive privi
Brother s.aBo--yes it is all wrong to allow the
that they think will be subervsnt 20 them and then
pass of the proceedings as those Of convention Of
the clergy
PR,srbrsr-I call you to order. Sit down. This Is
wrorg Much confusion and exctsmsnt)
Brother ssMBo-I have not done yet. You are wrong,
Mr.. President, for you have talked too much. Re
ne~ ed - excitement
Several voices we're here heard together
Mr. CKosBy-It s very bad indeed, to zee this house
come h, re TO consider affects all, clergy and aiy
toge,h.r IL IL what weare to do the whites will not
have Us Longer, Tor y !, bitter no. to val, u, they
did a boat bllsd with Indians, Which they sunk Va
ya- ysl There was q meeting held last night In An
other place. That was sntitlsvery one This Ia
anti slavery meeting We come to talk alb jat
igration IL NUT 20 to Liberia and leave the lad
Of Our iorssthers sna our property here behind us
jolly looking good bumored fsllow Who came In
~ this ttage OF the proceedings, wearing flaming
red CO nforter around his neck. wa, proceeding to
n great ossl OF the centurion arose from brothers
coming In late, and speaking without knowing what
had pared.
The individual thus addressed said be merely want.
Cd 20 the g,ntsmtp who had just sat down.
The meeting last night not an anti slavery meet
Ing.
Brother Csosm. y Then the paper must have told
story Tor headed Ice report Anti Slavery Meeting
Negro cnvention
Brother Smut hope you will ell read th- NeW
Io'k Hcred TO morrow moruing, Tor youu fnd your
'slyss exhibited there in your true color fs,Ja /
ys)
Brother 8 ll Who appeared to b. quairoon. then
proceeded 90 the door; where, haw-ver he stii lin
seed a. " be sishsd 20 b. eosxed cot Of HE hun.
Meantime the rssoluti vas pared, appointing him
ms Or Der Of ths Convention; and brother Gardiner
uggestsd that brother stll shoulA produce his reso
ntions TO which be appeared to lend deaf ear and
hen disappeared In silence from the church, carry
ng the documents with him.
The meeting then adjourned ~ half past two
clock TIL this morning ~ ten oclock the President
laving fret offered prayer and concluded with a
w aud bensdictien and with few last words
DO ut their future dseorum ct the meetings Of the
Convention.