The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-02-25
NEGROPHOBIA IN DR.. CHEEVERS
CHURCH.

The following statement of the Hon.
Mr.. Rochussen, whose colored servant was
ordered out of pew in DR.. Cheever's
Church few Sabbaths ago, appears in the
last number of the London "Anti-Slavery
Reporter" with appropriate editorial CON-
ments
New YORK METROPOLITAN HOTEL,
january, s, 1850.
SRI arrived yesterday night in New
York on my way from Europe to the Ba-
hamas. To-day was the first Sunday |
could pass in the United States | had
heard that in this country, even in the
Northern States, colored people in places
Of worship are obliged to occupy pews es-
pecially destined for them, and are exclu-
ded from the better seats, to which only
whites are admitted. | had, however, read
DIR. Cheevers sermons, entitled "God
against Slavery" and also an account of
his proceedings and position, and letters
imploring for him the aid of British friends
of the anti-slavery cause, in some recent
numbers of the "Anti-Slavery Reporter"
This made me think that in his church such
odious distinctions would not be drawn.
Consequently, | drove this morning with
my wife to DIR. Cheever's church, and took
my wife's maid, white girl, and my man
servant, negro, with me. 1t was early,
the doors were just open, and, walking in,
| found no pew-opener The church is a
handsome building in square. Inside it
looks like an English chapel of the finest
description. There is gallery all round
windows with colored glass, and the pews
in the body of the church are extremely
comfortable, with well.fll cushions, COW
cred with brown cloth, on the broad seats
and at the backs. Outside, the building
resembles more an English church than a
chapel, as it has tower on one side Of the
front, and three large gates near to one
another BY the manner in which the few
people who were there as early as myself
took their places, | concluded there were
no reserved seats, and l took my place
with my wife in one Of the pews in the
middle of the building facing the pulpit,
and placed the servants in pew behind
me. After silent prayer, | was reading in
the Psalms, and looking over the hymn
book, waiting for the beginning of the SER
vice, when my attention was drawn to some
one speaking to my black servant behind
me. | turned round and perceived that a
well-dressed gentleman was inviting my
negro to leave the seat he occupied, and to
follow him to another he would show him.
| asked the gentleman, whom | thought
was church-warden or some other person
in authority, if the seat my servant occu-
pied was reserved seat. He answered
me it was not, but that in this country col
ored people were not allowed in the places
of worship to intermix with the whites. [
replied that l knew this, but that l sup
posed Dr. Cheeyer's church would, in har-
mony with the views he professed, make
an exception to this rule. AS | was told
this supposition was erroneous, and in DIR.
Cheevers church the same rule was OBJ
served as elsewhere, | rose to leave the
church. The gentleman alluded to polite
ly suggested there was no necessity for my
leaving; that was quite at liberty to re-
main where l was; and that only my black
footman Gt was evident he was my servant
as he wore livery had to take another
seat, which he would show him. l, how
ever, felt no fellowship with the members
of congregation who appeared to be as
much polluted as others by the great Amer
lean sin, against which the minister of this
church is preaching, and | felt indignant
that this minister, who is represented in
England as rather martyr of the great
cause, did not do away with such odious
distinctions, which are manifestations the
nearest akin to the sins he rebukes. |
deemed it indecent to make any remon-
STRANGE, or to appeal to any higher author
ity, DR. Cheever had not yet assembled
the pulpit, as the services which was about
to begin might have been disturbed by my
so doing. Consequently, [ only said that
| was astonished to meet with such sinful
practices in the church of such man as
DR.. Cheever, who, at that very moment,
was imploring the assistance of the friends
of the anti slavery cause in England, and
| left the church with my wife, followed by
the servants. AS soon as | was outside,
between the church and the street, gen.
tleman running after me, asked me polite
ly what the other gentleman with whom |
had been speaking before | left the church
had said to me- told him what had hap
pened, and he begged to assure me that
the gentleman had no authority but as a
member of the congregation, an authority
which he (the one who now spoke to me-
possessed also; and he added to it that he
felt satisfied that the feelings expressed by
him were not those of the congregation.
dare not condemn Dr. Cheever, as /
cannot sufficiently appreciate his position
and do not know his opinion in the matter
Perhaps the question has never been
brought before him. 1t may be that hither-
to colored man has never ventured among
the white members of his flock. | think,
however, no British friend of the anti
slavery cause ought to give him any assis-