The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-01-30
CENTRAL PRESB YTERIAN

by number of the most distinguished citi-
zens of Charleston, including the Lieutenant
Governor of South Carolina, the Mayor OF
the city, Mr.. Trenholm, late Secretary of the
Treasury of the Confederate States, and the
Rector of Grace tEpiscopal) Church.
So likewise at the meeting of the Education
al Association of Virginia, held last July at
the University of the State, and attended bya
number of the Professors of the University of
the Military Institute, of the colleges, acade-
mics and private schools of Virginia, the fol-
lowing resolution, offered by Mr. Hart, was
adopted unanimously:
"That in the estimation of this Association
it is laudable enterprise on the part of any
Southern man or woman, to engage In the IN
structon of the Freedmen, with view to ele
successful discharge Of the new duties imposed
upon them by their changed condition.
But it is farther objected that the ordination
of colored men would necessarily introduce a
social equality and interminglng with the
whites, the very thought of which is revolving,
and which if not in itself immoral, must prove
demoralizing. 1t is difficult to discuss this ar
gument without the suggestion of ideas which
few Southern men can consider without intense
disgust.
This much may be said however:
In the first place, the objection as it has
sometimes been urged, is founded on a total
misapprehension of the authority conferred by
ordination in the Presbyterian Church
Ordination gives the minister authority to
preach but in no pulpit except that Of his own
church and that of church to which he shall
be sent, or in which he may be invited by some
ecclesiastical court, by the session or pastor to
minister.
1t gives no authority to go through the
world, preaching to every congregation, will
ing or unwilling, that may lie in his way.
Still less does it oblige every member of a
church into which he shall thrust himself to
attend on his preaching.
Least of all does it bind the minister or the
people on whom his services may be obtruded,
to admit him as social equal to their hspes.
Should colored men be ordained, then their
ministrations, in all ordinary cases, will be con.
fined to churches that prefer to have them, and
these l presume, will be chr, ches composed Of
colored persons.
But should white congregation invite such
a minister to preach to them, the Presbytery
ought certainly to oppose no obstacle to his
performance of the service, but then it would
not follow that he must be entertained as so
cial equal, by any white family of the church
Some forty years ago, before the Insured
ton headed by the negro Nat Turner, ant
the growing and aggressive fanaticism of the
North, had moved the Legislatures of the
Southern States to prohibit the separate wor
ship of the blacks, a colored minister named
Erskine, who had been licensed, and perhaps
ordained, by Presbytery in the South preach
ed repeatedly in churches of this county anG
the adjoining counties. Large congregation!
of whites attended these services, but the
preacher was entertained, as he expected to b.
entertained, by people of his own color alone
Some fifteen years ago, President Roberts Wis
tied the town of Petersburg, in the neighbor
hood of which he had been brought up. HI
was treated respectfully of course, by such cit
liens of the place as happened to meet will
him, or with whom he had business relations
but he neither expected to be entertained b.
fthem,- aor-did he seek entertainment at an,
I hotef ssay
lodged at the house Of a colored woman,
person indeed of great responsibility and
near connection of his own.
Is it said that these things happened befor
the war, and before the blacks as a race wer
free2 That now ministers of their bloot
would expect to minge in the society of white
if they share the church privileges of whites
The reply is obvious. At the North thes
people have long been free. They have tn
same ecclesiastical status as the whites, but d,
they mingle socially with them? There are il
Philadelphia believe, colored ministers o
the Episcopal Church, do they meet in tn,
familiarities of social intercourse with thei
white brethren? presume not There has lonl
been colored Presbyterian church in Princeton
and lately a colored pastor has taken charge O
that church. Is he entertained on a footing O
social equality by the citizens of Princcton?-
by the Professors, for example-radical though
they be-of the College and Seminary?
In conclusion, it may be observed that thu
principle of this argument would prevent al
attempts to raise the colored race from theil
present debased condition. Every degree il
which they are elevated increases their respec
liability, and brings them nearer to the whites
If they are to be educated, if they are to b.
trained to habits of industry and sefrelianct
If above all they are to be trained to habits
of integrity, truth and moral purity, the pro
liability will be just SO far increased, of theil
finding their way into the society Of the virtu
GUS and refined of the white race.
But should this consideration induce us de-
liberately to consign them to ignorance, and
restitution, and moral infamy?
To that question l trust we all feel there car
be but one reply
j. M. P. ATKINSON.
n