The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-20
ECCLEsIAsTICk L RELATIONS OF
NEGROES.

them to look down with a supercihOuS rebuke
upon the South as sinners above all men.
All that we care to add to this at present is,
simply to ask that the reader shall turn to the
editorial article we publish this week from the
New York Christian Adrocate. Its confession
is most remarkable, indeed In one sense revolt
ing, because it reveals in their disgusting de-
formity the unworthy principles by which the
largest Church in the North is moved. They
have utterly neglected half million of blacks
at the North, but are seized with furious
zeal for ecclesiastical propagandism IN behalf
of the eolored population at the South.
Can any candid. person, after reading this
article from the A5rocate, persuade himself
that it is the spirit of Christ which moves that
Church to such PROSECUTING efforts among the
negroes in the far distant South, while
they are, by their own confession, so shame
fully mistreating, and neglecting the Greeks
at their own door," And how much better,
in this respect, are the other Churches there?
We have never read Dickens; willingly avow
ing, hereby, our inability to endure him. But
accidentally taking up one Of his works, some
years ago, we remember TO have seen some
amusing and pungent things concerning one of
Lis characters in "Bleak House" Mrs. Jel-
lyby, London lady, loses sight of her hus
band and scarcely knows her children by name,
but is exceedingly distressed about the state of
things in the interior of Africa, and is busy
making flannel shirts all the year round for the
the little negroes of Timbuctoo, and writes
pamphlets for the moral elevation of the in-
habitants of Borrio- bOola Cha Those familiar
with the author may recOllect the portrait
Mrs Jellyby must have a wide circle of kin
dred
That is a fine point John Bunyan gives the
spear with which he so thoroughly pierces the
character of Observation-Disclosures as "a tall
man, and something more comely at DIS
taace" Faithful gives Christian this account
of him:-''He is the son of one Say-1ceH
He dwelt in Prating Row, and he is known to
all acquainted with him, by the name of Tdlk-
attire of Prating Row, and notwithstanding his
fine tongue, he is but sorry fellow "
have been az has family, and have observed
him both at home and abroad, and l know
what say of him is the truth His house is
as as empty of religion as the white of an egg
is of SAVIOR" ''Thus say the common people
that know him: A saint abroad, and a derl
at home. "
Let none mistake our meaning. The guilt
indicated in the remarks made above, is by no
rneaus charged upon all Northern Christians.
There are multitudes among them, who SIN
cereIy wish, and pray, and are prepared to do
what they may find to be right in this whole
matter But the others-and their name is
legion prove themselves, beyond mistake,
to be the descendants of TaLtatire; and ''the
1corks Of their father they t0iU do.
We now come to a more particular notice of
the charge made by the New York Observer
against our General Assembly That we may
not miSrepresent its import, the most material
passage containing it is here quoted from its
first article on this subject, in December last.
1t is as follows:
1.-The most important point in the action of
this Assembly, and one which has a startling
significance, as coming from 4 high court Of
Jesus Christ, is the deliberate resolution to
make an utter distinction in the Church of
those who have black one, and TO shut out
= from all the offices of the Church the latter,
no matter whether they have been called of
God, or how we'll qualified they may be in other
respects. The simple question of color is to
determine whether man is to be admitted to
the ministry, or even to the Office of ruling ell
der; and this is so decided by large body Of
learned and able Christian ministers and ruling
elders, prOfesSedly acting in the name of that
God who, in calling his people ont of darkness
into his marvellous light, and in calling them
into the ministry of reconciliation, cannot be
supposed to select them according to the COM
plexion of their skin. The resolutions 90 still
further. They effectually prevent the organiza-
ton OF single church composed of cOlOred
people alone, anywhere in connection with the
Presbyterian body represented by this Assem-
bly,"
We hope in due time to point out what our
Assembly really did, and what they meant;
wherein they are misrepresented by the Ne'o
York Observer, wherein We think they were
right, and wherein we think they were wrong.
For we thought at the time, and are more per-
suaded by reflection since, that their action
was in some respects mistaken as to the wis
dom of its scheme and defective as to the
measures needed. This, we believe, is a very
general opinion; and if well founded, no doubt
the guiding spirit of the Lord will show US the
right way and another Assembly will be able
to perfect more complete and satisfactory
scheme, upon a subject very difficult to adjust
wisely aud well; as all men admit except such
as have the negro on the brain, instead OF
on the kestH.
But the precise point to which we would
now hold attention is contained in the ques-
ton That does The Ne,c York Observer blame
oar assembly tor-GRd 'ekat as the ecteat of
that JLuaeP We viii not cucumber the an
swer with other kindred matters now, but take
up the chief point. The answer, then, may
be given thus; l. In general our Assembly
is condemned because-as is alleged-it does
not encourage the organization of separate
eolored churches. .. And especially because
its action diseomteaances the idea Of admitting
colored ministers and elders to be rulers an orr
Church.
That the Ne1o York Observer pointedly de-
mands that we shall do this last, is unmistaka-
bic, for it says; 1.-The most important point
in the action of the Assembly, and one which
has startling significance, as coming from a
high court of Jesus Christ is the deliberate res
olution to make az utter distinction IN the
Church of God JetlceeR those loho hare ,chite
skin and those cho hare black one, and to
shut out from the offices of the Church the
latter" &c 1t elsewhere tells us that the
chief difficulty we had was that colored ''clders