The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-13
ECCLESIASTICAL RELATION OF
NEGROES.

issue. That issue Is not whether separate
churches for eOlOred people may be organised:
our Assembly expressly provides for this Nor
is it whether eolored ministers and elders
should be trained up to serve in them. On
that question the most that can be said is that
the Assembly has not yet developed and COM
pleted its policy. Whether in all particulars
Its action, so far as it went, was most wise or
not and well guarded, we beg leave to reserve
for consideration at the proper time. But the
main question at issue is, whether it is our
duty so to receive eolored people into Our
ehmeh-intO such full and complete ecclesias-
teal relations as shall place them, in this re-
spect, upon a perfect equality; by which, con-
sequently, their preachers shall become, as
much as any others, rulers over US; and their
elders also, when delegated to the higher
courts.
This We understand to be, Enthusiastically, the
position of the President of Hampden Sidney
College. His argument would be otherwise
unintelhgible; In fact he expressly makes the
claim. The Nelo York Observer and the Pkila-
delphia Presbyterian take the same ground, as
may be seen not only from certain expressions
used, but also from their warm commentator
of what DR.. Atkinson advances in support Of
his views. AS we shall probably have occasion
at another period of this defence of our
Church, to make quotations confirming this
statement of the position these writer's have
assumed, we shall be content for the present
with simply repeating that the main question
at The bottom of thiS discussion Is that of perfect
ecclesiastical equality 6etlceea the qchite people
and the black. 1t is demanded of us as then
right; its concession as oar duty. If the right
is established, the concession follows.
With the question thus cleared, we conceive
it to be our duty to hold the negative of the
proposition-to maintain that the right does
not exist, and consequently the duty claimed
does not.
And just here it might be well to pause and
examine infinitely, exactly what this equality
shall amount to. But it is vastly suggestive,
tar-reaching topic, too wide for our present
space. Let the reader turn over at leisure its
details in his own mind, while we give him a
glimpse by quoting few pregnant sentences
from an editorial in a late number of the Nelc
York Christian Adrocate, merely promising
that it is the Oldest and leading journal Of the
Northern Methodist Church, body now num-
ing one million of members. The Editor, at
least, is educated up to that point" Ia
phrase explained presently if his people are
not He thus announces the place to be oc-
cupied by the negro in the Church-we give
but small part of the article:
We repeat lohdt ace haze before said, THE
NEGRO is THE COMING MAN, for lchOn all echo
care FOR THE FUTURE OF SOCIETY SHOULD
MAKE WAY. ALREADY HE RULES THE DESTE
Ny OF THE STATE, and he Influences not Tess
certaWLy though less 0pc7slgi ate.-cAaracter aga
ctur official notice should be distinct and out
spoken on this subject; the theory of color
JiRdaeSS should be clearly enunciated and at
once reduced to practice. COlored ministers
should be invited to membership in our Annu-
al Conferences, and introduced into Our pulpits.
COi0red families should be lCelcomed to ON
Churches, not to Sit on SEPARATE SEATS assign
ed to them as distinct caste but in free
Churches, to sit where they please, and in
pewed Churches to such seats as they may
choose to pay for No reason can be given
against this but an unreasonable and an un-
ehrjSttC;R prejudice, of which man of sense
should be ashamed and for which Christian
should make haste to repent before God.
And so "the coming man." like coming
events, casts his shadow before him. All this
is certainly very explicit, but we submit that
it is only very moderate statement of the
results to which this whole scheme leads,
though doubtless some lChO are lead, are not
yet so color blind as to be entirely prepared
for them. After our respected and most con-
scientiOus brother, DIR. Atkinson, shall have
reached his ground of perfect equality in the
Church as matter Of right, and, therefore,
the Withholding of it matter Of san how he
IS to escape the concurrent pressure and clam
or OF great many questions about ecclesiastii-
eo-soeiat rights, must, we think, be puzzle to
any man who reflects that our very religion,
at every step, takes the turn of our nature and
becomes social also. But, not to dwell longer
here upon this theme, let US advance to most
interesting inquiry that Immediately presents
itself.
1t Is now time to enquire how far those who
make these demands upon our Southern
Churches, are qualified to sit in such severe
judgment upon us Do they act upon their
own creed? We are all aware that the arg,t-
meRtlim al homiaem cannot decide whether
she principles involved are righteous or I'M
righteous; that question will come up hereaf-
ter. But, though not test of truth itself, it
may be a very good test of men-of directors ;
Of their consistency, sometimes of their sin.
eerity. Do the facts of the case then declare
that Northern churches and Christians prac-
tise what they preach? How is it with the
Methodist Church there-One of the most rad
zeal on this whole subject? We submit in an
swer, the following statement:
In 1916 about 1000 eolored people in the
Methodist Episcopal Church at Philadelphia,
headed by Mr.. Richard Allen, seeded. 1t
is called the african Methodist Episcopal
Zion Church" In 1855 it had two bishops,
l55 preachers, and 200 members. Its num-
bers are much larger now, but we cannot give
its statistics accurately.
Another secession of colored members took
place in New York in 1919, which has eOngrega-
tons 10 New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode
Island, and Massachusetts,, as well as many
other States. In 1855 they had three bishops,
% circuits, 500 ministers, p 200 members.
Their title is; ''TEe african Methodist Fps
eopol Church" At present their members
are greatly increased-a minister of the Meth
Odist Church recently informed US that the
number is now not short of 10000
Now, let it be remarked, that the cause of
their separation in both cases "arose from