The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-20

proceedings off session in white church come
to be reviewed and criticised by black commit
tees? To ask these questions is to answer
them As a matter of fact, every one must
know that such scheme under any circum-
stances now existing, or likely to exist, must
set the Church on fame from one end to the
other. IF there are particular places where
this effect would not follow, they are very few,
and in determining what's proper, let teach Pres
bytery judge for itself with a wise discretion,
not in view of the relation of such cases to one
locality alone, but to the whole Church.
While Dr. A. does indeed refer to the objec-
ton to have colored persons sit in Presbyte-
ries, &C., he has not limited at this, the strong
est point in it; namely, that it constitutes
them rulers and judges over the whites
And here, as reference has just been made
to the possibility Of few places where much
practical opposition might not exist, as, for
example, where the black population is ex-
ceedingly small, we are reminded of another
fact which must be kept in mind; that is the
essential difference between our case and North
ern whites. Among them the relative num-
bers of black Christians are extremely small.
Among us the relative numbers were formerly
large-not less than one in seven. Our desire
is that it may be so again-even greater. DIR.
A. refers to one colored church and pastor in
the Old School Presbyterian communion,
Rrth. Just so; you may find one here and
kre. And here we have the secret of their
BY. The mass of their wretched blacks
Y them lie out of sight, in that fostering
ty and misery, to which wretched
sbnism consigns them; while at promi-
places, like Princeton which DR.. A.
les, one or two black pets are paraded,
y15t enough to keep up show for British and
German philanthropists, "falsely so called, y
and to lay pretended basis for their consist
ency in the assertion of the sham negrophilism
with which they seek to worry us. But as to
the introduction of black element of any APP
preciable numbers or power, into their COM
munion, they neither intend nor expect it;
nor would they tolerate it, if it occurred.
But our case is different. In many parts of
the South the blacks are as numerous as the
whites; in many places they are much more
so. Now among us the thing at which honest
Christian men like DR.. Atkinson aim is, not
the pretentious patronage of few, but the
general evangeization of the masses. AS sem
sible men we should form our plans in the ex-
pectation of success for to form plans not de-
signed to succeed, and not adapted to succeed
is worse than childish. If DR.. Atkinson 8
plan then is to result in large membership of
black men in our Communion, how will it an
swer to have all our Church courts mixed
more or less with black Presbyters, and some
where they shall equal or outnumber the
whites? What will be the destiny of the Pres
byterian Church of the South with those poi
sonous and persistent seductions applied to the
blacks, which we certainly foresee? We are
thoroughly persuaded that it is a mistake to
suppose the Protestant denominations in the
South really design that which the President
of Hampden Sidney requires of his own-the
general admission of black men to common
ecclesiastical power with and over the whites.
We have already sufficiently cited the proof
of this in what they actually hare done.
We are told indeed of the case of George
Erskine, whom we remember very well, and
of one here and there admitted to the office of
the ministry in times past, and no trouble re-
suited 1t is surprising that from three or four
cases scattered over the whole South, aconclu-
sion should be drawn which embraces gene
raj policy, and that policy to be put into opera
ton under wholly different circumstances, and
those circumstances such as would make the
practical working more difficult than ever, in
stead of being less so.
Why then must elements so extremely dis
similar and homogeneous be thrown together as
co-equal in the same Church? 1t seems to our
mind one of the plainest things in the world
that, as often happens among worthy members
of the same family, they might have very kind
ly relations as near neighbors, but cannot live
comfortably under one roof.
| Wherever we repeat it, the negroes are con-
tent to remain as members in our churches
just as they always have been, by all means
encourage them to do so, and continue to treat
them kindly, and help them on by Sabbath
School and other instruction, and in every way
promote their welfare. But attempt to thrust
together upon full equality as preachers and
rulers two whole classes of society, in many re-
spects probably the most unlike, unequal, d.
vergent, if not repugnant to each other on the
face of the whole earth, and the result will be
to fill the Church, not with the fruits of the
Spirit among which are Glove, peace and gen.
tleness," but with the works of the flesh, such
as hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, heresies," Tor, as the word signifies lite
rally, divisions.
Nothing short of plain, positive law of
God can suffice to silence such objections as
have been made to this plan, and overthrow
the conclusion to which the facts and consider
atoms adduced seem so manifestly to lead.
Such law DR.. Atkinson thinks he has found
in the nature of the divine call which the black
man is supposed to have to the office of minis
ter and ruler an oar Church, and found also in
the a,,ity of the Church itself as constituted by
Christ
tbs is unquestionably the most serious as
PEI the whole subject, and demands most
ca examination
L
ed Form of Government. We must
end tically dissent from the views presented
by OR excellent brother A. H., in regard to the