The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-09-22

an alarming extent, and many have already
become Catholics, and will vote as Catholics
are voting to-day. 1t is therefore for the
glory of the Presbyterian Church that she
should take hold of this work., utilize the
material thus presented to her, and bring
this people into her fold"
On motion of Rev. Mr.. Beer, the resolu-
tion was disposed ofSzy laying it on the ta-
BILE, by vote of 81 to 50 The reporter
addS-"not one-half of the Assembly vo-
ting
The precise action the Mobile Assembly
had taken in the matter of cooperation on
the negro question was known to the North,
ern Assembly, before the above singular
vote was taken, for Mr.. Johnstone alluded
to it in his speech. The matter was certainly
considered as every way an important one,
and of the nearly three hundred members
in attendance well-nigh two hundred did not
vote at all 1t is hardly probable that on
any other question half SO many sat silent,
and when division was called for, declined TO
rise on either side. Certainly this was not
the case on the other great question-that
of Union with the extreme radicals of the
New School,
And thus it was, perhaps by an accident
al majority of four votes, that this grave
question was disposed of, and our ministers
in the South saved for the time from open
and unprovoked insult. Can any one con-
lecture why this marvellous Indifference, as
to whether they would insult or not the body
of Southern Presbyterian ministers, and that
by a large majority of this Assembly? And
would they have us believe that now since
radicalism seems securely established with
them by their union with the New School,
they look with sudden feelings of pity on
the poor ministers of the South Suppose
the resolution had passed, what then would
probably have followed Something like
this it may be: some of our ministers who
would be supposed by our Northern friends,
the capitalists, to be more accessible, would
be approached with some such words as these
=" Dear Brother South; Our Ex Secreta-
ry, Mr.. Logan, publicly stated in our AS
sembly that you ministers did your duty to
the negroes up to 1860, and you are living
among the negroes, and though you think
you know them better than we do, we are
sure that our way of preaching to them is
better than yours. You do not like to make
the negroes your social nor ecclesiastical
companions, and yet We know that you are
poor and we are rich; some of our most
loyal members during the late war gathered
together millions of dollars-indeed one of
the members of our General Assembly that
met in New York, said one of his acquaint-
s-(mentioning his name had FIVE mil.
lions of dollars ho,l:1 80 -, "i-O u
with.
Now dear Brother, could you not devote
your time to organizing churches among the
African race and placing them legally in
connection with our Northern Assembly !?
If you only would do so, we would pay you
well for it. Some of you have found fault
with the way in which we have managed
matters among the negroes in your country,
but if we could get a few of your best men
in our employ, we calculate that they at
least, would make no objections hereafter,
nor would their friends to our work in your
midst among the Freedmen. Then, if a
few of your poor, but smart and influential
Men lend themselves to this movement, our
preachers and teachers we send from the
North will no longer be shut out from an
entrance into your best society, so they can
eat and sleep with the colored people one
night, and the next you will not deny them a
recognition in your most aristocratic circles.
There is no telling how much good you could
do to the negro and to us in the North, by
accepting such great work Are there
not some of your ministers who would be
willing to undertake such part of the
priests office that they may eat piece of
bread
Who is for sale? Who will organize for
for us the first negro church on this new
plan?" 90.