New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-06-01
The Consolidation of Methodisni
I'm America.
ALEXANDRIA. VA. May %. 1871

ALEXANDRIA, VA, May -, lSil.
10 the Editor Of the NelD National Era:
believe the Christian world are anxiously
looking to the day when We shall have one
Methodist Church in America. Our interests
and method are the same, and every intelligent
person will agree that there can be no just
cause for divisions among US, except those
arising from selfish motives and narrow minded
ignorant prejudice. The various intelligent
organizations of the Armenian faith and prac-
tice are tending toward union with the MI
Church, the largest and most successful OF
these organizations. The public seem 10 De
deeply interested in the contamination oil the
work, and yet il has been delayed 10y lew
croakers in the ranks of all, and yet each has
a few standard bearers for the union but the
trouble is, we find few in the A. NJ r. ana
e. NJ. F.. churches, who are afraid oil the in'elii-
gent strength of the white church and then We
find large number of the colored wing OF the
white church opposed TO a union because they
are afraid Of the talent coming IN from their
eolored sister churches but the body OF the VI
E. Church stands forth in her gigantic strength
of the world. She carries the Promethean torch
lifted high, in front of the army her golden
blaze Of genius and Christian civilization can
be seen stretching across the entire CONT
nent she invites all to join her, and the
brave and true men have stepped forth to greet
her, while Others have been daZzled and
are yet awaiting, like those colored
e = 4 l.
talent Of the colored men who are coming forth
to Join them, and hence are doing all they can
to prevent union of these churches. | have
the honor to be leader of the union, brethren,
in the Zion Church, and, having met with
great encouragement from the white brethren
of the NJ. E. Church-in fact they received
me cordially; but l find the coored men of
that church are opposed to a union, actuated,
too, from the basest motives and for this
cause | am determined to show these men up.
/ am for putting down every opposition TO
the union, both in and out of the church.
Advised by Bishop james, of the NJ. Z. Church.
and also by DR.. Curry; and then, after full
consultation with the leading men Of the NJ.
Z. Church, | went among them in good faith
and was sent to the Sharp street Church,
Baltimore, recommended by all their leading
men as one laboring for fellowship and Chris
tan union. The Sharp-street Church received
me with open arms. On the first of March
attended the Conference at Frederick City,
and here, for the first time, ] met spirit of
the widest and most ignorant opposition 10
men coming from other colored denOmna-
tions-the very thing desired on the part Of
afl their bishops and leading men in all the
churches who are friends to the union. But
the cOlored men in the NJ T.. Church of the
Washington Conference impugned our motives,
yilifed aud abused rs, crying, Put up the
bars, keep them back" &c; and that too,
after | had been fully and heartily recon-
mended by their bishops and best men and
hence what is 10 be done; let the friends of
union and Christian fellowship rally, and let
one Methodist flag float over all Of our com
mon country.