New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-04
Cheering Signs.

Cheering signs.
10 the Editor Of the Ne,c National Era:
After all, the Catholic church is not going
to have it all its own way in the religious
training and culture of the colored people o.
the South; returning reason and a prope,
appreciation of the grand opportunity pre-
sented to it seems at last to have entered the
befogged mind Of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and though late, it is endeavoring
with all its power to rid itself of its prejudice
and that bigoted policy, and with an effort
more worthy of its mission and power, turn.
ing its attention to a matter which ten years
ago should have been the one subject above
all others to which it should have lent its
best energies and highest wisdom, to wit
How to reach the freedmen of the South and
save them to Protestant Christianity.
The following, which we clip from the
Baltimore American, is from the pen of Mr..
David Dreamer, who is well known through.
out the country in Methodist circles, for his
long and steady efforts in behalf of the recog-
milton of the brotherhood of the colored man
in the Methodist church.
The Rev. Dr. Newman, himself an aspir-
ant for Episcopal honors, openly declared,
and that in the face of white Baltimore
audience, that she was in favor of the educa-
tional and christian culture of the colored
people and their eleuatioa TO all places Of pref1
and honor in church and State, ereal to the max
ing Of Bishops Of them" While the entire
church press is now engaged in agitating this
question the elevation of a colored man to
the Episcopacy. So that it is more than
probable that at the ensuing General Confer
ence, which meets shortly in the city OF
Brooklyn, may honor itself and do valiant
service to Protestant truth by concentrating
this act, while it is at once a matter of justice
and mastery stroke of church policy, and
thus it is that
=" Ever does the truth come uppemost
And ever is justice DONE"
That must have been a pleasing picture,
not permit to be so rare. The Right Rev.
Bishop James, D. d. Ii. d. and Thomas
Kelso, Esq, one of the wealthiest laymen in
Conference, taking tea at the well-furnished
table of Bishop Wayman, and this, too, in
Baltimore. But to the letter itself:
The Late Methodist Conferences.
Nessrs. Editors Baltimore american
The late simultaneous sessions of two
Methodist Episcopal Conferences in our city,
namely, the Baltimore Annual Conference
under the supervision of Bishop Simpson,
composed of white ministers, and the Wash
ingtOn Annual Conference, presided over by
Bishop James, composed entirely of cOlOred
ministers, was an event of more than Or
binary importance, both as to the general
welfare of the Church and the special inter-
ests Of education among the colored people
within the bounds of the Conferences. Shame
that the unchristian bar of caste should sepa-
rate two ecclesiastical bodies of the same
Church, and in their ministerial labors occu-
plying the same territory.
During the meeting of these Conferences
several matters transpired Of much greater
significance than the brief reports of them in
the newspapers would seem to imply. The
first to which would make brief reference
is the meeting for the first time of the Lay
Electoral Conferences, and the election Of
four delegates, two white and two colored,
to the General Conference, which is to as
semble at Brooklyn, New York, in May
next. The Laymen's Conference of white
members by invitation visited the Baltimore
Conference of ministers on Friday afternoon,
and received cordial fraternal greeting.
The united assembly of ministers and laymen
we're addressed by Bishop Simpson in man
ner that showed he was in full sympathy with
the action of the Church in relation to the
introduction of laymen into its highest legis-
lative body. Indeed, he had used his best
efforts to bring about so desirable result
and now that it was accomplished he believed
that the foundation of the Church would be
laid deeper and broader, and its efforts for
the salvation of the world be on a more en-
larged and comprehensive scale, and conse-
quently its prosperity and success greater
than it ever before had been. The most re.
markable feature connected with this subject,
said the Bishop, is the fact that the members
of the General Conference, composed entirely
of ministers, should not only permit, but in.
vite laymen to share equally with them in
its proceedings. Such a voluntary resigna-
ton of power is nowhere recorded in history
BY request the Rev. DR.. Crooks, of New
York, editor of the Methodist, followed in an
eloquent speech, in which he detailed the
long and patient waiting Of the loyal laymer
who favored this change in the Discipline o.
the Church, until it finally triumphed in a
large majority of the membership and still
larger Of the ministry. He also compli.
mented the Bishop for the active part he haG
taken in preparing the mind of the Church
for this great change, and the unbounded
confidence he had always manifested in both
the wisdom and integrity Of the laymen.
These addresses were responded to in an
eloquent and appropriate manner by the
Hon. c. i. L. Leary, when the laymen re-
| tired TO their hall to elect their delegates
bearing in their hearts the assurance thai
the high destiny of the Church predicted by
the Bishop would prove prophesy.
On Monday morning the Baltimore Con
ference was addressed by the Rev. DR.. Bust
agent Of the Freedmen's Aid Society of the
Church, when he forcibly portrayed the wants
Of the colored people within the bounds o.
the Conference, and its duty touching theil
religious and educational culture. He spoke
Of the important places they were hereafter
to fill in Church and State, and said in some
respects they were the hope of both. He die
not fail to remind his brethren that in disregard
Of the action of the last General Conference
they had as yet done little or nothing in thi.
work. But he expressed great hope, amount
| ing to confidence, that these neglected PEG
| pie, once held so dear by the Church within
| the bounds of the old Baltimore Conference
would no longer he forgotten nv her in ihei