New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-01-04


To the Editor Of The New National Era:
On the 18th instant Bishop Miles, of the M.
f. Church of America, organized in this city,
Petersburg, Va, Conference of the above
name for Virginia and North Carolina. The
Conference was organized in the basement of
the Washington street NJ. E. Church, white, of
dissenters from the A. M. f. Zion connec.
ton.
The project meets approval from some dis
appreciation from many. The title M. E.
Church of America is believed to be fictitious.
A mere snare trap to bring many of the
colored Methodists of the South over to the
auspices of the NJ. E. Church South. Many
look upon the title and the workings under it
as an effort to intimidate and embarrass the
colored voting element of the South. On the
18th instant the Bishop ordained several to the
ministry of the Conference. In his charge he
exhorted them to have nothing to do with
politics, not even so much as to vote; that
he had not voted; that the M. E. Church South
was their best friend that her ministers had
always done more for the colored people than
the ministers Of any other denomination.
He gave unmistakable evidence of being
Conservative-yea, a mere tool for the polusco.
etig'ous conservative element of the South.
lie virtually spit upon the North and the Re-
publican party. With all of his laudations for
the NJ. f. Church South, and branding the A.
M. E. Church and the A. NJ f. Zion Church as
being illegal, and declaring the M. (. Church
of America to be the only legal colored Metho-
dist body, the white Methodist churches of this
city did not give him and his ministers the
freedom of their houses of worship, saving the
Washington street Church, which permitted
the Conference to use the basement, and on
Sabbath afternoon to use her upstairs room,
because she was not in session then the white
brethren occupied the galleries, the colored
brethren the lower floor In the basement at
preaching, the line of demarkation was drawn,
the colored on one side, the whites on the
other side of the room
The colored Methodist Church of this city
belongs and adheres to the A. NJ f. Zion
Church, and vo,os that she will not come under
the auspices of the M. E. Church South, nor
cell her birthright for mess of pottage. The
M. +. Church South claims the house of wor.
ship in which the Zion party worship. To
dispossess the Zonites of the house and give
1t to the Church Of America party, law suit
has been entered. and the case set for the Cd
OF January, 1872. The whites of the com.
munity-of Conservatism--favor the Church
OF America party, which numbers not fifty,
while the colored favor the Zion party, which
numbers over three hundred. The latter party
declare that before they will be under secession
auspices they will worship under a tree and
from house to house. To which we heartily
say, Amen.
1t is evident that the sole object Of the M
L. Church South is pecuniary and politica
gain, for which they ought to be ashamed o
themselves. The white Baptists of this State
attempted to distract the Baptist element amons
the colored people by processing friendshi,
superior to the Baptsts of the North. but til,
Colored Baptist Convention of this State un
masked them and caused them to show thei
cloven foot, by sending delegate to thei
General Association last May. They rejected
him, and decided, with a perfect unanmity, ,
non'interchange of delegates with their coloret
brethren. The M. L. Church South yirtuall,
says, We will give you houses of worship, books
papers. money, ETC., to support your churches
and preachers therefore come and vote will
us and for our men, and we will do you all tn
good We can. We hope that all the colore,
Methodist brethren throughout the South vii
stand up for their religious liberty, and not b
caught in traps and snares to intimidate then
in their rights as men.
Yours for liberty and justice,
RAvENscRoFr.