The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-05-15


strous organization of corruption and
oppression shall 60 down, with the party
whose slave and facilc instrument it has
been. m
TIE Diocesan CONVENTION a5th
annual convention Of the Protestant
Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina met
in st. Philips Church, Charleston, on
| Bishop of the Diocese, presiding. Messrs.
C., r. Brewster, G. L. Buist and R.
Munro We're appointed committee to
iexnmine the credentials Of the lay dele
gates. The Bishop stated that he had
received an application from the congre-
cation Of St. Marks Church, (colored, }
Charleston, for union with the conven-
tion, and that, in accordance with the
! usual custom, he would refer it to the
COMMITTEES on the Admission of New
Parishes. This subject was debated until
adjournment.
Mr. Edward McCrady thought that the
application should be treated in differ
ent manner. If the gent1emen would
reflect, they would see that this was a
proposition virtually to alter the consti-
| tuition, which, when it wns framed, con-
| templated no such union as this. Tho
HuCotAOA StNft COuSlQeTOt1OQ,
! and in order that decision should be
made wisely, time would be required.
The admission of this congregation into
the convention was not a matter of right.
There was nothing in the constitution of
the church which required this conven-
| ton to admit any congregation that ap-
piled for admission. The convention
had the right to inquire into the means
OF support of every congregation that
applied for admission. A union with
the church was not at all u union with
the convention. This was an applioa-
ton for admission to participate in the
legislative power, not for Christian pri-
yilege, that the congregation already en-
joyed. 1t il not question AS to whether
st. Mark s congregation should be n part
of the church-the law of the church
settles that. Politics.. said he, have
brought us in contact with race differ
ent from ours. 1t is not disparaging,
then. to say that the 200 years of train
ing that they have had, does not fit them
70 govern themselves or other people.
The white race had to undergo n training
of 1,030 years. The f,ct that this appli-
cation comes on the heels Of the Civil
Rights Bill would dispose him to reject
1t at once, but for the gravity of the case
1t might have been suggested by politi-
cal. and not by Christian feelings. 1t
does not follow, that because the colored
| Thce legislnte in q civil capacity, that they
are tit to legislate on religious matters.
Here are race of people who, only ten
years ago, were in condition of servi-
tude. but who now come here and ask to
be allowed to lcgislate for the church,
when, according to the statement of their
, own friends, they are not fit to govern
the State. This particular church may
be tit for admission, and yet oil their race
may not be fit Ho WAS not at all sure
that the admission Of this church would
solve the question rs to those Of dcoper
color. And, in view of the gravity of
the matter, he moved that the applca-
ton be referred to special commission
with instructions to renort to the next
annual convention
The Rev. A. T. Porter asked if the re-
solution could be considered except by
n suspension of the rules of order which
would require two-thirds vote. After
some discussion upon this point, the
bishop decided to entertain the resolu-
ton and submit it to tho vote Of the
convention. He would throw upon the
convention the responsibility Of taking
the step contemplated in the resolution.
The practice had always been for the
Bishop, after reading the application, to
refer it to the Committee on New Pa
rishes. Such a disposition MS was con-
templHted by the resolution Of Nr
MoCrady had never been made of an
application from white congregation,
and he would decline the responsibility
OF. departing from the custom in this case
Alr. G. q. Memminger regarded the
question as very important one, and
one that he was not yet prepared to de-
eide upon. In all other denominations,
the races had been kept separate, and he
was not at all certain that the admission
Of this congregation would be the best
thing for them. His object was to bene-
fitthese people. He did not wnnt to gee
them used 'as tools, as they had been in
this State. It was q question whether it
was best to adopt the Methodist, plan of
giving them missionary bishops' or the
Presbyterian plan of placing them in
separate churches under white. elders.
H8 was in favor of the resolution.
The Rev. j.. H. Tillinghast, of Rioh-
land, was not able to see what waB TO be
gained by putting of this quest Ion, BE, for
lgng, was ready to meet the question upon
its merits now. With him, it was simply
question as to whether tie convention
was justified in the sight OF God In max
ing any ,suoh discrimination as was pro-
posed by that resolution. The oongrc-
CATION was in good standing, was COM
posed Of intelligent people, and nothing
1uoh - IA .r,o;Dn5 H. ~. IL. a.