The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-05-16
Tins D1oczsAx CoNvaxr1oN.-T se-

Y TINS .D1ooxsAx CoNvnxr1os. se-
cond days session of this Convention
was'opened with prayer by Rev. j. H.
Strmgfellow. The annual address Of
the Bishop was read. Mr.. Evan Ed
wards, Treasurer of the Bishops Fund,
submitted the report, showing balance
to the credit of the fund Of $3,257. IA.
The discussion on the application Of st.
Marks (oolored) congregation was then
resumed, the question being upon the
the previeas-dey by Mr.. Edward Nc
Mr.. T. M. Hanckel Expressed the hope
that the discussion would be confined to
the resolution, and not branch out to the
|subjectof theapplication itself He had
no desire to evade or dodge the ques-
tion. He simply wanted to avoid it for
the present, just rs skilled general
would avoid an engagement until he was
thoroughly acquainted with the forces Of
the enemy and the topography of his
country. Gentlemen were mistaken if
they supposed the present lull in cor
ruption was a cessation of it. There
was another consideration involved In
the discussion OF this question which
ought to be we'll thought of. The Bishop
had, last year, indicated q tendency to
have separate organizations. If the
Convention admitted this congregation,
they precluded themselves forever from
the consideration Of that mode Of organi-
zation. They cut out the only nucleus
around which separate organization
could be gathered. Gentlemen seemed
to think it very easy matter to estab-
lish a precedent and then te reverse it,
but every lawyer knew that 1t was q
difficult thing to do. In view of oil
these considerations, he would reiterate
his earnest concurrence in the resolu-
ton. lt
The Rev. j. H. Tillinghast. of Rich
land, thought that this question wns one
ton by the providence of God and by
the march of time. In his opinion. a
reference of the application to a commits
aion would be equivalent to a rejection
Of it. He was in favor of meeting the
Question now, and in favor Of granting
the application. He saw NO reason for
reticence upon the subject. We profess.
said he, to be an integral member of the
Catholic Church, which holds the Cos
pei in trust fdf every man. The Gospel
knows no distinction Of race or eondi-
ton; men Of au-patiops ore admitted to
the QhnHo Spon rspentanee and bap-
t4sWg, II ys refqss to grant this petition.
I've shy to the petitioners, We nre not
willing to admit you into the church.
not because you are incompetent or un-
color. That Ia the way in which the
world will look upon it, and, to be
frank, that is how it looks to me. If the
application comes up to the requirements
of our constitution and canons, we are
bound either to hear it or to take the
ground that we are not willing to, admit
the applicants on account of their color.
We must meet the issue. It has been
brought to lis in Gods providence, and
We being the accredited leaders of the
chQych, are, bound to meet it. This same
raceof people have been admitted to the
Convention in the Diocese of North Ca
rolina, (my native State, and, so far as
Iknow, without any evil consequences.
We can't afford to stand against the SEN
timents of the civilized world, and we
should be careful in this matter, lest we
seem to fly in the face of God, by whose
instrumentality this issue has been put
upon us.
Chancellor Lesesne said that, if he was
compelled to vote on the question upon
Ia hasty report submitted blythe standing
committee, he would be coHatDitSd to
vote against the application; he would,
therefore. be compelled to vote for, the
appointment Of commission. He
wanted delay, not from any want of
consideration for tile respectable body
from whom the application came, but
because, by delay, he would he better
able to consider the question in sall its
complex bearings. It Ind been said
that this was not new Question; but he
would remind gentlemen that this CON
gregation had been in existence for ten
years, and could have made application
for admission my year during that time !;
but they did not. This question was.
therefore, rs new to his mind rs if it had
been presented the year after the organi-
zation of the church. He did not Yield
to any man in feelings OF Christian bro
therhood towards the applicants, but the
question before the Convention was
whether this body should have IL voice
in tho legislation Of the church, and to
say that that privilege followed, as a
matter of right, was to beg the question.
The congregation had waited ten years,
and no injustice would be done them by
the one years delay contemplated under
the resolution.
Mr.. w, H Parker, of Abbeville, was
in favor Of meeting the question ut once,
and firmly, and with full sense of his
responsibility to himself and to the
church. He was in favor of cutting the
Gordian knot at once sIf the members
Of this congregation possessed education
and intelligence. and had complied with
oil the requirements, he was ready to yot.