Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-07-04
m!yhe Mtnhi&atat+
FRIDAY MORNING. JULY 4. 1879.
Local
The New Church Movement.

AOSG1
The New Church Movement.
THE DISTRICT MEETING OF WHITE AND
COLORED BAPTIST MINIsTERs--sKETCH
OF THE AssEMBLY-TENOR OF ITS DIS
CUSsIONS-THE COLORED MINISTER'S
UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS OF THE EXPERT
MENT,
&C., &C., &C.
To fully understand the important meet
ings of white and colcred ministers OF
Baptist churches commenced in this city
on Thursday last and ending last Satur-
day night, and to comprehend the posi-
bility of their recurrence in the future, it
is necessary to be Informed regarding the
conditions under which the ministers of
the two races assembled. 1t is curious
fact that the Baptist church is the only
one in the world whose form of govern
ment will permit Of just such an expert
ment as has been made. Each congrega-
ton of that church is supreme as to it's
own affairs, and when you get beyond that
all its religious bodies, no matter how high
in character aud strong in influence are
as empty as air as far as the exercise of
authority is concerned. There is no pro-
cess by which the representation Of any
church can be compelled in State Associa-
tions, General Conventions, or other great
bodies. These large bodies are formed and
held together merely by the centripetal
force of good purpose, and all their mis-
sionary, benevolent and other work is the
result of machinery, the great driving
wheel of which is desire for the propaga-
tion and spread of the cause of the Chris
tian religion. A cOlored or white Baptist
church is responsible to nobody on earth,
and whatever other colored and white
Baptist churches may think of its
management, is totally independent in it.
And about this matter of independence,
next to his religion. your Baptist is more
jealous Of interference than about any,
thing else, and the Baptist, white or color.
ed, who undertakes to interfere in the af-
fairs of another Baptist church, and goes
beyond what the defendant considers
Aluuly duo uAOulClOuO duV1CC. Will
find it would have been much cheaper tc
have borrowed fence rail and stirred uI
neighboring hornets nest, seeing that
the buzz would be less stunning and the
stings sooner healed. By way of post.
cript we may add that attempted inter
ference by other than Baptists has the
same startling effect, only little more so
It is this matter of separate independence
that renders comparatively easy the estab-
lishment of fraternal relations between the
white and colored Baptists, which was the
prime object Of the meetings of last week
THE BODY.
The body in it's daily sessions here was 8
novel presentation to those who attend
ed daily and had time to study it's charac
| teristics. The Moderator was Rev. J. M
| Pitcher. of CovingtOn, who was one of thu
most active members in bringing the join
meetings about. He is a gentleman hard
ly forty years of age, with handsome fac
set off by grey hair and brown beard, ant
the scholarly air of which is added to b,
wearing glasses. In a position requiring
the incest discretion and keenest judgment
he displayed qualities as presiding officer
which were remarkable. The equities o
the novel position, so to speak, were dis
| pensed with rare judgment. We take i
from his closing sermon Saturday night
that he is one of the ablest of the Baptis
clergy.
| Rev. DIR. Chas. Manly, of Staunton
another of the original movers, might b.
called the engineer of the meetings. A
long as it was good track he went at tn
same speed whether the rails were steel O
iron, but directly tiresome white brothe
or stumbling colored oDe fell across tn.
| track he would alight from his cab and re
move him so softly and so kindly that thu
obstruction would hardly understand tina
he had been in the way atall, and the trai1
would proceed.
Rev. DR.. Sears, Agent of the Peabcd,
Fund, was another of those who showed
prominent and deep interest in the meet
ipgs and his short lectures delivered in
conversational way, condensed, plain ant
practical were invaluable.
Rev. G. H. Payne, of Hinton, W. Va
was one of the most prominent of the edu
! Gated colored ministers. He is young
man, light in color, using admirable Ian
guage and evincing high class of intel
lect. He seemed to look upon the meeting
as place to learn something at. ane
watched it's proceedings with the eye of {
student. Nothing could have been more
beautiful, and appropriate than his part
ing speech on the night of adjournment.
Rev. r. III. Porter, Of Mt. Zion church
| in this city, was another of the educated
| colored ministers. being a graduate Of
Wayland Theological Seminary of Wash.
| ington City. He is another of the early
movers in this matter of fraternal rela-
lions and made himself prominent by hi
| ability as speaker and courtesy towards
the members of the assembly. He is 8
young man Of probably thirty-live, of lighI
color, and excellent address.
Rev. W. Simpson, pastor Of Ebenezer col
church, in this city, is another of the orig
inal movers. He is black man of about
fifty years of age, of strong sense and who
has evidently spent much time in improv-
ing naturally good mind. His descrip
tion of colored man who, after attaining
twenty three years of age, entered the
Sabbath school of Mt. Zion church (of
which Mr.. S. was then pastor) learned the
alphabet and went on up step by step tt
the pulpit and from there to heaven, was
specimen Of affecting eloquence not otter
heard.
Rev. T. T. Jackson, of Lexington, was
another prominent and intelligent colored
minister, as was Rev. B. S. Jones, OF
WaynesDoro, the latter declaring his
intention to s'carry back with him to
his people something that he had heard
Of this mpatinp1 And he addod thot