The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-11
The Color Line Among the Presby-
terians.

The propriety of ordaning colored men as
ministers was debated at length at the re-
cent meeting OF the Southern General As
sembly OF the Presbyterian Church. SAMUEL
PARK, negro, was several years ago Or
dained by the Presbytcry Of Memphis, in or
der that he might work among his own race
as an evangelist. The educational qualitlca-
lions required in minister were set aside in
his case, and he was examined only as to his
piety and knowledge OF Presbyterian church
government. In setting him apart for the
ministry, it Is claimed, and probably with
entire truth, that 1t was expected that an
Independent African Presbyterian Church
would be speedily formed.
There seems to have been some sort OF I'M
Outstanding among the members OF the
Presbytery that Mr.. PARK should be made a
minister of little lower degree than a white
minister. As their mouthpCcc at the Gen
eral Assembly put 1t, "he was ordained as
an evangelist to his people Of color. 1t was
not proposed 10 invest him with the power
Of rule in our Church courts" That Is, the
Presbytcry did not mean to put him on an
equality with white ministers. He could do
as much as he might DO able to save the
expect to take part in church government
along with white Prcsbyterians.
Such, according to the Rev. Mr., ROSE, who
presented the case for the Prcsbytcry was
the understanding in advance, and if it had
not been SO, Mr.. PARK would not have
been ordained. Yet it seems that afterward
he was, for conscience sake, counted as a
regular member Of the body. To secure a
quorum in order to send an extra representa-
tive to the General Assembly, he was in
cludcd. His right to act as q regular member
OF the white Presbytery was, however, finally
denied. "They got badly mixed" as one OF
the spectators said at the Assembly.
Mr.. PARKS case was appealed TO the Synod
OF Memphis, which, in the words OF its
spokesman in the Assembly, "votcd, forty
six to twelve, that when n man is ordained
he is ordained, when he Is married he Is
married" That is, the Prcsbytery could not
make him minister in part only, could not
"cut him off on the lower third of functions
Tho preaching is the higher two-thirds"
The decision was that his ordination was
complete, and, whether or no an independent
colored church was established, he was full
llcdged Presbyterian minister
1t was the appeal from that decision that
gave rise to the debate in the General Assem-
bly, the other day. The speakers on both
sides exhibited good temper, and generally
disposition TO deal fairly, so far as they I'M
derstood fairness; but ineradicable pretu-
dice against association with the negroes,
even as equals in the family OF CHRIST,
cropped out here and there at will not do
to admit them" said DR.. GIRARDEAU, "cither
to equality in the social circle or the
Church l will resist to the last their adj
mission to those franchises which are the
peculiar heritage OF the white man" Speak
ing Of Mr.. PARK, DR.. SMITH said, MY
tongue would be paralyzcd before would
invite him to preach"
Yet we are told that "a in CHRIST JESUS there
Is neither bond nor free, jew or GENTLE" In
that brotherhood are included all the re-
deemed, aud all are on an equality, except so
far as the spiritual grace Of one, whatever
his temporal condition OF the color Of his skin
may raise him above another. That equality
is at the basis Of Christianity. Take it away,
and the whole falls. Christianity is sham
without it. 1t was that which gave to the
early Church it's great impulse. CHRIST died
for all, and all live in CHRIST, one family, one
brotherhood, one loving communion.
We are glad TO see that these truths re-
garding Christianity did not fail to find cx-
poncnts at the General Assembly OF the
Southern Prcsbytcrians. Such men refused
to make their cololed brethren brethren only
in part, and to regard colored minister as a
minister only in part. They contendcd that
ordination conferred the same privileges
and imposed tho same duties on colored
Presbyterian as ON white one. Tho result
was that the complaint of the Memphis Pres
bytery was not sustained. BY q vote Of u to