Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-30
BROTHER SAM PARK
Is to Occupy in the Annals Of the Presby.
terrain Church Place AnalO-
gous to that
Which bred Scott Has in the History Of
the United States-He is a Man
and Brother.
To the Editors Of the Appesl:

ATLANTA, GA, May H.-KnowiDg the
interest felt by many of your readers in
this case, which has Just been decided in
the Presbyterian General Assembly, will
give you a brief account of it. There
was a difference of opinion, as you may
remember, in the Memphis Presbytery
as TO the exact relation of the colored evan
gelist to the white churches of the presby-
terry. The majority of the presbytery held
that having been ordained under the express
provisions of the plan proposed by the
assembly of 1859, made with a view TO the
establishment of separate Presbyterian
Church for people of African descent, Park was
not entitled to exercise rule over the white
churches, for which, indeed, he ia not quail
fed. But a complaint was carried by the
minority 10 the Synod of Memphis last
autumn, and the synod decided that Brother
Park was entitled to vote upon all questions.
From this decision of the synod the presby-
terry carried complaint to the assembly,
which has
REAFFIRMED THE JUDGMENT OF THE SYNOD.
No question has called out the abilities OF
the assembly as this debate has done. The
synod was ably represented by the Rev. DR..
Craig, of Holly Springs, and the majority OF
presbytery by the Rev. Mr.. Rose, OF Mem
phis The discussion, as between them, was
marked by the greatest courtesy and BROTH
erly confidence. They had been room-mates
in my house for week, and after comforting
together in unrestricted confidence they had
only grown to be each more assured of his
own SIDE and yet more assured also of his
brothers sincerity and good intentions. In
DIR. Craig the synod had an able, practical
ecclesiastic and debster. He set forth her
propositions in plain and transparent sem
fences, while his genial humor and keen hits
drought toe house down." again and again
upsetting the gravity of the court to the
great relief of the long debate. But the
sympathy, and / may say admiration, OF the
body was excited by Mr.. Rose. His youth
and modesty served to set off to the best
effect the force of his arguments. 1t seems
TO be the universal opinion that Mr.. Rose
did as we'd for his cause as any other man
could have done. He had with him
MAJORITY OF THE ABLEsT MINDS
in the assembly, among whom 1 might mem
Prof. Alexander, of Union Seminary, Va;
DIR. VIM. Brown, of Virginia; DIR. Lefevre,
of Baltimore; Judge Turley, of Franklin,
Tenn, and DR.. Smart, of Texas the mode
rator OF the assembly. The positions held
by these gentlemen were In substance fol-
lows:
First-Mr. Park was ordained by the
Memphis Presbytery, not under the stricter
rules of the Presbyterian constitution, by
which, if he had been white man expect
ing to preach to white churches he would
assuredly have been excluded, but under
the special plan proposed by the assembly of
1869, which relaxed the stricter rules in view
of the condition of the colored people, and
contemplated their early organization into a
separate African Presbyterian Church.
Second-That Mr.. Park understood and
accepted the views of the presbytery-that
he knew himself to be unfit to deal with the
higher problems of government, and was
content to await the time when two or three
additional
MEMBERS OF HIS OWN COLOR
should be united with him into an African
Presbytery, charged with the affairs OF the
five African Presbyterian congregations al
ready existing in that vicinity, and any
others that might be united with them in the
future.
These propositions were sustained not only
by the able arguments of Mr.. Rose, but also
by the exposition of the plan of the assem-
drafted and advocated it, and by the testi-
mony of three members of the Memphis
Pnesby terry, who were present and took part
in the ordination of Mr.. Park in 1874
Messrs. Richardson, Watson and Boggs. But
on the other hand, it was shown by Dr.
Craig and his coadjutors-
First-That the plan of 1869 was itself
liable to grave objection as a matter of con-
law.
Second-That the presbytery had not fully
complied with the details of the plan
Third-That they had not been altogether
consistent in their action touching Brother
Park and
HIS RELATIONS TO THE PREsBYTERY.
The inadvertencies of the presbytery were,
perhaps, the most formidable difficulties |
with which Mr.. Rose had to contend. And |
yet the case seems clear that Brother Park |
had never claimed the right to vote upon |
questions of discipline in the white churches |
until that claim was made for him by others |
Ind at time OF great excitement.
Judge Turkeys opinion, put forth in the |
erse, clear language of jurist, was about as
ollows: "We must understand Mr.. Parks |
ordination as the presbytery intended it to be. |
They understood him 10 be ordained as an |
to people of his own race some of |
lis presbyterial powers being held in abey- |
Ince until such time as a presbytery of col |
red ministers should be found. If such or
lination be declared unconstitutional, such |
declaration may not serve as a collateral a. |
zcE upon the presbytery's act. But the
PREsBYTERY MUST BE CITED
sfore the synod to answer such allegation |
irectly. Then the question will be whether
he whole act is illegal, and therefore void"
}ut to this answer was made that an act |
night be irregular and yet valid; that Mr.. |
Park had been ordained, and the conetitu-
ion must say what rights were thereby con-
erred.
The discussion was wonderfully able, at
Us eliciting bursts of thrilling eloquence;
nd very little, if anything, was allowed TO
scape which could give pain TO the ear.
Dr. Craig and Mr.. Rose have fallen
in love with each other,
Ihile making many friends in the assembly.
,ut the most curious part of the whole bust
ess is that my worthy old friend, Sam Park,
to occupy about the same place in the
ecords OF our church as bred Scott does in
be history of the United States-a sort of
Involuntary Immortality, SO to speak, being
ssured to the humble old colored preacher,
1hom everybody respects for his honest en-
eavors to do good to his people.
VIM. E. BOGGS.