The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1882-04-01
WilberfOrce Speaks Her Opinion
Concerning the Outrage PtHpe.
trated apOn Bishop ID. A. Payne
in Florida.


trated upon Bishop ID. A. Payne
in Florida.
Pursuant with a request from many of the
citizens and students Of Wilberforoe, meet.
ing to express sympathy with Bishop Payne
Tor the disgraceful treatment which be re-
cieved at the hands of railway employers,
was held Tuesday evening March 2lst in the
College Chapel. Bishop Jas. A. Shorter wss
elect president of the meeting, Jno. g.
Brown and Jno. R. Scott were elected secre-
tarios.
"My country tits of thee" was sung after
which Pres. Lee offered prayer. Pres. Lee
was invited to state the object Of the meeting
and he did SO in very eloquent and touch
ingway. Hepaid glowing tribute to B shop
Payne, speaking of his infrm rge, his position
in the A. NJ. b. Church and his connection
with Wilberforce University. A committee
of five was appointed on resolutions. The
committee on returned with the following
resolutions, which were adopted amidst great
enthusiasm.
Whereas Bishop D. A. Payne senior
Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, churca of over 400, 900 members
and ex President of Wilberforce University,
while enroute from Jacksonville, Fla. to
Fernandina, Fla. was elected from a first class
car after having paid his fare; for no other
reason than because of his color and because
he would not go into a second class car when
there was no fire; and,
Whereas He is a gentleman OF advanced
age, of unblemished character and of ripe
scholarship and one who presided with grace
and dignity over the Ecumenical Council of
Methodism at its session in London; therefore.
Resolred That We the citizens, Faculty and
students of Wilberforce do hereby express
our utter contempt for such treatment tow.
ard Bishop Payne as being unjust, inhuman
and dastardly.
RESOLVED That We consider this an insult
especially to the 400, 600 members of the A.
Nj. f. church, and in general to the six mil
lions of colored American citizens; and we
hereby condemn this prejudice born of that
''son of all villiany slavery" and that we
call upon all lovers ofrighr and christianity
to assist us in eradicating this great evil.
Resolred That snch state of society or
cooperation countenancing such prescription
should be condemned by ell liberty loving
and right thinking people.
Resolred That we hereby tender Bishop
Payne our deepest sympathy for the brutal
manner in which he was treated.
Resolred That the citizens, Faculty and stu
dents do beseech Bishop Payne 10 carry his
case to the courts of Florida and if necessa-
ry to the Supreme Court of the United
States; and we hereby assure him not only
our sympathy but financial aid.
DR.. W. y. SCARBOROUGH.
DIR. I. H. JACKSON.
Prof J. p. SHORTER.
Rev. G. w. NICHOLSON.
Jno. G. BRowN, b. S.
| l. Al Il Al
meeting were Dr. w. s. Scarborough who
and pen. DR.. L. H. Jackson who counseled
unity of action and conce tration of strength.
He also advised young men and young ladies
to stand by each other, to defend each other.
Mr.. j. G. Brown spoke of the race pride that
we should have and advised that this be
made test case to see if we have any rights.
Prof. j. p. Shorter was the next speaker and
after speaking of the honors which Bishop
Payne had received in Eng. and in all Eu.
rope, he said he( Bishop Payne) was the very
person to carry this case through the courts.
Bishop Pane is representative man of his
race. His case will attract the attention of
the civilized world, aud We can test the le-
gality of the constitutional amendments.
The residents of Wilberforce will urge
Bishop Payne by private letters to take his
case to court and shall appeal to the great
African Methodist Denomination to stand
by Bishop Payne and hurl the Haunting ia.
lsehood back into the faces of the American
people that all men are "free and equal" and
that colored men are treated the same as white
men. The time has come for concerted &C
tion and We must boldly help to defend oul
own race. Let our church, let all lovers O.
freedom, as defenders of right urge Bishop
PAYNE to make this test case for US all.