Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-26
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
And the Negroes Of Tennessee-A Work
Too Long Negleeted-First steps
Toward
Repairing the Neglect Of the PASTOR
dinatiOn of the Rev. Isaac Edgar
Black, COlOred.

Correspondence Of the Standard OF the Cross 4
On Sunday morning, at St. Msry's cathes&
dral Memphis, the bishop Of Tennessee az
mitted the Rev Isaac Edgar Black TO thH
Priests Order-an event specially intereS
ing Is the first ordination TO the prlestho ~
of a colored man ia this diocese. The CT
didate was a young man educated at 81 |
Augustine, Raleigh. y. c, and for talents, /
learning. piety and zeal, eminently worthy |
Of the Office and honor conferred on him.
The work among the cOlOred people seems
hardly appreciated as it should b. There
are less than 100000 Indians in the country,
a race Danifestly fading out. without a
future and without abiding influence. The
Church nohly bestows some $4,000 a year
Tor their evsngelizatiOn, which Is right and
we'll But there are over 100000 cOlored
people in the land, with souls equally valu-
able, and a great multitude OF them equally
in need OF the pure and simple gospel, Tor
whom the Church Is only able 10 afford the
pittance Of $1,000 year, although they are
fellow-citizens, have a voice in the destiny oil
our country. and show as much sign OF Wig
orous persistency as part OF our nauohal
life, as the white race by their side
An occasional doubt has come 10 the sur
lace in some quarters as 10 the zeal OF South
eru churchmen, and even bishops, in push
ing forward this work. But the gravity OF
the confronting problem Is not generally con-
sGered. The general poverty and depression
al the close Of the war, which l. but Just now
gradually lifting, the PaucIty OF clergy, the
Immense numbers OF the newly eufraachIsed
race themselves necessarily dlsorganlzed,
and generally demanding ministers Of their
own color-these conditions were indeed hard
to meet. The bishop of Tennessee, IN COM
mon with his brethren, has been deeply con-
cerned in the solution Of the great problem
laid at the door OF the Church IN the South,
/ and has labored not without encouraging
/ success, considering the difficulties In the way
! and the means at command
| The first colored man ordained IN Tennes-
see v as an aged negro named Henderson
! Maclin who had Tor some time acted as a
| Law reader. He had, it is true, very little
/ acquaintance with Hebrew roots and Greek
/ particles, but in other respects was deemed
/ tit for the office and work OF a deacon. lie
was recommended by the rector, wardens and
4 vestry Of Trinity church, Mason. y gentle
man of the same parish gave lot OF i've
! acres, and the newly ordained deacon under
| took the work oil building j church. One
negro COMMUNICATE determined TO approprl-
| ate to the undertaking The entire proceeds OF
| the labor of himself and his two sons for a
year. His years cotton crop was planted,
( tended, picked and marketed, and the net re-
! suit 1920 laid upon the altar OF God!
The church a modest editice OF good d.
mansions, was finished about ten years ago,
a large congregation has been gathered, and
on occasion OF the visitations OF the bishop
| the number of combinations Is usually
J equal to that of the largest parishes In the
diocese. The communicates number at pres
| ent about 800.
The next attempt was in Memphis, where
a colored congregation has been gathered, in
charge for several years back OF the Rev. j.
B. Mcconnell, a colored deacon, who now
goes to assist in the work among colored
| people at Nashville, and the parish at Mem
| phis takes new start under the energetic
/ ministry of the new presbyter, the Rev. Mr..
| Black, who, though lame from his youth and
/ going on crutches, has no missionary stipend
getting his own living by the sweat OF his
brow. He has collected funds and Is now
building a church on lands devised TO the
Aston family negroes by the late James }
Aston.
Thus it will be seen that the work am one
colored people in Tennessee, though IN It's IN
fancy, has its facts of thrilling interest, anc
sufficient to suggest great possibilities. AnC
there is need. The negro, to be man and I
citizen, needs q better religion-somethlnt
more than excitement and exaggerated emo
tion-that Will impart self-respect and sens
Of duh, while not lacking in warmth OF wor
ship and all the higher qualities OF the gen
uine gospel His race furnishes a vast hel'
in this new South, now rising from its ashes
one needing the helping hand of the who'll
church and worthy of it in the highest degree