The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-11-08
EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONGRESS.
Considering the Relation of the
Church to the Colored Race.


The remarks submitted by Rev. DIR.
Tucker, of this city, at the Episcopal Con.
gress in Richmond, on the 18th ult., on the
subject above indicated, created quite a
sensation in that body in the way of ap-
prevail and disapproval. The Associated
Press report of what he said SO grossly mis-
stated'his views, we publish the New York
Herald's report, which d.. Tucker says is
substantially correct:
The Rev j. L. Tucker, D. D., of jackson,
Miss, the next speaker, said The selection
of this as a topic for discussion :. an indica-
ton Of growing feeling that tie relations of
the Church to the colored race are different
from the relations of the Church to the white
race. This is true, and the reasons for it lies
in the vast mental and moral difference be.
tween the races. Race differences have been
too much ignored. Foreign missions of all
churches do not succeed until he missionaries
finally learn to present the truth to the alien
race so that it will appear to them as the
truth, This is most important point. The
neglect of it in the South hasjesulted in Civ
ing to the negroes form OF Christianity
without its substance. This viii appear inn
possible to many. Let me briefly review how
it came to be so. The negroes in Africa are
utter barbarians. Travellers find no mar
riage no belief in q future state and relig-
ion of witchcraft, idolatry and superstition.
Wives are held as sheep, oxen and other stock I;
are bought and sold, made presents of and
valued at so much per head. The ideas of
truthfulness, honesty and modesty are un-
known. Human suffering excises no pity, and
wars are wars of determination. Such were
the Africans when brought over here. It is
necessary to understand their condition in
Africa IN order to appreciate the progress
mo do iT1t n nd M Ia
of progress in morals. Slavery did something
for them. Many masters taught the elements
of civilization in the family, the respect for
property, the idea of truthfulness. But the
negroes were confronted by an alien eiviliza-
ton which they did not understand, which
was thrust upon them by force. What wonder
that, impelled by fear, they adopted the
of the new ideas while retaining
the practice Of the old, and in time grew to
connect the two together and TO suppose that
the phraseol0gy of righteousness was enough
to satisfy God, as they found it to satisfy their
masters, and that underneath it they could
act as passion moved them? Another thing
they learned was to act together and TO conceal
all that concerned their social life from the
white race. Slavery always teaches hypocrisy
we may say cempels hypocrisy The negroes
learned TO protest and proclaim virtue hon
esty and truthfulness while not yet knowing
The meaning of the words. The fear of pun.
lsbment taught them what to say: their pas
sions and additions taught them what to do,
md they were not able to perceive any incon-
yrulty between the two. The new language
was not suited to their modes of thought. Per-
laps they could not see that lie was a lie in
English. With each generation came improve
nent in many things; but as slavery remain |
ID, so did the causes which impeiled hypo'
'risy, and hypocrisy soon became unconscious
md instructive.
FREEDOM NO MORAL BENEFIT.
With freedom came great leap forward in
o evil. The outward constraint was removed |
they seemed to think that freedom meant lib |
rty to obey the dictates of natural desire. |
q the twenty years there have been great inn
Irovements in many things, but none in NOR
Is. Exceptions there are and always have |
een. Many colored families in towns and /
tiles are all that could be desired, but lsot in /
he country. There marriage is all but un- /
,nown. In one county there were in one year /
90 marriages of whites. In proportion to /
opulation there should have been 100 Of i
Iegroes. There we're, in fact, just three, as
hown by the licenses issued. Thus, as race,
hey are living in open and undisguised sin
be sin which Scripture tells Us calls down the
7rath of God. One part Of the religion Of the
Fhite race they accepted with aYidity-Viz
be person and errand of Jesus Christ; for in
was divine pity and divine promise Of +
escne. They believed in Him with all their
carts and souls; but it made no difference in
heir daily lives. They learned to pray to
lin, talk of Him, preach about Him. vet 90 on Il
inning all the same. They could not read the
Iible, and do not yet gather ideas from read
ng. They read words and put their own
leanings to them. They hold that their nat
raj desires were given TO them BY the same
Tod who gave the Bible. and to obey the one
IS right as 10 obey the ether As q result
hey have . religion which suits them better
han that Of the white race, and the first work
70 show them its falzity The difficulties are
n IA IL,