Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-24
BISHOP RILEY'S DISGRACE
THE PHILADELPHIA SESSIONS
TO ASK HIM TO RESIGN.

sionary Work Among Southern Ne
grOes-NOrth Carolina Finally Divided.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 23.-In the Epis-
cOpal Convention to-day a message re-
ceived from the House of Bishops stated
that they had receded from their former
action and had agreed to concur with the
House of Deputies relative to the division
OF the Diocese Of North Carolina.
Rev. DIR. Benedict, Of Southern Ohio,
offered a resolution that, the House of
Bishops cOncurring, the sessions of the
convention continue for the purpose of
considering the report of the joint Com
mittee on the Book of Common Prayer as
long as there shall be quorum of both
Houses, or till the conservation of the re-
port shall have been completed.
Mr.. Minor. of Connecticut. said that it
was Il question whether the Deputies
should remain here three or four weeks
longer or whether the consideration should
be clOsednow. He was opposed to max
Ing a single change in the prayer book.
Objection being made the resolution was
placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Mills, of Northern New jersey,
thought that the subject of the PRAYER
book could be concluded at this session.
He offered a resolution that the general
convention adjourn Friday, October 26.
At his request it was referred to the Com
mittee on Unfinished Business Rev. DR..
McNicker, of Pennsylvania. from the
committee on the place of meeting of the
next General Convention, reported that
there was lack of cOrdiality in the in
vitaticns from the large cities. The ques-
ton OF expense is very serious one. If
the expenses could be more equally di-
vided, the difficulty might be avoided. He
offered a resolution that the whole sub
Ject of the necessary expense of holding
the general convention be referred to a
committee on expenses, with a request for
a report as early as possible, of some
scheme for more equally dividing the eX-
pense among the diOceses. The report of
the Committee on Amendments to the
Constitution against the tentative use Of
any portion of the alterations of the
prayer book was adopted and the CON-
mittee discharged.
The order of the day was then taken up,
viz: RepOt No. 20 OF the Committee on
CanOns relating to the report of the Spe-
cial COmmitte on the Sewanee Conference
with regard to the work among the col
Ored people in the South The committee
reported that in their opinion the legisla-
ton intended for good might operate for
evil. ANY legislation by the convention
might be the cause of serious disaster
The church cannot too carefully avoid
drawing lines of distinction between the
different classes. The report contained
resolutions recommending that the
Board of Managers of the Missionary
Society be requested to appropriate
as large an amount as possible to the
missions of the church among the coIored
people. The special committee on the
Sewanee Conference had reported recon-
mending the adoption of a canon for the
establishment OF separate missionary Or
CARNATIONS in the different dioceses
under the direction of the Bishops. Rev.
DR.. Porter, Of South Carolina, moved as
a substitute the report OF the special
committee, and spoke at some length in
support of his motion.
Doctor Porter said: ''This question is
generally treated as if it was an entirely
Southern one. If we do not know what
to do, or knowing, are not willing to do
our duty, how will we ChristaniZe
Africa? The census Of 1880 shows that
the population of the Southern States was
at that time II, $50, of these
9,55j, ,009 were whites, and j,927, ,371
were colored persons. The baptized
members of the church in that section
number 100000, of this number 100000 are
white and 10000 cOlOred. The number of
communicates is $4,000 and of clergymen
500. The church in the South is stirring
herself, but what is the church in the
North doing with all her wealth? Before
1860 there were nearly 100000 of pro-
tessed Christians among the colOred peO-
pie OF the South. The MethOdists and
Baptists have done glorious work. and,
while we do so little, we ought not to de-
cry the work of others. In the Episcopal
Church there are to-day in the South but
50 candidates and postulants to take up
the work. If we are to do any extensive
work among the colOred people we must
obtain large reinfOrcements from the
negroes themselves. There are but forty
six black and cOlOred persons in the
priesthood and deacOnate. The colOred
people should be helped TO educate their
children, and they VIII respond us readily
as any other people Too much, however,
must not be expected of them, but we
should take into consideration their sur
rOundngs. The cOlored man meets with
the competition of the whites and race
prejudice at the North and South. 1t is
the duty of the church to give aid to
all who are fitting themselves to fill
positions. The exercise of practical COM
mon sense Is as necessary as great learn
| ing. Some people say send to the negro
lay readers or catechists. The negro feels
that the catechist can do no better than
he can. DIR. Porter claimed that each
StpdIdlt CONGREGATION Is Il separate etCle-
siastical organization. The report of the
special committee does not make it Oblig-
atOry TO form separate missionary Organi-
tiOns in any diocese, but gives permission
to form such organizations. The mission
AIRY boards Of the Southern dIOceses have
so few men to work with that they cannot
| accomplish much. The speaker knew ten
places where such missions could be
established. Their duty would be also to
lot ,A it,fe
What has the Episcopal Church, with all
her wealth, done? What has she to sho-9 !?
| The speaker cited a few cases and claim
ed that very little is being done by the
| Episcopal Church for the cOlored people.
Rev. p. G. Roberts, of Missouri, desired
to thank the Committee on Canons for
what they had done. They had brought
in resolutions full of sympathy. These
resolutions express the feeling of every
bishop, priest and layman at the Sewanee
/ Conference. This is the American CathO-
lie Church, and those in the Southern dio-
| cese as well as those in the Northern diO-
cese know no color. There are difficult
ties in the case. He did not wish the
General Convention to assume the power
and say to the different diOceses you shall
not do this or that without our authority
There is no need for it. These negroes
I have just so much religion in them as to
say, "We are not heathens; we believe in
/ the Lord Jesus" Mr.. Roberts said that it
seemed the worst incredulity to doubt that
! the church could 90 to adults as well
as the children of colored people. Why
! not make the same requirements for col
Ored persons seeking the ministry as for
| white persons?
! Rev. DIR. Goodwin, of Pennsylvania,
was very glad to hear that selfish consid-
1 erations had not been appealed to. The
! point is; Here are men perishing in the
midst of us for lack Of instruction and
| knowledge. Here they are wounded and
! stripped of their raiment and we are their
1 neighbOrs. He reiOiced at the disposition
shown to elevate the condition of the
/ negro in the church of Christ. There is
no caste, there is no color line, If
I the whole church, North and
/ South, enters heartily upon this
work it must be on this basis, We have
I nothing to do with the social part of the
| question. But we must remember that
the same system on which the beloved
4 Disciple rested his head is ready to re-
ceiVe the lowliest negro in the United
States. DIR. Goodwin preferred the report
of the Committee on CanOns. At the
| Divinity School in West Philadelphia ten
cOlOred men have already been graduated
who have acquitted themselves most
creditably, some of them being leaders
in their class.
Mr.. Fairbanks, of Florida, said the
Sewanee Conference had discussed
the subject for several days. He
stated that some OF the Southerners, in
which number he was included, had