The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-06-06
The Episcopalians and the MethodiStS.

The Episcopalians and the MethodistS.
Last week we fund the Methodist
newspapers discussing the ~Episcopalians
Tha: our readers may see what has been
said we transfer two articles to our COL
Nmns, and leave our readers to judge for
themselves which OF the articles breathe
the best Christian spirit:
The Episcopal Convention and the
Negro.
tChrrleSioh Sjuth"rn fN.iStirn .1dc1cGtc.1
In his address read before the Convcn-
zion Of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
held in this city las: week. Bishop llo"e
says, respecting the question of work
among the colorcd people:
ain October last I attended = meeting Of the
Church Congress in Richmond. and by invita-
ton of the executive committee r":t'i Il Taper
an Tic "RrlHiiJnS OF thct hurcii - tl.c cplurcd
race Several papers and addrcS.c S followed,
and the result of the discussion las been -
attract the eyes Of the whole Church TO this
subject hni the difficulties which; attach t" ii
as never before. 1t Is. ! think. my brethren,
the question for nnr Church IN these Southern
States. We are Ill agreed. 10 doubt. THAI we
.Iust 90 something, or 1T least try to do some
.hing for the cO!ored reop!r, for otherwise we
would not be worthy to bear III" maine "i a
Church OF Christ. How Is IL possible that we
should have said Of Them al that Is said of
them, and us u { hurcl be content TO do moth
ing and care nothing? ImpuSSll'tr. y .clE-
Gle,tick with neither oil nor light. or winch
shines only for itself. may as wei! be removed.
and will BE- removed 10 make way for aaOthcr
HAT viii si!ne beyond i'>c:I.'
This is hopeful, to say the leaSt. /:
seems that our Episcopal brethren are
waking up to the fact that they have Il Di-
vine call to do something for the negro.
1t wonld he Il blessing to this Church,
could il feel the impulse Of = divine
work. It might shake oil the lctiiarcy
which has bound them so long. 1t will
be a step forward when oar brethren Of
this Church feel generally that they are
rot a social Organization only, or chiefly,
trat a divincly chosen agency for convert
ing iucn. They have much wealth, yet
their. reports Of missionary monies col
icctel-lHy p~araon-ntlercd, we should
Say-Bi>hop Howe objects to saying col
1~cc:ions-is IniScrabiy meagrc. Their re-
port of only 1899 white commandments in
tie State is not To be wondered at, under
the circumstances, and their statistics
will continue to be Shamefullv small SO
long rs the Church contents to bear the
character chiefly Of 4 soriA institution,
rather than a working organization for
The promotion of genuine pictY. We
trust our Episcopal brethren will do
something for the cclorcI people. 1t will
get them out of the dead routine Of for
mer years. 1t will cause them to unbend
somewhat. When this Church feels that
it has Il mission to the poor, both white
and coloycd, and attempts To- fulfill its
mission, the Master will come to them in
power and blessing, and the Church Will
advance. Bat they should not discuss
"mcthodS' too long; and by all means
let proper views Of the tr"e nature of the
Ehurrl. prevail. The fact we have point
ed out above, that the Church is regarded
10y some rs u social institution, is felt and
acknowledged ny the Bishop. lie says:
"Thc embarrassment bc=ins when we ask
concerning the methods Of work among them
which, mrtho Is strike different persons differ
emily, and very naturally. according as they
view tie Office OF The Church. If the Church
IS an Institution merely TO conserve social i'll
tercsts, or If it be The Body OF Christ, in which
we are sound to the Heal IN Heaven. and to
one another 10y His all prrviding Split. either
view, or other views. will very much inllu'
cnce our views II Methods
Just 80. Proper views of the Church's
mission are necessary to proper plans for
fulfilling il; while a miscuureption of tho
Church, and Gods designs in her, will he
fatal to the accomplishment Of any good.
iDC StOl DlSIiOp UIl lIOl ~ Itllp VIC
discussion of ''methOds,' nur did he en-
press al opinion rs to the relative merits
of tho two views entertained in the
Church, concerning the nature of the
Church, and her work. \ good eXhorta-
ton here would have been in order. 1t
was a grand opportunity to call the
Church to higher views. Blu the Bishop
wanted to be "conservativc." y, much
ahusft! tertn! II the interest Of Christ 5
kinGiom are to be conserved, let the
Church see her duty, and dare attempt it.
The son of Il Bishop CaprrS was pres
ent in the Convention. This work for
the colored people Owe it's origin and
success in cur Church to Bishop taperS.
Would that the mantle OF tho assembled ia
Their might fall upon the son that, As the
work of the one to rouse the Methodist
Church to this great work. and call down
Npcn her the blessing Of God in marvel
GUS power n astonishing prosperity: 81
it might be the part of the othe. to call
thc Episcopal Church to this whitening
harvest when sheaveS may be gathered to
Gods glory and to the Church's enrich
fnent.
1t occurs to us that this talk Of med
ding with the negro race. is little les
than al insult tn their manhood. II
would seem if the Church would look af-
ter the poor Of our own race: that il
would commend itself to the Lord and to
public favor. We arc sick and tired OF
running after the negro while our W
people are being neglected.