Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-11
THE COLOR LINE
In tue Northern Methodist Church Fact
that Cannot be Ignored by Its
Members.
What Distinguished Divine and Leader
Says Upon the Subject-NegroD Demo-
Gratis in New York.

The Western Christian Advocate, OF January
Sd, contains an article that will be likely to
attract very wide attention both among the
members of the Methodist Episcopal Churches
North and South, and thinking persons out
side the Church. The writer of the article
is the Rev. Daniel Curry, for many years
editor of the New York Christian Advocate
1.-THE leading exponent of Methodist views,
and with but one exception for some years
the foremost writer OF the Church. The ar
ticle, If written by a minister Of ordinary
standing, would certainly have called forth
criticism, &c it now doubtless will; yet it
would have attracted little general attention.
But The position DR.. Curry has for many
garded as expressing the views OF large
number, if not the larger portion of the
members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The article takes the posi-
ton that however much they may try
to conceal it from themselves, the
Methodists have a dislike to asso-
ciate in social church relations upon an
equality with colored people. The occasion
of the article was the criticism of the re-
quest of Methodist (North) minister in
Birming ham, Ala, 10 certain colored people
who were in the habit of meeting in church
with them to do so no longer. The criu-
we're published in the New York Independent
and the Zion's Herald, of Boston, both of
which he says we're written by Methodists.
The Independent describes the act of the Biz
mingh ham pastor as shat Alabama leprosy,"
and the writer in Zion's Herald characteiizes
it as brutal" After commenting upon
part OF the article in Zion's Herald and its
author, DIR. Curry says:
Mr.. Lansing is now q member of the New York
East Conference, where his services are sought by
some of the largest and best churches, and we
hazard but little in saying that neither in the
church that he is now serving nor in that before
served by him doth in New England). is 1t either
come stated attendants II, indeed, drawn by his
fame as minister and his most envisble reputa-
should. in considerable numbers, addict them
selves to attendance upon his ministry, where he
else having The requisite authority. would let it be
known that the Methodist Episcopal church at
Stamford, Conn, and that at birmingham, Ala =,
occupy bout the same position relative to the
color line" We will venture, also to guess that,
could the matter be tested 1t would turn out that
the position of the Methodist Episcopal church at
Plain6eld, N J., in which our good brother of
the Independent is an honored office bearer, is in
respect 10 tins matter Just sbout the same
TO affirm is the position of our churches all over
the land. with but few exceptions, and these few
idents.f We know Of no mixed conSreeations
(haying an appreciable colored membership) any
This is stated simply as fact, that in such dis
cussion ought not to be kept out of sight, but
WITHOUT any design 70 Justify It's existence or to
The alabama case was the result of inexcusable
hefs who are acting cutie as hsss
whom even less excuse could be urged.
DR.. Curry vigorously declares his utter
| dislike of "caste distinctions" but says their
existence is SO msnif st that it is impossible
| 10 ignore Them. He further expresses the
| opinion that the people and churches OF this
| country are very far from having reached
| the end OF this subj ct Of caste and race dis
| tinctions. "The homogeneity OF our popu-
lations," he sage, "is only a reminscence-
| we are now not specifically and genetically a
nation, but an empire-a couglomerale OF
distinct naiionalities dwelling together under
the same laws, but socially separated into
clearly distinct classes. AS the State has lat
least in form) obiiterated the distinctions
that grew cut of race, color, or former con-
| dition of slavery so some Of us have hoped
! that the church m ght be able practically to
do what the State pretended toido. But, So
cially, the white and colored races are tend
| ing to a more and more clearly defined dis
| tinction, in proportion as the latter develop
into proper individuality, with the aid of
| increased intelligence aud culture. The
question of social equality is not open
| to discussion; but social unity among
the two principal races Of our citizens
is rapidly vanishing idea. The hope OF
the Africo American is shut up TO the des-
tiny OF his own people; between them and
the Caucasians there may be-must be-re-
ciprocal, kindly relations, but evidently the
| two races are destined to draw apart rather
| than together. And since all churches, and
especially Protestant churches, and pre-. emf
ntntly Methodist churches, are social bodies,
SO the social separation of whites and COL
ored, ipSo facto, necessitates the color line
| To some of us this necessity is far from be.
ing agreeable, but it is not wise 10 resist
manifest destiny, and especially SO when il
may be the design OF the Divine Providence
TO effectuate his own wise and merciful pur-
poses by another way than that which we
had chosen and thought 10 be the only right
way"
| Iu expressing these views DR.. Curry is not
governed by personal prejudice against the
i colered race, IS the colored people well
know. During his early ministry he wa:
stationed in Georgia for several years, and
had among his regular attendants a number
of colored people. Since they became free
he has been among their warmest friends
and at the general conference held in this
city three years ago, whatever may have
been his opinion of the wisdom OF electins
a colored bishop, exerted himself to secure
for the colored people the opportunity to get
if the Methodist Episcopal Church wal
ready to elevate colored man TO the epis
|