The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-10-13

OUR GOOsEQuILL LETTERS.

OOH SCOSEsZOiLL LE iEH0.
The Centennial Episcopal Convention
Another Co1ored Bishop Wanted-Rac.
Prejudice in the North-Truth Rivalin:
acknowledgements City Nominations
Etc.
PHILADELPHIA, September 20, 1883.
EDITOR CHIEF:
Great preparations are being made fo
the meeting of the General Convention o
the Protestant Episcopal Church. TIL,
opening services will be held in old Chris
Church, Oct. 3, for which admission tick
cts will be issued. This awakens create
interest than usual, because it will be th,
Centennial Convention; and with its TIVE
houses-the house of Bishops and house O
Clerical and Lay Deputies-its sixty Bish
ops, four hundred or more delegates, Eng
land and Scotland represented by some O.
the highest dignitaries, it will present
striking contrast to the initial convention
which was held in New Brunswick, New
raj Convention has met seventeen times il
Philadelphia, eleven times in New York
twice in Baltimore, and once in Cincinnati
Boston and Richmond. Atthat first assem-
bly, there were only seven States represent
ed, only forty-fve delegates. and no Bish
ops, because the Church had not yet sue
ceeded in getting ordination. The rise an6
progress which the Church has made since
she succeeded in planting herself in Amer.
lean soil is grand theme for the centen-
NAL sermon. She might have done more
if every mans heart; had been in the work
if more clergymen had been willing to
spend themselves in the waste places, in
the wilderness, in heather and savage coun-
tries; and if the rich had been more lavish
in lending to the Lord; but she has done a
great deal. New territory is being added
all the while to her domain; her soldiers
are constantly planting her banners in new
and rude countries and the glorious gospel
is every day giving comfort to souls hereto
fore buried in darkness.
Various grave questions will come up to
be discussed and decided upon by this Con-
vention. The prayer book mas been revised
by committee of Bishops and priests of
the high and low church and will be pre-
sented for confirmation. The idea is to re-
store the prayer book as far as possible to
what it was in the time of Edward VI. The
name Protestant Episcopal Church is dis
tasteful to many and that viii be tinkered
at It was the English Catholic Church
that was brought here and it was silly res
olution that gave it any other name. But,
by far, the most interesting question will
be, what to do about the Negroes-how to
effectually reach them with the ministra-
tons of the Church. A conference of col
ored Episcopal clergymen was held in New
York, lately, expressly to discuss the
position Of the ,colored people in the
Jrummel, D. D. The Negroes are not sat
SIZED with ordination of priests; they want
Bishops. They would like DIR. Crummel
made Bishop with full power to preside over
lis color in this country. Now, in the Epis-
opal Church as far as the offices and duties
ire concerned, the white and colored cler-
" are on the same plane-prejudicc is Sc
Lside. The Church does not hesitate to Or
lain colored priests, but she does hesitate
IS to whom she will give the mitre, whom
he will clothe with authority. And we'll
fEn .1n hot
,rown out of the one conservation she gave
Iexico.
The only colored Bishop consecrated in
his country SO far, is the Rev. j L. Holly,
}. D. He was consecrated in Grace Church,
Jew York, and sent to preside over the mis-
ionary diocese of Hayti. Of course he is
to the Church authorities here
)r. Crummel is scholarly, eloquent, accom-
'lished and very gentlemanly. LIE is a
,raduate of Cambridge, England. He was
t one time a missionary il Liberia, but
low has a hourishing parish in Washington
jity. He was born free, but his father was
brought to New York in slave ship from
present century. In time he bought his
reedom and succeeded in making good
Ieal of money. He was ambitious for his
on Alexander, and finding he could not
end him to any of the first schools in this
country, sent him to England. In England
here is no prejudice of color-the shades of
are taken as matter of course
nd it is no uncommon thing to see at
Whites, East Indians, Negroes,
nd Chinese on perfect social equality.
Speaking of color prejudice, it is Ger
ainly strong in the American breast. In
he South it seems a natural consequence
# the peculiar situation of things-the
of former relations between the
whites and colored people is still so fresh
,ut here in the North, where SO much love
5 professed for the Negro, it is very sur
,rising. There is no disposition here for
irving him Office. Even as servant he is
nly thought of as dernier resort. The
dea seems to be that the country has an ell
phant on its hands and the only good place
or it is the South-no welcome in the
North. At Ocean Grove camp meeting the
'ther day large congregation listened with
,reat pleasure to colored man preach,
,ut when dinner time came he was refused
seat at the hotel tables on the grounds.
Why, it was only very lately that Philadel-
,hia had colored postman and at hint of
Negro Mayor or possible Negro Vice
President, the people are shocked. "What
Negro Mayor and Negro Vice Presi-
lent. Never! That would be horrid.''
: Well, if it ever comes to having Negro
President, the Union won't last long. 1t
Will all go 90 smash" are remarks l hear
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