The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-11
WORK AMONG coLoKED PEOPLE.
An Interesting Report from Bishop wilmer
of AIabama-Hot Shot at RevivaIs.

An Interesting Report from Bishop wilmer,
of Alabama-Hot Shot at RevivaIs.
Philadelphia Press, Tuesday.
Bishop Richard Hooker Wilmer of Ala
bama, yesterday morning threw hot shot into
an elaborate report relating to the work
among the colored people in the South. His
remarkable Statements bristling with start
ling suggestions, fell upon the house of dep
uties and upon the assembled bishops like a
thunderbolt of revelation. Coming from such
a source, poured forth in a stream of vehe-
ment eloquence from the lips of
the church, man renowned
in her councils and hitherto regarded as the
exponent of Southern ecclesiastical aristoc-
racy, the report cannot but excite deep and
widespread comment and discussion among
the delegates and in church circles through
out the country. The house was entirely
unprepared for what it listened to with such
sbsorbing attention. The document had
not, like the majority of the other reports
which have so far come before the conven-
ton, been previously printed and circulated
among the delegates for their deliberate
reading. From time to time, during the de-
livery of his speech, the Bishop stopped a
moment to notice its effect, and as
the hum of comment, at first almost imper-
ceptible grew in size and strength and swelIed
into a decided buzz, arising from all parts of
the church, he increased the volume of his
voice and multiplied his gestures, at last end
ing in burst of genuine and enthusiastic
eloquence. When he folded up his manu-
script and bowed himself to the rear of the
stage there was Simultaneous rush of dele
gates to the platform to snake his band and
Id /, l.;
Bishop of Rochester who sat by the side of
the venerable Bishop Lee, the chairman of
the Joint session. was among the first to grasp
his hand and express his admiration of the
speech.
The report of Bishop Wilmer sets oat by
reciting the present condition of the co ored
people in the South and relates not partscu-
iarly to those in his diocese. He ieyisws
their past state and their progress u 4 the
ministration of the Episcopal and ther re-
ligious denominations Referring lnnlistak-
ably to the Methodists, though Carefully re-
framing from any mention of the name of
that sect the document reviews the c0drse
pursued by them in the evangelical on Of The
coloreG people. The system of puslie evil
walls, which form part of the groundwork
of that faith, are dwelt upon with
special severity. "They are taught says
the Bishop, with smile of scorn, "tls3t hey
are to be saved in their sins, and not rom
their sins. fllleu WIN the DeneI Cnei tney
are filled with the spirit OF grace, and pn she
highway to heaven, they are not eau li0rsed
against the commission of such crimes as
stealing. Though nominally within the odds
of the church, they go on stealing as before"
The Bishop did not openly charge, butihe
lnsinuated through series of carefully con
structed sentences, that the rev" lis,
Wanted as agents OF salvation and macal
reformation, exert upon the r<sads and
lives of the colored people almost an exactly
opposite influence. Then the report taxes