Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-05-25

legislation either for itself or others. The
inflow Of ignorance would in the end SUBJ
vert the power of the intelligence.
Rev. e. w. HUBBARD Of Forest Depot,
advocated the majority report and went
into an chronological argument to support
his position.
| Gen. Jos. r. Anderson of Richmond,
spoke in favor Of the majority report He
cited the precedent Of the Diocese Of New
York i'll support of his position. He
| thought it had been an error ever TO have
admitted colored delegates, and the sooner
it was retrieved the better. He did not
wish to see the Diocese on this question
drift into the situation that the South
Carolina Diocese is in now.
Rev. Dr.. j S. Hanckel of Charlottes-
vile, advocated the maj ority report. This
! was matter over which tie Council had
| absolute and exclusive control, it was not
snbJect to the General Convention of the
church, nor any other body, church or
secular. The report contemplated no
change whatever in the church or Chris
tlan relations of any man, woman or child;
but was simply to define and prescribe
their relations to the legislative power OF
the Council. Ordination to the ministry
does not carry with it the right to share
! in the legislation Of the Council.
WHAT THE PRINCIPAL OF THE BISHOP
PAYNE DIVINITY SCHOOL SAYS.
| Rev. r. A. Goodwin of Petersburg, next
addressed the Council. His remarks were
/ listened to with peculiar interest because
OF the relation in which he stood educa-
tionaily and pastorally to a large body of
| colored people. He is the Principal of the
Bishop Payne Divinity School for colored
students, located at Petersburg, and rector
I of the largest Episcopal congregation of
col9red people in this State, located in the
same city. He was en- phatlc in the argu-
ment that separate organization was the
best for the colored people; indeed they
would never have fair opportunity for
improvement until they had it. He cited
many instances in his Petersburg expert
ence to prove it. He said the eolored
, Episcopalians were held in contempt by
the other colored denominations as ''be-
/ longing to the white mans church," and
that the coIered members of the Episcopal
church were oppressed and trammelsd by
i this feeling towards them. None OF this
would exist if they had their own Council
and their own Bshop-in short their own
church.
Rev. Mr.. Grammar replied thaG the col
ored ministers now in the Council, and
| who had sirncd fba ,,oin orit17 roDort u,o-o
themselves of the opinion that the adop-
ton OF the majority report would effectual-
lY strangle the further work Of the Epis-
copal Church among their people.
Rev. DIR. Newton Of Richmond said the
colored rector of St. Peters church at
Richmond favored separate organization
A CoLoRED RECTOR OPPOSES THE
| SEPARATE ORGANIZATION.
The most unique figure in the debate,
and one whose personal relation to the
matter at issue added interest to what he
said, was Rev. Geo. F. Bragg, Jr., the
colored rector of colored church at Nor
folk. He is a slender, genteel-looking
young minister Of about twenty-five years
Of age. His command of language was
wonderful. his eloquence was marked, and
his selection Of phrases would have done
credit to a diplomatist of the first rank.
He was on delicate ground, but he trod it
without mistake. All through his speech
ran vein of deprecatory modes6y that
was very engaging, for he had not come
into the debate Of his own accord, but had
been called to it by some clerical de-
Iegates who wanted to have the colored
mans side of the question. He began by
referring to the fact that he was born,
baptized. and raised in the Protestant
Episcopal Church, and to his love for it,
and went on 20 speak Of the difficulties
through which colored people had to pass
with their own race in maintaining their
connection with that church. He said he
could not bring himself to believe that
separate organization was best for his
people. He thought it would have bad
| effect On them to throw them off. But
| whatever he might think in the matter,
he was willing to trust the decision to
the members of the Council. Whatever
that decision might be it would not affect
his feelings towards it, for he should as
long as life lasted be a loyal son Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, loud ap-
piause). The stirring and pathetic oratory
of Mr.. Bragg brought tears to the eyes of
many in the Council, and wien he con-
cluded, there was a long continued round
of applause.
! WAITING FOR UNITED ACTION.
Rev. DR.. Ii. Melville Jackson, Of Rich
mond. urged the postpJnemeut of action on
aquestion surrounded by 50 many diffi3u.-
ties, until action became imperative. 1t
was not so yet. He offered a II solution
looking to procuring, and waiting for,
united action blythe Southern dioceses in
! the matter. The resolution was ia bled.
Rev. Dr.. J. Peterkin, Of Richmond, ad-
| vocated the majority report.
| ERECT A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION Be
FORE TAKING THIS ACTION.
| Col Walter Ii. Taylor, CT Norfolk, Of
| fered a substitute for the majority resolu-
| ton. His substitute referred the two re-
ports to a special ommittee to investigate
and report some plan for separate organi-
z4tion to the next Council. Col. Taylor
urged that the need for the adoption of
tue majority was not imperative at this
! time; the dangers which had been alluded
to from the Injection Of ignorant delegates
into the council we're not imminent. Col.
It's substitute was laid Oh the table. 6
THE Presiding BISHOP ADVOCATES THE
MAJORITY REPORT.
Bishop Randolph took the floor and gaYe
his hearty APPROVAL 10 the msiAritY 1eport.