The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-12
THE SUN, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY Il lss-sIxTEEN PAGES:

among its members as TO tho propriety Of
changing the designation Of another re-
liGious communion-the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, on the similar ground
that the name Of q foreign race ought not
to be applied to a church in this country. It
10 contended also by ono Of the colored
writer's IN the subject, the Rev. Mr.. Asst
WOOD. that the title Is Objectionable because
It involves the recognition OF a class dis
tinction intolerable In this republic. and es-
peciailyso since the emancipation Of the ne
groes and their admission to citizenship.
Tho Colored Methodlsts, known by that
name, under the leadership Of RICHARD Al
LEN, afterward made Bishop, separated from
theparent church in 1916, because OF disorimi-
nations from which they suffered then on ac-
count Of their race and enslaved condition.
There are two other distinct bodies Of COL
ored Methodists, the Zion African and the
Colored Methodist Churches, but the first Of
the three has q membership nearly equal to
that Of the two others combined. and it
seems to include the more intelligent of the
race, the very credltable quarterly magazine
supported by the colored people coming
from Ito publishing house in Philadelphia.
The nam which Mr.. AsrwooD would sub
stitute for African In its designation Is Allen,
after the founder Of the Church. BY such a
change, he argues, q deserved monument
would be raised to Bishop ALLEN, and the
Church would have a name under which all
races and people and kindred and tongues
could unlte." For he very truly contends
that the negroes themselves are doing their
best to keep up the color line by insisting
on religious separation from the rest of the
people. This absolutism Of race discrimi-
nationin the Church Of CHRIST" he declares,
SHOULD be banished from Christianity for
over" and he looks forward to the time when
not merely the different families of white
and oolored Methodists shall be brought to-
gether in one household, but even to the
general amalgamation Of all Protestant
denominations" a result regarding which
other Protestants are not SO confident.
He finds presidents for the adoption Of tho
nam OF the Allen Methodist Episcopal
Church In the cases Of the Lutherans and
the Wesleyans; but very strong arguments
might be made against the propriety Of CIV
ing the name OF q mar to a church, as sa-
voring OF q spirit suggestive OF idolatry. and
therefore more Objectionable sven than
the name Of q race. Neither Is it reasonable
to suppose that a mere change Of designa-
ton will obliterate the color line in religion,
as he 30 confidently expects. and bring it to
pass that congregations will be presided
over indiscriminately by white and black
Minister'S" This color line exists, not
because the white people drive the COL
ored out Of their churches. but because tho
colored people themselves prefer to be apart
and under ministers Of their own race. This
tendency to separation, not only in churches,
but in all their social relations, seems also to
have been strengthened in the negroes since
emancipation, 30 that the indications are
that the African type will become more do
cided in this country than ever.
But 1t Is probable that the question Of
such a change Of name will agitate the next
Quadrennial Conference of the African
Methodlsts, though we cannot agree with
Mr.. AsTwooD hat 1t Is tho most important
and vital question which could come before
q body which undertakes to legislate with
reference to the eternal welfare Of a quarter
OF . million Of oolored people. 1t is not
what you are called. Brother AsTwooD, but
what you are in very truth, that Is tho
vital matter.