The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-05-17
THE NEGRO IN THE CHURCH.

THE NEGRO IN THE CHURCH.
A Statement from Those Who Seeded
from tho Episcopal Convention.
Messrs. Edward McCrady, Jr., Chas.
Richardson Miles and w. o. Benet, rep
resenting those who took no part in the
Diocesan Convention Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in South Carolina, re-
Gently held at Anderson, have published
statement of their position in the pres
ent aspect of the controversy.
The statement sets forth the wish OF
the seceders for o settlement on the basis
arranged at the conference in Charleston
on the 2lst March, believing that ouch
settlement would have been generally
approved by clergy as we'll rs laity.
The statement then recites the resolu-
tions offered respectively by the Rev.
- Ellison Capers and the Rev. A. II. Por-
ter, and discusses them as follows:
MIR. Capers, being satisfied, as we are
assured, that the resolutions Introduce :
= by him to carry out the agreement at the
conference in Charleston would be re-
Jeoted, withdrew them, and those of DR..
Porter were adopted on Wednesday
afternoon.
On Wednesday night the Rev. DR..
Plnckney, Rev. MIR. Capers and Rev.
DIR. Wilson communicated to tho above
mentioned deputies, who wore in attend
anoe awaiting the action of the clergy,
ana OF the laymen cooperating with
them, the adoption Of DIR. Porter's reso-
lutlons In substitution for those of Mr..
Oapers.
These gentlemen did not constitute q
committee OF any body, nor was the
a6nnfJnn Of
Gated to us by any authority of those
acting as the Convention, nor did these
gentlemen urge or even request us to
attend or enter that body; but, on the
contrary, disclaimed any intention of
doing 80, although they expressed a
hope that we might sec our way clear to
enter the Convention. No formal action
or resolution was adopted by the depu-
ties thus assembled, but after full con-
ference, the individuals present each an
nounced his decision that the resolutions
of DIR. Porter, which had been substi-
tuted for those of the Charleston Con-
ference, were unsatisfactory and incon-
sequential. The preamble, it was agreed,
was strong enough; the resolution i'm
potent. Separate organization had been
declared an absolute necessity; the
means of etfeotng it had not been pro-
Vided.
Mr.. E. A. Bell, delegate from Grace
Church, Anderson, considered himself
instructed by his parish to take his seat
IN the Convention, and the two delegates
from Trinity, Columbia, Messrs. Des-
portes and Seibels, while holding that
4 the adoption of DIR. Porter's resolutions
n did not justify our going into that body
g as Convention, felt that they were ex-
pected to do SO to counteract the action
OF their two colleagues of opposing views
who had taken their seats.
Ihe undersigned were requested by
bhe deputies who determined not to go
INTO that body to prepare and publish a
statement of the reasons which inhu-
enCed them.
Ia doing this let us say we recognize
he great advance of opinion which the
resolutions show. The separate and
Mgtinot organization of the colored race
Ind their entire exclusion from the leg
{dslation of the Church, which has been
= hitherto urged as permissible, expedient
and deslrable, is now declared to be alb
solutoly necessary to the well-being of
the Church in the diocese. And this,
too, by those some of whom have hith-
erto persistently opposed such separate
organization as unohurchlike, uncatholic
and even unchristian.
We gratefully recognize this advance,
whether it be due or not to the action as
we'll as arguments of those whose views
we represent, and we accept the declara-
ton of the resolutions as sincere and as
intended to be carried out in good faith
But at the same time we are constrained
to regard the rejection of tho resolution
offered by the Rev. Mr.. Capers to in
struct the commission to provide the
necessary changes in the constitution as
an indication of an unwillingness on the
part OF the clergy to commit themselves
to the only action by which such separa-
tion can be lawfully accomplished.
The committee appointed under the
resolutions adopted are not charged to
provide the changes in the constitution
by which only such action can be
definitely and finally taken, but ore
charged with the duty of comforting with
certain congregations of colOred persons
not in union with tho Convention nor
hitherto in any manner officially
recognized, and to endeavor to obtain
their assent to the legislation requisite
to carry into effect the separate organi.
8ation. The assent of those whose assent
ls not necessary is made condition
precedent of any action, and if such
assent is obtained no action is after all
guaranteed to us. The refusal of such
assent-which refusal is already by some
ANNOUNCED in advance-renders the
sohet1e Of the resolutions adopted i'm.
practicable.
, The resolutions offered by Mr.. Capers
N'~S5ursuance of the plan proposed by
Charleston conference, and which
>, lls,tere present ready to carry out, pro-
aided for o revision Of the constitution
pnons and rules Of order 80 as to pre-
. 3nt the recurrence of the question as K
le organization of the Convention