New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-18
THE GREAT NEGRO PROBLEM.
REPORT OF A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
HOW PAR COOPERATION WITH THE SOUTHERN
CHURCH IS PosslBLE-DR. SMITH Ex.

| PLAINS THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
| One OF the most important reports submitted
Yesterday was that by the Rev DR.. j. I. Smith,
of Baltimore. Two years ago DR.. Smith was
| Moderator OF the Assembly. His clear, musical
| voice is familiar one 70 the Presbyterans
throughout the country, North and South, as Inc
| has been in his present passionate since 1892
| and has boon Baltimore pastor more than iorV
| years He is o gentleman OF amiable disposition
| great urbanity and winning address. 10 MS
| foithfulness and tact the Assembly owes much
| in the progress that has been made so far TOWARD
br,nona about fratcrnal relations with the South
| ern Church.
The committee for which Or. Smith reported
| was apponted to consult with similar committee
| from the Southern Assembly in regard to pan
| bv which fraterna cooperation could be adop'eu
| Tho Joint committee met twice, once IN Now
| York and once in Atlanta, and prepared report
| which will he presented to both Assemblies In
rorard IN foreign missions the committee salu
TINT co-opcration was already in operation Inc
foreign missionaries forget the little differences
| TINT keep their brethren at home apart Inc
publication departments Of the two Assemblies
| are also working in harmony
| COOPERATION IN HOME MISSIONARY WORK
Two items in the report were especially inter
1
| sions and the other TO Christian work among
| the Freedmen. Concerning the former OF thcs,
| topics the committee said:
Al IN eo-opsratIons in the home heli-Thc com
mittoe representing the General Assrmblies OF inc
Presbyterian Church, Known as northern ana spa,her
duct their homo mission work as 70 prevent aMsosn
or hurtfu rivalry. and " avoid evea ne H %
the othrr do agree 10 recommend to their respective
assemblies bor adoption. thc following:
sembics cover the samo ground. thyy ar advised 70
cndeavor either preshytrri"S or through the'r com
sbmrCb eTnepded 10 certain fields, and the efforts Of
The other church expended in certain other felds WIN
IN their common bounds, so as to prevent hur'in'
Whero therc arc weak churches which, standing
S Sng, With ie other Assembly so to form
ministerial charge the Prcs6ytcries having JURISDICTION
are GESSo from 70 ebcr body 70 uAom hcr respective
PresbytercS willing 70 give them IN charn ana
10 have their contributions To the general benevolent
fund pass through The channels appointed by their
respective assemblies: and where such churches arr
each CONGREGATION agreeing to consolidate and form
one congregation With such presbytcnal connections
may That I S ScrSans connscted With churhrs under
the care OF ono OF these assemblies who may remove
other ' assembly, be advised to unite With these
churches and 70 seek their peace and prosperity And
to organize church Cthcrr being no other Prcsbytc
Ran church IN their immediate vicinity, they should
byterJ With which the contiguous Presbyterian churches
are connected, provided said Presbytcry belongs TO
T. within the bounds OF PreShytery competed
with ono assembly there NAV be communities com
posed largely Of persons who members ot churches
connected With the other assembly whose Affiliations
and preferences arr too strong 10 permit them to
their connection. In such case, whom these
persons shall have been organized into church under
tbs. ss ob hs %Scs r &c ] Tn
should receive from the PrOshytcry within whose
al heH h.
| tween the Two assemblies
The part OF the report which related 10 the
| Freedmen wnS as follows:
As 10 cooperation in the ovangellIatou of the coloro
people, the IOnfcnnCc Committee OF the pIesby
enan Assemblies now in session at Atlanta, recognize
ton among Ihe topics rgaiHK operation fraueht
with pofounder ntsiest or touch gravGr issues than the
as we'll as Ii. tticment Of the wtse,t ad -. Dr.
able eecicsastcai relations among Us. Whatever DIT
al GPS sO m ao on to
he eSoea race to SAYING kng%so Of Co.'s nn
Christian life and onort
Many Of The colored people arc now members of our
respective churches, while msny Of The actual pros
pective ministers Of their own training N
| the schools belonging 10 ono or the Other Assembly
members OF PIesby tees IN connection with IL
| bodies Thcy now resolving fostering care.
and require our unrtmitunE efforts to Instruct them
but in the practical du les Of church lite, that gounuo
| ON Inc truth and guarded iOm lie d4nRels Of q
mere emotional religion and from tho Superstition and
ianaticlsm 10 when inIprcssionabIe natures
| lecialy liable, they may become intelligent, con
| slstenL faithful followers Uf Jesus -h1sL
| In the van OF all discussion uEon methods OF co
| operation to this end VIC mud Ourselves confronted
bJ a difference Of opinion between The Two Assemblies
| 30 iar a. VIC gather from their q iveTduccs a.
| 10 the theory apon which such concerted rnoHs arc
to DO undertaken, and tho distinct aim OF their A.
| compishment. In tho southern Assembly the policy
was adopted many years since Of eOure independent
for the coorod people for their church organizations
as tho ultimate issue OF tho corAl efforts of thGt
Assembly on behalf Of their eo9red brethren; b..
| pronounced itself as not Al favor OF setting on It's
eOlored meHbers into separate inaci endsn. Or
L approves ho policy Of separate churches, prosby
terfs and synods subject 10 The choIGe Of the col
| work among the colored people for their moral and
religious development s 70 DO done by reosHri4 M
rSS, and privileges which arc involved in church
membership and ordination; mowevsr ,, .nno hc
pIoying the same methods at present In their Respective
bodies regards The education OF cCort m ,nS a.
byerles. we do not believe SNS akin ma ssoun S ~
prevented from cordial cooperation 50 far es thouEhi
wso in such vital concerns as these ny any S. o
Be safely left settle tset n u" ProvidGnscI Of COZ
ether BY the Sst fTR S S by hc OF Sr and more de-
cided convictions Of these cooperating assembheS'
,wd eb T ' be- allowed to remain in sat quo The
work among them to proceed on the same lines a.
T9st all "a comfort ana Ss,s c
| and cOnhdeurC shall be cNtnned ON caCn CDuIo!, w
tho educational and evanEeliLtng efforts OF The othe
for the coored race with view 70 the encouragement
~ every inndahiO effort this end on both sides.
" HenSe tbts tniut committee" waving the consders-
ton OF these differences heretofore stated, agrees tc
| recommend TO the two assemblies
q The schoois and churches under The care of ne
Rnard az Ntssions for Freedmen and any correspond
ing work undertaken BY the Southern Assembly eSpc
| cIally lis Tuscaloosa Institute for The education o.
colored ministers, 10 the Fvers OF onr respocuyc
| churches for rraGtleal aid mutually concerned "
The great migslynary work for the glory OF God and
| tho blessing Of our common country
After reading each part OF the report, DR.. Smith
| explained whit had led the committee 20 reach
| fhe conclusions that were presented. In speaking
OF the freedmen, he said that II must not be Tor
gotten that while slavery had been abolished. the
| negroes were on alien race, who bore inefaceahlc
race characteristics They are separated from The
| Anglo-SaXon race by race characteristics and by
culture as we'll as by conditions. lie then drew q