New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-03
COLORED EPTSCOPALIANS.

The Rev Mr.. Pollard, rector of st. Marks
Episcopal Church, colored, of Charleston, S. c.,
has been interviewed in regard to the declaration
on the coored question adopted by the Episcopal
General Convention. Mr.. Pollard is colored
man Of great ability, whose personal character
and cndowments enttle him to the respect of
every one And what he has to say on this
subject is especially noteworthy, because he is
one of the colored rectNs whom the diocesan
convention of South Carolina refused 10 admit
a couple OF years ago, and whose exclusion at
one time threatened to create a schism in the
church.
Briefly, Mr.. Pollard takes the ground that the
General Convention did much could be en-
pccted under the circumstances He cannot admit
that the Utoese of South Carolina acted rightly
in discriminating against cOOred men, But after
all. neither diocesan nor general conventions con-
stitute the Church. No man." says Mr.. Pollard,
holding the high and holy office of bishop
in the Church of God will forsale parish in his
diocese unless some law has been violated. The
unity of the Church is neither in the general
nor in the diocesan conventions, but In the
Epscopate Those bodies could be dissolved, but
the Church would still continue her work Of
saving souls
He reminds colored churchmen, too, that if
the Church is a Divine organization, az il claims
to be, they cannot leave it because
certain members Of the Church treat
them unfairly. There is no reason"
he says, why should we expect an easy, pleasant
time when our Leader. the Founder and Sustaner
| of the Church. suffered and died that we might
| live
This wise and conservative attitude of such
| representative colored churchman ought of itself
| to conciliate the white churchmen OF the South
| and lead them 10 lay aside some Of their race
| prejudiccs. At the same time it will call the
attention Of eolored Episcopalans to the fact
that after all no diocesan convention can drive
them out of the Church. In refusing to admit
certain cergymen to seats, the diocese Of South
| Carolina has only done what many dioceSes III the
North do, though not for the same reason In The
diocese OF York, for instance, clergyman
is admitted to IA seat in the convention who i:
not regularly settled in IA parish. This rule OK
chdes perhaps hundred clcrgymen in good stand
ing in the diocese, many of whom are men OF
| great prominence whose exclusion is in many way.
unfortunate Nevertheless, they continue TO bt
honored clerymen of the Church, and are recog
nzed as such by the bishop of the diocese
| IL is doubtless grievous wrong that any sucl
rule Of exclusion should he based on the mer,
question of race or color. but the clergymen anC
marshes so excluded will receive in the future
as they have in the past, full and complete recog
milton from their bishop AS Mr.. Pollard says
the unity of the Church is to be found in tn
Episcopate and not in its legislative synods, whcl
might cease 10 exist without at all imparing tn
.niritual power OF the Church. So long rs thu
| Bishop of South Carolina continues to institut.
colored men as rectors, and administers confirma
ton in their churches, they can afford 10 bea
with patience their exclusion from the diocesan
| convention