San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-12
AUSTIN CORRESPONDENTS.

Editor san Antonio LIGHT:
I take pleasure in reading different
newspapers, both religious and secu-
lar, but none comes to my desk
freighted with greater variety offresh
news and the opinions and daily ut
terances from the lips of the mould
ers of public opinion than the LIGHT.
/ am glad to notice the proceedings
of the A. M. +. annual conference
with much interest, because of my
personal acquaintance with the pre-
siding bishop, A. Grant, and many
of the distinguished brethren who
composed that ecclesiastic body. The
friendly relation which now exists
between us, as individuals, we hope
Will ever continue to widen into per-
feet universally. AS to the opinions
which do exist respecting the right to
differ, as to denomiuatiOnalism they
will ever continue without any I'M
friendliness. Along this line no
compromise will ever be made. But
each denomination will continue to
do whatever it can for the spread of
the Redeemer's Kingdom, and good
Vi humanity Wlpiioup otahuibS III CoSh
others sunshine. On the third day
DIR. Neil i'm his felicitous speech, pays
a high compliment to that Christian
body, as we'll as to the whole negro
race. But his idea of helping the
negro race by dividing them up into
smaller bodies is altogether impracti-
BILE. He said, II want to tell you
what my church is doing for your race.
The Northern Presbyterian church
like the Northern M. E. church, has
a great many of your people, which
they should not have. All should be
in your church." We ask il all can
dor why should we? Can the A. NJ. f.
church do the work that's being done
by other Christian churches? Have
they the men and women to meet the
pressing demand of the hour, in the
religious, moral, and intellectual de-
veiOpment of the race? These facts,
the good doctor seems to have over
looked entirely. The A, NJ. E. church
have occasion to rejoice at what is ac-
complished in these respects by sister
denominations. The good doctor
says, 1--WE are working just at your
side and believe that the negroes
should have their own churches,
schools, bishops, and everything else
that people should have" Now Mr..
Editor, all this looks reasonable and
smooth faced. But knowing as 1 do
that the M. +. church will never Or
ganiZs the three hundred thousand
negro communicates here in the south
into a separate body, and set them
aside, will not now attempt to dis
cuss this subject. But if we, who
know no east, no west, no north nor
south, are now in the frying pan, we
will not hasten to leap out into the
fire. We are willing to do those things
which proceed the bishopric,
college presidents, etc. Mems
opinions outside Of the M. E. church
cannot shape our policy. Just
simply for exalted positions
sake. We have no courage to labor
to that end. God forbid that we
should put bitter for sweet. The
three hundred thousand sable COM
municants are not without voice, even
in the councils of this great church.
And when the time comes to say
what shall or should be done with
the negroes composing such potent
factor, the voice of this vast host will
be heard in thunder tones. Preju-
dice and caste have sliced the negroes
into fighting factions already, to the
utter detriment of the progress of the
American negro. These stilted posi-
tions are by no means paramount to
all whatever goes to make race
great and strong. l see no greater
danger to our success in having white
bishops and true, capable white men
in trusted positions In the church
than there can be in having white
men as governors, attorney generals,
compGrollers, and secretaries of state,
etc. The opinion awfully prevails
amongst us that in union there is
strength, together we stand, divided
we fall. The stars and stripes must
float over a united people, unless
ignorance with all her hateful chill
dren will prevail. True religion moral
ity, intelligence, wealth, ETC., will
bring US together on just terms as {
race. To this 1T will not bt
necessary to crowd us all int
one church, state or territory. Away
with all such phariseeism! The
negro race will possess its
distinctive features as long as thu
Ethiopian retains his skin and thu
| leopard retains his spots. These ex
listed to the glory OF God and man be
fore any kind of African organization
was formed in this wide world. w,
do not wish to get rid OF our ebon.
hue nor the woody hair which are tn
only ancient relics we brought from
the old county, to which we shoult
cling with undying tenacity. Thougl
we fear schisms and isms will rob u:
of our former glory. Let us continu
| to storm the castles Of ignorance ant