New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-11
Nv ryCUPJSTJty COMPROMISE.

South Carolina Churchmcn have been IN an
uprcar for several years over the admission OF
q colored clergyman TO their Diocesan Conven-
ton. Bishop Howe has been wha' Calhoun
would have described rs a strict constr ZIONIST
Of canon law. The Rev. Mr.. Pollard, rector of
cOoIcd parish, insisted upon having seat
in the Convention as a clerical delegate and
a large body Of his white brethren, cleUcal and
lay, refused to take part in the proceedings and
eventually seeded in the Characteristic South
Carolina manner. The Bishop took his stand
on the canon defining clerical delegate as
an ordained Christian minister, one in holy
orders" He could not under the diocesan
constitution exclude an ordained minister on
the ground OF being black man in holy or
ders, and no decided that Mr.. Pollard was en-
titled TO his seat and could not be deprived Of
his rights A temporary disruption Of tho do
| ccse followed
The Convention held this week has
| arranged what Is considered in that
State judicous compromise. The
seceders announced their willingness TO
return to the fold if there could lie 4 complete
separation of the races, so that the respectable
white Christians would b. by themselves, and
The negroes somewhere outside in missionary
| section. The canon laws wrrc then amended
| no as TO exclude negro clergymcn who may here
after apply for admission. This was cOmpro-
| mise which ought to have satisfied tho seed
| CTS, since ID conceded to them tho principle Of
| excluding black mon but they bitterly resent
I'D the neglect of the Convention to eject tho
one colored minister who had already got in
under the old canon. Half dozen delegates
| .Io;- ,,,h; UaO HVinV bnI
| the rest Of the scceders concluded TO make tho
| best of the situation. The Convention neat
year will be expected to ratify the new canon
| and the race question, III the Judgment OF tho
| Bishop and his clergy, will then BIO settled
| The diocese will include all tho white EpSco-
Italians and Mr.. Pollard The one blac E
| Christian will probably DO furnished with u
| back seat close TO the dOOr-pOsSibly thcre Will
| be a wire cage built around him-and the white
| Christians will get as far away from him rs
! they can and console themselves with the re-
Election that mo more niggcrS can get in"
This is a compromise which may heal the
! divisions in the South Carolina diocese; but
we venture to predict that it will be challenged
by the General Convention, which is to meet
in this city next October, as a wantOn violation
of the divine law Of the Christian Church.
| ST. Peter when he saw the sheet let down from
Heaven by the four corners and learned tho
! comprehensive lesson that God is no re-
specter Of persons" made no exception in the
case Of a black sheep. Tho Ethiopian cunuch
was baptized without reference to the color OF
his face but simply as mar with soul to
be saved The Apostles in founding the Chris
| tan Church declared it b. be neither barba-
risn, Scythian, bond nor free" but the King
dom Of Heaven, wherein men Of every race,
| nationality, blood and color were to be in
heritors on terms Of equality 1t is probable
that the General Convention will repudiate the
action Of the South Carolina churchmen as
subversiye OF fundamental doctrines Of faith.
1t would certainly be justified in rebuking a
species Of intolerance that in discriminating
against men on account Of the color OF their
faces narrows and discreditS the Incarnation
for if that doctrine means anything, it is that
the Divine Man took upon him that human
nature which is the common heritage Of all
races and conditions Of mon, and which has
nothing whatever to do with the color Of the
uLyi