Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-20

The comparative morality of the white and
colored races was discussed this morning at the
meeting of the Pastors association Of the Bap-
fist churches of this city at the Zion church.
The discussion was based upon a report
made by Rev. R. S. Laws, the chairman of the
committee TO which statement in q Washing
ton letter in the New York Examiner had been
referred at the last meeting. In speaking Of the
colored people of the District the correspond
ent of the Erdnlner, over the signature of
"vishnu." saws:
No statistics Of morals are kept, but when I
tell you that the churches do not punish their
members for theft adultery, or drunkenness
you Will get some idea of the status Of conduct
among those worldly ones who acknowledge no
divine obligation whatever. NV own servant
man has two wives. and is a communicate in
Baptist church. He has repudiated one of
them altogether and lives faithfully with the
second"
DENCNcIAToRY RESOLUTION.
The report after referring to- the injury
which such unwarranted statements had upon
the interests of the colored people, submitted
the following preamble and resolutions
whereas the growth of religion and intelli-
gence among the colored people shows the
moral improvement of the colored church
members and others of our race; and,
whereas the annual reduction in the num-
Der of mulatto children show conclusively
that the increase of such intelligence is de-
structlve to the immoral relations which not
few OF the whites have always sustained to the
colorcd people:
Therefore Resolved, That the editor of the
Examiner be requested to furnish the confer
ence with the name of their Washington corre-
spondent and that in justice to the colored
churches and people of this District to publish
this preamble and resolution.
'ResOtped, That in the opinion of this con-
ference that the writer of the charges of i'm
morality against the colored church members
OF this District is murderer at heart. liar in
practice, and ought to be held for prosecution
for SANDER"
THE RESOLUTIONS DEFENDED.
The report as originally presented employed
somewhat stronger language. Mr.. Laws de-
Tended it on the ground that the publication
expressed the sentiment of the white
people OF the country, and would be
used by them as an argument that the
colored people were inferior to the
white people. He spoke of the recent exclu-
sion OF the colored people from the Episcopal
conferences in Virginia, and said that it
illustrated how the white people regarded
the colored race. He characterized Rev.
W. Ill. Brooks, the pastor of the 18th
street church, who had criticised the report as
too strong In language, as being sentimental
and soft He urged the conference to come
out and
BOLDLY SPEAK THEIR MINDS.
One of the ministers said that il was not
true that the members of colored churches
were not disciplined for drunkenness and i'm
morality. When such actions became known
to the church authorities the rules of the church
were enforced.
That is more than is done in the white
churches" explained Mr.. Laws.
Rev. Mr.. Brooks thought that the serious in
justice of the statement was that it involved all
the colored people forthe faults and crimes of a
few.
Other members said that these criticisms
and Misrepresentation in regard to the COL
ored people did not change the fact that the
colored people were making substantial pro-
gress in intelligence and wealth, and that the
race could not be kept in an inferior place on
the say so of any man or set of men.
The report, which was signed by Rev. R. s..
Laws and j. L. Lowering, was amended and
adopted, and then the association adjourned
with prayer from the president, Rev. Temple
Robinson.