The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-03
About st. Marks Colored Church.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: Thr article
in THE SUN OF Oct. p in reference to the war
fare against St Marks Methodist Episcopal
Church will be the more readily understood il
a little light ia thrown on the other side Of the
question. Ever since our occupancy Of the
property in question We have been the objects
ofsecret persecution as contemplate as it was
illogical.
We moved to Forty-eighth street from Thir-
ty-Afth street. between Fifth and Sixth ave.
nues locality certainly the equal. II not the
superior. in point Of responsibility to our
present location. There our church had re-
manned for nineteen years without a word OF
protest or objection from our white neighbors.
but in my experience color prejudice is never
as strong among the better class Of peo-
pie as it is among those OF lower
grade. have no reflections to cast upon the
section Of Forty eighth street. where st. Marks
Church is located rs there are many excellent
people who reside there, and IT is q mistake to
un9lyendng. people, But facts are facts"
srowE u Marx acGy sh DUE tt the
pride Of the col0red folks in their new sur
rounlings." On the contrary. we would have
had it been practicable and we are no more
enamorcd with. our aristocratic prosecutors
aIsbandins Of Presbyterian church. an event
honest and legitimate Church work. along SEN
Sibie and not eccentric lines.
1t appears. from the Impressions gathered
by The Sun reporter, that no Methodist church
eey Of MethSdists isd their cup Of Woe to
the tr The rosyy in was for
By purehase the, Objectionable, MethodistsH
either bpck or ThitefI9m s9minE "Detwee IN
me that people, who have such strong preiu;
dices ought to be willing to pay for them; and
not be SO unreasonable as to expect to indulge
The a.iegoton that the 81 SHOUTING on revival
nights is something awful" is direct false
yval meetings since We occupied the church
that has continued any length Of time, and:
G Hne Gr Eye or ,ns series nn
rinhly close ut D::}O Sunday evenings. and ut
l0PM NJ; week nights. From the c2 ,
great amount Of noise to reach the street.
much less to annoy the block. :,
be accused I Of loud shouting viii create Smile
the r oi the e Services held there Tie
gent. as well dressed. and as wen behaved as
the average white congregation OF New York
tcm ISIS Is solely lei T INSPIRED by their color.
do not believe in tho shrieks about the de-
preciation OF property on Forty eighth street.
houses in tho block they will prove to be the
property Of those landlords W % have been the
most rnbid in their cry against Niger
church" and thus frightened away their own
tenants.
The .logic, OF color prejudice is rather more
eccentric than the fabulous loud shouting
at st. Marks. IL we are Objectionable neigh
bors while occupying our own property allow
me to say that perhaps some objections might
be entertained on our part against a few OF the
tenants We found In the block on our arrival:
The belief prevails among respectable colored
people that ladies do not usually lean out OF
front windows to shout insulting remarks 70
passers by. and even throw water upon their
clothing. while the frequent standing oi cats
before certain doors at u rather uncertain
hour OF the night suggest that II class al ten
ants tnut renowned FOX either picty orcha-t,tyl
were moro dos mhle ncighbors than the reace-
able aud orderly worshppers at St Mark s..
If the two or three parties who are behind
this contelnptible opposition can stand u pub
st. Marks can also afford IL. and certainly We
do not intend to be driven from our church
home by any such illogical and unreasonable
preiudices
Finally. the statement made TO yonr reporter
that AN appeal had been made to ne coloTcd
people themselves" is another ialsehood. Wo
have heard nothing but covert abuse and in
suit from these gentlemen M. and no PROPOSE:
ton in any form has come 70 the official Board
Pastor IT Maya N. 4 CHURCH