Evening star., 1895-10-24
THE WHIPPING POST AGAIN
Pastors Of Colored Baptist Churches E1'
press Their Views
General Opinion Among Them That
Administering the Law.

ters' Union, which Is composed of the pas
tors of the colored Baptist churches in this
city, and parts of Virginia and Maryland,
would take up for discussion at its meet
ing this week the question of the establish
ment of the whipping post in the District
of Columbia. The meeting Of the associa-
ton was held in the Mt Carmel Baptist
Church, on 4th and L streets northwest, of
which the Rev.. w. p. Gibbons is pastor.
The meeting was called to order by the
president of the union, the Rev. I. v. Bry-
ant, and Rev. ]. I. Lovings recorded. The
session of the Union was devoted to hear
ing reports from the pastors as to their
work. The question of the whipping post
was not formally taken up, as 1t was ascer-
tanned that the constitution of the union
provided that the association shall not dis
cuss any subjects excepting those affecting
the welfare of the churches. But many of
the pastors expressed themselves on the
subject.
In speaking to a Star reporter upon the
subject Rev. I. V. Bryant, the president of
establishment of the whipping post in the
District because think 1t a step backward,
and revolutions should never go backward.
This mode of punishment would not, in my
opinion, lessen the crimes for which 1t is
intended. And while there were some col
ored men on the grand jury that recon-
mended that the whipping post be estab-
lished. and evidently did SO in good faith.
intended more to get at the negro than
anything else. While I believe that the
whipping post would be barbarous, and
object to 1t principally on that ground. still
partially administered. The whites who
might be guilty would escape punishment,
and the negro would in every case be
brought to the post"
Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, said: Il
am not one of those who think the estab-
lishment of the whipping post a barbarous
method of punishment. 1 think 1t divine
one, as 1t comes to us from the Mosaic law.
think We should compare the whipping
post with the present system of punish.
ment, and see which seems to have the
most beneficial effect upon the criminal
classes l am certain It is less brutal to
whip the wretch who beats the wife of his
choice than 1t is for him to whip her. 1 be-
lieve the punishment fits the crime
think 1t splendid vaccination for the dis
ease"
Rev. ]. H. Lee of the Third Baptist
Church said: II am opposed to the law un-
less it will be impartialy administered to
the rich and poor, the high and low, and
the white and black. If it can be thus ad-
ministered, 1 am in favor of it's establish
ment, and think 1t but suitable punishment
for that class of criminals for which it is
intended: But If there is to be discrimina-
tion In the administering of that law, as of
many other laws in the District, then am
uncompromisingly opposed to It," .
Rev. Sandy Alexander, the oldest colored
pastor in the city, said: Il think man
who beats mis- wife Is a coward and de-
serves severe punishment, yet 1 am op-
posed to the whipping post, and believe, as
others have said. that the institution is too
barbarous for this enlightened day. And
then, too, II the whipping post was estab-
lished, 1t would be soon found out that
there are no wife beaters in the District
excepting negroes. The whites would
escape from that. as they did the opera
t1onS of the EdmundS act"
Rev. w. ]. Howard of the Street
Church Of South Washington, and the pas
tor of the largest colored church In that
section of the city, said: Il am opposed to
the whipping post on the general ground
of its inhumanity. I don't believe 1t a hu.
name manner of punishment. Its estab-
lishment here would bring the District in
dsrepute throughout the country 1 be.
lieve, too, that it would be impossible, un.
der the present condition of affairs in the
District. to administer the law impartially
The colored people would be Disseminated
against. and would be the only ones who
would be detected as wife beaters"
Rev.W. H. Brooks of the Nineteenth Street
Baptist Church, in conversation with d
representative of The Star, said: 1.-The
whipping post would be more merciful and
more economical than the present mode OF
punishment; but I don't believe that the
law would stand. AS soon as some white
wife beater is detected this law, like the
Edmunds act, will be made a dead letter
If the law could be impartially admins
tered, I think 1t would he a more humane
one than the present mode Of punishment
in some of our prisons"
The Rev. H. c. Robinson, one of the
members of the union and the president OF
the South Washington Protective and Re
lief Association. expressed an opinion SIM
liar to those of the other members of the
union, and said that the association OF
which he is president had already put
itself on record as being opposed to the
law and believed that it was intended to
reach negroes alone.
Rev. ]. Anderson Taylor Of the Shiloh
Baptist Church said: 1.-THE whipping post
is, indeed, relic of barbarism and of the
days of slavery, and I am accordingly op-
posed to 1t. While wife beaters are brutes
it seems to me that some more humane
and at the same time adequate means OF
punishment could be devised Like the
major portion of the clergymen to whom
have talked on the subject. I am fearful
that If the law is enacted it will not be i'm
partially administered"