Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-26
TROUBLED WATERS
Episcopal Workers Are Critical Of
Many Things.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR The CHURCH
Charleston Chosen for the Next
Years Meeting.
ETAILS OF THE DAY

The conference Of workers of the Epis-
copal Church among the colored people
continued their session today at ST. Luke's
Church, on 18th street. Devotional exer-
cises, in charge of Rev. Mr.. Waller of
Philadelphia, preceded the business SEES
sion. During the day there was a great
deal of friction, and at times the main
object of the gathering was wholly lost
sight of In fierce parliamentary controver-
sies evolving nothing more than personal
advantage.
The first feature of the proceedings was
the presentation of Bishop Ferguson Of
Western Africa, who was introduced to the
convention and made a brief address, con-
graduating those present on the effective
organization for work among the negro
race. He spoke but casually Of work in
Africa. He said he had never urged any
Of his people to go to Africa. America,
the land OF the free, must be the home
or the great majority of the race, and for
them the work looking to their advance
ment and relief must go on.
President Waller said it was certainly
proVlcentlal that the convention was per-
mitted Unexpectedly to see Bishop Fergu-
son and hear him speak. The workers
mad been longing for bishop of their own
race, and here was one who was a bishon
with fixed jurisdiction. His was not a
rowing commission; he was among his peo-
pie their guide and counsellor.
New Committees.
Upon the motion of Rev. Henry l.. Phil
lips, the convention voted to appoint q
stated committee on the state of the
church This proposition was an out
growth of the feeling of unrest apparent
throughout the deliberations of the con-
vention. 1t was explained that the pro-
posed committee should. In a measure,
take the place Of the bureau of informa-
tion. which was to go out of existence this
year. The object and work of the new
committee. 1t was set forth, was to get in
correspondence with all negro churches and
obtain reports as to their spiritual and
financial wellbeing. Beyond this, it would
also have 1t in Its power to accomplish
what was much needed-write the history
of the Eegro church Of America.
Mr.. Phillips also suggested committee
of five on Christian education and divinity
schools. He urged that not many schools,
but one leading, strong. well endowed and
strongly equipped institution.
Rev. J. H. NJ. Pollard Of South Carolina
Endorsed the suggestion, urging that the
Raleigh School be accepted as the leading
general school for the Christian education
there was to be a leading divinity school,
he wanted to see 1t in the south. where the
great share of work for the race must be
done. Further. he said it was time TO stop
world. The church was the mother of
workers, and progress within the church
should be the watchword. After general
discussion. the proposition was adopted
At this point the discussion of the topic
left over from last evening was taken Up.
This question was: What shall we ask
OF the general convention?
A Question of Representation.
Mr.. Mars of New York, layman. spoke
Of the tone of dissatisfaction with regard
to the commission. He advised moderation.
First ask, If advisa BILE, that a man of color
be placed On the commission, and after
that is refused ty the general convention
it would be time for violence of speech, if
there must be such an event Of the matter.
After some discussion, on motion of Mr..
Avant, it was decided to appoint a COM
mittee of five to present to the convention
a carefully digested plan for the request to
be made OF the general convention. At
various times during the morning session
there appeared some considerable asperity
on the part Of certain delegates toward the
charged with Partially in recognition Of
members. Mr.. Duty of Georgia moved to
adjourn sine die. The president refused to
entertain the motion. Rev. Mr.. Johnson
luton providing different method of
electing officers than by the means of
committee on nominations. By a standing
vote of IA to II the resolution was lost.
ticn was to give the men of the south
their share in the work of the convention.
To them the choice Of the officers of the
convention by committee seemed a star
chamber proceeding. Mr.. Avant followed
with the expression of a desire that there
would bt no separation or feeling between
the north and the south in the convention.
Next Meeting MT Charleston.
President Waller said he was unpleasant
ly placed in the midst of the fray. He did
hot wish to be president. He should have
been glad to have had presiding officer
from the south-far south.
Rev. Mr.. Bragg moved the appointment
of committee on place of meeting next
year.
Rev. J. H. NJ. Pollard interjected a mo-
ton that the convention meet next year in
Charleston. S. C. Mr.. Mars of New York
urged that the place of meeting go south,
where the main part of the work was
Rev. NJ. Tunnel said that, while he was
enthusiastically in favor of going to
Charleston. he would vote against the SUBJ
stitute, SO es to give all places a chance
to be heard before committee and present
their Invitations.
Rev. Mr.. Cain of Texas moved that nomi-
r:ations for the place of meeting be in Or
der. and the motion was promptly adopted,
and the convention plunged into series of
speeches on the different cities of the south
that want the convention next year. Invi-
tations were presented from Charleston,
). C., W1lmin gton, N. c., and Boston, and
the convention voted unanimously to meet
in Charleston.
Progress Made.
The question, What grounds have we
for encouragement in the work among the
colored racer was taken up. Rev. w. V.
Tunnel of King Hall spoke of the work in
Washington, with its $1,000 colored. No
better field for work presented itself any
where. The tendency to pick flaws, find
fault and tell of the ugliness of the church
seemed to stand in the way of effective
work. The convention certainly had
ground for encouragement. A comparison
with the work done by other denomina-
tions showed that the conditions and draw
backs were common to all. The thing to
do was, find encouragement and go on in
the work.
Mr.. Pollard said that in 1878 the number
of colored pastors in the church could be
counted on the fingers of one hand. Now
there are forty-five priests of the church
and over thirty deacons. The speaker al
luded to his recollections of the simple be-
ginnings Of st. Luke's and St. Mary's
churches in Washington. In the south all
was new, in the primitive conditions of a
beginning. The leading colored parish, St.
Mary's of Charleston, had established sew
eral missions, and was making steadfast
progress, with a membership of over 500
Mr.. Pollard spoke of the discoura ging out
look in 1878 in the southern diocese Of Vir-