The Afro-American., 1895-08-17
TIE COLOR LINE IN THE
CHURCHES.
White PresbyIerfans Discuss the
GOlOred Brother.


idea that the ncolor problem ia
the South would solve itself lii
time; that AZ years went on the so-
cial antipath' " ana political fric-
ton betWee- Ithe two races would
disalnear ana the whites ana the
blacks Would at last dwell together
in peace ana Witty. Debate over
this subject II likely to be renew
ed, however, by the fact that one
of THE leading religious denomina-
tions of the South IL now seriously
considering y proposition to Fepar-
ate its colored members into x dis-
tinct church. WE refer to the PRO
--posal Qf the Southern Presbyterians
to set HIP Y separate denominations
al organization FIJI their colored
members. Several overtures came
lib before THE General Assembly
of the Southern Presbyterian
church at its recent session at Dal-
las, asking that steps be taken to
organize an independent African
General Synod. The Assembly re-
piled to these overtures by referr-
the question back to all the church
~ fol decision, ana it X expected
some definite action WITT be taken
during the present month TIA the
meantime the ssSouthern Presby-
terian,n of Clinton, 3. C., has open
ed LIZ columns IN \ discussion of
the question of separation on BOTH
sides. In behalf of those Who be-
lieve in separation we haze the ar-
gulnent of such Southern PresbY-
terians as Mr. N. III Leeper, who
says that the policy of that church
IA admitting negro ministers and
churches II in opposition to that
careful ana exclusive social separ-
alton of THE two races which must
be the Southern policy, III was
planned III 1859 to establish a sep-
arate African Presbyterian denom-
ination, but this has hot been ac-
complished. Instead of organiz-
ing independent negro churches as
Was ordered III 1S47, which might \
latar be united in such denomina
tion, the practise has Been to al- \
lpW thn-- lies a, las
AltatiAA III tiiie eouFIs 6r tft6 \
church From this NH. Leeper
goes on to sar:
Thirty years of experience in
solving the most veXing ana eXcit-
Hay questions has demonstrated the
wisdom of separating ths two
races in All social life. Out White
people want to live in peace with
this people, ana to do this they
Will hot submit to the breaking
down of these Social lines.
Therefore the political party or
church that proposes to comingle
these races Will in the South find
itself without white members
"The Southern Presbyterian
does not agree with its corespon-
dent, as the following comment
shows:
'sWithont anticipating any reply E-
to Mr. Leeper's communication, i'll
this issue on an tIndependent At
rican Presbyterian church, there
are one or two points of practical
difficulty to which we would ad-
vert Mr Leeper admits That ift,
Ethel Presbtery SAYS it does Hut
want to be set otf into an indepen-
dent church, he does not see HOW
WE can get rid of it. We confess
that this expression CRATES harshly
on our ear and seems tn disclose
the animus of this movement. Is ie
what are We seeking to GET RID oF |
OUR CoLoRED MEMBERS and Organi-
zations! Do we find their presence \
troublesome, their appearance liz
our courts a menace to our relig- Y
ion, their application for member
bershiP an embarrassment! If so, v
then our policy should be HIT to ,
zee hoWwe can helP them, but how
to get rid of them.
s.Therefore i'll California, when
Cinnamon become too numerous ILL
Presbyterian churches, ana there
IL danger of mixing socially with
them, We can absolve ourselves of
further responsibility and get rid \
of them. TIA the Indian Territory \
If the Indians do not seem to agree Y
fn oI1r 1aatrac in caYtaiY, ,,,attnr,