Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-17
WANT A SPECIAL BISHOP
Important Step Taken in the Protestant
Episcopal Church.
Spiritual Adviser for Service Over the
Colored Branch of the Organiza-
tfon-Rcv. Walters Address.

at St. Luke'S p. E. Church, Rev. o. M.
Waller, rector, which has for it's object the
instruction of the colored members of the
churches of that denomination upon a sub
ject which it is believed is of vital i'm
portance to the Episcopal Church through
out the United States, but especially in
Washington and the south.
AS has heretofore been stated in The
Star. the conclusion was reached at a con-
vention of prominent workers in Episcopal
churches held in Baltimore some months
ago that the time had arrived for serious
consideration whether not plan ought
to be devised for the election of bishop to
preside the colored churches. some
what in the manner the various do
ceses are now governed by a bishop. This
plan. If carried out, would, it is said. mega
tive the veto power that it is possible for
the cOlored delegates to exert in certain of
the southern diocesan conventions, and
which was exerted not long since at con-
vention in North Carolina to the extent
that the white delegates were not ace to
elect as the bishop Of the diocese the minis
ter they desired.
Provisions of the Plan.
The preparation of u plan by which the
members of the colored churches could
have all the rights belonging to them and
yet not infringe upon those of the white
members of n diocesan convention, when
the white and colored delegates meet to-
gether, was intrusted at the Baltimore
convention to a committee of which Rev.
o. NJ. Waller and William V. Tunnel of
this city were leading members. After CIV
ing the subject much thoughtful considera-
ton, the committee has decided that the
time has come to enlighten the member
ship on the history and present status of
the colored membership of the Episcopal
Church in the United States and yester-
day Mr. Waller delivered an address on
the subject before a large audience.
After referring to many of the promi-
past years with church work and the
founding of colored churches in Washing
ton, Baltimore Philadelphia and New
York. Mr.. Waller said, in part:
There are a few matters of interest in
considering this subject which some ex-
PLANTATION will perhaps make more edfy-
ing and certainly better understood. For
instance. the status of one person in the
Episcopal Church is exactly the same as
that of another In the estimation of the
church wealth, race. power. place or ma
tionality do not remove one member to
unthinkeb.e distance from another
Lay delegates elected from St. Luke's
Church sit in the diocesan convention and
vote with equal intelligence and authority
beside the lay delegates of any other
church.
Our priests and deacons must measure
up in examinations prior to ordination
with all other deacons and priests. We
have the same rights of the floor and bal
lot in convention and officially occupy the
same place Of honor and responsibility in
the apostolic succession of ministers.
'All propositions which have lately been
made look only to temporary adaptations
in the missionary machinery of the
church. and rot to any change in official
position or official recognition as the
church is at present constituted.
The CoIored Priests.
so it means something for the Episco-
pal Church to have half hundred colored
priests in this work. occupying such po-
stion and dignity and filling such posts Of
large and varied responsibility.
THE Roman Catholic Church. which is
the only other church established in this
country that claims the apostolic success
sion in her ministry, has, believe, not one
colored priest in parish work in this en-
tire land. and only one colored priest at
all. who, l understand. is engaged in
teaching
After giving some statistics showing the
remarkable growth of Episcopalianism
States, and naming number of cities and
towns where they had churches and mis-
sions. Mr.. Waller said:
In all these places l see the new awak-
eninG and great numbers of the young
and intelligent people of the present time
which Christ himself was the founder.
Among these thousands of communi-
cants 4 criminal and offender against the
laws of the land is as rare as polar bear
i'll Il tropic zone.
In conclusion Mr.. Waller said there were
loud calls among the colored people in
some parts of the south for the organza-
ton of Episcopal churches among them,
and that this was especially true of por-
tons of Tennessee and Alabama.