The San Francisco call., 1899-04-28
HOME MISSIONS.

! J. Il
/ | ! School Congress in Atlanta Dr. Vance OF
Nashville, in delivering the address of well
come spoke with much feeling of the recent lynch
ing in Georgia. His remarks evidently cut in
the telegraphic report but enough remains to show
condition OF very deep feeling on the part of this
Southern preacher.
1t is of interest that the meeting of the Maryland
Presbytery, in Baltimore on the 18th inst, Rev. DR.
Joseph A. Vance pastor OF the leading Presbyterian
church in that city delivered pointed address the
subject OF the duty OF the church to the Southern
negro The occasion for it the report of the COM
mittee "colored evangelization which stated that
the negro problem the most serious that faced
the Southern people and the most important of any
for the consideration OF Americans There are seven
millions OF negroes in the field covered by the South
Presbyterian church, and the report said that to
the question whether that church had done its duty
by these people it had, with shame to answer mo"
Continuing the report said this is critical period in
the history OF church work among the negroes and
unless help given to the African Presbyterian
church it would surely perish II this happened the
church before God and man would stand in the posi-
ton OF having thrust the ptable weakling out Of the
fold to die OF neglect, and the world would charge
them with having done so from race prejudice Then
the church would stand in the ridiculous light Of sup
porting costly mission in darkest Africa striving
while turning him from their doors here.
Speaking to this report Dr.. Vance said that the
church is confronted with serious condition in re-
spect to the salvation OF the negro and that is
foolish thing to shut the eyes to the fact that the
Southern people are lukewarm in regard to his well
fare. He said young negroes are growing up natural
thieves and criminals simply because they are not
reached by any spiritual influence by Christian peo-
pie The young negro cannot be taken care of in the
memories Of the past and there less religious work
among them than when they were slaves The
report OF the committee was adopted.
We think that the elevation and control of the
negro has been sufficiently considered on the side
OF his natural religious instincts The negro Metho-
dist church has worked that line with a measure
OF success The Catholic missionaries among the
blacks have done the same, and If more negroes were
educated for the priesthood the results would be
more significant The Methodists have won their
way by ordaining colored hierarchy and striving to
increase the number of educated negro preachers
Among the negro Bishops OF the Methodist church
many highly educated and able men,
Their conference met three years ago in New Or
leans and was welcomed in a very thoughtful speech
by the Mayor OF that city. He spoke in vein of
profound philosophy OF the need Of the educating in
tiuence Of the church among the blacks and hailed
the conference as representative OF work OF the
highest benefit to both races
The conference responded in a speech by one OF
the negro Bishops which was a model Of oratory
and furnished interesting study OF the effect OF
joining education the tropical imagination OF the
black The Bishop said that the two races were
in joint occupancy OF the Southern States and there
abundant proofs that their fate is joined and
each was necessary to the other. He said: Il am
Christian because believe that God is no respecter
OF persons. White and black are alike to him Did
believe otherwise that God cares only for one race
and not for all races would turn my face and my
prayers from him and would bow the head and bend
the knee to the devil, for I know that he is no re-
specter Of persons. White and black are welcomed
in his service. and there is Jim Crow car on the
road to hell"
Really nothing could put the case stronger. no
matter what may think OF religion or OF the
capacity Of Christianity to control the conduct and
shape the morals OF all manner OF men
The religious bodies owe to the country duty in
respect to this race problem in the South Granting
the superstition OF the negro let him be controlled
by its direction into a channel in which it may be the
means OF moral restraint With education going
hand in hand with this process, the superstition will
be eliminated by enlightenment, Just as it has been
gradually washed out OF the Write race by cutva-
ton Of the intellect
calm review OF the situation certainly demon
srates that good is accomplished by savage lynch
ing Of brutal negroes, beyond the removal OF the in
diydual victim, and good is accomplished either
by the expletve denunciation OF the lynchers. The
people OF the country must come together upon
definite plan and permanent policy. They must
pay less attention to the elevation OF distant people
and more to the problems at door and to
those who grovel our feet waiting to be lifted up
THE APPOINTMENT OF SENATORS