The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-09-16
RAGE PROBLEM DISCUSSED
THE CONVENTION OF COLORED
 WORKERS COMMENCES.


 EquaIity-Noted Divines Pre.ent and Preparation for Week Of Important Work.
 The race question was discussed from both the viewpoints of the cleric and the layman at the nineteenth annual con- yention Of the Church Workers among the colored people in this city last night when Rt. Rev. c. B. Brewster. D. D., bishop of Connecticut, and Mayor John P. Studley addressed the assemblage of 150 educated colored men from all parts of the country. Mayor Studley was op- timistie in his view and said that his faith in God assured him of solution that would be just. Bishop Brewster dWelt at length on the crisis that con- fronts the colored race and adjured his hearers to conduct themselves with re- gard 10 their social relations as well as to their personal conduct. In this way he said more could be accomplish ed than by efforts to fight for a recog- milton of equality in parts of the coun- try where race prejudice exists.
 The convention is held in St. Luke's Episcopal church and was opened yes- terday with an attendance of 150 clergy men and laymen from Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, Kentucky, George, North Car olina, Virginia. District of Columbia, Maryland. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York. and Long Island. @
 The convention will continue with meetings morning, afternoon and even ing until next Friday night. when the last meeting will be called and the place of the next convention will be de- termined. 1.... ;.
 The sermon of the evening was deliv- cred by Rev. Henry l.. Phillips, rector of the Church of the Crucifxion, Phila- delphia. In his sermon he spoke feel ingly of the need for self-sacrifice and labor in the vineyards of the Lord. He referred to the misunderstanding rela- tive to the colored race that exists in some quarters, but he committed the matter to God,
 Archdeacon G. H. Buck. of the New Haven archdeaconry, delivered an ad- dress of welcome in connection with the salutations of Mayor Studley and Bish- op Brewster
 When Bishop Brewster arose to speak the scene was impressive as he stood in his vestmen.s between two rows of co1ored clergymen. At the rear was the soft glow os the many candles be- fore the altar. His words given in this environment seemed to be almost oracu- lar. and the little band of far-gathered workers in behals of misunderstood race followed his words of hope and comfort with an intensity that was visi- bly expressed in their attitudes of eager attention.
 The bishop in opening thanked the association for it's invitation and spoke of the pleasure it gave him to note the gathering for a noble purpose. He said that his only regret was his inability to attend every meeting, owing to en- gagements previously made.
 He led up to his expressions on the race question by referring to the ex- that man should worship in company. Along the lines of the need of social re- Iations in church work. he came to the race problem as affected by consistent church work on the part of colored peo- pie with a view to bettering their con- dition. He said in part: ."This is a time of crisis. and there is more than ever need that you should place your faith in the Great Master Christ and with stout hearts meet the problems as Christians. At such a time there is need of proceeding along the lines of social duty and personal conduct as
 
 should be among you a discrimination between the worthy of your race and the unworthy It is the time to set your faces against certain unmention- able crimes of certain degraded mem bers Of your race. I say this in no Pharisafcal spirit. but as advice that will do much to cause a realization that it Is not for certain unworthy men to be included in the movement that makes for the onward progress of the race. All ye are brethren whether red, yellow, white or black" Mayor Studley then gave his welcom- ing speech. He said that he had not earned a reputation as an orator since the exercise of mayors duties do not necessitate great ability in this art.
 The mayor, however, told a humorous story of conversions in a western town and caused smile to play upon the faces of his hearers.
 He traced briefly the history of re- ligion in New Haven and spoke Of the groth of toleration. "If I remember correctly" he said. lone of my ances-, tors was expelled from Yale college be- cause he was Baptist.' In speaking of toleration enthusiastically he turned to race toleration and said: t'In the north a colored man has the same rights as a white man. In the south he will yet have. These things will work out in Gods own way" He then extended s'the freedom of the city, to the visi- tors and retired. @ The meeting last night was successful and the real business of the convention will be entered upon to-day. The pro- gramme for to-day is as follows:
 ZOO a. m.-Holy communion. 10.15a. m.-Morning prayer and annual
 address by President Rev. D. Rob-
 ert Bennett. East Carolina. HOO p. m. < 2:30 p.m.--Afternoon session.
 500 D. m Evening session.. Rev. Eugene L. Henderson of New Haven and rector of St. Luke's church, has won much praise for the excellent manner in which he has launched the convention. It will be one of great im-i portance to colored men and citizens