Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-12
ENDORSES OVERTURE
THE WASHINGTON PREsBYTERY
VOTES FOR RACE SEPARATION.
Speeches in Opposition by Justice Hac,
Ian, Dr. Gordon, ReH- T. ].
Grimke and Others.

In the debate yesterday at the meeting
of the Washington presbytery on the over
ture in favor of forming separate presby-
teries for the colored churches of the de-
nomination there were several earnest
speeches against the proposition. In fact,
although IS measure was carried, the ad-
dresses were nearly all against IT.
Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe pastor OF the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. led
the discussion by stating that In his opinion
such action would be unjust discrimination.
This brought out a speech from Rev. DIR. ].
F. Grimke. pastor of the only colored Pres
byterian Church In this district. the Fiji
teenth Street Church. who spoke long and
feelingly
who are we7" he asked. that we should
say to any race, BE ye separate; stand on
by yourselves 1t would be a change In our
form of government. The success OF the
work In our church has been because the
colored men have not been segregated. 1t
Is not the spiri. of Christ to humiliate
race and ignore their manhood. The great
progress among the colored people In the
south has been owing to the aid given by
the board for work among the freedmen.
while in the north there Is no help from
any church board. This complexion of pres
byteries has nothing whatever to do with
the growth of Presbyterian.sm among
either white or black; 1t depends on the
amount of push and energy put into the
work.
Alleged Inconsistency.
The Presbyterian general assembly work
ed itself up into a frenzy against exhibiting
the Liberty Bell on Sabbath, but II was
willing to set up color line Verify. this Is
tithing mint and anise and cumin and omit
ting the weightier matters of the law. Our
duty is to face the issue sauarely. and we
must hold up the standard Christ set up or
sever our connection with Him. 1t would
be positively wrong to set up separate pres
byteries within the same bounds. 1t is
simply a movement to cater to southern
sentiment which holds that the white man
disgraces himself by any sort of affiliation
with the black man. Up until even the
present time, white men and women who
go south to work among the colored men
are ostracised. An eminent Englishman re-
Gently said: L have worked hard for thirty
years among colored people. and there are
not today five white men in the city of At
lanta who would invite me into their
houses
1T is a base surrender to such sentiment
as that for the great Presbyterian Church
to adopt such an overture as that pro-
posed"
After speaking for almost an hour he
concluded by saying:
Il sometimes wonder how God can sit
still and see such things going on In the
Presbyterian Church; 1t must be an abomi-=
nation unto God. 1t would be shameful to
approve union with the Cumberland Pres
ny teIidIls lIuS ullullllS SdlNlulSi1 anu sac
rificing twenty or thirty thousand faithful
old members of the colored race"
Justice Harlan Opposes.
Justice Harlan of the United States SUI
preme Court, a lay member of the presby
terry, spoke against the measure. He OBJ
jected to the use of the word northern"
saying he belonged to the Presbyterian
Church.
Let us stand in the ways Of the fathers.
and say to the world that as far as our
church Is concerned we are race blind and
color blind" he said.
Rev. DR.. John Gordon president of How
ard University, was opposed Ito the or
ganization of any presbytery'' of which he
couldn't become a member"
Some of those who spoke briefly in favor
of the overture was Rev. DR.. John Chester
who believed that IT would be for the best
interests of the colored people. 1t was this
argument that prevailed with practically
all who voted for the proposition, accord
ing to the best information obtainable
The requisite number of presbyteries had
Endorsed this overture from the general az
sembly before the local body acted. Final
action will be taken at the next meeting of
the general assembly.