The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-14
TO GUST THE NEGRO
Washington Presbyteri-
ans Draw Color Line.
Excited Discussion Over the PrOpO-
sitiOn For Separate Presbyteries
in Northern Presbyterian
Church
Church.

Despite the fight made by sturdy
friends of the negro in the Northern
Presbyterian Church, his days there
i'm the Presbyteries with the whites
seem to be numbered even with JUS
lice Harlan and other prominent men
pleading for him.
There was a clashing of opposlnS
views on the color line at meeting OF
Presbyterians in Westminster Church
in Washington, ID. c., on Tuesday, ana
the overture in favor OF faVorlng Pres
byteries on race and color lines was
adopted This view has already been
adopted by a majority of the PreSby-
tories. as has the overture for union
with the cumberland Presbyterian
church.
Chairman Radcliffe opposed the
whole business, saying that the over
ture did not recognize the rights OF
whites and blacks and the overture
would involve discrimination. rms
brought the only colored preacher IN
the Presbytery, Rev. J. F. Grinke, TO
the platform. lie opposed the over
ture and said: ut may not be pop
uIar, but we must stand up for prin-
ciplc, and there Is no option LETT 20 rs
as Christians Christ was not asham-
ed to eat with publicaas and sinners,
and he drew no distinction among men
ON account Of their color. Christ dlcd
for all races" He declared the
growth Of Prosbytarianism had MOTH
inc to 90 with white or black, but de-
pended on push and energy, declar-
ing further that the action was being
taken merely to cater to Southern
sentiment, which holds that the white
man disgracos himself by any sort OF
aUiliaticn with the black man" quot
ing an Englishman, who SAID:
have worked hard for thirty years
among colored people, and there are
not today five white men in the city
OF Atlanta who would invite me into
their homes" Tn closing he declared
at is base surrender to such SEN
timent as that for the great Presby-
tcrian church to adopt such an over
ture as that proposed. 1t would be
shameful to approve union with the
Cumberland PrcSbyterians, thus dilut-
ing Calvinism and sacrificing twenty
or thirty thousand faithful old mem
bers Of the coIOred race Much APP
plause.
Justice John NJ Harlan, of the
| United States Supreme Court, spoke
against turning out the negro. He OBJ
jccted TO the use of the word North
| ern" lie said that during the WlI
| he was for the Union, for his coun-
| thy. but not as q Northern" man. He
| said he belonged to the Presbyterian
| church. "he word race is not il
the Constitution" said Justice Harlan
"and it should not be in the standard.
| of the church" He was strongly OPP
| posed to the proposed overture. Ht
! held that both politicians and church,
| men talk too much about the 'cOlcl
| line and closed saying: Let US stand
! in the ways OF the fathers, and say &c
| the world that rs far as our church
| is concerned we are race blind and col
| or blind He was applauded vigor-
! ously.
Rev. DR. John Chester spoke for the
| overture. Rev. DR.. John Gordon, pres
| ident of Howard University, spoke
| vigorously against the overture, say
| ing: Il will be forever opposed to The
| organization of any Presbytery il
which ] couldn't become a member
where the door could be shut in my
! face" Rev. DR.. p. B. Ramsdell advo-
Gated the overture as looking to tho
! best interest CT the colored people
! saying: Il want the cOlored people tC
rise up and do something
There were some heated short
| speeches but finally a proposition tc
! draw the color line was adopted by .
| vote of / to %
The overture for union with the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church was
adopted with but few votes against
! Or. Radcliffe the chairman favored
this and said: Il want union with the
| Southern Presbyterian Church, but
am getting tired passing resolution,
and then blotting them out; getting
! down on our knees and apOlogizing
! forever troubled about possible STUN
| bling blocks, and our business is tc
| set our face toward the rising sun, and
not be afraid of union with the Cum
/ berland Presbyterian Church lest Il
may delay union with the Southern
| Church.