The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-11
" Session of the Bishops Feature Of Day in the Contention
say, -As soon az the negro question Is
disposed OF shall Rp." d

say, ~As soon as the negro question Is
disposed Of shall gp."
2 It might be we'll to state nguin what
has been proposed. and frst we have
q statement from the negro himself MS
expressed in N memorial to the General
Convention. which was prepared dur
ing the meeting held Mt Asbury Park
September IL 10 20. 1907. SO far II has
not come berore the house, but being
circulated among all the deputies 1t
must have some influence on the re-
suits. Briefly 1t declares that the true
solution lies II, providing missionary
districts under bishops Of the colorcd
race. They base this on their knowl.
edge and full appreciation of the social
and race conditions OF the country.
Plans Suggested.
The plans suggested by the Dioceses
OF North Carolina, East Carolina ana
Pennsylvania are not very mike the
above. EXCEPT that Pennsylvania does
not say that the bishop shall be a
OF a more comprehensive nature, in
tending to provide for any body of
foreigners that might need ppecial
episcopal oversight. 1t simply makes
possible the creation Of missionary
districts. with missionary bishops
within the jurisdiction of other bish-
ops. North and East Carolina arc
looking to n provision for this ques-
ton alone. They have even suggested
that the three dioceses Of North, East
and South Carolina be made II mis-
sionary district, with the bishops OF
these dioceses as an advisory board to
the negrp missionary bishop. Closel.
allied to this, though entirely differ
ent. is the movement to. create suf-
fragan bishops-tllat is. additional
bishops under the direction and control
of the diocesans While such suffra-t
gans might be of service It'll many ways,
the proposal TO create then, at this
particular time Is to answer tho ALL
absorbing question. These constitute
the moderate view. There arc, of
tremely radical. the othervcry co.1sery-
alive. The former has become we'll
known as the "Arkansas plan"
Against this the Asbury Park Con-
ference protested. saying: 1--WE desire
to express our unalterable opposition
to any scheme which contemplates sew
erance or rupture of the bond which
now binds us to the church" The Ar
Kansas plan, briefly, is to give the ne
groes three bishops, the prayer book
and constitution and code OF cam
onS. and let them erect their own
church. In the words Of the Arlsan-
sas memorial, 1--WE propose to offer 1t
tthe episcopatc) 10 them absolutely
;,nd without qualification or condition"
IF the negro race should re-
1use for a time to accept the benc
fits we tender the responsibility will
rest no longer upon the church,
May Not Decide.
The other extreme says let well
enough alone. and mako more ef1i-
cient what already exists. Southern
Virginia and Georgia have for some
years found q negro archdeacon. with
its annual conference. equal to the
needs, and both dioceses are willing
to continue.
OF course, no one can say positively
what will be the outcome. From what
Is expressed by many members OF the
convention of both houses, 1t would not
be surprising if. the convention ad-
tourns without any change being made.
There are several reasons advanced by
those who do not think 1t expedlent
to make change now. CHIEF among
them is that the church is not ready
yet. It will be we'll to have the whole
matter thoroughly discussed now than
let IT lay over and be tatcn up through
the church papers during the next
three years. During tliat time there
Will be real opinion formed, and the
next General Convention will be in the
position to act infelligently. A deputy
from the West said, when asked his
opinion on the matter: IT have no
opinion, except that the South ought
to be given the opportunity to settle
the question. or at least say what
shall be done. We have no negro prob
lem, and have no business to.interfcrc
unless the South either refuses TO act
or proves herself incompetent" This
man was n judge, and others feel mueN
the same way. But time alone can
give the answer,
If the preamble will give it a chance
this question Will come up day.
Work of Bishops.
In the House of Bishops yesterday
was a day OF great interest for the
Western States. AS is reported else
where In this paper. yesterday three
new missionary districts We're erected
in the WesUL and 1.-the others so ar
ranged as Ito make all conform to the
State lines. This action was but the
natural and logical outcome OF the
wonderful growth of the Northwest in
the past ten years. Ore instance can
be cited: Shortly after the great crisis
people In Nevada; to-day there are
more than three times as many, drawn
there by the wonderful copper finds
Goldfeld. New, a town only three years
old, has a population OF $4,000 or more
The people are tlocking to the North
west, attracted either by the minerals
especially copper, or by the agricul-
tural opportunities produced by the
irrigation of the plains. The church
has evidently learned a serious lesson
from the Middle West, and is TOO wise
TO repeat her blunder. She sees a great
opportunity ahead, and is Selling 1t
This Encouragement Will have a Won
derfrl influence on the people of the
Western States, for they often have
much State pride
For instance. we are told that
the people OF the Eastern part of
Nevada and Western part of Colorado
do not relish being in the District of
Salt Lake. There is no doubt the
church will grow greatly under tho
new arrangement Only one step more
Is needed now 10 complete the policy
80 wisely inaugurated, that is to grant
the petition of the Diocese OF Oregon
and make a missionary district out
OF the eastern half of the State.
1t was also u wise move In right
direction when the United States OF
Brazil was made a missionary dis
r ~.