Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-10-16
EPIsCoPAL CONVENTION.

OF Bishop BFOWD, OF ArKaDsar, III tno
last number Of the Ohurchman, the Or
gan of the EpiscOpalians, published In
New York.
In this article Bishop Brown is repre-
sented IS the enemy Of the negro race.
He delivered a speech on the subjec. In
the House Of Bishops yesterday, and his
remarks we're intended, 10 part, az q
reply to The attack made ON him by the
Oburchman. Bishop Brown said, in part;
al have a letter in my possession from
prominent priest ic the church, who
claims that the amalgsmstion OF the
Anglo American and Afro-American
races ia the ultimate solution Of our Diff
fculties, aud thatthey will be solved In
this way within 80 years. l pass this
nauseatiDg theory by with the observa-
ton that this is the solution upon which
many of the most representative negroes
have set their hearts, and that, II this
church wants to further them in the re-
slization OF that desire, the erection oil
sn Afro-Americsn epjscopate OF either
the missionary or sufffagan type with
any degree Of representation in the gen.
eral convention would be action along
the right line; otherwise it would be fun
damentally wrong.
al we should consecrate only one or
Two African bishops and divide the
whole South into as many jurisdictions
the colored episcopate, with its delega-
tons, would, perhaps, not be embarrsss'
ing and hurtiul to an unbeirsble de-
gree. But what good would be done
by two or three colored bishops with
vast jurisdictionsY Ii an Afro-Americap
episcopate is to justify the hope that its
friends, both black and white, entertain,
there must ultimately be nearly IS many
colored bishops in the black belts OF
The South IS there are white bishops
now. II we think it worth while and
advisable to grant the appeal OF sill we
,hould confidently expect that colored
bishops will increase on sn average OF
one per year during the next 20 years.
POSSIBLY the House of Bishops, which
will be much larger by The end OF that
period than 1t is DOW, Icould endure iIs
thorn of 90 colored bishops, but have
you any idea that the House of Clerical
and Lay Deputies could endure their
fhorns' OF as many negro delega,ionsY
Every southerner knows that it would be
intolerable, and that the end would be
the breaking up Of the general conven-
ton" 50
He said that thenegro delegation would
also appear at the triennisl meetings OF
The Woman's Auxiliary.
"Would not that be interesting to the
southern lsdiesH What The Afro Amer
leans need is several bishops. They know
r.; so do we. But since social conditions
will not permit any such increase in our
House OF Bishops, nor any large repre-
sents!ion ia our House of Deputies, let
us acknowledge this in an open and
straightforward manner, and give them
the au ouomous church, with their own
general convention and all that goes
With it."
The House of Deputies : esterdsy ALEC
entered into The discussion Of The ques-
ton relating to The amendments TO the
constitution upon racial lines and the
announcement that this would be the
order explained The presence Of crowd
which overlooked the galleries and the
seating capacity of the house. The con-
vention plunged boldly into the discus
sion OF the question and the beat means
of providing for the spiritual welfare Of
the C Ibred race under the supervision oil
the church.
Three plans we're suggesied-that pro-
viding for suffragan bishops, that pro-
yiding for negro bishops with jurisdic-
tons Of their own and the Arkansas
plan, which would give to the black man
an entirely separate church.
The commi.tes on bishops for the
negro race, with missionary districts, as
msterialized by the diocese of Pennsyl-
vsuis and the conference of colored
people, reported through it's chairman,
Rev. DR.. Huntington, of New York,
that the plan is not feasible, but rec
commended the making of legal suffragsn
bishops, who may be elected when the
regular bishop so desires. These shall
have seat, but no right TO vote in the
House of Bishops, and shall be subject
to the orders of the bishops in whose d.
oceses they serve. He may be appointed
bishop Of missionary jurisdiction, but
there is not necessarily a succession In
bis Office.
Rev. Meade Clarke, of Virginia, and
Bishop Cheshire, Of North Carolina, pre-
scented minority report favoriDg negro
bishops, with jurisdiction Of their own.
The house sat as committee of the
whole during the afternoon session, Dr.
McKim yielding the chair to Dr.. Pack
srd, of Maryland. After the Election
of the Arkansas resolution the question
of further considering the negro question
was referred back TO the committee, and
continuing, the debate concerned the
minority report, providing for the cleo
ton of bishops, not sufffagan, to preside
over the races, with power to vote aud
sit in the House Of Deputies 10 the Gen.
eral Convention.
Northern and Southern delegates
clsthed, and often succeeding deputies
would severely critlcise the statements
Of those who had preceded them.
Rev. DR.. Grammer, Of Pennsylvanis,
heartily Endorsed the report as submit
ted, and in response to his remarks Rev.
DR.. Norton, OF Arkansas. scored him
severely, claiming that Dr. Grammer
stood for radical measures as a solution
Of the negro question in the church, and
that the proposition, If accepted as pre-
scented, would cause disruption.