The Washington herald., 1907-10-03
Race Problem in the Church.

The general convention Of the PrOtes-
tant Episcopal Church, now in session at
Richmond, is the first to meet on South
ern soil TN two generations. By curious
coincidence the most important problem
Of ecclesiastical administration that Will
occupy its attention grows out Of the race
problem in the South, and feeling that
the church Tas been neglecJful Of It's op-
portunities for the evangeIizauon of the
inferior race. The subject is one that
has been keenly discussed for several
months in the church journals and in the
annual addresses Of the bishops to their
diocesan conventions. Wide diversity Of
opinion has been developed, even among
the Southern bishops. as to the best
plan for increasing the extent and eff
cheney Of the churchs work among the
negroes, so that there is doubt whether
sufficient unanimity OF sentiment will
prevail at Richmond to bring about af-
lrmative action.
The cruX OF the controversy is the pro-
posal 10 set apart the negro congrega-
tions under bishops Of their own race,
thus leaving 10 themselves the work OF
mnistering TO the religious needs Of their
people. Numerous constitutional and
canonical objections 10 this proposal have
been made, which do not concern the
general public; but the reasons assigned
for It. and the criticisms Of It as dodg-
ing the work Of a missionary church. are
Of wider interest as illustrating the ap-
plication of the color line in religious
propaganda. The separation Of the races
in the South, as also in the North. ex-
tends TO church membership. In most
Southern dioceses of the Episcopal
Church the negro clergy and Iaity are
excluded from the diocesan conventions;
they are enthusiastically as well as po-
ntically disfranchised. As the Bishop OF
East Carolina had said, these negroes
have no standing in the church outside
their own parishes; they are not treat
ed like the white man; for they are given
no opportunity 10 develop as men in
meeting with their equals for free dis
cussion of their hopes and perplexities."
AT least one Southern bishop has de-
cIared his unwillingness TO minister to
the religious needs of the colored race,
and this feeling, while by no means uni
versal. seems 10 be in the background
Of the demand for a complete separation
of the white and black races in the
church. The Bishop Of East Carolina
says that TO press the work among the
negroes by the present system stirs fresh
race antagonism. Therefore, the whites
must turn it over to the negroes. if It
is to be done at all
An adverse view is strongly pressed by
the Churehman, the leading Episcopal
organ. That journal asserts the proposal
for racial bishops to be "a mockery Of
the hopes Of the negro race" It says
that the chuTchs work must be done, not
lodged, and asks by what right any
bishop declares that a white bishop can
not shepherd negroes, beca use he can
not eat at their tables and slcep in their
homes?' 1t continues:
TIE history Il civilization offers no excuse for
entering such a Plea for an avoidance Of duty
Bishops have administered the episcopal once
over the helpless masses in every cline. Bishops
have done H. and done Il noby, in the South
with no fear Of compromising their ofice or their