The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-05-28
Views of Bishop Cheshire
at Episcopal Convention.
WORKAMONGN NEGROES
No Distinction Now Between White
and Coiored Preachers and lay
men in Diocesan Convention.
Time for Separation
Has Come.
Has Come.

Has Come.
The concluding passages OF Bishop
Cneshire's annual address. delivered
TO the Convention OF the Diocese OF
North Carolina at Tarboro, are given
below. and excited perhaps a moro
general interest thar any other part or
that document.
Bishop Cheshire tells US that Up 70
the present time there has been no dis
elimination in the laws Of his dfoces"
between the white and the black pop
ulation In diocesan matters. The onIy
recognition Of any difference or color
or race in diocesan legislation has been
the organization of the colored clergy
and congregations into a separate con-
vocation for Of missionary
work. In the Diocesan Convention
white and colored clergy and layrnen
met in these annual gatherings with
out distinction, and participated IN the
business of the convention. This was
due very greatly. no doubt, to the In
fluence of Bishop Atkinson, and up 10
q very recent date this arrangement
commended itself to the majority of
the convention.
The causes which have gradually
brought about a different condition or
feeling and of opinion on the part of
many members of the convention can
not be briefly stated. In the conclud-
ing paragraphs Of his address Bishop
Cheshire expresses his own approval
Of the methods heretofore prevailing
in the diocese and at the same time
admits the present necessity of some
readjustment.
Work Among the COlorcd People.
II is not of my own will that l ask
the special attention of the convention
~ 80 ~ -
cOlored people. 1t is forced upon us
by the situation. The church at large
throughout the country is not satisfied
that it has done its full duty by the
negro population of our Southern
States; and there is a growing feeling
that perhaps a readjustment of our
ecclesiastical machinery is needed
Along with this has sprung up a move
ment originated and foStcred by an
annual conference of cOfOred clergy
men, looking to q separate OrganiZa-
ton for our COlored congregations and
clergy; and now in our w diocese
arises a demand for q separation in
our diocesan councils, and a separate
organization. 1t is too much to hope
that the elemen of race feeling should
not in some measure be involved in
these movements; but | say in all sin
cerity and candor that l believe the
ruling motive on all hands is a real
desire for a more adequate perform
ance of the duty which the church
owes to this cOlored race. Less wor-
thy motives may influence some. w"
may hear sentiments expressed in this
connection with which as Christians
we can feel no sympathy. But / am
bound to say that 1 fully recognize the
godly sincerity Of both the colored men
and the white men who have unde-
~signedly combined to force this ques-
ton upon US. and their real desire and
purpos to find some better way of do
ing what we should do for the help of
the millions of negroes in the South.
And further than this, [ recognize the
practical necessity Of taking up the
question and satisfying this demand.
l have come to this conclusion in
spite of the sentiments and conyic-
lions of a lifetime, and though my
mind and conscience compel my as
sent to this necessity, my heart still
clings to the old ideal of a church
and q diocese which in it's annual
gatherings should represent visibly the
neneS of all races and cOlOrs in
Christ. In this, my native parish,
those early feelings assert themselves
with peculiar power. In my child
hood l remember no formal religious
instruction received from my parents
except along with all the other chill
dren of the household, white and black
standing together for the Sunday in
struction in Bible and catechism. In
the Sunday services, in the forenoon,
the white congregation occupied the
body of the church, and the colored
people had seats in the rear: in the
afternoon the colOred people filed the
body Of the church. and if any of the
white people attended they filled the
seats at the back. At the Holy
Communion both white and black re-
cefved the blessed sacrament at the
same service, and at the annual vista
tiOn of tho hichnn both knaa1O1 to-
gether to receive the laying on OF
hands.
When. after the changes produced
by the war between the States, and
the years following, we began to have
colored parishes and colored clergy
that noble n godly bishop, Thomas
Atkinson, that we saw all assembled
year after year in the one Diocesan
Convention. SO far as l am con-
cerned it simply passes my compr
hension to understand how any one
should object TO this. AS a matter
OF sentiment the presence of, our coll
ored brethren in u Diocesan Con-
vention is a visible representation to
me of one of the most gracious and
essential elements of the Church as a
Divine and Catholic body. Such |
have known 1t; and 1 have loved 1t;
such my beloved father in the flesh,
and such my revered father in the
church had taught me to know 1t
and to love it; and such have hoped
that it Nigh always continue. Bear
with me, brethren and father, in thu
paying my tribute of respect and af-
lection to a day and a condition tina
are passed. Those of you who do not
SHmpathiZe in these feelings may at
least believe that in some of Us they
are very deep and strong.
But the church does not exist for
the Indulgence of my personal senti-
Inents associations, however tend
er and sacred. l am forced t. racog-
nizc that the conditions have changed.
n that they cannot be reproduced.
We must confront the actual facts of
the day. l believe tina in one way
or another. both the white race and
the colored race, consciously or I'M
consciously demand a different ar
rangement of our ecclesiastical insti-
tutions. l believe that some sonar
ate organization for our colored work
IS coming in the near future. In
fact, | feel confident yhat the General
convention of his year, 1907. will take
defnlte action in this direction. 1t is
therefore for us II take counsel TO-
and say what, in our iude-
ment, that action should be. And
believe that the voice of no southern
4 lnnaS VIII bA %ho-I