The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-05-26
IN FIGHT AGAINSr GykbR LINE
IN NEGRO CNlIsGII DOES
SLATfEAs.
Issue Repugnant
And fraught with such dire consc-
qucnccs as to justify means taken
for It's deteat.-Ofticers elected of
highest type and success assured.
(Horace d. Slatter.) }

"HeIner or not the general con-
ference Of <the Colored Methodist
Episcopaf Church, which has recent
ly closed it's tenth quadrennial ses-
sion in Augusta, Ga, did the best
thing that could have. been done for
the good of the church is to be de-
termined by time and time alone.
Since leaving the city OF Augusta
on several occasions, in Savannah in
Atlanta and Birmingham, / have
been advised that there was a con-
siderable: following Of the defeated
side that view the election of Dr.
Jamison and DR.. Stewart as a deli
| crate blow at intelligence and an
educated ministry.
1t is not my purpose in this story
to receive any Of the issues that were
SO stubbornly fought prior to the
sitting OF this gen eral conference,
but it must be borne in mind that the
issue at stake in this meeting was
one fraught with such ~dire con-
sequences to the race in general that
no means could be spared that
saVored Of it's defeat. We will admit
for sake of argument that Dr. r. II.
Brown, as he himself so often says,
is a graduate from Walden Univer-
sity, and has some knowledge of the
Higher Mathematics, languages and
Sciences. But it must be remember
ed that none of that erudition Dr.
Brown -confesses has ever been dis
played in his editorials in the Christ
ian Index, Of which publication he
was for so long a time editor. ! am
not exagerating when | say that in
! no para graph of so words written by
DR.. Brown could there be found less
toa4pable' fesseusabs le
errors. That alone does not unfit
one for the bishopric, for there are
many we'll read and intelligent men,
who are careless in the use Of the
English language. t IS only ment-
Toned as a gentle reminder to the
sore-hcads that Dr.. Brown is not
the only man in the C. NJ: e. church
who went to school.
1t was not the lack Of education
however that defeated DR.. Brown.
Dr.. Brown in his fight for the bishop
riG, introduced, or at least waged
his battle on a line menacing and
repugnant, and on a line that made
Negro people the laughing stock Of
the world He denies it, of course
Denies it in public, and yet while he
and his friends deny it, they at the
same time write letters all over the
connection urging support for this
reason, even going SO far as to say
in an equally public manner, "there
IS going to be no peace in this church
until we have four black bishops on
this bench" Now, ! submit in all
candOr that there is no reason why
a bishop should not be black. There
is no reason why black man should
not be bishop, and especially in q
colored church, but to lay 1t down
that We must have black bishop,
no matter how adroitly the effort is
made to get around the direct prop
ositiOn that we want him because
he Is black, all the men Of other hue,
number Of intelligent and conscien-
cious men of any hue, will work and
vote against the measure.
Right here, / wish to set myself
perfectly straight with all concerned
AT no time, in this discussion, have
/ meant to. inject myself, without
rhyme or reason, into matter that
did not concern me. When DR.. Brown
and his following make the charge
that / do not belong to the G.. NJ. e.
Church, l plead guilty. I must con-
fess that ! do belong to the Baptist
| church. adding at the same time.
however, that these same forces
knew all the time to which church
| belonged. and had no objection to my
discussing G.. NJ. f. Church affairs,
as long a5 [ was not opposing them.
But whether in any Of the Vulnerable
branches Of Methodist, whether in
the Baptist, congregational or any
other church, or whether in any
other Negro organization suing for
| public support: this damnadable
IqueStiOn Of color finds Judgement; {;
whether introduced by bishop. near
bishop or any ohumb bic minister,
shall fight 1t with might and main.
In this connection, / wish to add.
however, that | have no disposition
/ to Offend or wound the feelings 1or
any individual, or in any discussion
in any time or place say those things
that will necessarily destroy their
usefulness. This is said Of regard
for the tremendous influence the
press has, and for the advantage or
disadvantage it could bring to an in
dividual 7 have attempted to be
courteous and fair in this discussion
saying only those things that were
true, and that could be proven, and
If any ones usefulness has been