The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-05-04
|ClaIllOr for
United j Body o.
OF COLORED CLERGY AND SUF-
FRAGAN BISHOPS AT T
+ EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE "
Keith and Settles
speak Out in Meeting and Severely
Nfnstlie denOnlinatlOnaI editors
Who Devote Space to Criticisms OF
Negro COMMITMENTS.
Irregular Correspondence }

!
Nashville, Tenn, April 27-The
hfth convocation of colored church
/ men Of the Protestant Episcopa]
| Church Diocese Of Tennessee, began
two days session here Tuesday
morning at Holly Trinity. Church.
The Archdeacon of the Tennessee
Diocese presided
After the organization Tuesday
morning, Bishop Gailor delivered an
inspiring address to the delegates
who represented tine church from all
parts of Tennessee.
The business sessions Of the con-
vocation were held ut Hoffman Hall
in the afternoons Of Tuesday and
Wednesday. The Rev. Father
Demby Of Emanuel Church, Mem
phis, the Rev. Father Coombs of
Holy Trinity Church Nashville and
the Rev. Father Wilson of Mason
were the most active priests attend
ing. Archdeacon Hillbrand deliver
ed his annual address and made his
annual report at the first business
session. Tuesday when the Rev. Mr..
Demby Of Memphis was reelected
'o'Hl SIdiS Ol tue COHVOcdLlOn Tor the
jyear just beginning
The Business meetings we're Of
peculiar interest to churchmen.
Some plain talk was -fn1u1ged- IN by
H. l.. Keith, of Nashville, and J. T.
Settles, Of Memphis. They discussed
the advancement of the church
among the colcred people and the
critics Of the Episcopal Church and
its cOlored communicates. Refer
encc was also made to the constant
abuse and misrepresentation of the
Negroes by some of the prominent
men and Bishops of the Church.
II. l.. Keith opened the discussion
at the first session Tuesday when he
asked the ArchGeacon some. perth
nent questions regarding the attitude
and policy of the ChHseh regarding
the colored people Arehdeaeon
Hildebrand then requested his ques-
tioner to tell the convocation 'on
Wednesday Of the obstacles in the
way Of advancing the Episcopal
Church among the colored people.
Mr.. Keith did SO in a very frank
manner at the session Wednesday.
Offense to no one. He said in the
beginning: "The obstacles in the
way Of advancing the church among
the colored people are not being dis
cussed because Of any lack of ap-
probation Of what has been done in
the past to benefit the race. Neither
are they being discussed because Of
any doubt Of the sincerity Of the
motives of the church authority in
it's manner Of dealing with the COL
ored churchmen. 1t is q matter Of
pride to all that whatever has been
done has been done with commen-
dable spirit and for this We are all
truly grateful" -"-----------~----
The speaker reviewed tho history
Of the Church and it's work among
, the colored people for more than a
! century. He told Of what it had
achieved and what it had not. He
emphasized the point that the church
| did not seem to grasp the fact that
the race had undergone a consider
able change since it began its work
among the slaves Of the South.
"The people know what liberty and
injustice are now. They did not
them, said the speaker. Mr.. Keith
said --Colored people smart and
fret and become indignant at insult
and in jury now and they can be
enthusiastic also when the right
thing is being done. They are proud
Of their race. They want tthe help
J OF the white people but are not
| thankful for their abuse and more.
| This is true, he said, Of the best and
most intelligent Of the race and they
are very largely the advance guard
Of the masses who are still grovell
ling in ignorance
| In view of the fact that the Epis
copal Church has the most intell
lgent men and women Of the race
Iamong its communicates, Is 1T no
reasonable to suppose that so lone
las the race is abused as it has beef
in the past by men and Bishop
prominent in the affairs of tht
church, the colored men and wo
men already in the Church can ex
ercise no spiritual or social Influence
with those Of the race who Nigh
otherwise be inclined to enter tn
Episcopal Church? He said: Rae
consciousness and pride mean NOR
to the Negro now than they dit
when the Church first began it's wor]
among them. The intelligent me-
and women Of the race are prepare
to do the work Of uplifting the peo
, pie. They will need your help am
moral support but thcy do honestl
feel that if after more than cen
tury Of work among the colorcd pee
pie, the Episcopal Church has no
f. been able to develop men Of Suff
cient character, intellect and abilit
to fiji places Of responsibility fror
the Bishopric down and conduct tn