The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-05-09

Minneapolis, Mimi, May 9-No
mention whaterc a suffragan bishop
| or bishops, autonomy or complete
separation from the,. connection of
| its Negro membership was made by
the bishops of the Methodist Epis-
copal church in their address to
the Guadrennial conference now in
| session here. Resolutions have been
offered, however, authorizing the
election Of two Negro bishops for
the South and requesting the Presi-
dent of the United States to use his
influence in promoting the passage
Of legislation giving the Federal gov
, ernment control Of the prosecution
Of all cases of lynching.
III their address the bishop said:
"Our Colored Membership
'On grounds of expediency and,
1t may as we'll be said, by mutual
preference, in view OF all conditions,
our Negro members have their sep
arate Annual Conference and local
Church organizations. But not by
one jot or little are their legal rights
or sanctuary benefits abatcd by this
arrangement. The Constitution and
discipline OF the Church operate i'm
partially and Without reference to
race, color, or previous conditions.
I Our colored people are represented
| in this body on exactly The same
basis as our white membership. and
in proportion to their numbers they
have equal voice with their white
brethren in legislation and in all
General Conference elections. IT
the Church might have done more
for them, it is also true that she
might have done less. Of the value
Of her work to The Nation, as we'll
as to the Negro, there, can be NO
challenge. Her answer to the Oft
repeated question-"What Shall be
tcate him, evangelize him, and respect
his rights as man.. Time, patti
ence, and religion hold The only
| solution Of this National problem.
In demonstration Of the correct
| ness Of our answer, We claim as
lawabiding and progressive a body OF
colored people as can be found under
the flag. In this great cooperative
undertaking, which involves an eX-
lperiment without precedent in his
tory, We constantly confront new
tests Of our working theories; and
Ne-Se eem-to have reached q period
that in a vital point is 20 try our
work, Of what sort it is-with all
the world looking on.
In the evolution Of OUT methods
we have now to face The fact that
about one-tenth Of this great legis
lative and judicial body is made III
Of the sons Of the bondmen Of fits
years ago. This fraction represent.
a vote sufficient to decide the mos
important question of policy, Will
many thoughtful NEIL Of this body
and Of the Church at large, the ques
tion or this new hour Is not, -+tWha
shall the Church do with the Ne
gro " but How will the Negro af
+ feet the Church,"
III lulS assembly ASldIlCS, EufOD
cans, South Americans, Africans
and North Americans--all, ar,
Meth odist Epi5copalans, sharin
equally both privilege and respon
sibility. No nationality, no colo
need act on the defensive Here, a
everywhere, the trained man viii
be known not by his Conference, hi
nationality, or his color, but by tn
l force Of his own personality and hi
intelligent di6cernment Of men an;
measures in the large.
1--WE Congrat Ilate the Nation OF
the rapid progress made by the Ne
gro race since the pen OF Jnco1l
wrote the magic words that mad
it free Oh American soil. We recog
nize the devotion Of our Coloret
membership as shown in it's respons
: to every call Of the Church. Condemn
ing every act Of prejudice or con
tempt by which their way is mad
more difficult. wa 60 the more cove
for them and for the Church 5ucl
a record in the use Of their higi
privileges in this great Legislative
and judicial assembly as will vindi
catc at once their own m2nhoot
and the faith Of the Church in he
educational Methods