The Colorado statesman., 1912-07-20
UPRIGHT LEADERS AND SAFE

CFrOm Charlotte Evening Chronlcle.)
The three weeks conference of the
A. NJ. E. Zion church. which closed at
Clinton Chapel, brought to Charlotte
the most representative gathering of
colored citizens that perhaps was
ever in the city at one time.
Men from Massachusetts, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania Alabama,
Texas, Tennessee, and from nearly ev-
cry state east of the Mississippi, have
been here, engaged from day to day in
the most important work of the
church, church that represents
membership of over a half million OF
the best colored people in the country
and in the south, upright and law
abiding men and women, who are an
honor to their race.
The dignity and conservatism with
which the venerable bishops of the
church have presided from day to day
in regular rotation kept the confer
ence deliberations on a high plane,
and during the three weeks of the con-
ference many sentiments, opinions and
views have been expressed relative to
the future welfare of the colored race
that would be heartily seconded by
every conservative white citizen per
haps in the entire country. The con-
ference was one of harmony and
peace, representing the spirit of the
great church which it represented as
the highest official body of that
church. There was never a word of
rancor or of race strife uttered, but on
hn b01 cfn
marked by spirit of brotherhood and
of desire for the best relations pos
sible that might exist between the
races while the great subject of the
moral welfare of the colored man was
always given the leading preference
over all other considerations.
The assemblage Of such men in any
city is calculated to draw the atten-
ton of the white race to the fact that
the brother in black is not only capa-
BILE of but has already accomplished his
sphere the development of men of
brains, of deep spiritual insight and Of
wise and practical counsel. men who
can see deeper than the ordinary man
into the problem of the black man in
America, and who do not hesitate to
express those convictions in manner
that carried with it power to impel
the concurrence of fair and open
minds evrywhere.
The one act of the candidates for
high office of bishop in throwing
aside as so many childish trinkets
their personal ambitions for the good
of the great church which they have
IN hue tn
the world that the service of the mas
ter is paramount in their minds and
their deliberative bodies, has con-
vinced their white friends that these
men are not time-servers or politi-
clans, juggling with the offices of the
church. When a score of men said
they would get out OF the race for
bishop in order to maintain the fair
name of the church and to keep the
peace, they perhaps unconsciously
brought upon themselves a higher
mead of true honor than they could
have achieved in many years as
bishop in the church.
1t was an honest, upright gathering
of the best colored men of the coun-
try, devoted with one united aim to
the furtherance of the cause of that
kingdom whose subjects they are The
colored people have safe and sane
leaders in these men, If those who at
tended the Charlotte conference are
even average examples of the preach
ers and church officers of the great
institution which they represent. and
with the whole country's colored pop
ulation dominated by such men as
these. God-fearing and even sticklers
for the tested and tried doctrines OF
their church. there would be no race
problem-such would have no mean.
ing to these men.
And yet had 1t not been for the re.
quests of the newspapers for reports
of the proceedings, the whole confer
ence might have met, worked and ad
journed, and the world remained un
informed of such a gathering. They
exemplify the classic quotation that
shallow streams murmur but the
deeps are dumb.