Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-10-21
DEBATES
IMPORTANT RACE
QUESTION
EPISCOPAL HOUSE OF DEPUTIES
GETS INTO HEATED DISCUSSION
OVER PROPOSITION TO ESTABLISH
A SEPARATE DI0CESES FOR Ne.
GR0ES IN the SOUTH.
DECREASES SHOWN IN
SUNDAY SCHOOL PUPILS

New York, Oct. PA heated de
bate over the negro question in the
south enlivened the deliberations OF
the house of deputies of the Protes
tant Episcopal church at today's ses
sion of the general conference.
A majority report by the committee
on racial episcopate, with commenda
tions against the proposal to establish
separate churches, dioceses. clergy
and bishops for southern negroes, was
presented. A minority report advo
eating the separation of the races and
the appointment of negro bishops to
sit in the house of bishops with pow.
ers equal to the whites, also was pre-
sented. Amid a storm of discussion,
the house finally made consideration
of both reports the order of business
for the afternoon session tomorrow,
limiting debate on each side to half
an hour.
"The proposal is radical violation
of the principals and customs of dio.
cesar union" asserts the majority
report, read by DR.. c. B. Bryan, of
North Carolina. with the utmost
for our negro brethren and
with desire to advance the work Of
the church among them, we still can
rot believe that as race they are
for an independent eccles-
astical administration.
To this declaration, the minority,
of Bishop Kinsolving of
Texas, Bishop Cheshire of North Car
olina, and the Rev, DR.. J. Mex. Pit
finger of Raleigh, N. c., took sharp
exceptions.
"The white people and the negro
people of the SOUTH said the minori-
ty report, cannot be dealt with by the
church without a sharp and positive
and distinction between
the two in worship, and in all corpor-
ate, ecclesiastical activities as well as
in social life.
"This separation is plain and un
in every southern diocese.
In some dioceses the colored clergy
and laiety are positively excluded
from any membership or participa-
ton in the diocesan council.
'In some dioceses, no distinction is
made in the constitution and canons
between white and black; but even in
.hese the subtle and irresistible in
auence of public feeling within and
without the church, makes 1t practic.
lily impossible for the colored mem
Ders of the church to have that free
md sympathetic participation in the
and activities of the
liocese which they need.
"Such being the situation We feel
hat something should be done by the
general convention to give the colored
members in the south status and an
which, in our judgment,
hey do not and cannot enjoy under
,ur present methods and organiza
ions"
A loss of more than 10000 pupils
within the last three years from the
Sunday schools of the Protestant Eps-
opal church in the United States was
'eported to the general convention of
he church today by the committee on
he state of the church. The report
sserted that the Sunday schools
throughout the country had on their
oils today less names than they had
n 1910.
Apparently there is loss of 926 |
I the number confirmed since 1910"
he report continued.
"There are also fewer children in
arochial schools. We must check
lis wasting of the body of Christ. We
lust follow up and hold these men,
ers. We must conserve our resour-
as.'
The new church policy of confirma.
on as advocated by the committee
rged the tracing of members who
ave one city for another so that
ley may be brought into the church
gain in their new homes. Making
le Sunday schools more attractive
as another recommendation.
While there has been loss in the
unday schools, the report adds, there
rs been gain in communicates.