The Denver star., 1914-11-14
DEFENDS RIGHTS
OF HIS PEOPLE
Attitude Of Y. NJ C. A. Causes
Heated Discussion
DR.. A. j. CAREY TO The FORE

Widely known Preacher and Champion
of Legal and Equal Opportunities For
Afro Americans Questions Sincerity
Of Christian Body In His Home Town.
Institution Faces Serious Situation.
Chicago.-The Rev. DR.. A. j. Carey.
pastor of the Institutional A. NJ. E.
church In this city. sent the following
open letter to Mr.. L. WILDER Messer.
secretary OF the Central Young Mems
Christian Association. in reference to
the associations attitude toward the
branch of the association composed of
colored men. DR.. Carey's letter:
Chicago. October. 1914
Mr.. l.. Wilbur Messer. Secretary. Cen
tral 7. NJ. c. A., Chicago:
My Dear Sir-l have been greatly inter
ested in the controversy about the Y. NJ
c. A. ban on smoking, and my interest
was intensified when l read in your sign
ed explanation of the new rule which was
published in the Chicago Tribune. the
statement that the test of membership
in the Young Mems Christian association
Is good moral character. 1t is sur
pEising statement in view OF what l have
heard concerning the Y. NJ. c. A. l have
been told by young men OF untmpeachabie
character that they have been refused
membership in the Y. NJ. c. A. simply on
account of color. l also know OF the es-
tablishment in various parts of tho coun-
try, including our own city Of Chicago, OF
branch Y. NJ. c. As for the purpose OF
providing for the men Of darker hue and
separating them from their fellow human
beings as II they were lepers and UNFIT to
mingle with Caucasians Indians, Mongo-
lians and Malays. who are gladly receiv-
ed into the Central Y. NJ. c. A.
1 have also heard that any human be-
ing who is the member Of any branch l.
NJ. c. A. has certain rights and II cor
daily received at the central organization
unless he happens to have more or less
Negro blood in his veins. II l have been
misinformed regarding conditions desire
to be set right. and l also trust you VIII
kindly answer the questions l shall ask
II a German. / mean an allen. who has
not been naturalized. desired to become
a member of the Central Y. N. c. A
would he be permitted to do 80 or would
he be compelled to connect himself with
the German branch regardless Of his
wishes in the matter!
II colored man living in the down
town district desired to become a MEM
Der Of the Central Y. NJ. c. A. could he
do 80, or would the authorities compel
him to waste an hour to go four miles
to the colored branch on Wabash avenue
and Thirty-eighth street? Are the rights
Of the colored men who are members OF
the colored branch. Y. N. c. A.. Identical
with those OF members Of other branches
Are they as cordially received at the
Central building on Lasalie street ana
treated with the same consideration as
other nationalities? Arc there branches
of the Central Y M. c. A. organized FOR
Indian. Mongolian and Malay races7 Are
NOT branches organized for the various
European nationalities chiefly on account
of difference In languages? II SO, why
was 1t necessary to provide separate
building for colored men. of whom 80 per
cent are American born ana VINO speaS
the English language?
Admitting that many colored men real
Iy believe that the separate organization
on Wabash avenue Is y power Tor Rooo'
that 1t Is better to have such a branch
than not to be admitted at all ana tnat
many coiored men are glad to meet and
mingIe with others of their class. II y
not a fundamental fact that caste caused
tho orEanizatio OF the branch. and In II
not un-Christian df It Is done) to bar the
few colored men who may find con
venient to become members OF the Cen
trail Y. NJ c. A. or branches located near
er their residences than the colored
branches? l read with great interest tht
| letters you sent back to the Chicago pa
pers while you were touring the world
and in the third letter. published OF
| March 81. 1914. you give summary o.
YOUR impressions and conviction o.
| your study and travel in India and yol
| speak Of caste" which Is described Al
| ..the most disastrous and blighting o.
human institutions" You say that tn'
| Christian church has 100000 converts II
| India and that its mission Is to breai
| down caste. and you say the people read
| lily respond with their hearts to the Cos
| pei of Christian brotherhood.
| If caste is a disastrous and blightint
institution" in India and one which th'
| z. NJ. C. A. is trying to break up. VIII,
does the Y NJ. c. A. uphold and perpet
| uate system of caste in the United
| States? In spite Of the fact that man.
| colored people favor separate Y. h.
| AS and contribute to their support doe
| not such separation eventually work &
| the injury of the Afro-American people
| Is not the Y. M. c. A. d semipublic insti
| tuition, and Is not the existence OF sep
arate branch for a class OF people VIII
| we're born In America and speak the Ian
| Ruage Of the country q discredlt to de
| mocrncy and ought II not to cause
blush to come to American Christianity
i Ia II not fact that the existence OF col
| or line in the Y. NJ. c. A. is often used a
Justification for segregation In publ
| pla ces and public Institutions?
Does It not finally lead to injustice u
| every relation OF life. to residential ses
regation to disfranchisement and the de
| NAL o. every civil right7 Does 1t not ten
to make the Affo-Americans paria
class Stunned and despised by all othe
| claSses? ff there is the slightest diner
| ence in the treatment OF the various race
| and nationalities by the Central Y. M. {
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