The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-10-16
A BLUSH TO
:. !. !. CHRISTIANITY
Noted Chicago Pastor Con-
demnS Religious Caste.
A STANDARD OF INJUSTICE
Rev. Carey strongly Protests against
Race Discrimination in Religious
Institutions. Noted Pastor writes
an Open Letter to Secretary of
Young Mems Christian Assn.


an Open Letter to Secretary of
Young Mems Christian Assn.
Chicago, ILL.,, October 6. 1914.
Mr.. Charles Sumner Smith,
Editor Twin Sity Star, ~
Minneapolis, MINI.
My Dear Sir: am pleased to
learn that you are opposed to the
movement to start separate Y. M.
c. A. for colored people in Mime
apolis and l trust that you villa con-
tinue to stand against it.
You have good colored churches in
your city and it seems to me that each
church could do some social settle
ment work and look after the young
folks and that would be better than
the dangerous experiment of starting
segregation which may end disastrous
ly in the end.
The Federal Government has start
ed segregation among the govern
ment employees at Washington and
many Southern cities are establishing
ghettos, so it is we'll to look askance
at every suggestion of segregation.
even if it comes in the guise of
spiritual uplift"
I enclose a copy of letter I re-
Gently addressed to Mr.. L. Wilbur
Messer, Secretary of the Central Y.
M. c. A. of Chicago asking for truth
and light in relation to the treatment
of the segregated members of the or
ganization. You are at liberty to
print the letter or to use any of the
arguments advanced as your own in
fighting segregation in Minneapolis
I know that God will bless you for
the work you are doing against seq
regation.
Sincerely yours. ~
A. J. Carey.
OF THE cEn7THsAtT y. N. Z. A..
CHICAGO. -
Chicago. October 1914
Mr.. L. Wilbur Messer,
Secretary, Central, y. M. c. A.,
Chicago. Illinois, ri
My dear Sir: "sa
have been greatly interested in the
controversy about the Y. M. C. A. ban
on smoking and my interest was intensi-
fled, when read in your signed explana-
ton of the new rule which was pub
ment that the test Of membership IN
the Young Mems Christian Association
is good moral character" 1t is suf-
nrising statement in view of what I have
heard concerning the Y. M. C. A.
have been told by young men Of un-
been refused membership in the Y. M. c.
A. simply on account Of color. ... ..
also know Of the establishment in
various parts Of the country, including
our own city Of Chicago, Of branch Y. M.
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 Caucausians, Indians, Mongolians
and Malays, who are gladly received into
the Central Y. M. c. A. and it's many
branches
have also heard that any human be-
ing who Is the member Of any branch Y.
M. G. A. has certain rights and Is cor
ton, unless he happens to have more or
less Negro blood in his veins.
II I have been misinformed regarding
conditions l desire to be set right and I
also trust you will kindly answer the
questions I shall ask: -
II a German, I mean an alien, who has
not been naturalized, desired to become
a member of the Central Y. M. c. A.
would he be permitted to do SO, or would
he be compelled to connect himself with
the German branch, regardless Of his
wishes in the matter?
Would Polish railroad man, employed
by the Grand Trunk railroad, who lived
on the North side, be compelled to pass
by the North Side branch, the Central
organization and perhaps another branch
the Grand, Trunk branch association, or
could he use his own judgment In the
matter.
II colored man living in the down.
town district desired to become an men, n.
do so, or would the authorities compel
him to waste an hour to go four miles
to the colored branch on Wabash avenue
and. 3Sth street?
Are the rights of the colored men who
are members of the colored branch Y. M.
c. A. Identical with those Of members Of
other branches? Are they as cordially
received at the Central Building on La
Sale street, and treated with the same
Are there branches of the Central Y.
NJ. c. A. organized for Indian, Monaghan
and Malay races?
Are not branches organized for the var
ious European nationalities chiefly on ac-
count of difference in languages? If so
arate building for colored men Of whom
80 percent are American born and who
speak the English language?
Was not the colored mems branch
really organized to cater to an unjust,
I'M American and un- Christian prejudice
-
their color?
Has the Central Y. M. c. A. catered
to a similar prejudice in the case OF
other nationalities and organized sep
arate Y. M. G. AS on account Of pre-
judice?
Admitting that many colored men really
believe that the separate organization on
Wabash avenue is a power for good. that
II is better to have such branch than
not to be admitted at all and that many
colored men are glad to meet and mngle
with others of their class, Is 1t not
fundamental fact that caste caused the
organization of the branch, and is 1t not
UNI Christian (if 1t Is done) to bar the
few colored men who may find 1t con-
venient to become members Of the Cen.
trail Y. M. c. A. or branches located
nearer their residences than the colored
branch?
read with great interest the letters
you sent back to the Chicago papers
while you were touring tho world and In
the third letter, published on March 81,
1914, you give summary of your inn
pressions and convictions Of your study
x.o,,oI q, India and vnl sneak Of