Evening journal., 1916-05-18
4NEGRO BISHOPS IN THE NJ. +
CHURCH,

y
CHURCH"
To Editor Of THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL:
Sir:-I do not believe, as some Of
our colorcd constituency in the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, that all Of the
white people are unfavOrable to our
promotion, and want us out of the
way. so that organic union might be
Immediately effected with the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South.
A polled vote would surprise us
upon learning how many are willing
for us to remain in the church and the
vast number favorable to the election
Of Negro bishop to preside over our
colored work of the Southland
! do not want to see the day when
this contact with the white people in
the Methodist Episcopal Church in
America shall be severed No, not 7.
Let it be remembered that if il had
not been for the attitude OF the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church towards the
Negro in ante-bellum days, his free
dom would baye been deferred for
decades of years. indeed. perhaps,
never given. Verify, II was she that
sent more prayers to heaven, more
soldiers to the field. and more nurses
to the hospitals than all the others
combined.
Indeed. when the Emancipation Pro-
clamation was placed before Abraham
Lincoln to sign, and he was question
ing the right. and the best thing to
do Bishop Simpson, Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, stood behind him,
shouting. Sign it! Sign it," Ana
truly. Mr.. Lincoln. with one stroke Of
his goose-quill pen, signed the Procla-
nation and freed four millions Of
black men as slaves. This act did not
only free the Negroes Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, but the Negroes of
all the churches; yes. 1t liberated all
the Negroes OF America.
And the day we leave the Methodist
Episcopal Church, II will be an ire
trievable blunder. the consequence Of
which will relinquish its responsible
ity. dimish our doing power. and re-
tard not only our progress within
her fold. but the progress. fear, Of
every Afro-American citizen.
would see differently were we
white instead OF black; rich instead of
poor.
What tell me what great worldwide
influential Christian Society would
there be to take our part? Who will
there be who would have the stamina
to command attention in our behalf?
Friends, the black mans rights at
/ the bar OF justice in the courts would
be denied till the judgment day but
for some white man. or men, who are
willing to stand and plead with and
for us.
Hence, 7 say. the Negroes exodus
from the Methodist Episcopal Church
would be premature at this time. and
would cripple us in many ways.
Stay, I say. even il there are some
who do not want us.
Or 7 compromise with this provision
stay in the Methodist Church just as
long as the Negroes will stay in the
United States without having a col
ored man the President of the United
States.
believe that our race especially
those OF the Southland. would he help
ed with a fair consecrated and
God-anointed Negro bishop.
4 20 God why did you make me black p
was an expression that fell from the
| lips OF Phillip Reading. a colored man,
who had escaped from slavery through
the aid Of the Underground Railroad
to Hudson. New York, where he
thought that he would enjoy the privi-
lege Of liberty and fair chance in
the race Of life. Not many months,
however. had passed ere he felt the
serpents sting and the adder's bite
Prejudice had blocked his way and
denied him OF his God-given rights.
notwithstanding his department as an
honest man, a law abiding citizen. a
Christian gentleman. Seeking to know
why he was thus treated. the answer
was given quick as a flash Of light
ming, you are black" Then. with
tears streaming down his cheeks, the
old man said. co. God. why did you
make me black?"
Prejudice, to some extent. in the