The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-10-18
NUMBERS WANT
NEGRO BISHOPS
Proposal Made for Establishment Of
Racial EpiscOpate-Made Con-
vention at ST. Louis.
(By Associated Press)

st. Louis, Mo, Oct, 1S--A proposal
for establishment Of racial eplsro.
pate, creations Of negro diocese, and
removal Of negro parishes from super.
vision Of white bishops, was contained
in the majority report of the Joint
commission on racial episcopato sub
mitted to the tricnnal convention of
the Protestant Church here today, A
minority report, also submitted, urged
retention OF the section Of the church
constitution permitting election Of ne
gro suifragan bishops
Neither report if ratified by this
years convention, can become eifec-
tive unless it is ratified also in 1919
because constitutional changes must
be approved by two successive con-
ventions.
The reports indicated wide differ
ence of opinion on the subject, which
has been before church leaders for
several years. 1t was submitted first
by the southwestern province com
posed Of the diocese Of Texas, Okla
homa. New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri
! and Arkansas
The majority report, accepting the
race cannot be ignored in the family
of God, recommended that the people
OF missionary districts establ sh,. up
on racial fines, nave the same aents
and occupy the same position N the
church as those Of other domestic ms
slonary districts. 1t was pointed out
that although provision for the cleo
ton Of negro sulfragag bishops has
been in the church constitution for
SIX years, none such has been chosen
in Am9rica.
The minority report asserted that
this clan has not yet been given an
adequate trial and pointed out that it |
has been successful in at least two
cases on the west coast of Africa.
"In our yiew," said the majority re-
port, " it is consistent with Gods ap-
polntment that the racial family be
recognized as such, and consistent /
with our own unfailing method Of T
pratical administration in the church |
Wherever the negro have turned to
the the church in sufficient numbers to
warrant ii, congregations Of their
own race have been organized by the
authority. Wherever priests of their
race could be found to minister to
them, they have been settled by US
as heads Of the ecclesiastical race
antilles"
Replying to arguments that it
might further sunder the race, the
majority report said that white"
yellow, red and black races are SO
distinctly separated that mans nge-
auity could not make them more so"
and urged that provision for this ex-
.stent separation is necessary for the
morality, virtue and integrity Of both
races.
when we have helped the negro
% the achievement Of racial self suf-
iciency, which is born of accomplish
nent, to self mastery, which follows
Mortal victory and to pride Of race,
which is only possible when these vic
lories have been gained, we shall
laye fixed within Linn the passion for
social integrity which is as Justly
natural as is that for racial repro
iuction. Separation Of races is great
" misinterpeted, if it is not recog-
lized to be the first necessary step TO-
yard the achievement Of these ends.
This is fully recognized by the Negro
eaders of the south. 1t is difficult to
onceive how anyone can imagine that
4 race can be honored by repression,
n helped to self expression by prac-
ical destruction Of its racial iden-
,ity.
The real question at issue, said the
majority report, is: How can the
hurch absorb into herself the differ
noes, while applying to each the
atholic principle of the liberty Of
he Sons Of God" And this is to be
it said, by the complete
rganization Of each race under its
,wn spiritual leaders.
Separation nowhere necessarily de- I
troys unity. Identity, Of necessity,
,ces. The impossible effort to ignore I
ace in the family Of God may be dis