The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-18
WANT
NEGRO BISHOPS
Proposal Made for Establishment Of
Racial Episcopate-Made Con-
vention at St. Louis.
(By Associated Press)


for establishment of racial episco
pate, creations of negro diocese, ane
removal Of negro parishes from super.
vision Of white bishops, was contained
in the majority report of the joint
commission on racial episcopate sub
mitted to the triennal 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 suffragan bishops.
Neither report if ratified by this
years convention, can become effec.
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. It was submitted first
by the southwestern province COM
posed of the diocese of Texas, Okla
homa. New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri
and Arkansas. e
The majority report, accepting the
race cannot be ignored in the family
OF God, recommended that the people
of missionary districts established up
on racial lines, have the same rights
and occupy the same position in the
church as those Of other domestic mis-
sionary districts. 1t was pointed out
that although provision for the cleo
tion of negro suffrNgan bishops has
been in the church constitution for
six years, none such has been chosen
in America.
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 view," said the majority re-
port, it is consistent with Gods ap-
pointment that the racial family be
recognized as such, :, and consistent
with our own unfailing method of !,
oratical administration in the church,
Wherever the negro have turned to
he the church in sufficient numbers to
it, congregations of their ,
'wn race have been organized by the ,
authority. Wherever priests of their i,
ace could be found to minister to
hem, they have been settled by us !,
s heads of the ecclesiastical race
amilies."
Replying to arguments that it s
1ight further sunder the race, the e
report said that "white," n
elbow, red and black races are so t
istinctly separated that mans inge-
uity could not make them more so" o
nd urged that provision for this ex- +
'tent separation is necessary for the T.
lorality, virtue and integrity of both g
aces.
when we have helped the negro a.
the achievement of racial self suf- r,
cheney, which is born of accomplish r.
ent, to self mastery, which follows II
ortal victory, and to pride of race, to
hich is only possible when these vic ol
ries have been gained, we shall hi
I'VE fixed within him the passion for
cial integrity which is as Justly :
'tural as is that for racial repro y
lction. Separation of races is great !
misinterpeted, if it is not recog- !
zed to be the first necessary step to- =
ard the achievement of these ends. Z
lis is fully recognized by the Negro I
'ders of the south. 1t is difficult to !
nceive how anyone can imagine that
race can be, honored by repression, Z
helped to self expression by prac- (
al destruction Of it's racial iden-
Y.
The real question at issue, said the =
ljority report, is: "How can the
lrch absorb into herself the differ
'es, while applying to each the
,holic principle Of the liberty Of :
J Sons Of, God" And this is to be
swered, it said, by the complete Z
of each race under its Z
n spiritual leaders.
Separation nowhere necessarily de.
oys unity. Identity, Of necessity.
IS. The impossible effort to ignore Z
e in the family Of God may be dis