Year: 1876

VOLUME X.-NO. 5


Especial Correspondence Of the Republican,


NORTHERN POLITICS.


The Methodist Episcopal ChurcA-TAe


Roman Hierarchy and the Nesrs


BosToN. June 8, 1876.


In my letter Of yesterday ! gave the rela
tions which existed between the Catholic
hierarchy, New England Radiealism and
the negro power and the tendency of these
forces to coalesce. showed also the dan


ger to the csuse of Professionalism in the
New World. which would arise from thia
coalition. l now propose to discuss the
counteracting force which il likely to an.
tsgonize this coalition. That force is the
Nedthodist Episcopal Church of tho United
States. The vote of the late conference at
Baltimore electing Senator Revels, of Mis-.
sissippi, to be the editor of the Soulhcestern
Aduoeate (publahed in New Orleans), 10 the
fret move of the Methodist brotherhood in
this great conflict. It opens battle which
viii soon rage in every Southern State. 1t is
the first step in an open warfare between the
Methodist Church and the Catholic party
for supremacy in the late slsve States OF
the Union. The vital bearing of this con-
fict in the future of the negro; in the future
Of Aethodism in the New World, and in the
future relations between the two great
races inhsbiting the Southern States, i'm
part to the subject an exceptional interest.
propose. therefore, to discuss the ques-
tion, from time to time, in this correspond
ence, ~ one Of surpassing interest to not
only your readers, but to large class of
people st the North.


And first of the Methodist Episcopal
Church itself, it, origin, its growth, its
power, and its mission on earth, as the an
tagonist of the Roman hierarchy in politics
and of Roman ecclesiasticism in the reli-
gious world. Tho Methodist Episcopal
Church originsted in the earnest desire of
Whitfield to evangeiise the Episcopacy and
to bring it into sympathy with the rights
Of man and with reason. The Methodist
Church il, therefore, not only part of the
Episcopal Church, but it has never been
and never can be separated from it. It
stands in the same relation to the mother
church occupied BY the Anglican tritual)
brotherhood on the one hand and Bishop
Cummings lster-day departure on the
other. In word the Methodist Church is
Episcopal. 1t is simply "low church"
made real. The growth of this wonderful
body of Christians attests its power over
the human heart. Its numbers, wealth and
culture show that it can take in the things
which pertain to progress and civilization,
and yet hold in to the camp meeting and
the Mothers in Israel" Its mission in
America st least is identified with the
cause of civil liberty and the political
brotherhood of man. As the disruption of
the Methodist Church of the United States
in the slavery question was the first breach
in the old Union, 20 the reuniting of the
Church North and South will be the first
practical reunion between the long es-
tranged sections of our common country.
The mission of the Church is, therefore, .
noble one, but q most difficult one to
realize. The difficulty consists in solving
the race problem at the South. The sboli-
ton of ceste in the worship Of God in the
Southern Churches Of the denomination is
the one simple yet comprehensive and
effective solution of ths problem. and yet
the very polite people in Columbia, South
Carolina, for instance, who went voluntarily
to the opening of the new Opera House
two winters ago in that city, and voluntarily
sat side BY side with the representatives Of
African society and enjoyed Adelaide
Phillips magnificent singing and acting,
are the very people who will oppose
''side by side" worship of God! Of course
. church which recognizes and prsc-
tees such q spirit of caste Is this in
the worship of the diety can not
long exert any influence over the
"cast out" race which it wishes to embrace
in it's communion. Rome, with its anti
caste worship, will in such case finally hold
tho first position in the respect and sym
psthies of the negro population. As this
caste issue becomes more and more dis
cussed among the colored people the power
of Rome will increase. How can the
Methodist Church, North approach the
Southern church ON this question! fear it
will fail in the attempt to bring the South |
ern church over to the right, at least at this |
time, simply because, after all, all life is |
found in it's social relations, and tie tend |
ency of modern civilization is IN the direc- |
lion of social sristocrscy, and the color line |
1t the South involves q social issue as we'll |
ns political issue, both convergiDg in the |
idea.
The probabilities are, therefore, that the |
Methodist Church North will take hold of
he negro problem alone, in some practical
wsy, and with strong hand. If it does 30
t will finally force the Christians Of the
southern wing of the church to recognize
ts mission work. This once done, the in
crest in the work will increase, and finally
he original cause of the disruption of the
,hurch into sectional parties may be re-
moved. In the meanwhile, assume the
movement ss one full of significance, % it
,ears on the cause of humanity and the
resent good and future destiny Of tho
egro. incline to the opinion that the OBJ
ective point of work by the Northern
detnodist Church at the South in this mat
or will be in promoting homo life and
vh-;.<:.~ Lo,nn oornvnuu,fioa AMINO th0 |