When the General Assembly met a year ago the Church had been somewhat stirred up, though the leaders and editors generally seemed so anxious for a proud reunion that they were ready to forget the wrong proposed to the colored brothers. Indeed, a volunteer commission of editors and managers had gone all through the South visiting the synods of the Northern Church where the Negroes were in the majority, persuading them that it would be better for them to go by themselves and get their share of the honors. Not willing to be an obstacle, the Negroes had very generally yielded to the persuasions of their kind visitors.
But there were a number of earnest men who were not willing to yield the principle, and who would make a fight. It was the Centennial year, and the two Assemblies were meeting at the same time and in neighboring cities, ready to consummate the union if desired. But the previous discussion had stirred up the Southerners also, and they had discovered that the temper of the North was not all that had been represented. They were not at all sure that the color-line could be peacefully drawn. They had decided, therefore, not to unite. The report of the Committee of Conference was accordingly withdrawn, and the matter referred to another committee, which praised the fidelity of the Committee, declared it premature to act on their report, and approved "the general principles enumerated in the replies of the Committee," and recommended that the committee of thirteen be enlarged by the addition of five more men, and continued to devise methods of co-operation with the Southern Church. In fear of acrimonious discussion this was railroaded through in two minutes.
Well, the General Assembly has met again and the action taken by an overwhelming majority of the Assembly fills us with gratitude to God. The ticklish part of the report on co-operation was that, of course, on colored evangelization. Here the report first stated what had been the policy of the Southern Church for a separate Negro denomination, and then gave that of the Northern Church:
"The Northern Assembly, on the other hand, has pronounced itself as not in favor of setting off its colored members into a separate, independent organization; while by conceding the existing situation, it approves the policy of separate churches, presbyteries and synods, subject to the choice of the colored people themselves."
Only one of the seventeen, Elder S.M. Breckinridge, of St. Louis, signed a minority report.
It was fully expected that this report, so overwhelmingly recommended, would go through with a rush. The managers had so planned. The ex-Moderators, Smith, Crosby and Thompson, were in its favor. Dr. Crosby said he would as soon be in the Southern Church as in the Northern. All the prestige of good fellowship was in favor of the report as it was presented, and the Southern Assembly had adopted it by a large majority the day before.
The Rev. John Fox, of Allegheny, Penn., opened the opposition, opposing the report generally, and supporting Elder Breckinridge's minority report. It was a useful speech, and, though the sentiment of the Assembly was plainly opposed, it stemmed the tide awhile and prepared the way for what was to follow. Ex-Moderator Smith, of Baltimore, Chairman of the Northern Assembly's Committee, then defended his report and showed how much the Southern Assembly had yielded in accepting it. Then came the event of the day. The Rev. M. Woolsey Stryker, of Chicago, a young man of thirty-five, whom our readers will remember as one of our correspondents, arose and denounced that portion of the report which in the paragraph given above we have put in italics, and moved its omission. He denied that the Church ever had "approved the policy of separate churches, presbyteries and synods," and he declared such a policy to be utterly unchristian. It instantly appeared that he had the sympathy of the Assembly, if not of its leaders. Dr. Niccolls, of St. Louis, supported him vigorously, but briefly, for speakers had been shut down to five minute speeches. Dr. McCulloch, of Alton Presbytery, Ill., defended the report and asked, "Do you mean to tell me that if the colored people themselves prefer separate churches, presbyteries and synods, you would deny them the right to have them?" "Yes, by all means," shouted Mr. Stryker, whose clear head and bold answer was rewarded with loud approval. Dr. Crosby said he understood that the Negroes had last year indicated their desire for separation; but Mr. Sanders, the colored editor of The Africo-American Presbyterian, of North Carolina, arose, and said they had many of them consented to it last year rather than seem to stand in the way of re-union, but that this year there was no reason for such a sacrifice, that they did not wish it, and that while the presbytery of which he was a member had no white ministers in it, they would be glad to welcome them if they would come. After other addresses, the motion of Mr. Stryker for the excision of the paragraph favoring separation of the races was put and carried by an overwhelming majority, not less than three to one, and the report, with this amendment, adopted.
It was a glorious victory, due to the conscience of the rank and file of the Assembly, a victory of the Christian heart of fellowship with the humblest over the pride and ambition of greatness and power. The Assembly has done its duty by its colored members, and every colored member's face was radiant with delight. We have never doubted that if the subject once came fairly up for discussion, the Conference Committee would learn something they did not know before about their denomination. Encouraged by the indorsement given by the Presbyterian Assembly to the position we have maintained against the separation of Christians in the Church of Christ, we shall not neglect the same conflict going on among the Congregationalists and Episcopalians.
From the Christian Union.
The question whether the Church of Christ shall recognize the color line is coming up to vex in turn each one of the great Protestant denominations in the North. We say Protestant denominations advisedly; for we do not believe that the Roman Catholic Church would for a moment entertain the notion of excluding a man either from its sacraments, its worshiping assemblies, or its priesthood, on the ground of color, or would recognize in its worshiping assemblies any distinction except the broad one between clergy and laity. To do so would be to violate all its traditions and history.