The American Missionary | Page 6

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of the Committee of Conference was accordingly withdrawn, and the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