64 Separation or Continuity, Which?
us by the law as well as to all other members of the Church-
There are no providential causes that prevent the Church from
awarding to a competent man, be he red, white or black, any
position in the Church that he is capable of filling.
Prejudice is the only cause. The color of our skin is a mere
accident and not the result of the branding iron of God, sear-
ing us soul and body and intending to consign us tot1 n inferiority
or sepal ateness. We are men. The Church has been develop¬
ing our manhood for twenty-five years in school and associa¬
tion. We know that the Church has no right to invite us into
her communion and then withhold from us any honors to which
our ability and character might entitle us,
Another reason for continuation. In the Methodist Episco¬
pal Church the law says that we have equal rights; that we
stand side by side with our white brethren ; we are taking an
honorable part in the fight against caste. If we withdraw we
become a caste church, a colored church, a black church,
ii.stead of a church foi all classes and conditions of men. Such
a result would be a surrender. Bishop Foster in his book has
trod upon us. The Church will know before this agitation
closes that we are not asleep nor ignorant of our rights.
We will never agree to separation unless we are repressed and
we think we shall be able to determine that.
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