Or, A Colored Man's Reply to Bishop Foster.
79
strong and successful as that of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, than with any organization which in the nature of the
case, will be governed substantially by white men. It seems to
me a position not very unlike [that of Ireland and England. T
do not wonder that the Irish people want 'Home Rule," and I
cannot wonder that the colored people of America, on the whole,
prefer "Home Rule." For instance, we in New England are a
body of Yankees, I have the greatest regard and respect for the
members of our communion who are carrying on the Unitarian
work in England; but I should think they would be very angry
if we ask them to come into a common organization with them
and choose indiscriminately English and American officers to
carry on the United Unitarian Church of England and New Eng¬
land. Still more should I be angry if they expected to furnish
all the leading officers of that organization. Now, really, your
position is not dissimilar. I should think that a cordial under¬
standing might be made between the Methodist Church of
America and the African Methodist Church of America, even to
the extent of having your bishops sit on the same plapform, and
confer with each cfher in occational meetings. You have asked
for the advice of an outsider, and you have got it. Thanking
for counting me in the "Old Guard." Edw. E. Hale.
A large majority of those who have replied to the inquiry of
Dr. Hamilton, have put themselves on record as standing firmly
by the principles of Christianity. The Methodist Episcopal
Church (in influence) will fall in the estimation of the Christian
world, the day she lowers her banner of recognition of all men in
every gift of the Church. Since our Church is not the Metho¬
dist Episcopal Church North nor South, but the Methodist
Episcopal Church, she cannot afford to over look any of her
constituency when it comes to the high offices of the Church,
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