I would just as soon sit by the side of a black man if he were in the House of Bishops, as one of my white brothers.”  But yet the Bishop suggested and endorsed the plan for the separate education of colored students, for two reasons:  (1) “The power of heredity is not to be overthrown in a day nor an hour...  This subtle spirit of caste is perhaps the demon hardest to cast out of the human spirit, the one that requires the most prayer and fasting, without which it will not go out,” and (2) “It is certainly true that the colored men themselves do not want to go there.  It is just as true that the white men do not want to have them there.”

As to the first point, it is to be regretted that the good Bishop did not give himself to fasting and prayer to cast out this malignant demon, rather than to yield to it, and that he did not heed the words which Jesus uttered when his disciples could not cast out a demon, “Bring him hither to me.” If bishops and churches will only bring this demon of caste to Jesus, the work will be done.

The Bishop’s second point, that the colored people desired the separation, was pointedly answered by Dr. Crummell (rector of St. Luke’s Colored Church, Washington,) who was invited to speak on the subject.  Dr. Crummell said:  “I do not think that any man in this country has seen any statement by any number of black men or black students that they wanted to be by themselves.  I do not think such an utterance can be found among the race.  I myself never heard such a thing, and wherever they have had entrance to other schools they have gone to them.”

The decision reached by the Council was to erect, in connection with some of the colored universities in the South, a hall under Episcopal control for colored Episcopal students for the ministry, who should also attend the college classes in the University.  So far as the principle is concerned, we regret this decision.  How much better if the wealthy and intelligent Episcopal Church in this country had lent its vast influence in repudiating the spirit of caste by introducing colored theological students into its own excellent seminaries.

* * * * *

A MONTHLY CONCERT AND SUPPLEMENT.

BY REV.  EDWIN N. ANDREWS.

Do they say the monthly concert is dull?  If so, it is likely owing to one or two causes like the following, (1) Perhaps only two or three families take any missionary Magazine, hence but little information can be expected.  People are not interested in what they know nothing of.  Or, (2) there is a lack of preparation and purpose to make the meeting interesting on the part of those to whom the leader ought to look for help.

However, our last meeting took a rather interesting turn.  It had been of the average sort only, when towards the close one of the ladies spoke of a call among the Freedmen for dolls and clothing, (not clothing for dolls).  The pastor suggested that we gather together, from the families, various contributions, such as partly-worn garments, toys, books, religious papers, etc., and make a New Year’s donation to the people to whom such things would be a god-send and good as new.