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.