PAM, 
 
 N, AMER. 
 
 *6 gv oe$ 
 
 %?izLzs<-0_JL. 
 
 

 
 
 
 ’ 
 
 . 
 
 « 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES 
 OF CHRIST IN AMERICA 
 
 UBL1CITY SERVICE 
 
 JASPER T. MOSES. Director 
 105 East 22nd Street, New York. N. Y, 
 
 For Release 
 Sept. 26-1919- 
 
 CHURCH COUNCIL CALLS FOR JUSTICE TO THE NEGRO 
 THE PROBLEM NO LONGER SECTIONAL 
 COOPERATION AND RACIAL UNDERSTANDING NECESSARY 
 
 A call to the citizens of the United States to act in conformity with 
 the high ideals of democracy and of Christianity in the present condition of 
 strained relations between the races has just been issued by the Federal 
 Council of the Churches of Christ in America, acting in conjunction with a 
 large representative committee of white and colored citizens from all sec- 
 tions of the country. This committee met recently in New York City on the 
 call of the secretary of the Home Missions Council and the chairman of the 
 Committee of the Federal Council on Negro Churches. Much time was given to 
 a full and free discussion of the racial situation. As a result this address 
 was issued which represents the thought of these leaders and the delibera- 
 tive judgment of the Administrative Committee of the Federal Council of the 
 
 Churches of Christ in America 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 
A STATEMENT AND RECOMMEWDATIONS 
 
 ON THE PRESENT RACIAL CRISIS. 
 
 The recent race conflicts in some of cur cities challenge the atten- 
 tion of the Churches of Jesus Christ to tneir responsibility respecting an 
 amicable and fair adjustment of race relations in America. 
 
 In the fellowship of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in 
 America are included 3,989,852 members of the Negro churches. In speaking 
 therefore at this time for humanity and justice we voice the mind and con- 
 science of both races. The present situation is a challenge to the Churches 
 charged with the promotion of the brotherhood of man, which look upon all 
 men as entitled to a footing of equality of opportunity. This calls for 
 preaching the duty of economic and community justice for the Negro, thus 
 securing peace and goodwill between the races. Beyond all else the present 
 situation calls for confession on the part of Christian men and women of 
 failure to live up to the standard of universal brotherhood as taught by 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 In the adjustment of race relations our country has in this crisis 
 not only its own conscience to satisfy, but also to justify itself as a nation 
 before the enlightened opinion of mankind. As a foremost exponent of the 
 ideals of democratic government, the United States has been lifted to the 
 full view of the world. Our present settlement therefore of race relations 
 will influence in a very large measure the settlement of race relations in 
 other parts of the world. 
 
 We must face frankly the fact that a most dangerous inter-racial 
 situation now threatens our country. The problems growing out of the pres- 
 ence of two races in America are clearly seen to be nation-wide and the 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/churchcouncilcalOOfede 
 
adjustments must necessarily be made on the basis of national responsibility. 
 The migration of thousands of Negroes to the North emphasizes this fact. The 
 outbreaks in several cities and the persistence of the anarchy and treason 
 of lynch-law imperil our democracy. 
 
 The actual practice of the principles of the brotherhood of Christ 
 can prevent such conflicts and nothing else will. The Church must offer the 
 ideals, the program and the leadership in this crisis. The Church must meet 
 its obligation, or leadership will pass not only to secular agencies, eco- 
 nomic or socialistic, but to forces that are destructive of civilization. 
 
 We must confess that the Church and its ministry as related to the 
 welfare of the Negro has been too little inspired by the fundamental princi- 
 ples and ideals of Jesus Christ. Communities that have expressed horror over 
 atrocities abroad, have seen, almost unmoved and silent, men beaten, hanged 
 and also burned by the mob. 
 
 The Negro has ever shown profound faith in God and has always looked 
 to the Church for leadership, for counsel and for guidance. The Church which 
 for fifty years has a record of almost unmatched service in the education 
 and betterment of the race will now be recreant to her trust and lose her 
 birth-right of service if she does not meet this confidence with a full sense 
 of responsibility and a full measure of service for justice, peace and good- 
 will. To this end we therefore urge upon the Church, her ministry and mem- 
 bership this constructive program: 
 
 A CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAM FOR JUST INTER-RACIAL RELATIONS 
 
 1. The Government, local, state and national, should impartially 
 guarantee to all classes security of life and of property. Mob violence is 
 becoming a crowd habit. When life and property are ruthlessly taken, when 
 men and women are lynched with no protection from officers or courts, law and 
 
' 
 
 ° .4 ■ •• s-i'-. „fi 
 
 - 1 ' -■* ; • v • • 
 
 *«m' ' 1 <J «rf* 
 
 ; td iaua rfoiuriO edT ,XXiw es Is snlrfiort baa «» 
 
 ■M* ni giduteb*#! erfj- bo* tut ' 
 
 ' 1 U ‘ * ft v e-i^r^K 
 
 ..fejNrfO euael lo «I*«bl boa t#i q 
 
 t 
 
 .d; : ft: I «jd ' tjmud o a 
 
 eoivw Yo ruraMTHirt s b« 
 
 • » ■' f . ' . 
 
 : . J*\-vn ! eaor eld* qidtnud 
 
 ,/ do X , Jr t vcO t rTT .1 
 
 ,' " \Xa- “Xi ; 'h i 9 «r •?: iq fc • 1 j.* 
 
 f t,*tB Clao* fob it*N 
 
- 3 - 
 
 order are trampled under foot. We call upon the pulpit, the press and all 
 good people to create a public sentiment that will support necessary legisla- 
 tion fcr the enforcement of existing laws, that life, liberty and the pursuit 
 of happiness may be equally assured to all classes. 
 
 2. The Negro should have economic justice, equal opportunity to get 
 and hold work on the same terms as other men, with equal pay for equal work, 
 and with fair working and living conditions. The entrance of large numbers 
 of Negroes into the various industries emphasizes the necessity of an immedi- 
 ate amicable adjustment of relations with white employers and fellow-workers. 
 
 3. We call upon men and women everywhere to protect the sanctity 
 of home and womanhood. We record with satisfaction the growing enlistment 
 
 of Negro leaders in a program of education and Christianization such as tends 
 to prevent crimes that provoke mob violence. The home of the Nearro should 
 receive the same measure of respect and protection as that of other Americans, 
 and the sanctity of his home relations should be safeguarded in every possi- 
 ble way. Swift and impartial action of the law should strike the violator 
 of the sanctity of any home, white or black. 
 
 4. We recognize as fundamental to the welfare and efficiency of 
 society that adequate recreational provisions be made available for Negro 
 citizens . 
 
 o. We strongly endorse the plea of the Negro for equal traveling 
 accommodations for equal charges. 
 
 6. Adequate educational facilities for Negro children and youth 
 should be provided not only as a national obligation but also as a necessity 
 for national welfare. We emphasize the urgency of giving to the Negro his 
 full share of local and national funds. 
 

 • •: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 — . • 
 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 I : 
 
 '! f ' 
 
 • ■ 
 
 * 
 
1 
 
 - 4 - 
 
 7. Qualifications for franchise should be administered irrespective 
 
 of race, creed or color. 
 
 8. Closer cooperation between the races should be promoted by organ- 
 izing local committees of white and colored people in towns and communities 
 for the consideration of inter-racial welfare, All possible agencies should 
 be enlisted in fostering a spirit of justice and of goodwill in the relations 
 of one race to the other. We recommend that the governor of each state ap- 
 point a standing committee for the careful study of the causes underlying 
 race friction with a view to their removal and that Congress be requested 
 through a non-partisan committee to investigate the disturbed and threatening 
 inter-racial situation throughout the nation. 
 
 Racial understanding and cooperation furnish the only sure basis of 
 race adjustment in a democracy. The root of the matter is the failure to 
 recognize the Negro as a man. The basis of distress on both sides is fear, 
 and "fear hath torment". Respect for Negro manhood and womanhood is the only 
 basi3 for amicable race adjustment, for race integrity and for permanent 
 racial peace. If we talk democracy, let U3 act democracy. If we propose a 
 democratic program for the protection and self-determination of the weak and 
 oppressed people of Europe as a means of permanent peace and goodwill abroad, 
 let us 9-pply the same program at home. 
 
 Frank Mason North, President of the 
 Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America 
 
 Albert G. Lawson, Chairman, Administrative Committee 
 
 . Wilbur P. Thirkield, Chairman of the 
 
 Committee on Negro Churches 
 
 Charles S. Macfarland, General Secretary 
 

 
 
 • *• no 1,90 
 
 m r fl| 
 
 
 ‘ 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 ; 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 
 .