The Council’s Decision
May 17, 1902
Summary
Baptist members of the “ablest divines in the United States” meet in Richmond in response to Mitchell’s violation of “individual membership rights” for “muzzling the press”; a church mob acts out, disappointing the black community.
Transcription
A Baptist Council composed of some of the ablest divines in the United States met in the Fifth St. Baptist Church of this city on Tuesday last and after hearing the facts decided that the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia, was guilty of violating individual membership rights when it attempted to muzzle the press by the illegal exclusion of editor of this journal.
It is the cause of no jubilation on our part, but rather sorrow for the unfortunate predicament in which these people now find themselves. That such an invasion of the rights of the individual could take place in Richmond should be the cause for general regret.
These people compromised the race with which they are identified by demonstrating that under even the most favorable circumstances they are ready to let their prejudices get the better of their judgement to the extent that they practice the very evils of outlawry which their most foremost advocates have been condemning in the most prejudiced elements of the white race.
The mob at the First Baptist Church went up against a right principle rather than against an individual and was necessarily forced to loose in the contest.
God grant that such a spirit of religious intolerance may never again be exhibited by any of the colored people in the entire Southland.
If we expect equity from the white people, we must do equity to each other. The Baptist Council has paced the denomination upon a high plane and readily corrected a blunder which was little less than a crime.
It is the cause of no jubilation on our part, but rather sorrow for the unfortunate predicament in which these people now find themselves. That such an invasion of the rights of the individual could take place in Richmond should be the cause for general regret.
These people compromised the race with which they are identified by demonstrating that under even the most favorable circumstances they are ready to let their prejudices get the better of their judgement to the extent that they practice the very evils of outlawry which their most foremost advocates have been condemning in the most prejudiced elements of the white race.
The mob at the First Baptist Church went up against a right principle rather than against an individual and was necessarily forced to loose in the contest.
God grant that such a spirit of religious intolerance may never again be exhibited by any of the colored people in the entire Southland.
If we expect equity from the white people, we must do equity to each other. The Baptist Council has paced the denomination upon a high plane and readily corrected a blunder which was little less than a crime.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Contributed By
Brooke Royer
Citation
“The Council’s Decision,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed March 21, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1059.