A Canadian Minister Writes
November 6, 1897
Summary
A Canadian Minister from Montreal writes to John Mitchell Jr. complementing him on how he bravely champions “the rights of the black race.”
Transcription
Montreal Prov. of Canada.
To the Editor of the Richmond Planet: –
Dear Sir: –A copy of your very ably edited paper was handed to me this morning and I upon reading it became much inflated with the brave and undaunted manner in which you champion the rights of the black race. It is true that in the main the race is not wise, but for that they are not to blame and the laws of the country should not be abrogated in regard to their crimes. They should have fair and impartial trials and this method would be an educating influence to them, but lynching only teaches murder upon murder and wrong upon wrong. It is a very heart rending thing to read in your paper the number of lynchings in the very face of the law. I call it a brutal murder, and if a just conclusion is arrived at, it is murder in the first degree, and I do hope and pray to see a day come in which the United States government will pass laws to bring these heartless abusers of the law to the end of the rope as a fair trial of the courts of proper judicature will dictate.
The influence of those outrages in the states of the Union are a dangerous element to the progress of the colored race in Canada. We have to be men of power and discretion to keep down feelings which we see at times giving consent to those happenings and give no ground as cowards and in this way, we hold our own. It is true that the “British” Lion is very severe upon wrong doing and in the language of Lord Nelson, “England expects every man will do his duty.” I am supporting the freeman, the Journal of the Lodge, and the Recorder and would that I could support more, but I am a poor Elder in itinerary of the British Methodist Episcopal Church, and have no way of support only by the charity of the people in public collections.
Respectfully yours,
Rev. R. L. Holden,
Albert St., No. 26, Montreal City, Oct. 15, 1897.
To the Editor of the Richmond Planet: –
Dear Sir: –A copy of your very ably edited paper was handed to me this morning and I upon reading it became much inflated with the brave and undaunted manner in which you champion the rights of the black race. It is true that in the main the race is not wise, but for that they are not to blame and the laws of the country should not be abrogated in regard to their crimes. They should have fair and impartial trials and this method would be an educating influence to them, but lynching only teaches murder upon murder and wrong upon wrong. It is a very heart rending thing to read in your paper the number of lynchings in the very face of the law. I call it a brutal murder, and if a just conclusion is arrived at, it is murder in the first degree, and I do hope and pray to see a day come in which the United States government will pass laws to bring these heartless abusers of the law to the end of the rope as a fair trial of the courts of proper judicature will dictate.
The influence of those outrages in the states of the Union are a dangerous element to the progress of the colored race in Canada. We have to be men of power and discretion to keep down feelings which we see at times giving consent to those happenings and give no ground as cowards and in this way, we hold our own. It is true that the “British” Lion is very severe upon wrong doing and in the language of Lord Nelson, “England expects every man will do his duty.” I am supporting the freeman, the Journal of the Lodge, and the Recorder and would that I could support more, but I am a poor Elder in itinerary of the British Methodist Episcopal Church, and have no way of support only by the charity of the people in public collections.
Respectfully yours,
Rev. R. L. Holden,
Albert St., No. 26, Montreal City, Oct. 15, 1897.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brian Schrott
Citation
“A Canadian Minister Writes,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 18, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1215.