Jim Crow Rector

If an Alabamian refused to admit Negroes to a public meeting, he would surprise nobody. Neither would a Virginian who refused to attend a church where Negroes were worshipping. Last fortnight the Rev. William St. John Blackshear, Texas-born Brooklyn rector, asked Negro members of his congregation to go elsewhere to church. A lot of people were surprised. A lot of others were incensed.

Son of a cotton planter, Mr. Blackshear became Rector of St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal Church in Brooklyn last June. The congregation knew he had been trained at the Virginia Theological Seminary and had done graduate work at Oxford and Harvard. They knew he was a captain in the War, cited for bravery. They knew he was 36 years old. What they did not realize was that like any true southerner Mr. Blackshear believes Negro and white civilization can at the best be parallel, never equal. This lesson he taught them dramatically at a Sunday service.

From his pulpit Mr. Blackshear read to his congregation, among whom were a few Negroes, a notice he had printed in the church bulletin: "The Episcopal Church provides churches for Negroes. Several of these churches are within easy reach of this locality. They are in the need of the loyal support of all true Negro churchmen. Therefore, the rector of this parish discourages the attendance or membership in this church of members of that race."

As the startling words fell, embarrassed white members of the congregation looked from the corners of their eyes at the Negroes. One young Negress hurried out of the church crying into her handkerchief. In another pew an aged Negro bowed his head, did not look up during the rest of the service, then left hurriedly.

First and most vehement of the subsequent protests was made to the Vestry of St. Matthew's Church by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. An open letter said: "If this statement has the sanction of the Vestry of St. Matthew's, it condemns the brand of Christianity, the clergyman, and the congregation from which it issues. . . . For them [Negro communicants] to be publicly and insultingly expelled for no other reason than their color, is not only contrary to the teachings and precepts of the founder of Christianity but is a gross violation of ordinary justice and common decency and courtesy. ... If it has your sanction, well, God help you!"

Newsgatherers were soon asking Bishop Ernest Milmore Stires of Long Island what he would do about Mr. Blackshear. Bishop Stires was pained, but he explained that the Episcopal Church leaves the individual parish practically autonomous. He declined to express any opinion except this: "Personally I have the greatest affection and a warm paternal feeling for our colored brethren."

Amid a rising storm of comment, Rector Blackshear stuck to his announcement, explained he had done it as a matter of "church policy" and as a "friend to the Negro race." Reasons he gave were: "I do not wish to take support from the two churches for colored people in the neighborhood. Furthermore, in these congregations Negroes can develop their power of leadership, whereas in white congregations they are bound to be subdued."

A particularly irate objector was Colyumist Heywood Broun of the New York Telegram. Wrote he : "I have a grave suspicion that the Rev. William S. Blackshear has somewhat mistaken his job and function. Seemingly he has begun to assume that he is chairman of the Com mittee on Admissions and that the Lord's house which he tends is one of the better country clubs. . . . There is no record that Jesus Christ ever said, 'Love thy Nordic neighbor as thyself,' or 'Suffer little Caucasian children to come unto me."

Of the five Negro members of Mr. Blackshear's congregation, only one ap peared in church the following Sunday. But nine new Negro faces were there. Six detectives eyed them suspiciously while Dr. Blackshear preached that "hate is the cancer of the soul." After the service the Negroes lingered in and around the church for a half-hour, were congratulated by several white worshippers.