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； all based on the assumption that the South has not only sinned； but sinned knowingly； in slavery and in war。 We expect them to be penitent and to gladly accept our offers of forgiveness。 But the Southern people look upon a 'loyal' missionary as a political emissary； and 'loyal' men do not at present possess the necessary qualifications for evangelizing the Southerners or softening their hearts； and are sure not to succeed in doing so。 We look upon their defeat as retribution and expect them to do the same。 It will do no good if we tell the Southerner that 'we will forgive them if they will confess that they are criminals； offer to pray with them； preach with them； and labor with them over their hideous sins。'〃
But if the large Southern churches held their white membership and even gained in numbers and territory； they fought a losing fight to retain their black members。 It was assumed by Northern ecclesiastics that whether a reunion of whites took place or not； the Negroes would receive spiritual guidance from the North。 This was necessary； they said； because the Southern whites were ignorant and impoverished and because 〃the state of mind among even the best classes of Southern whites rendered them incapable 。 。 。 of doing justice to the people whom they had so long persistently wronged。〃 Further； it was also necessary for political reasons to remove the Negroes from Southern religious control。
For obvious reasons； however； the Southern churches wanted to hold their Negro members。 They declared themselves in favor of Negro education and of better organized religious work among the blacks； and made every sort of accommodation to hold them。 The Baptists organized separate congregations； with white or black pastors as desired； and associations of black churches。 In 1866 the Methodist General Conference authorized separate congregations； quarterly conferences； annual conferences； even a separate jurisdiction； with Negro preachers； presiding elders； and bishopsbut all to no avail。 Every； Northern political； religious； or military agency in the South worked for separation； and Negro preachers were not long in seeing the greater advantages which they would have in independent churches。
Much of the separate organization was accomplished in mutual good will； particularly in the Baptist ranks。 The Reverend I。 T。 Tichenor； a prominent Baptist minister； has described the process as it took place in the First Baptist Church in Montgomery。 The church had nine hundred members； of whom six hundred were black。 The Negroes received a regular organization of their own under the supervision of the white pastors。 When a separation of the two bodies was later deemed desirable； it was inaugurated by a conference of the Negroes which passed a resolution couched in the kindliest terms； suggesting the wisdom of the division； and asking the concurrence of the white church in such action。 The white church cordially approved the movement； and the two bodies united in erecting a suitable house of worship for the Negroes。 Until the new church was completed； both congregations continued to occupy jointly the old house of worship。 The new house was paid for in large measure by the white members of the church and by individuals in the community。 As soon as it was completed； the colored church moved into it with its pastor； board of deacons； committees of all sorts； and the whole machinery of church life went into action without a jar。 Similar accommodations occurred in all the states of the South。
The Methodists lost the greater part of their Negro membership to two organizations which came down from the North in 1865the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church； Zion。 Large numbers also went over to the Northern Methodist Church。 After losing nearly three hundred thousand members； the Southern Methodists came to the conclusion that the remaining seventy…eight thousand Negroes would be more comfortable in a separate organization and therefore began in 1866 the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church； with bishops； conferences； and all the accompaniments of the parent Methodist Church； which continued to give friendly aid but exercised no control。 For many years the Colored Methodist Church was under fire from the other Negro denominations； who called it the 〃rebel；〃 the 〃Democratic；〃 the 〃old slavery〃 church。
The Negro members of the Cumberland Presbyterians were similarly set off into a small African organization。 The Southern Presbyterians and the Episcopalians established separate congregations and missions under white supervision but sanctioned no independent Negro organization。 Consequently the Negroes soon deserted these churches and went with their own kind。
Resentment at the methods employed by the Northern religious carpetbaggers was strong among the Southern whites。 〃Emissaries of Christ and the radical party〃 they were called by one Alabama leader。 Governor Lindsay of the same state asserted that the Northern missionaries caused race hatred by teaching the Negroes to regard the whites as their natural enemies； who； if possible； would put them back in slavery。 Others were charged with teaching that to be on the safe side； the blacks should get into a Northern church； and that 〃Christ died for Negroes and Yankees； not for rebels。〃
The scalawags； also； developed a dislike of the Northern church work among the Negroes； and it was impossible to organize mixed congregations。 Of the Reverend A。 S。 Lakin； a well…known agent of the Northern Methodist Church in Alabama； Nicholas Davis； a North Alabama Unionist and scalawag； said to the Ku Klux Committee： 〃The character of his ＇Lakin's＇ speech was this： to teach the Negroes that every man that was born and raised in the Southern country was their enemy； that there was no use trusting them； no matter what they saidif they said they were for the Union or anything else。 'No use talking； they are your enemies。' And he made a pretty good speech； too； awful； a hell of a one； 。 。 。 inflammatory and game； too 。 。 。 。 It was enough to provoke the devil。 Did all the mischief he could 。 。 。 I tell you； that old fellow is a hell of an old rascal。〃
For a time the white churches were annoyed by intrusions of strange blacks set on by those who were bent on separating the races。 Frequently there were feuds in white or black congregations over the question of joining some Northern body。 Disputes over church property also arose and continued for years。 Lakin； referred to above； was charged with 〃stealing〃 Negro congregations and uniting them with the Cincinnati Conference without their knowledge。 The Negroes were urged to demand title to all buildings formerly used for Negro worship； and the Constitutional Convention of Alabama in 1867 directed that such property must be turned over to them when claimed。
The agents of the Northern churches were not greatly different from other carpetbaggers and adventurers taking advantage of the general confusion to seize a little power。 Many were unscrupulous； others； sincere and honest but narrow； bigoted； and intolerant； filled with distrust of the Southern whites and with corresponding confidence in the blacks and in themselves。 Th