migrating people," that they should do the best
they could, "in assisting in the establishment of missions and church
houses for our beloved people, consistent with their obligations
already provided for by law and by the action of the Missionary
Board."[150] A circular containing the following questions was sent
out to the A.M.E. churches throughout the North.

How many persons, to your knowledge, have come from the South
into your vicinity during the past year?

In what sections of your city are they located?

To what extent are they African Methodists?

From what section of the South have they come?

What reasons do they give for coming to the North?

To what extent have they found employment? At what, and what
is the average wage paid?

Have you a Lookout Committee in your church to seek these
people? If not, what organized effort is being put forth to
church them?

Has any special mission work been started among or for our
southern brethren, in your vicinity? If so, what and where?

What number of people from the South have united with your
church during the past year?

How do they affiliate with your people?

What is the attitude of your members toward them?

So far as you have seen, is the better plan, where the numbers
warrant it, to establish a distinct mission for them or bring
them into the already established churches?

Bishop R.A. Carter, of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, after
an extended trip north in the interest of the work of his denomination
for the migrants, published in the official organ of his church a
description of the situation as he found it, and what the Colored
Methodist Episcopal Church should do to assist in meeting the needs of
the situation. He said:

I have just returned from an extended trip through the great
Northwest, having visited St. Louis, Chicago, Gary,
Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Clarksburg and West
Virginia.... Heretofore the few church houses in those cities
have been sufficient for the colored people who were there.
Since the migration of our people in such great numbers, the
church facilities are alarmingly inadequate. It is necessary
to hold two services at the same time in many churches and
then hundreds are turned away for lack of room. It is pathetic
to have to tell people who attend one service not to return