The State Conference of Ohio recently protested against the establishment by Northern missionary funds of churches based “practically, though not professedly, upon the ‘color line.’” What is a color-line church? A church at the North composed largely or exclusively of colored members, following naturally a race line of cleavage, as do the Irish or German, is not in this sense a color-line church. Most white churches at the North have only white members; but probably there is not one of them but would receive a colored member without hesitating in the slightest about his color. These are not color-line churches. There are many important white churches at the South that have had for many years colored members; but the colored members must wait for the communion until the whites are served, and must occupy special seats. Such churches are color-line churches. Churches at the South composed of blacks, with a few white teachers and their friends, who would welcome with tears of gratitude any Southern white families who would show their love and sympathy by identifying themselves with them are not color-line churches. A church at the South, composed of whites, in the midst of a large colored population, or in close contiguity with a church of kindred organization and sources of support, and where the advent of the first colored member would be deprecated, not welcomed, is a church based practically, though it may not be professedly, upon the color-line. * * * * * It is always wise to consider facts. The first fact is that this color distinction is the most potent factor, politically, socially and religiously, in Southern society. This should dominate every plan for Christian effort at the South as much as the existence of the rebel army dominated plans for the “On to Richmond” during the war. In the ultimate solution of Southern problems, natural race lines of cleavage may largely prevail; but it lies within the realms of reasonable expectancy, and not fancy, to believe that the time will come when color will not be thought of in the admission of a person to any hotel, railway car, school, or church. We have no right yet to let go of this Christian and patriotic hope; but for the present at the South color places upon a man a more damning and ineffaceable stain than does murder or political treason, and the present establishment of white churches as above described would seem to be an obeisance to this most potent and evil influence. _The Independent._ THE TENDENCY IS TO RELAX. EDITORIAL IN INDEPENDENT.