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diff --git a/32698.txt b/32698.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..75ebe30 --- /dev/null +++ b/32698.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1610 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Thoughts on the Religious Instruction of +the Negroes of this Country, by William Swan Plumer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Thoughts on the Religious Instruction of the Negroes of this Country + +Author: William Swan Plumer + +Release Date: June 5, 2010 [EBook #32698] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF NEGROES *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Richard J. Shiffer and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: Every effort has been made to replicate this text +as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and +other inconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an obvious +error is noted at the end of this ebook.] + + + + +THOUGHTS + +ON + +THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION + +OF + +THE NEGROES OF THIS COUNTRY. + + + +BY WM. S. PLUMER, D.D. + + + +SAVANNAH: + +EDWARD J. PURSE, PRINTER, + +No. 102 Bryan-Street--Up Stairs. + +1848. + + + + +Many centuries ago, a holy seer said, "Ethiopia shall soon stretch out +her hand unto God." In view of the fulfilment of this prophecy, the +royal bard called for a song of universal praise. The words next +succeeding this prediction are, "Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the +earth: O sing praises unto the Lord." The writings of Jeremiah inform us +who the Ethiopians were, when he speaks of them as contra-distinguished +from the rest of the race by their colour, as the leopard is from the +rest of the feline tribe by his spots. + +The first step in the providence of God towards an amelioration of the +spiritual condition of the negro race was their dispersion among other +races of mankind. This work, both cruel and bloody, had not been +completed, when Christian philanthropy, ever vigilant, sought them out +in bondage, and bore to them the cup of divine consolation, which the +gospel offers to all, and especially to the sons of sorrow. As early as +the year 1732, the United Brethren commenced missions to the negroes in +the Danish West Indies, viz., St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. Jan. In +1754 they began their labours in Jamaica: in 1756 in Antigua: in 1765 in +Barbadoes: in 1775 in St. Kitts: in 1790 in Tobago. In 1735 they began +their labours among the free negroes of Surinam, and in 1736 they +commenced a mission in South Africa. The same zeal led the same people +to labour amongst the slaves at and near Paramaribo. One mission was at +Paramaribo and one at Sommelsdyke. + +The difficulty of establishing the first missions among the negroes can +scarcely now be conceived. This difficulty was neither blindly +contemned, nor timidly feared. With a zeal which Christ knows how to +reward, "two of the Brethren at Hernhutth offered to sell themselves as +slaves, should they find no other way of obtaining an opportunity of +instructing the negroes." In almost every instance some ignorant or +viciously disposed persons chose to misunderstand and misrepresent the +object and tendency of this missionary labour; and thus at first +opposition was frequently violent. But in every case this hostility was +found to be unreasonable and died away. Thus in St. Thomas through the +bitterness of some, of whom better things might have been expected, the +missionaries were at one time imprisoned for fifteen weeks; but soon +after the governor and most of the planters on the island were +convinced, by experience, that the instruction of the negroes in the +principles of religion, instead of impairing, promoted the interests of +their masters; and therefore they were pleased to see their slaves +attend on the preaching of the gospel. Thus also in St. Croix, when a +dangerous plot was discovered among the slaves, who had bound themselves +to murder all the white people on the island in one night, certain +malicious persons reported, that some of the negroes baptised by the +missionaries were concerned in this conspiracy; but their ignorance was +soon vindicated by the criminals themselves. As long as the disturbances +lasted, the Brethren by the governor's advice, omitted the large +meetings of the negroes; and when he authorized them to begin them +again, he and some other gentlemen were present and encouraged the +negroes in their attendance. On another occasion when an order was +issued that no negro should be seen on the streets or roads after seven +o'clock in the evening, he made a regulation that such negroes as had +attended the meetings of the Brethren, and could produce a certificate +to that effect, signed by their teacher, should pass unmolested by the +watch. Such was the confidence the governor placed in the missionaries, +and the slaves under their care. + +Indeed it has invariably occurred in the missions to these people that +the planters have perceived the good effects of their labours on the +slaves, and found it in every respect best to have the gospel preached +upon their estates. While on this general subject, it may be proper to +assert what none will or can with truth deny, viz., that no class of +negroes well instructed in Christianity, and connected with churches +under the care of white pastors, have ever been engaged in any +insurrectionary disturbances. Thus the poor, miserable fanatic, who a +few years ago headed a band of drunken murderers in one of the counties +of Virginia, was not himself a member of any Christian church; nor had +he any follower who had ever received sound and systematic religious +instruction; or was connected with any church having a white man for a +pastor or teacher. So also in reference to the plot of 1822 in +Charleston, S.C., the coloured members of the Methodist Episcopal Church +were by report accused of some participation. But the Hon. Charles +Cotesworth Pinckney, Lieutenant Governor of the State, and himself not a +Methodist, in his address before the Agricultural Society of South +Carolina, says; "On investigation it appeared that all concerned in that +transaction, except one, had seceded from the regular Methodist Church +in 1817, and formed a separate establishment, in connection with the +African Methodist Society in Philadelphia; whose Bishop, a coloured man, +named Allen, had assumed that office being himself a seceder from the +Methodist Church of Pennsylvania. At this period, Mr. S. Bryan, the +local minister of the regular Methodist Church of Charleston, was so +apprehensive of sinister designs, that he addressed a letter to the City +Council, on file in the Council Chamber, dated 8th November, 1817, +stating at length the reasons of his suspicion." + +In proof of the importance of Christianizing the negroes, even in a +political point of view, it is not unworthy of notice, that soon after +the commencement of the war between England and France during the last +quarter of the last century, the governor of Tortola received +information, that the French inhabitants of Guadaloupe meditated a +descent on the island. He immediately sent for Mr. Turner, the +superintendant of the Methodist Missions in Tortola and the other Virgin +Islands, and having informed him of this report, added that there was no +regular force in the colony to defend it against the enemy, and that +they were afraid to arm the negroes unless he would put himself at the +head of them. Mr. Turner was sensible that such a step was not properly +within the line of the ministerial office; but considering that the +Island was in imminent danger, that if it were conquered by the French, +the religious privileges of the negroes would probably be lost, and that +the war on their part was purely defensive, he consented to the +governor's request, and was accordingly armed with the negroes. About a +fortnight after, a French squadron made its appearance in the bay; but +being informed, it is supposed by some emissaries, of the armed force on +the Island, it abandoned its design and retired. Soon after this the +Governor-general of the Leeward Islands sent an order to the Methodist +Missionaries to make a return of all the negroes in their societies who +were able to carry arms. The return was accordingly made; and a great +part if not the whole of them were armed for the defence of the several +Islands. Such was the confidence the Governor-general had in the loyalty +of the missionaries and their flocks. Let these facts suffice, +especially as there are none on the other side, respecting the safety of +teaching the negroes to know and love God. + +Another great difficulty, which the Brethren met in their missions among +the negroes was the unhealthiness of the climate. Thus many of them +scarcely arrived on the islands, when they were attacked by diseases, +which in a short time put a period to their labours and their lives. +Thus from the commencement of the mission in the Danish Islands in 1732 +to the year 1766 (or in thirty-four years) no fewer than sixty-six +Brethren and Sisters died in St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. Jan. But +though the mortality was so great, it is surprising with what +cheerfulness others came forward to fill the ranks of those, who had so +prematurely fallen. Bishop Spangenburg informs us, that on one occasion +when it was made known to the congregation at Bethlehem in Pennsylvania, +that five persons had died within a short time on the Island of St. +Thomas, no fewer than eight Brethren voluntarily offered, that very day, +to go thither and replace them. Disease and death as they did not +dishearten them, so neither ought they to dishearten us in this work, +even if they stared us in the face. + +The Brethren had often great difficulties, with regard to the marriages +of slaves, even after their baptism. When a planter in the West Indies, +for instance, died in debt, his slaves and other property were sold at +auction; and in these cases, part of the negroes were frequently +purchased by proprietors from other islands, by which means it not only +often happened that parents and children, but husbands and wives were +forever parted from each other. How to act in such circumstances, the +Brethren were at first quite at a loss, and they appear for some time to +have prohibited the converts from contracting another marriage, +apprehending this to be inconsistent with the principles of +Christianity. Now, however, though they do not advise, yet neither do +they hinder a regular marriage with another person, especially if a +family of children, or other circumstances, seem to render a helpmate +necessary. + +The course of the English Baptist Missionaries in the east, on the same +subject, may properly be here stated. Among the trials which their +converts had to endure, their situation in respect to marriage was not +the least considerable. In some cases the converts were obliged at the +time of their conversion to forsake their homes, their friends, and even +the wife of their bosom, nor would she afterwards have any +correspondence with them, or if willing herself she was forcibly +prevented by her relations. By this means they were to all intents and +purposes reduced to a state of widowhood, and were in no small danger of +falling into sin. It therefore became a question among the Missionaries, +whether it was not lawful for a person in such circumstances to marry a +second wife, while the first was still living, after he had in vain +employed all possible means to induce her to return to him and not being +able to recover her, had taken some public and solemn measures to acquit +himself of the blame. This question they at length resolved in the +affirmative. A decision involving the same principles, as those referred +to in the case of the removal or estrangement of a husband or wife was +had in the Synod of North Carolina at its sessions at Salisbury in the +year 1827, whereby it was declared that the wife of a member of the +church being sold to the far south-west, and having herself married +again, the husband was at liberty to marry again. + +Notwithstanding the difficulties before stated and many similar ones, +the Great Head of the Church greatly blessed the labours of the +Brethren; so that in 1833 they had in the Danish Islands 7 settlements +with 36 missionaries, and 9435 negroes, of whom about 4000 were +communicants. In Jamaica, 7 settlements, 20 missionaries, 5146 negroes, +of whom 1478 were communicants. In Antigua, 5 settlements, 23 +missionaries, 14,362 converts, and 5442 communicants. In St. Kitts, 3 +settlements, 10 missionaries, 5035 converts, and 1137 communicants. In +Barbadoes, 2 settlements, 6 missionaries, 1374 converts and 282 +communicants. In Tobago, 1 settlement, 4 missionaries and 253 in the +congregation. In Surinam, after 99 years labour, they had 1 settlement, +16 missionaries, 3353 converts and 1200 communicants. In South Africa, +after labouring 98 years but with a long interruption, they had 6 +stations, 38 missionaries, 2963 converts and 1043 communicants. They +have also one settlement in Paramaribo, and one in Sommelsdyke. The +general summary view of these missions then gives us about thirty-five +stations, one hundred and fifty missionaries--having in their +congregations and under catechetical instruction about forty-two +thousand souls, most, if all of whom profess conversion, and have been +baptised--of whom about fifteen thousand are communicants. These +statistics come down only to the year 1833. Since that time most of the +missions have had great success, but we have not complete statistics at +hand. + +In the foregoing statements, one fact of great importance is brought to +light, viz.: that the gospel, as dispensed by the Moravians, has, other +things being equal, been more successful among slaves than among free +negroes. So that the civil condition of these people cannot be pleaded +against an honest discharge of our duty to them. + +Though the United Brethren need the testimony of no man to the +importance and utility of their labours; yet as the authority of Bryan +Edwards, Esq., may have some influence with persons of a certain +description, who are prejudiced against missionary exertions in general, +we shall here subjoin a short extract from the work of that writer: "It +is very much," says he, "to the honour of the legislature of Antigua +that it presented to sister islands the first example of the +amelioration of the criminal law respecting negro slaves, by giving the +accused party the benefit of trial by jury, and allowing in case of +capital conviction, four days between the time of sentence and +execution. And it is still more to the honour of Antigua, that its +inhabitants have encouraged in a particular manner, the laudable +endeavours of certain pious men, who have undertaken, from the purest +and best motives, to enlighten the minds of the negroes, and to lead +them to the knowledge of religious truths. In the report of the lords of +the committee of council on the slave trade, is an account of the +labours of the society known by the name of the Unitas Fratrum, commonly +called Moravians, in this truly glorious pursuit; from which it appears +that their conduct in this business displays such sound judgment, +breathes such a spirit of genuine Christianity, and has been attended +with such eminent success, as to entitle its Brethren and missionaries +to the most favorable reception from every man, whom the accidents of +fortune have invested with power over the poor Africans, and who believe +(as I hope every planter believes) that they are his fellow-creatures, +and of equal importance with himself in the eyes of an all-seeing and +impartial Governor of the Universe."--_Edward's History of the West +Indies. Vol. 1, page 487. Fourth Edition._ + +In the autumn of 1786 the Rev. Dr. Coke, accompanied by three other +Methodist preachers, destined for Nova Scotia, sailed from England for +that country, but after being ten weeks at sea, the violence of the +gales, a leak in the ship, and apprehensions of the want of water, +forced the captain to change his course, and bear off for the West +Indies. Having landed on the island of Antigua, the Dr. and his +companions resolved, that, instead of proceeding to the original place +of their destination, they would attempt to begin a mission on this and +some of the neighboring islands. Of these establishments we shall now +give a short account. + +In the course of their labours the Methodist Missionaries established +missions among the slaves in Antigua--in Dominico--in St. Vincents--in +St. Kitts--in St. Eustatia--in Nevis--in Tortola and the Virgin +Islands--in Jamaica--in Barbadoes--in St. Bartholomews--in Grenada--in +Trinidad--in St. Thomas--in New Providence--and the other Bahama +Islands. In these labours the Methodists often met with little +encouragement. Thus in Nevis many of the most opulent planters at first +opposed the design, from an apprehension that it would introduce a +spirit of insubordination among the negroes. Hence for a considerable +time they would not permit the Methodists to have access to the slaves +on their estates; and when some at length ventured to invite them, they +observed the utmost caution in their manner of proceeding: and in some +instances, the missionaries, after having preached a few times, were +discarded, without being informed of any reason for such a singular mode +of treatment. They were rarely however without employment. When +dismissed from one plantation they were solicited to visit others, and +after a short season were treated in the same manner as they had been +before. + +In Jamaica, matters were still more unpleasant. A number of the white +people at Kingston, soon after the opening of a chapel became so riotous +that it was impossible in the evening to meet for the worship of God in +peace, both the preacher and hearers being often in danger not only of +mischief, but of losing their lives. Mobs and riots were raised against +the missionaries. Their chapel was presented as a nuisance. The chapel +was stoned--its gates were torn down. Similar outrages were committed at +Morart Bay about 30 miles from Kingston. Opposition rose even higher, +and the Assembly of Jamaica began the work of legislative persecution +and carried it on with great zeal, but not being supported by the Crown, +they were not able to accomplish all their purposes, though much +inconvenience and even suffering followed. This opposition has +continued, until within the last twelve or fifteen years, against the +labours of these people, notwithstanding the law was fairly on their +side. Yet were they not disheartened so as to abandon a field, where God +had been with them from the first. And now we can all see how a gracious +God has overruled all these things for good. The Anniversary of the +Wesleyan Missionary Society in 1834 was attended with an unusual degree +of thankfulness on account of the cessation of this opposition and the +readiness of the people to hear the word of God. + +What has been the entire success of their labours up to this date is not +known. But in 1811, twenty-five years from the commencement of the first +missions in the Islands, there were 27 missionaries, and between 11,000 +and 12,000 converts. That the number both of missionaries and converts +has been more than doubled since that time is at least very probable. + +In reference to the good effects of these missions, one, who may be +regarded both as a competent and credible witness says: "Among the +members of the Methodist societies in the West Indies, there are not a +few, we hope, who are sincere converts to the Christian faith, though we +fear there is a considerable tincture of enthusiasm among them. All of +them so far as is known fulfil with propriety, the relative duties of +life, even their own masters being judges, or if any occasionally +transgress the rules of morality, they are excluded from the connection, +at least after neglecting due reproof. They have abandoned the practice +of polygamy, the besetting sin of the negroes; and the fatal influence +of Obeah or witchcraft, which is often productive of the most terrible +mischief, among the slaves, is effectually destroyed wherever +Christianity prevails. As a proof of the general good conduct of the +converts, it is not unworthy of notice, that when an office which +requires trust and confidence becomes vacant, such as that of a +watchman, it is a usual practice with the planters and managers to +enquire for a religious negro to fill it. Indeed in Antigua, Nevis, +Tortola and St. Vincent's, the proprietors of estates, and the other +inhabitants, are so fully satisfied with the conduct of the +missionaries, and so sensible of the political, as well as moral and +religious advantages resulting from their labours, that they entirely +support the missions in the island by their voluntary contributions." + +The London Missionary Society has also laboured in this field to a +limited extent. In 1807 they established a mission on the river Demarara +in Surinam, in South America. This mission from the first was +encouraging. Many attended the preaching. Many came asking in the +greatest earnestness, the way of salvation. The intemperate were +reformed, and "some whom the whip could not subdue for years, the gospel +subdued in a few months." Prejudice and opposition here were never +violent and soon gave way. A place of worship was soon erected, at which +not less than 400 generally attended. A credible witness says: "Perhaps +a more attentive congregation was never seen." Ungodly men testified to +the good effects of this work. They declared what every Christian would +expect, viz.: that the reception of the gospel made the indolent, +industrious, the noisy, quiet, the rebellious, obedient, the ferocious, +gentle. The great promoter of this mission was a rich planter, whose +name was Post, and to whom it occurred as it often does to others, that +his labours and expenditures seemed to be much more blessed to the +slaves on the neighbouring plantations than to his own. The same society +has established a mission at Berbice, a neighboring colony, which is +highly favoured. They had 14 years ago an immense chapel at Georgetown, +attended by great numbers of people of different colours, among whom +were supposed to be more than a 1000 negroes. At this place the slaves +esteemed it a privilege to contribute to the funds of the Missionary +Society. + +Did time permit, we might also give some account of the labours of the +"Society for the conversion and religious instruction of the Negroes in +the West India Islands." But there is nothing very peculiar or marked +in its history. We therefore pass on to notice missions among the slaves +in the United States. + +Of those who have laboured in this field in our own country, the +earliest, that are known, were the United Brethren. The associates of +Dr. Bray, a gentleman in England, who had by his last will made some +provision for the conversion of the negroes in South Carolina, having +solicited Count Zinzendorf to send some missionaries to that colony, the +Brethren, Peter Boehler and George Schulcus, were sent thither in the +year 1738. In consequence however of the sinister views of those who +ought to have assisted them, they were hindered from prosecuting the +great object of their mission. Both of them, indeed, soon fell sick. +Schulcus died in 1739; and Boehler, who was at the same time minister of +the colony of the Brethren in Georgia, retired with these to +Pennsylvania, in consequence of being required to carry arms in the war +that was carried on against the Spanish. + +The next labourers, so far as known, in this field were Rev. Samuel +Davies, afterwards President of Nassau Hall, and Rev. John Tod, of +Hanover Presbytery in Va. Mr. Davies began his ministry in Hanover in +1747, and in 1755 he gives the following account in a letter to a member +of "the Society in London for promoting Christian Knowledge among the +poor." "The inhabitants of Virginia are computed to be about 300,000 +men, the one-half of which number are supposed to be negroes. The number +of those who attend my ministry at particular times is uncertain, but +generally about 300, who give a stated attendance; and never have I been +so struck with the appearance of an assembly, as when I have glanced my +eye to that part of the meeting-house where they usually sit, adorned, +for so it appeared to me, with so many black countenances eagerly +attentive to every word they hear, and frequently bathed in tears. A +considerable number of them (about five hundred) have been baptised, +after a proper time for instruction, and having given credible +evidences, not only of their acquaintance with the important doctrines +of the Christian religion, but also a deep sense of them upon their +minds, attested by a life of strict piety and holiness. As they are not +sufficiently polished to dissemble with a good grace, they express the +sentiments of their souls so much in the language of simple nature, and +with such genuine indications of sincerity, that it is impossible to +suspect their professions, especially when attended with a truly +Christian life and exemplary conduct. My worthy friend, Mr. Tod, +minister of the next congregation, has near the same number under his +instructions, who, he tells me, discover the same serious turn of mind. +In short, sir, there are multitudes of them in different places, who are +willing and eagerly desirous to be instructed, and embrace every +opportunity of acquainting themselves with the doctrines of the gospel, +and though they have generally very little help to learn them to read, +yet to my agreeable surprise many of them, by dint of application at +their leisure hours, have made such progress that they can read a plain +author intelligibly, and especially their Bibles, and pity it is that +any of them should be without them. Some of them have the misfortune to +have irreligious masters, and hardly any of them are so happy as to be +furnished with these assistances for their improvement. Before I had the +pleasure of being admitted a member of your society, they were wont +frequently to come to me with such moving accounts of their necessities +in this respect, that I could not help supplying them with books, to the +utmost of my small abilities; and when I distributed those among them +which my friends, with you, sent over, I had reason to think that I +never did an action in all my life that met with so much gratitude from +the receivers. I have already distributed all the books that I brought +over, which were proper for them. Yet still on Saturday evenings, the +only time they can spare, my house is crowded with numbers of them, +whose very countenances still carry the air of importunate petitioners +for the same favours with those who came before them. But, alas! my +stock is exhausted, and I must send them away grieved and disappointed. +Permit me, sir, to be an advocate with you, and by your means, with your +generous friends in their behalf. The books I principally want for them +are Watts' Psalms and Hymns, and Bibles. The two first they cannot be +supplied with in any other way than by a collection, as they are not +among the books your society give away. I am the rather importunate for +a good number of these, as I cannot but observe that the negroes above +all the human species that I have ever known, have an ear for music, and +a kind of ecstatic delight in psalmody; and there are no books they +learn so soon, or take so much pleasure in, as those used in that +heavenly part of divine worship. Some gentlemen in London were pleased +to make me a private present of these books for their use; and from the +reception they met with, and their eagerness for more, I can easily +foresee how acceptable and useful a larger number would be among them. +Indeed, nothing would be a greater inducement to their industry to learn +to read, than the hope of such a present, which they would consider both +as a help and a reward to their diligence." Having obtained a further +supply of books from London for the negroes, Mr. Davies, in a letter to +the same gentleman, gives the following account of the manner in which +they were received by them. "For some time after the books arrived, the +poor slaves, whenever they could get an hour's leisure from their +masters, would hurry away to my house, to receive the charity with all +the genuine indications of passionate gratitude, which unpolished nature +could give, and which affectation and grimace would mimic in vain. The +books were all very acceptable, but none more so than the Psalms and +Hymns, which enable them to gratify their peculiar taste for Psalmody. +Sundry of them lodged in my kitchen all night, and sometimes when I have +awaked about two or three o'clock in the morning, a torrent of sacred +harmony poured into my chamber, and carried my mind away to heaven. In +this seraphic exercise, some of them spend almost the whole night. I +wish, sir, you and their other benefactors could hear any of these +sacred concerts. I am persuaded it would surprise and please you more +than an oratorio or St. Cecilia's day." Mr. Davies afterwards adds, that +two Sabbaths before, he had the pleasure of seeing forty of them around +the table of the Lord, all of whom made a credible profession of +Christianity, and several of them with unusual evidence of sincerity; +and that he believed there were more than a thousand negroes who +attended upon his ministry at the different places where he alternately +officiated.--_Gillies' Historical Collections, Vol. I, p. 334; Appendix +to the Historical Collections, p. 29, 37, 40, 42._ + +The labours of the Rev. Robert Henry seem to have been blessed much to +the negroes in Virginia. The centre of his operations was Cub-Creek, in +Charlotte county. + +Mr. Henry was succeeded by Rev. Drury Lacy of precious memory. We have +seen a letter dated July 14th, 1834, which says, "During Mr. Lacy's +ministrations at Cub-Creek, there were about 200 black members added, +and there were 60 belonging to Mrs. Coles alone. Several black elders +were appointed and set apart to superintend those black members." + +Mr. Lacy was succeeded by Rev. John H. Rice, D.D. He, says the same +letter, "did but little in that cause, as it began to decline as soon as +Mr. Lacy ceased his labours in Charlotte." Yet the old records of the +General Assembly, and of the General Assembly's Board of Missions show +that his labour was not in vain in the Lord. In 1807 Hanover Presbytery +addressed a circular to the churches under their care, solemnly +exhorting them not to neglect their duty to their servants.[1] + + [1] Virginia Magazine, Vol. III. p. 159. + +About the time of the labours of Mr. Henry at Cub-Creek, the Rev. Henry +Patillo, pastor of Grassy Creek and Nutbush churches in Granville +county, North Carolina was labouring successfully among the same class +of people. But we are unable to give particulars. Of one thing however +we are well certified, and that is that the good effects of his labours +have not ceased to be felt extensively to this day. + +Dr. Semple's history of the Baptists in Virginia, contains many +evidences that from the earliest beginnings of that branch of Christ's +church in the South, the salvation of the negroes has not been forgotten +or slighted in their ministrations. Indeed the vast numbers connected +with their churches show that they have laboured much among them. + +Very soon after the Methodists began to preach in the United States, the +negroes claimed much of their attention. As early as the year 1804, the +Methodists had in the United States 23,531 coloured members, of whom +most were slaves. Since that time their numbers have been almost +incredibly increased. For besides their regular system of itineracy, +they have for some years had very flourishing Plantation Missions, +especially in South Carolina and Georgia. The testimony in favour of +their labours is not to be found merely in their own official reports, +veritable as no doubt they are; but in the increasing desire of planters +of all denominations and of no denomination of Christians to have their +slaves instructed by them. The Hon. C. C. Pinckney in the address +previously referred to, says: "On a plantation in Georgia, where in +addition to superior management, the religious instruction of the blacks +is systematically pursued, the crops are invariably the best in the +neighborhood. The neatness and order which the whole establishment +exhibits, prove that the prosperity of the master, and the best +interests of the negro are not incompatible. The same state furnishes +another instance of this position. The people of an absentee's +plantation, were proverbially, bad from the abuse and mismanagement of +an overseer, (the proprietors residing in England and the attorneys in +Carolina.) The latter dismissed the overseer as soon as his misconduct +was discovered, and employed another who was a pious man; he not only +instructed the negroes himself to the best of his abilities, but +accompanied them every Sunday to a Methodist church in the neighborhood. +At the end of five years their character was entirely changed, and has +so continued ever since. After nearly fifteen years more, the surviving +attorney is now in treaty for the purchase of these very negroes, whom +he formerly considered as a band of outlaws. Other examples in favour of +this plan have occurred in Carolina. In one instance a gentleman invited +a missionary to attend his plantation. After some time, two black +preachers, who had previously acquired popularity fell into disrepute, +and were neglected by their former congregation. These statements are +derived from unquestionable sources. The last case presents a view of +the subject, which may have weight with those who think other motives +insufficient." + +The late Bishop Dehon of South Carolina, turned his attention somewhat +to this people and not without success. + +We have spoken thus far of the labours of the dead only. Did time +permit, interesting details of the labours of many living men might be +given. It has been clearly ascertained that in Virginia, North Carolina, +South Carolina, Georgia, and in all the Southern States, there are many +who are fired with love to the souls of the dying negroes, and are, with +various success labouring for their salvation. It will appear by +statements already made, and yet to be made, that all denominations of +Christians are fairly pledged to this work, so that they cannot +consistently retreat from it. + +In making the foregoing statements nothing more than an introduction to +a great subject was intended. That great subject is our duty respecting +the eternal well being of negroes. A friend once inquired respecting +President Davies' practice as to the baptism of slave children. We know +not what that excellent man's practice was; but we are happy in stating +that the highest court in the Presbyterian church has determined in a +manner, that is thought satisfactory, all questions on this point. Thus +in the minutes of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia for the year +1786, p. 413, it is said: "The following case of conscience from +Donnegal Presbytery was overtured, viz.: whether Christian masters or +mistresses ought in duty to have such children baptized, as are under +their care, though born of parents not in communion of any church? Upon +this overture, the Synod are of opinion, that Christian masters and +mistresses whose religious profession and conduct are such, as to give +them a right to the ordinance of baptism for their own children, may, +and ought to dedicate the children of their household to God, in that +ordinance, when they have no scruple of conscience to the contrary." + +On the next page (414) of the same record, it is said that "It was +overtured, whether Christian slaves having children at the entire +discretion of unchristian masters, and not having it in their power to +instruct them in religion, are bound to have them baptised; and whether +a christian minister in this predicament ought to baptize them? The +Synod determined in the affirmative." + +Again on the 315 page of vol. iii., containing the minutes of the +General Assembly for 1816, is this entry: + +"The committee to which was referred the following question, viz.: +Ought baptism on the promise of the master, to be administered to the +children of slaves, reported, and their report being amended was +adopted, and is as follows, viz.: + +"1st, That it is the duty of masters who are members of the church, to +present the children of parents in servitude, to the ordinance of +baptism, provided they are in a situation to train them up in the +nurture and admonition of the Lord, thus securing them the rich +advantages which the gospel promises. + +"2nd, That it is the duty of Christian ministers to inculcate this +doctrine; and to baptize all children of this description when presented +to them by their masters." + +It is proper here to state that among the most serious obstacles to the +spread of the gospel among this people, the use of ardent spirits has +long held and does still hold a prominent place. We once heard a +slave-holder say that if Abolitionists had stirred up as much rebellion +and caused as much bloodshed among the negroes as the retailers of +ardent spirits had done, there would long ere this have been a civil +war. + +Nat Turner's insurrection broke out in the region that formerly +manufactured vast quantities of apple-brandy. His followers are known to +have been highly stimulated with this _liquid fire_. Indeed, we know a +clergyman who for many years has resided and travelled extensively in +the South, and who testifies that among scores of negroes under sentence +of death whom he has visited, he remembers but two, who were not led to +commit the crimes that brought them to such a sentence by some sort of +influence arising from strong drink; and in most cases by drinking just +before they committed the crime. It gives us pleasure to state that the +sound principles of the Temperance reformation are so few, so plain, and +so simple, that they are of easy application to this kind of population. +Many recent experiments in the South prove the truth of this assertion, +and exhibit most blessed effects arising from the introduction of this +reformation among them. Let the friends of morality and religion +persevere. Drunkenness is the enemy of the black and the white. It +destroys both soul and body, in time and eternity. + +We have in possession a number of printed documents written by good men +residing in the South on the subject of the religious instruction of the +negroes. + +One of them is the "Rev. Dr. Richard Furman's exposition of the views of +the Baptists relative to the colored population of the United States, in +a communication to the Governor of South Carolina," and published at his +recommendation. In this document, it is stated that the result of his +inquiry and reasoning leads among others to the following conclusions: + +"That Masters having the disposal of the persons, time, and labour of +their servants, and being the heads of families, are bound, on +principles of moral and religious duty to give these servants religious +instruction; or at least to afford them opportunities, under proper +regulations, to obtain it; and to grant religious privileges to those +who desire them, and furnish proper evidence of their sincerity and +uprightness. Due care being taken at the same time that they receive +their instructions from right sources, where they will not be in danger +of having their minds corrupted by sentiments unfriendly to the domestic +and civil peace of the community." Page 15. + +The second document is styled "Practical considerations founded on the +Scriptures relative to the slave population of South Carolina," +respectfully dedicated to the "South Carolina Association," by a South +Carolinian, understood to be the Rev. Dr. Dalcho of the Protestant +Episcopal Church in Charleston. The concluding sentence is in these +words: "If we are the owners of slaves, our duty to God, to our country, +and to ourselves, all urge the necessity of affording them instruction +in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the souls of men." pp. 37, +38. + +Another of these documents, whose author is the Rev. Chas. Colcock +Jones, D.D., establishes these principles: That the negroes need the +gospel: That God has put it in our power to give them the gospel: That +we are bound by humanity, consistency, by the spirit of our religion, +and by the express command of God to give them the gospel: That we +cannot be excused from this work by pleading that they already and +sufficiently have the light of life: Nor by pleading that they are +incapable of receiving it: Nor by pleading the little success that has +been had in this department: Nor by pleading the great and peculiar +difficulties of the case. + +The next documents are the twelve Annual Reports of the Missionary to +the negroes in Liberty County, Georgia, presented to the Association +from year to year, and published by order of the Association. These are +the most practical and therefore to us the most useful documents in the +collection. Passing by the practical matters, we present but one +sentence taken from the report of 1833. "The religious instruction of +servants is as much a duty as that of children. You are labouring +therefore to discharge a duty; and are to account for the manner in +which you discharge it at the bar of God." p. 15. + +The next document is: "Report of the committee to whom was referred the +subject of the Religious instruction of the colored population, of the +Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, at its sessions in Columbia, South +Carolina, December 5th-9th, 1833, and published by order of the Synod." +This able document thus enumerates the benefits which will flow from the +religious instruction of the negroes, and clearly shows that it will be +to our interest. It specifies these things: "There will be a better +understanding of the relation of master and servant and of their +reciprocal duties: The pecuniary interests of the masters will be +advanced as a necessary consequence: The religious instruction of the +negroes will contribute to safety: Another benefit is, we shall thus +promote our own morality and religion: Much unpleasant discipline will +be saved to the churches: The last benefit mentioned is one that we thus +convey to the servants instrumentally: It is the salvation of their +souls." + +Another document is the "Pastoral letter of the Rt. Rev. Wm. Meade, +Assistant Bishop of Virginia, to the ministers, members, and friends, of +the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Diocese of Virginia, on the duty +of affording religious instruction to those in bondage," and published +at the request of the Convention of Virginia. This manly and Christian +publication shows it to be our duty to seek the salvation of these +people because: "The providence of God in sending these people among us +in a state of dependence points out to us this duty: The word of God is +particular and emphatic on this subject: The benevolence and mercy of +the gospel require this of us: Consistency requires this of us." The +conclusion urges the performance of this duty from success already had +in the work. In the Appendix are to be found some letters and documents +of great worth on this great subject. + +But Dr. Jones seems to be in this department more "abundant in labours" +than any other man. We have now his excellent and practical pamphlet on +the religious instruction of slaves. We are glad to see it sent forth by +our Board of Publication, and in its present form too. We trust it will +have an extensive circulation. No man will fail to be better informed +who reads it with care. It can for a few cents be transmitted by mail to +any part of the United States. Our advice concerning it is given in four +words: buy, read, circulate, practice it. + +The statistics of the negro race in the slave-holding States of this +nation are of the most interesting kind. Their increase is prodigious. +We cannot go into this matter now, farther than to say that the next +census will probably show that the number of negroes and mulattoes in +the United States is more than four millions. What an object for +Christian love and wisdom and effort! Who will not pray for the +salvation of these people? + +From what has been already said, our minds are fully satisfied of the +correctness of the following positions: + +I. It is the duty of Christians generally, and of Presbyterians +particularly, earnestly to seek the salvation of all the destitute, and +especially of the negroes of this country, by such methods as the laws +of God require, and in conformity with every proper law of the land, +relating to these people. A good police is nowhere adverse to the spread +of the gospel. + +II. On account of the incalculable benefits resulting to the teacher of +the plan of salvation, and to him who is taught as well as to masters +and the community generally, it is expedient to do this thing and that +speedily. + +III. It is entirely safe to do this. No facts can be established to the +contrary, and many can be established in support of this assertion. + +IV. It is very unsafe not to do it, because all men will have some +notions of religion, and if they be not correct notions, they will be +erroneous, wild, fanatical, superstitious, or in some way highly +dangerous. On this subject we present a short extract from a discourse +published by the late Dr. Rice, in the year 1825, on the subject of the +injury done to religion by ignorant teachers. In that discourse the +writer speaking of fanaticism says: + +"These remarks have a bearing on a particular part of our population, +which I think it my duty to state in such terms that the intelligent +will understand me. And that this subject may present itself with +greater force it ought to be observed, that there is always a +predisposition to superstition, where there are no settled religious +principles. This state of the human mind, may be regarded as a +predisposition to fanaticism where there is a general prevalence of +ignorance and rudeness. Now it is well known that there is a large and +increasing part of our population whose ignorance is almost absolute. +Their spiritual interests have been very generally neglected; and +attempts to afford them religious instruction have often been frowned +upon by men of power and influence. But have they thus been able to +suppress the workings of the religious principle? That is impossible. It +would be as easy to exclude the light of the sun by a leaf of the +statute book. What then has been the result of this very general +negligence? Why, thousands of this race have a set of religious opinions +of their own in many very important respects at variance with the +religion of the New Testament. They have long shown a most observable +preference for those meetings, by whomsoever conducted, where there is +most noise and vociferation, most to strike on the senses, and least to +afford instruction. While some among them are, no doubt, true +Christians, many unquestionably are rank fanatics. They are chiefly +under the influence of ignorant spiritual guides. It is most obvious to +the careful observer that they are withdrawing more and more from those +ministrations, where they can learn the true character of Christianity; +and insist with increasing pertinacity, on holding meetings in their own +way, and having preachers of their own colour. The profession of +religion among them is becoming perceptibly less beneficial: so that in +some neighborhoods, this very thing generates suspicion of the +professor, rather than confidence in his integrity. The preachers among +them, although extremely ignorant, (often unable to read a verse in the +Bible or a line in their Hymn book) are frequently shrewd, cunning men. +They see what influence misdirected religious feeling gives them over +their brethren and they take advantage of it. Many of them feel their +importance, and assume the post of men of great consequence. This thing +is growing in the Southern country. And while efforts to afford these +people salutary instruction have been repressed or abandoned, a spirit +of fanaticism has been spreading which threatens the most alarming +consequences. Without pretending to be a prophet, I venture to predict, +that if ever that horrid event should take place, which is anticipated +and greatly dreaded by many among us, some crisp-haired prophet, some +pretender to inspiration, will be the ringleader as well as the +instigator of the plot. By feigning communications from heaven, he will +rouse the fanaticism of his brethren, and they will be prepared for any +work however desolating or murderous. The opinion has already been +started among them, that men may make such progress in religion, that +nothing they can do will be sinful, even should it be the murder of +those whom they are now required to serve and obey! The present state of +the country presents a prospect truly alarming; and when the rapid +growth of our population both black and white is considered, it requires +a man of a stout heart indeed, to view the scene without dismay. It is +appalling, when such a mighty power as that afforded by the religious +principle, is wielded by ignorant and fanatical men. Shall we, then, let +this matter alone?"--_Evan. and Lit. Magazine, Vol. 8, pp. 603 and 604._ + +How literally this "prediction" was fulfilled in the Southampton +insurrection, many remember. A "crisp-haired" fanatic led it on. + +V. Not only the general course of legislation, but also the general +tenor of Providence unite in declaring that the great body of teachers +for this people must for the present at least be white men. It is truly +marvellous that although Dartmouth College was endowed chiefly as a +school, in which to train up Indians for useful stations, yet did that +institution never, so far as is known, furnish more than one or two +useful and successful preachers of the gospel from among that people. As +early as the year 1693, the Earl of Burlington and the Bishop of London, +for the time being, who had been constituted by the great Mr. Boyle +trustees of the fund he left for the advancement of Christianity among +infidels, directed the proceeds to be paid to the president of William +and Mary College in Virginia for the education and instruction of a +certain number of Indian children. This charity was continued for more +than eighty years; yet did it never raise up a missionary to the +Indians. In like manner efforts have been made for the last century to +train up useful ministers and missionaries of the negro race for this +country. As early as the year 1744 the venerable Dr. Styles and the Rev. +Samuel Hopkins undertook the education of two apparently promising +negroes with a view to the ministry; but it was finally a failure. Dr. +John B. Smith also laboured for the same object but never really served +the church in this way. Many other efforts have been made, but +generally, though we are happy to say not universally, they have been +unproductive of any solid or extensive good. If valuable ministers, +therefore, are to be raised up from this people, in our country and in +sufficient numbers, it must probably be at least for some time to come, +from amongst white men. + +VI. If Protestants do not attempt and execute this work, Jesuits will +undertake and execute a most undesirable work among them. Not only the +spirit and genius of popery, but also the developments of policy made in +the Leopold Reports, put this matter beyond all doubt. The danger and +annoyance of such influences may be learned not only from the doctrines +of Romanism and the general history of its acts in every nation, where +it has prevailed, but also in particular acts in reference to missions. +Thus in St. Vincents in the West Indies the Methodist Missionaries +attempted to begin a school among the native Caribs, and the legislature +of the islands gave an estate for the support of the institution; but +the Catholic priests of Martinico infused suspicions into the minds of +the poor people, that the missionaries were employed by the King of +England, and by this means raised their jealousy to such a pitch, that +it was found necessary to withdraw from among them. + +Among the negroes, however, the Methodists were more successful, and in +a short time collected such numbers of them in their societies as amply +recompensed them for the failure of their labours among the Caribs. In +1793 the Legislative Assembly of St. Vincents, which had at first +patronized the Methodist Missionaries, passed a very rigorous act +against them, prohibiting them from preaching to the negroes under the +severest penalties. For the first transgression, it was enacted that the +offender should be punished by a fine of L10; for the second, by such +corporeal punishment as the court should think proper to inflict, and +likewise by banishment; and if the person should return from banishment, +by death! + +The emissaries of the Pope have shown their real feelings in reference +to evangelical missions, in their attempts on the Sandwich Islands and +in their bitterness after their failure, as also in their more recent +and cruel conduct in Otaheite. + +In the prosecution of the work, it must not be forgotten: + +1st. That all that shall be done must be with the consent and under the +sanction of proprietors of estates and of slave-holders generally, where +the negroes are slaves. + +2nd. That the friends of religion should labour to obtain unity of +views, sentiments, and purposes amongst all the ministers and churches +in our bounds; especially where this population is large. + +3d. There must be exercised in the whole matter a sound discretion, and +a careful examination of every step. + +4th. Also unblenching intrepidity, and Christian firmness. + +5th. Untiring perseverance and unceasing effort. + +6th. That long patience, which the husbandman hath when he waiteth for +the precious fruits of the earth. + +7th. Undoubted love to God and to all men. + +8th. Correct statistical information of the number of black members in +our churches, and hearers in our congregations, should be obtained and +published. + +9th. A hearty and steady engagedness of private members in all our +churches in continual and becoming labours for the salvation of those +immediately dependant upon them, should be urged. + +10th. Some years ago (in 1833) there was a proposal to organize a +general Board or Missionary Society in the South, for the special +purpose of conducting this work. At the time we were in favour of such +an organization. But it failed from some cause. In the present state of +our church, the Board of Missions, (Domestic,) acting as it does through +the Presbyteries, and by their advice, is perhaps fully adequate to the +work. We see not why they may not do it all, if the churches will but +furnish the means, and if proper men can be found. We have spoken of a +general Board. Local Associations are and will continue to be in many +respects useful and important. Let such be formed, on correct principles +wherever it may be useful. A form of a constitution for such an +association "auxiliary to the Board of Domestic Missions" constitutes a +valuable part of the Appendix to the pamphlet under review. + +A friend of ours, who has long felt an interest, and who has through a +course of years conducted an extensive correspondence on this subject, +has shown us a large number of letters obtained by him for public use +from clergymen of high standing in several different denominations, from +lawyers, physicians, judges, members of Congress, intelligent planters, +officers of public institutions, and others residing in Virginia and +Texas, and States lying between them. We find in these letters from men +residing far apart a remarkable agreement both in feeling and in +judgment. + +We propose to conclude this article by quoting a few sentences on +topics, which we deem of great importance. + +One says, "From my own experience I should say there is but one obstacle +to success, and that is a belief among the slaves, that all scriptural +passages which bear upon their peculiar situation, have been +interpolated by white men. How far this notion prevails I cannot say, +but I am sure it does to a great extent." + +Another says, "I cannot conceive how any one, who acknowledges the +obligations of Christian duty can decline affording Christian +instruction to his slaves. That this duty of instruction may be safely +performed, seems to me manifest from the very precepts of Christianity. +The whole tenor of the Bible inculcates nothing but what, if practised, +must contribute to the common advantage of the parties [master and +servant.] The chief source of danger from the negro race consists in +keeping them ignorant of the principles of Christianity. My experience +in this matter has been sufficient to satisfy me that there is no +yeomanry in the world, who would make a better return for the labour of +moral instruction, so far as the great leading principles of +Christianity are concerned." + +Another says, "Sermons to coloured people ought to be studied and well +prepared. The preacher must by all prudent means enlist public favour. +The negroes must be treated with kindness and respect. In giving +catechetical instruction, their ignorance and blunders must not be +allowed to expose them before their fellows, but must be covered. Their +feelings must not be wounded." + +Another says, "We must guard against the danger of so presenting the +subject of religion to the minds of the negroes as to make the operation +of their senses and imagination a substitute for the exercise of the +right affections of the heart. Such a method of instruction should be +adopted as would make a lawful and judicious use of the senses and +imagination; and therefore sermons addressed to them should abound with +illustrations taken from common life; a course justified by the parables +of our Saviour." + +Another says, "Undoubtedly Christians ought to engage in this great work +without delay. Nothing can be gained by postponement. The moral +wretchedness of our coloured neighbours demands immediate relief; and +every principle of humanity and religion urges us to afford it. +Preaching intended for this class of persons should be on important +subjects, as simple as possible, familiar, attractive and solemn." + +Another says, "I think that our white population is prepared for this +work; and I know that many of the negroes are perishing for lack of +knowledge. All our churches are doing a little for these too long +neglected immortals; but the efforts used bear no just proportion to +their numbers and necessities." + +Another says, "Our Convention appointed a committee to prepare, or +collect and publish a series of tracts for the benefit of the slaves, +which may be read to them, or by such of them as can read. I trust the +scenes, which are enacting in some parts of the north, will convince all +our citizens that our first duty is to instruct them in the principles +of religion, and not seek to inspire them with lofty notions, which will +only rouse up against them the worst feelings of the whites." + +Two others relate at length how they overcame reluctance in their +negroes to attend upon religious instruction. They gave them a part of +Saturday for doing those things, which they had formerly done on the +Lord's day, as going to a market, &c. They also gave them two or three +hours, when preaching could be had during the week. They thus showed +that they were willing to lose, (if loss it was) a portion of their time +for their spiritual good. "This course soon removed all outward +opposition." + +Another says, "Ministers ought not only to preach a great deal more than +formerly to servants, but also preach a great deal to white people about +the instruction of servants, so as to convince the whole church and the +servants that we are in earnest in this business and intend to +persevere." + +Another says, "May I entreat you to be zealous, as you value the welfare +of your country, the prosperity of our church, your own reputation as a +minister of the gospel, and the approbation of our Lord and Saviour +Jesus Christ. I am assured that nothing under God, will ever give motion +to our Southern Zion in this most momentous of all causes of Christian +benevolence before us, but the united, determined and protracted effort +of God's ministers." + +Another says, "Under present circumstances it is evident that they who +engage in the delicate business of instructing our slaves, must confine +themselves to the method of oral communication. But this limitation +should not produce the slightest discouragement. Written documents bore +but a small part in the early propagation of Christianity. Until the +present age, indeed the mass of the people have received by far the +greater part of their religious knowledge and impressions from the mouth +of the living teacher. Even now perhaps the majority in our own country +have their religious principles and character formed mainly by oral +instruction. + +"Respecting the method best adapted to the negroes, experience must +decide. A few remarks will develop the general principles on which I +would act if called to this high and holy duty. + +"1st. To study to make the instructions given both pleasant and +profitable to the instructed. The whole carcass of modern technical +theology--its metaphysics--its subtle distinctions--its mystical +dogmas--its sectarian polemics--its technical phrases, &c. &c.--should +be cast away by him who goes to this simple and ignorant people as a +Christian teacher. He should know nothing among them but the plain +facts, and practical precepts, and the devotional sentiments of the +Bible; and these he should set forth in the most simple, intelligible, +and animated language, abounding in illustrations drawn from objects +familiar to his auditors. But let him avoid negroism and vulgarity of +all sorts--they would detract from his respectability, and be offensive +to the understanding, and native taste of the negroes themselves, who +are ignorant indeed, and to a degree stupid--but they are not fools. + +"2d. To study maturely, and to digest in a lucid order, a systematic +course of instruction--not the technical system of the schools--but a +system of plain, practical truth, adapted to the peculiar state of the +people to be instructed--illustrating, inculcating, repeating +fundamental truths, and scriptural maxims, till they are well +understood: aiming first to lay the foundation of a rational faith and +an intelligent conviction--before the feelings and fancies of a blind +enthusiasm are stirred up. It is peculiarly dangerous, to set fire to +the combustible heap of crude and fanatical fancies that occupy the +brain of an ignorant person, such as are most of the uninstructed +negroes. It is no hard thing to guide a well instructed mind, in which +reason and conscience have their due influence--but what can be done +with a full blown enthusiast, or a furious fanatic, who is maddened by +the chimeras of a diseased fancy? They will disdain sober instruction +and set up for themselves. They will be your rivals, and have the +advantage of you too, when once the flame of blind enthusiasm is +kindled in the congregation. + +"3d. To avoid cramming an unprepared mind with too much at once. A few +ideas at one time should be clearly expressed and deeply impressed. Do +not hurry matters; but let the weak stomach digest one bit, before +another is administered; relieve the wearied attention, and quicken pure +devotional feeling, by sweet hymns and simple fervent prayers, and short +affectionate exhortations. + +"4th. To combine various modes of instruction; now a short sermon, +methodically exhibiting a single point of truth or duty; now a suitable +passage of scripture with a pithy commentary; now a catechetical +exercise, either on the last sermon or by lecturing at the time, +propounding a point clearly, and then examining the auditor to see if he +remember and understand. This will quicken attention, fix what is +understood, and detect what is wanting. + +To carry on this course, meet them twice on Sabbath and once in the week +if possible. But do not claim too much of their Sunday leisure, or they +will shun you. + +"5th. To gain their confidence and love, sympathize with their innocent +feelings, talk to them privately, preserve a mild dignity without +contemning their ignorance and degradation. Have all patience with them. + +"6th. Do nothing without the master's consent. Teach them what Paul +directed slaves to do and be; but beware of pressing these duties too +strongly and frequently, lest you beget the fatal suspicion that you are +but executing a selfish scheme of the white man to make them better +slaves, rather than to make them Christ's freemen. If they suspect this, +you labour in vain." + +Another says, "On the modes of communicating a saving knowledge of +Divine Truth to the coloured population, best suited to their genius, +habits, and condition, we must remember that oral instruction is the +kind of instruction alone that is universally allowed in slaveholding +States. Hence the question with us will be, in what mode can oral +instruction be best communicated? + +"I answer, 1st. Nothing can take the place of competent, qualified +ministers or missionaries; men exclusively devoted to the work, who +shall make it their lifetime labour and study, to whom adequate support +must be given. The church is as much bound to furnish and support such +missionaries, as missionaries to any other heathen people in the world. + +"2d. Their labours must be at churches or convenient stations on the +Sabbath; and from plantation to plantation during the week. Plantation +meetings are scarcely exceeded in utility by Sabbath or any other kind +of meetings, and therefore should be vigorously prosecuted. As a general +rule none should attend but residents on the estates where they are +held. + +"3d. In addition to the preaching of the gospel, classes of instruction +should be formed, embracing in the first division, adults; and in the +second, children and youth. Special instruction should also be given to +those who are members of the church, and those who are applying for +admission. Let hasty admissions be avoided. + +"4th. The manner of communicating instruction should be plain and +familiar; fully within their comprehension; without coarseness or +levity; and with fervour. In the earlier stages of instruction, the +catechetical method may be resorted to with success, your subjects being +of the simplest kind; as you advance and your people acquire habits of +attention and reflection and improve in knowledge, your subjects may be +more elevated. + +"5th. The matter of preaching, at least for no very inconsiderable a +time, may be chiefly, narratives, biographies, striking works of God, +miracles, parables. Didactic discourses, at least at first, are far from +being interesting to them. Vary the exercises of worship by singing, and +sing standing. Let portions of scripture be committed to memory, as well +as psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, to take the place of the foolish +and irreverent ones that are often in use among them. The besetting sins +of this people ought to be exposed continually. Here give line upon +line, and precept upon precept, until conscience is enlightened. Give +encouragement in preaching, address them as men, men whom you love, men +whom you believe to be capable of improvement, and who, you make no +doubt, will improve. + +"6th. Of the classes of instruction, I would say that they are of +incalculable benefit. All that can be said in favour of Sabbath schools, +and Bible classes, can be said in favour of these classes: properly +conducted, they are nothing less or more, than Sabbath schools, and +Bible classes for coloured persons. Our main hope of permanently +improving this people lies just where it does with every other people: +in the instruction of children and youth. Be beforehand with their +parents, who can only, in the vast majority of cases, inculcate evil +both by word and deed; and if it were practicable, an entire separation +of children and adults (as is attempted by our missionaries at some of +the stations by boarding schools and the like,) would be the best thing +that could be done. Every effort therefore should be made to draw out +and attach children and youth to the schools opened on the Sabbath, at +stations, and to schools opened in plantations. Wherever these schools +are opened, if the missionary cannot be supported by good teachers, let +him instruct the whole school, on the infant school plan himself. His +instructions too should not be short, and imperfect, but embrace some +regular system of Christian doctrine and practice; so that after a +reasonable time, when the course is completed, a connected and +intelligent view of Christianity will have been communicated. Connected +with such a regular course of instruction, may be the use of scripture +cards, and the like; teaching them to sing hymns, &c. Every thing I may +say depends upon the teacher. If he is an interesting man, he will +behold increased interest and rapid improvement in his classes. + +"With adult classes the improvement will generally be slower and the +interest perhaps less and not so easily kept up. Let the same general +course of instruction be pursued with them, for literally they are but +grown up children. + +"7th. I must not omit to mention, that these efforts of regularly +appointed missionaries, must be seconded by pastors of churches, and +when they can, let them have in their own churches, coloured schools, +under the superintendance of elders and laymen. Is it not wonderful that +our churches have so long remained indifferent to this most interesting +field of labour? One-half or two-thirds of our members have nothing to +do. And why is it so? Because they will not labour for the coloured +population. Let pastors awake and bring the subject strongly and +repeatedly before their people. + +"8th. The Missionary must be supported by Christian owners; they must +labour to improve the servants at home; having regular schools for the +children and meetings for the instruction of adults. They should +encourage their people to attend public worship, especially should they +send the children to Sabbath school; otherwise such schools, let the +missionary or teacher do what he may, will decline in all ordinary +cases. + +"9th. Let owners also pay special attention to their plantation +regulations; all these should be founded on Christian principle. +Discipline, labour, houses, food, clothing, should all be attended to; +lest in works we deny our profession. This is fundamental. + +"10th. While strict subordination is maintained on plantations, the +general police of counties should be rigidly adhered to, and if possible +the coloured population protected from ardent spirits. The plan now +hinted at, or one very similar, will perhaps be found best suited to +their genius, habits, and condition." + +But we must close. If our readers feel half the interest in this +subject, which its importance demands, they will thank us for these +views, even if they should not concur in every suggestion made. Let +every man stand in his lot, and put on the whole armour of God. + + * * * * * + +[Transcriber's Notes: + +The transcriber made these changes to the text to correct obvious +errors: + + 1. p. 7, misssionaries --> missionaries + 2. p. 7, predjudiced --> prejudiced + 3. p. 8, know by the name --> known by the name + 4. p. 9, thanfulness -->thankfulness + 5. p. 18, Diocess --> Diocese + 6. p. 21, proceeds to to be paid --> proceeds to be paid + 7. p. 22, penalities --> penalties + 8. p. 25, develope --> develop + 9. p. 25, metaphics --> metaphysics + 10. p. 27, advoided --> avoided + +End of Transcriber's Notes] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Thoughts on the Religious Instruction +of the Negroes of this Country, by William Swan Plumer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF NEGROES *** + +***** This file should be named 32698.txt or 32698.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/6/9/32698/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Richard J. 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