253906. Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and forty-two: In the Office of the Clerk
THE
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE
NEGROES. IN THE
ecked!
UNITED STATES
BY CHARLES
C,
JOIIES
SAVANNAH: PUBLISHED BY THOMAS PURSE. 1842.
253906
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and forty-two:
In the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States for the District of Georgia.
THOMAS PURSE, PRINTER,
SAVANNAH,
PREFACE The
preparation of the following pages has been undertaken
at the suggestion of friends,
my own
seconded by the convictions of
mind, that a small volume on the Religious Instruction
of the JVegroes in
the
United States would not be an unacceptable
offering to the Public, and especially the Christian Public, at
Whatever I have before prepared
the present time.
on the subject has been freely used, whenever
it
or published
has suited
my
purpose, in the present composition. I
have endeavored
Instruction
subjects only
to
confine
myself
to
the
Religious
Negroes, and have touched upon other
of the
when
it
has been necessary for the illustration or
support of the one before me. I
commend
who read and
God
it.
in love,
the
My and
to
Book
,
to the
candid consideration of those
design has been
do good.
May
to
speak the truth plainly
the blessing of
Almighty
attend the effort
CHARLES COLCOCK JONES. Riceboro, lAheiiy County, Ga., 1842. July
m,
I
CONTENTS PART
I.
Historical Sketch of the Religious iNSTRrcTioN or THE Negroes from their first introduction INTO the Coumtrv IN 1620 to the year 1842 :
DIVIDED INTO THREE PERIODS.
The First Period— 'Prom 1620
to the first
census
in
iheir introduction in
1790
:
a period of 170
years,
*
Account of the Introduction of Negroes into the Colonies under the Government of Great Britain, Estimated Negro Population of the Colonies at the 2. Declaration of Independence and census of 1790,
*
1.
2 3.
Religious Instruction, both in 3. Great Britain and America, year by year, during this Efforts
their
for
®
Period,
— Vrom the 30 years, year by year, 1842 a period Period — From 1820
The Second Period 1790
to
1820
The Third
first
census in
a period of
:
to
:
65
of 22 years, year by year, 1.
2.
Manuals of Instruction, Action of Ecclesiastical Bodies, and of different
Efforts year
by year.
This period
— a period of revival as
to this partic-
ular duty, throughout the Southern States, 4.
General Observations, Sketch,
in
65 89
Denominations of Christians, 3.
47
-
-
-
96
conclusion of Historical
99
TV
CONTENTS.
P
A.
R T II.
The Moral and Religious Condition
of the
Negroes Disadvantages to be encountered
I.
in
prosecuting
an inquiry into the Moral and Religious Condition of the Negroes in the United States,
The
J.
First Disadvantage.
— Our
-
-
-
edge of the degraded moral character of the Negroes
— Our difference of or and superior The Third Disadvantage. — Our and maThe Second Disadvantage.
2.
103
col-
relations in society,
latent,
3.
101
intimate knowl-
104
in
ny instances, manifest, disinclination to the full disclosure of the Moral and Religious Condition of the Negroes,
II.
-
106
-
—
The Fourth Disadvantage. The difficuty taining an insight into the Negro Character,
4.
Circumstances ^vhich
affect
their
o-f
ob-
-
-
Religious Condition,
The circumstances
1.
[1.]
(a)
The JVegro
112 of the Slave Population,
-
-
112
in his Childhood.
Family Government,
----
(h) Religious Instruction, private
and public,
112 -
113
-----------
115
(d) Association, (e) Clothing,
-
115
Access
(c
(f) [2.]
to the Scriptures,
-
-
-
General mode of living,
The JVegro
at
Mult
115
116
'^ge.
(a) Family, (h) Religious Instruction,
2..
110
Moral and
--------
(c)
Access
(d)
Marriage and Government,
117
-
118 119
-
120
to Scriptures,
Circumstances of the Free Negro population,
116
CONTENTS.
Vll.
120
(a) Location, (h) Station
120
(c)
121
and Condition in Society, Education and access to the Scriptures, Houses of Public Worship, Ministers, and Sab-
(d)
bath
III.
_--.-_..-
-
122
---___
Moral and Keligious Condition of
The Moral and Population,
123
Negroes 124
Religious Condition of the Slave
-------------
125
Country JVegroes.
[1.]
and Duties of Chris-
(a) Jofnorance ot the Doctrines
among
tianity, is prevalent
(h) Intimately
the Negroes,
ious privileges
They have
The
(e)
is
to
127
seriously defective,
to the
-
-
.
-
-
-
-
129
Church Discipline and the
frequency of
it,
cast light
Moral and Religious Condition,
-
-
-
-
Brief view of prevailing vices,
(f)
128
general corruption of
that prevails around them,
their
125
improve their relig-
character of the crimes requiring
upon
-
their
but a poor standard of moral character,
and are indifferent
manners
is
-
Superstition,
(d)
-
connected with their ignorance
Their sense of obligation
(c)
the
United States,
in the 1.
Schools,
Family Government, associations, and prospects of advancement in society,
(e}
132
1.
Violations of Marriage Contract,
2.
Uncleanness,
3.
Theft,
4.
Falsehood,
5.
Quarreling and Fighting,
-
-
131
.
-
.--.-.._
132 134 135
-
135
6. Insensibility
-
-
--...-----_--____
of heart,
136 137
7.
Profane swearing,
137
8.
Drunkenness,
137
9.
Sabbath breaking,
[2.]
Town and
(a) Classes,
138
City JVegroes. I39.
Vm.
CONTENTS. Comparison with country Negroes,
(6)
-
-
-
.
the view taken of their Moral and
Religious
----.-.--.-. Negro -----.,-.--.-
Condition, 2.
139
Extracts from various Authors corroborative of
[3.]
140
Moral and Religious Condition of the Free Population,
Prevailing Vices,
[1.]
(a)
Lovers of pleasure and show,
[h)
Proverbially
(c)
Improvident,
------
idle,
---
-
145 ]45 145 146 ]46
{d)
Addicted
(e)
Quarreling,
146
(7)
Sabbath breaking,
146
profane swearing,
to
{g)
Drunkenness,
[h]
Theft,
{{)
--
146 146
Lewdness, Extracts from different publications,
[2.j [3.]
146
-
-
-
147
-
147
General conclusions on the Moral and Religious Condition of the Negroes in the United States,
PART
153
III.
Obligations of the Church of Christ to atTHE Improvement of the Moral and Religious Condition of the Negroes in the United States, by affording them the Gospel.
tempt
I.
Obligations of the Church
to afford the
Gospel
to
J55
the Negroes, 1.
To the Negroes
in the
which place them
in their
Jirst
benevolent attention,
They
Slave States.
-
-
Considerations
claims
are the most dependent of all people
iM word of
life,
upon our
156
-
upon us for 156
ix.
CONTENTS. Theij are the most needy
and most
accessille,
-
-
158
-
The obligation of the Church in the Slave-holding within States t"o impart the Gospel to the Negroes those States, imposed upon us. of God, [1.] By the Providence
159
Word
159
By
[2.]
the
of God,
160
(a)
Passages of a general character,
[h)
Express commands to masters, both in Old and
Now
Relation recognized,
Testament.
We cannot disregard this
[3.]
sed, without forfeiting
-
161
-
—
165
Our Humanity,
(a)
Our Gratitude, Our Consistency, Our claim to the spirit of
(6) (c)
{d)
^^ ^^^ Christianity,
-
168
-
-
the duty of the white churches in the Free States to afford the Gospel to the Negroes in those It is
2.
-
States,
-
-
171
-
poverty, [1.] Because of their general degradation, moral Their [2.] [3.]
Their dependence upon the whites,
[4.]
And
Excuses
II.
-
Obligation, thus impo-
gations
2.
4.
now proved
to rest
The Negroes have They arc incapable The Gospel meets
We
-
-
171 172
-
-
-
-
172 173
in relation to a discharge of the Obli-
upon the Church of
in the
Slave States,
the Gospel already,
-
-
-
175
-
175
of receiving religious instruc-
tion except to a very limited extent, 3.
-
of consistency,
Christ, usually advanced 1.
-
with
little
-----
success
have no means of supplying them with the ISl
Gospel, 5.
There are peculiar and great coiiie,
6.
178
among them, 180
difficulties to _
Excuses sometimes urged hy owners, (a) I am a Master, but no Christian, and excused from the duty,
be over-
.
.
.
-
182
-
-
-
-
183
am therefore 184
CONTENTS.
X.
Althouirh
(6)
am a Christian, my servants. my people,
hope
I
I
yet
qualified to instruct
{d)
away from The management and
(e)
When
I live
(c)
religious
I
.
am
-
7.
185 186 188
189
preaching to them,
189
Negroes.
My
I
have no turn
church allows
Negroes.
I
am
me
for
no time
to
willing to do so,
preach to the could,
if I
-
-
If
we
ency
in the
will
be to
192
Slave States, Negroes change the
suffer our
now constituted, The way will be opened
to
be instructed the tend-
civil relations
of society
193
as 2.
190
Objections to the Religious Instruction of the
Negroes 1.
it,
-
they presume upon
Excuses sumetiiues urged by jMinisters. - - - (a) I am not able to make myself understood by the (t)
III.
my people
184
.
instruction of
servants cannot be united in one person, I instruct
not
-
for
men from abroad
to
enter in and inculcate doctrines subversive of our
and
interests 3.
The
to neglect of 4.
.-.
safety,
religious instruction of the
duty and insubordination,
The Negroes worship
Negroes
will
-
-
-
-
for originating
and executing plans of insub201
Religious instruction will do no good
make
the
197
embrace seasons of religious
ordination and villany, 5.
195
will lead
;
it
will only
Negroes worse men and worse hypocrites,
203
IV. Benefits which would flow f;om the faithful Religious Instruction of the Negroes, 1.
There would be tions of
-
-
-
Master and Servant, and of
their reciprocal
206
duties, 2.
The
206
a better understanding of the rela-
pecuniary
interests
of Masters would be
208
increased, 3.
Religious instruction would contribute to safety,
4.
Would promote
our
own
morality and religion,
-
210 216
CONTENTS. 5.
Much
XI.
unpleasant discipline would be saved the
217
churches, 6.
The
souls
(»f
our servants would be saved.
clusion to Part
Con-
218
III,
AR
P
T
V.
I
Means and Plans for promoting and securiivg THE Religious Instruction of the Negroes in the United States. I.
The Chuich
of Christ must be
the duly, and
moved
1.
2.
3.
No
made
-
-
-
221
petent to the work,
222
Duty should be brought before Bishops, Elders, and Deacons, and introduced by them into their respective Ciiurches and Church Judicatories, and manner 222
so,
Essays, reports, sermons, and tracts should be print-
Ways
-
-
-
-
-
The Gospel Negro and
2.
226
should be communicated to the entire
population
;
statedly, frequently, intelligibly,
it
shall
226
in its fulness,
Persons by (a)
In
225
and Means of imparling Religious In-
struction to the Negroes, 1.
221
and societies for the work, Churches in their respective organized forms com-
ed and circulated on the subject, II.
familiar with
performance,
necessity for formation of extensive associations
of doing 4.
to its
whom
the first place,
be so communicated.
by Bishops of Churches both in
the Free and Slave States,
-...-..
227
Particularly by Bishops in the Slave States, for 1.
They ters
are settled over entire households
and
ServaniSi
— Mas227
CONTENTS.
XIL 2.
They
should, tlierefore, devote a portion of each to regular
Sabbath 3.
Lecture
and attend plantation meet-
ings during the week, 4.
5.
228
preaching to the Negroes.
if possible,
--------
Should have regular Sabbath Schools dren and adults. Their benefit,
228
for chil-
229
Stated seasons for meeting with colored
mem-
bers; and with colored children for their catechetical instruction, 6. 7. 8.
-
---------
Attend Funerals, Perform Marriage Ceremonies,
.
-
-
-
-
Attend with their Sessions punctually and
dil-
ligently to the discipline of colored members,
and
appoint committees of Instruction for Inquirers, 9.
Endeavor
to the
the sec
233
duty of affording suitable
234
Instruction to their Negroes,
In
232 232
awaken Church Members, Masters
to
and Mistresses
(b)
230
-nd place, the Gospel must be communi-
cated by Ministers of the Gospel, employed as Missionaries to the Negroes. 1-
2.
3.
235 235 But how shall they be employed and supported? 235 By Domestic Missionary Societies, - - - - 237 Missionaries absolutely needed,
Should be Southern men,
By
-------
Presbyteries, Associations, Conferences and
237
Conventions,
By one
or
tions,
By one (c)
more Churches uniting
-
-
-
238
more Planters doing the same,
-
-
238
-
-
or
their contribu-
In the third place,
-
we
are
themselves to communicate
to
the
look to
Gospel
owners to
the
239
Negroes, 1.
The owner
should impress upon his people the
great duty of attending public worship on the
Sabbath, 2.
Make
all
ally the
.----.------
240
the children and youth attend punctu-
Sabbath School,
240
CONTENTS. 3.
XIU.
The plantation should be brought under religious influences and the physical condition of the
240
People improved, 4.
The owner
should undertake the instruction of
Way
doing {d)
In
the
and
manner ------------
the people himself. so,
we
fourth place,
of his
244
are to look to Elders and
Laymen to assist in this good work, - . - - 248 Our main dependence, in conclusion, must be upon settled pastors
III.
The Manner
communicated
in
to
& stated supplies of our Churches
249
which the Gospel should be the Negroes, so as to meet the
character, condition, and circumstances of the
People, 1.
Manner (a)
What
of Preaching
kind of Ministers are needed
rant, but (6)
The
-
------?
250 250
Not igno-
educated and intelligent Ministers,
-
250
Minister to the Negroes should pay attention
to his general deportment
among tnem,
-
-
-
254
To his manner in preaching, 255 character of his sermons. (d) To the style and What kind of sermons are most suitable, - - 256 (e) He should see that the strictest order is observed (c)
in all his religious (f)
2.
3.
4.
And mark
meetings,
the deportment of the people,
Manner of conducting Sabbath
Schools.
-
Manuals
252
-
267
treating opposition to the
-
work of Re-
ligious Instruction of the Negroes, 5.
Manner of speaking and acting
26J> in relation to the
270
Civil Condition of the Negroes, 6.
The
best form of Church Organization for the
Negroes, 7.
252 252
--------
and Plans of instruction, Manner of conducting Plantation Meetings,
Manner of
-
Conclusion,
-
-
-
-
.-.,---i.-»
273 273
PART
I.
Rehgious Instruction of th6 Negroes from their first introduction into the Country in 1620 to the year 1842.
Historical Sketch of the
CHAPTER The
I.
—
From their first introduction^ in 1620; to the First Period a period of 170 years. first Census, in 1790 :
Such
is
the scarcity of materials, and the difEculty of
arriving at the scattered sources of information, that I
have called the following Historical
Notice of the
Religious Instruction of the Negroes in the United States,
"A
Sketch."
although, perhaps,
it
It
deserves no belter name,
may embody
the principal facts on
the subject.
For into
the sake of perspicuity, the
Periods of Time
—
Sketch
is
divided
{he First Period, extending
from the Introduction of the Negroes into the Country, in
1620, to ihe
years
:
of 30 years redeemed with them by
Christ from the slavery of Satan and
may
live
with them
in the liberty of the saints in glory."
The works of this eminent servant of God had an extensive circulation, and these Directions may have been productive of much good on the Plantations those owners into whose hands they fell.
ol'
heligious instruction of the neghoes.
8
Forty-four years after the settlement of Con-
1680.
necticut, the
Assembly forwarded answers to the Inquithe Committee of Colonies, wherein
ries of the
Lords of
they say
" There are but few servants and fewer slaves;
:
There come sometimes
not above 30 in the colony.
three or four blacks from the Barbadoes, which are sold
Great care is taken of the instiuction of the people in the Christian religion, by ministers catechising and preaching- twice every Sabbath and for 22/ each.
sometimes on lecture days
;
and also by masters of
families instructing their children and servants,
the law
commands them
which
to do."
''The Society for the Propagation of Jhe Gospel in Foreign Parts,'' was incorporated under William HI. on the I6ih day of of June 1701, and the 1701.
m.eeting of the society under its charter was the 27th of June of the same year. Thomas Lord Bishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all Engfirst
land was appointed by his Majesiy the first President. This society was formed with the view, 'primarily, of supplying the destitution of religious institutions and privileges
Colonies, land
;
among the inhabitants of the North American members of the established church of Eng-
and secondarily, of extending the Gospel
to the
Indians and Negroes, It
had been preceded by a company incorporated by II. in 1661, for " the Propagation of the Gospel
Charles
amongst Heathen Nations of New England and the parts adjacent in America ;" which, however, did the design, for the times then not accomplish much ;
present and the necessities of the Colonies, being too narrow. The Honorable Robert Boyle, was first Presi-
dent of
this
this society
company, and which
it
was
led hira to a
his connection
deeper interest
with
in
the
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
1^
defence and propagation of the Christian religion, and
he therefore
left in his will
an annual salary, forever, for
the support of eight sermons in the year, for proving the Christian religiorv against notorious Infidels
;
and he
requires that the preachers employed, "shall be assist-
ing to
all
encouraging them
companies and
in
any
undertaking for j)ropagaling the Christian religion in
Foreign Parts." Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
The
Foreign Parts entered upon patronized by the King and
its
duties with zeal, being
all
the dignitaries of the
Church of England.
They
instituted inquiries into the religious condition
of the Colonies, responded to " by the Governors and ;" (with special reference to Episcopacy,) and they perceived that their work " con-
persons of the best note
branches
sisted of three great
:
and instruction
the care
of our people settled in the Colonies the conversion of the Indian Savages; and the conversion of the ;
Negrocsy
Before appointing Missionaries, they sent
out a traveling preacher, the Rev. itinerant missionary,)
who
Mr. Keith preached between North
Rev. John Talbot.
Carolina and Piscataquay river in
above 800 miles
George Keiths (an
associated with himself the
in length,
New
England, a tract
and completed his mission
two years, and returned and reported
in
his labors to the
society.
The annual meetings
of this society were regularly
118 sermons preached by Bishops of the Church of England, a large number of them distinguished for piety, learning, and
held from before
it
zeal.
The
The tion
1702
to
society
1819 and
still
exists.
efforts of the society /o?' the
Religiovs Instruc-
of the Negroes, are briefly as follows.
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
10
In June 1702 the Rev. Samuel Thomas, the
first
missionary, was sent to the Coh^ny of South Carolina.
The of
society designed he should attempt the conversion the
Yammosee
Indians
but the Governor, Sir
;
Nathaniel Johnson, appointed him to the care of the people settled on the three branches of Cooper river,
making Goose creek
He
his residence.
reported his
much
labors to the society, and said " that he had taken
pains also in instructing the Negroes, and learned 20 of
them
He
to read.
died in October 1706.
Dr. LeJeau succeeded him in
1
706, and found " parents
and masters indued with much good will and a ready disposition to have their children and servants taught the "
Christian religion."
He instructed
and baptised many
Negroes and Indian slaves." His communicants in 1714 Dr. LeJeau died arose to 70 English and 8 Negroes. in 1717, and was succeeded permanently by Rev. Mr. Ludlam, who began " There were
his mission with great dilHgence.
in his parish a large
natives of the place,
who
number
to instruct several of
took good pains
of Negroes,
understood English well; he
them
in the piin-
ciples of the Christian religion and afterwards admitted
them
to baptism.
He said
if
the masters of
heartily concur to forward so good a work,
have been born
in the
them would
all
country might without
those
who
much
diffi-
Mr. Negroes and
culty be instructed and received into the church.
Ludlam continued
his labors
among
the
every year taught and baptised several of them
year eleven, besides
The
some
;
in
one
mulattoes.^^
Indian war checked the progress of the society's
missions for several years.
The
Parishes of
St. Paul's,
(1705,) St. John's, (1707,) St. Andrew's and St. Bartholomew's, (1713,) St. Helen's, (1712,) received missionaries.
Mr. Hasell was
settled in the last
named
parish,
HISTOIUCAL SKETCH.
1
and the inhabitants were "565 whites, 950 Negroes, 60 Indian slaves, and 20 free Negroes."
Rev. Gilbert Jones was appointed Christ
He
Church Parish, 1711.
missionary of
used great pains to
persuade the masters and mistresses
this
good work lay under
He
wrote thus concerning
having
to assist in
iheir slaves instructed in the Christian faith
;
but found
difficulties as yet insuperable. this
"Though
matter:
labor-
ing in vain be very discouraging, yet (by the help of
God,)
not cease
I will
one proselyte,
He
my
labors; and
shall not think
was succeded
much
gain but
if I shall
of
all
my
pains."
Two
1722 by Rev. Mr. Pownal.
in
years after he reported in his parish 470 free born, and " above 700 slaves, some of which understand the English
tongue
;
but very few
know any
thing of
God
oi
religion."
In the parish of
St.
George, taken out of
St.
Andrew's,
the church stands 28 miles from Charleston, (1719,) Mr.
Peter Tustian was sent missionary, but soon removed to
Maryland. 1723.
A
The Rev. Mr. Yarnod succeeded him
in
year after his arrival, at Christmas, he had
near 50 communicants, and what was remarkable, 17
Negroes.
He
baptised several
grown persons, besides children
and Negioes, belonging to Alexander Skeene, Esquire. The Rev. Mr. Taylor, missionary at St. Andrew's parish in South Carolina, reported to the society " the great interest taken in the religious instruction of their
by Mrs» Haige and Mrs. Edwards, and ble success; 14 of
The
whom
their
Negroes
remarka-
on examination he baptised."
South Carolina, in a joint letter, acquainted the society with the fact " that Mr. Skeene, his lady, clerc^y of
and Mrs. Haige, his their
sister, did
use great care to have
Negroes instructed and baptised."
And
the
Rev.
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
12
Mr. Varnod, missionary, had baptised 8 Negro children to Mr. Skeene and Mrs. Haige, and he writes
belonging
to the society that
"at once he had 19 Negro comnau-
nicants.*'
Mr. Neumaii was sent baptised 269 children,
who
Negroes,
and
North Caro" that he had woman, and 3 iTicn, and 2
as a missionary to
He reported some time after
lina in 1722.
1
could say the creed, the Lord's prayer,
commandments, and had good
ten
sureties for their
further information."
The Rev. Mr.
m
Beekett, missionary in Pennsylvania^
1723, reported that he had baptised " two
slaves."
Negro
i
In 1709 Mr. Huddlestone was appointed school master in
New York
He
City.
taught 40 poor children out of
the societies funds, and publicly catechised in the steeple
of Trinity Church every Sunday in the afternoon, " not
only his
own
scholars, but also the children, servants,
and slaves of the inhabitants, and above 100 persons usually attended him."
The in
society established, also, a catechising school
New York
computed
The
to
city in
1704, in which city there were
be about 1,500 Negro and Indian slaves.
hoped
example would be generally Mr. Elias Neau, a French protestant was appointed catechist; who was vevy zeal^ lous in his duty and many Negroes were instructed and baptised. In 1712 the Negroes in New York conspired society
their
followed in the Colonics.
to destroy
the
work
all
the English,
which greatly discouraged
The conspiracy was many negroes taken and executed. Mr.
of their instruction.
defeated, and
Neau's school was blamed as the main occasion of the barbarous plot; two of Mr. Neau's school were charo-ed with the plot
;
one was cleared and the other was proved
HISTORICAL SKETCH. to have
been
the
in
"
master's murder.
were found
to
13
conspiracy, but guiltless of his
Upon
full trial
the guilt}-
Negroes
he such as never came to Mr. Neau's
aiid what is very observable, the persons whose scliool Negroes were found mof^t guilty were such as were the ;
declared opposers of making them Christians."
In a
short time the cry against the instruction of the Negroes
subsided: the Governor visited and recommended the
Mr. Neau died
much regretted by all was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Wetmore, who afterwards was app(;iiited missionary to B.ye in New York. After his removal "the rector, church school.
who knew
his labors.
in 1722,
He
wardens, andlvestry of Trinity Church,
in
New York
City," requested another calechist, "there being about
1,400 Negro and Indian slaves, a considerable number
of them had been instructed in the principles of Christianity by the lata ^Ir. Neau, and had received baptism and were communicants in their church. The society comp'ied with this request and sent over Rev. Mr.
Colganin 1726, who ccmducted the school with success." Mr. iloiieyman, missionary in 1724, in Providence,
Rhode
Island, had baptized, in two
years SO persons,
of which 19 were grown, 3 Negroes, and 2 Indians, and
2 Mulattoes. In NaragansetU
the congregation
was reported
to
be
160, (1720) with 12 Indian and black servants.
At Marble head,
the missionary reported (1725) having
baptized 2 xNegroes; girl 12,
"a man about 25
and that a whole fiimily
in
years old and a
Salem had conformed
to the church."
The
society looked upon the instruction and conver-
sion of the
esteeming
2
Negroes as a principal branch of it
a great reproach
to the
ibeir care;
Christian name,
RELIGIOUS INSTRirCTION OP THE NEGROES.
14 that so
many
the same
thousands of persons should continue in
state of
Pagan darkness under
government and living before under in their
own heathen
society immediately from their
promote
their conversion,
would not enahle them
they lay
and
to
in as
The
countries.
strove to
first institution
much
as their
income
send numbers of catechists
sufficient to instruct the iSegroes
do their utmost, and
a Christian
in Christian families, as
yet they resolved to
;
at least to give this
of their highest approbation.
They
work
mark
the
wrote, therefore, to
their missionaries, that they should use their best
all
endeavors, at proper times, to instruct the Negroes, and should especially lake occasion to recommefld it zealously to the masters to order their slaves at convenient times,
to
come
them
to
that they
had a good
directions
and some hundreds of
Negroes had been
instructed, received baptism,
admitted
communion, and
to
the
These
might be instructed.
effect,
and been
lived very orderly
lives."
The History of the Society goes on to say "It is a matter of commendation to the clergy that they have :
done thus much alas
!
what
is
in
so great and difficult a work.
years, with respect to the
unconverted;
many thousands
living, dying, utter
confessed, what haih been done to
what
After
But,
the instruction of a few hundreds in several
a true Christian
is
It
must be
as nothing with regard
would hope
staling several difficulties in
uninstructed,
pagans!
to
see eflected."
respect to the religious
instruction of the Negroes, (which do not exist at the
present time, but in a very limited degree,)
"But ilo
the greatest obstruction
is,
not consider enough the obligation which
ihem
to
it is
said:
the masters themselves
have their slaves instructed."
And
lies
in
upon
another
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
15
place, " the society have always been sensible the effectual
way
to
their masters to
sion."
most
convert the IS'egroes was by engaging
countenance and promote
theii
conver-
The Bishop of St. Asaph,Dr. Fleetwood, preached
a sermon before the society religion.
The
the year 171
in
forth the duty of instructing the
Negroes
in the
1, settino-
Christian
society thought this so useful a discourse
that they printed and dispersed abroad in the Plantations
numbers of
great
that
sermon,
in the
same year; and
in
the year 1725, reprinted the same and dispersed again
The
large numbers.
whom affairs,
London, Dr. Gibson,
Bisiiop of
(to
the care of the Plantations abroad, as to religious
was committed,) became a second advocate
for
the conversion of the Negroes, and wrote two letters on
The
this subject.
and mistresses of
abroad, exhorting them instruction of their
1727, "addressed to masters
first in
families, in to
the English Plantations
encourage and promote the
Negroes
The
in the ( hrislian faith.
second, in the same year, addressed
to the
missionaries
there directing them to distribute the said letter, and exhorting them to give their assistance towards the ;
instruction of the Negroes within their several parishes."
The to
society were persuaded this
remove
was the
true
method
the great obstruction to their conversion,
hoping so particular an application mistresses from the See of
10,000 copies of the
and mistresses, which were sent
the Colonies on the continent, and to islands in the
West
all
Indies, to be distributed
masters of families, and
all
and
masters and
London would have the
strongest influence, they printed letter to masters
to the
to all
British
the
among
other inhabitants.
the
The
fsociety received accounts that these letters influenced
many
masters
of
famiHes
to
have
their
servants
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
1ft
The Bishop
instructed.
London soon
of
*'an address to serious Clirislians
Society for Propagating the Gospel
assist the
on
in
to
carrying
work."
this
The
wrote
after
among oursdve.%
Gibson referred
letters of Dr.
to, for their intrinsic
excellence, and as an indication of the state of feeling on
lime they were written, render
the
the subject, at
proper that they should be inserted have not been able
copy of Dr.
to obtain a
sermon. " The Bishop of London" s Letter
Sketch,
this
in
to the
il
I
Flir^ctwood's
Masters and
Mistresses of Families in the English Plant aiions abroad; exho'^ting them to encourage and promote the Instruction
The to the
of their Negroes in the Christian
Lodoti, 1727.
Faith.
care of the Pianlntions abroad being committed
Bishop of London, as
thonght
it
my
duly
state of religion
in
make
to
those parts; and to learn,
number
other ihings, what
have
to religions affairs, I
particular inquiries fnto the
of
slaves
are
among
employed
within the sewral governments, and what means are
used for their instruction
in the Ch.ristian
the numbers are prodigiously great; and
troubled
to
observe
how
small
a
faith.
am
not
I
find
a little
made
progress has been
towards the delivering those poor
in a Christian country
creatures from the pagan darkness and supeisliiion in
which they were bred, and
making them partakers
the
of the light of the Gospel, and of the blessings and benefits belonging to
lamented,
I find
progress made it,
it.
there
in the
And, which has
not
work, but
is
yet
only been
that all
more very
towerfully tructi n and expressed Christ and his Church by the
e al of
fu: ih'-r in
a desii'e to be united to
sacrament of Baptism whi h was accordingly administered to them.'
At the Provincial Synod whid
them gave unusual evidence of sincerity, and that more than 1,000 Negroes attended OEH
h€ believed 4
^
THE NEGROES.
RELIGIOUS IKSTRUCTION OF
his ministry at the different places
where he alternately
officiated."
Mr
Davies writes Dr. Bellamy, Jn 1757, " what little I hare lately had, has been chiefly among the
success
extremes of Gentlemen and Negroes.
Indeed,
been remarkably working among the
latter.
God has I
have
baptized about 150 adults; and at the last sacramental
solemnity,
I
had the pleasure of seeing the table graced
They
with about 60 black faces. as far as
apostacy
generally behave well
can hear, though there are some instances of
I
among them."
The
counties in which Mr.
Davies labored were Hanover, Henrico, Goochland, Caroline, and Louisa.
"
The
Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign
Parts," already noticed, in 1745 established a school in Charleston, S.
Garden
C, under
It flourished
their utmost wishes.
It
Commissary
the direction of
greatly and seemed to answer
had
at
sent forth annually about 20
one time 00 scholars and
young Negroes well
in-
structed in the English language and the Christian faith.
This school was established
some of
its
decent characters.
The
in St. Phillip's
church and
scholars were living in 1822, of orderly and
— Bp. Meade and
year 1747 was marked
in the
by the authorized introduction of
Dr. Da/c/w.
Colony of Georgia
slaves.
Twenty
three
representatives from the different districts met in Savan-
nah, and after appointi: ;g Major Horton president, they
entered into sundry resolutions the ?uhstance of which
was "that
the
owners of slaves, should educate
yovng and use every
ious impressions upon the all acts
the
means of making religminds of the aged, and that
pvssible
of inhumanity should be punished by the civil
authority."
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The Rev. Ezra Stiles, D. D., afterwards pres1764. Hopkins, underident of Yale College, and Dr. Samuel xNegroes promising took the education of two apparently with a view /)r.
to the
Plumsrs
ministry
;
but
it
was
finally a failure.
Report.
While Dr. Stiles was pastor in Newport, R. " Of town. there were many African shves in that
1770. I.,
80 communicants Negroes.
in
his
church
that town, 7
in
Tliese occasionally met,
by
were
his direction, for
improvement in his study." Methodism was introduced into this country in New out by York, 1766 and the first missionaries were sent in a Pillmore, Mr. these, of One Mr. Wesley in 17H9 says, in 1770, York, New from letter to Mr. Wesley,
religious
"the number of blacks me much." The first
that attend the preaching affects .p'ruhir conference was held in
Number of From this year
Philadelphia, 1773.
ministers
10 and of
1776 there was a the preaching great revival of religion in Virginia under Mr. Jarratt Rev. of the Methodists, in connection with 14 thn.ugh spread of the Episcopal Church, which letOne Carohna. North counties in Virginia and 2 in ;" white and black ter states, " the chapel was full of them with auother "hundreds of Negroes weie among anothRoanoke At faces." their down tear& streaming
members
1,160.
to
were er remarks, "in general the white people without." people black the and chapel the
withm
followAt the H\h conference in Baltimore the 25.— " Ques. ing question appeared in the minutes, himpeople col«>red the Ought not the assistant to meet white proper absence his in self and appoint as helpers meet by and not suffer them to stay late and
1780.
persons,
themselves ? Ans,
— Yei."
Under
the preaching of
M?.
40
RELIGIOUS INSt-RCCtlON OP THE NEGROES.
Garretson in Maryland, "hundreds both white and black expressed their love of Jesus." 1786.
The
first return of colored
from white occurs
in the
minutes of
members
this year,
distinct
and then
yearly afterwards, white 18,791, colored 1,890. '"^It will be perceived from the above," says Dr. Bangs iti his history of the Methodist Episcopal Church, " that a
number of colored persons had been receiv* ed into the church, and were so returned in the minutes of conference. Hence it appears that at an early period considerable
of the Methodist ministry in this country its
it
had turned
attention to this part of the population."
Mr. Rankin writing on
Methodism commencement of hostilities, observes, ''in May 1777 we had 40 preachers in the different circuits and about 7000 members in the society^ besides many hundreds of Negroes, who were convinced of sin, and many of them happy in the love of God." the general state of
in the Colonies at the the
Life of Coke, p. 53, In the year 1786 the following casecf conscience was overtored from Donegal Presbytery, in the Synod of
New York
and Philadelphia
"Whether duty
to
;
namely,
Christian masters or mistresses ought in
have such children baptized, as are under their
care though born of parents not in the any Christian church ?"
Upon
this
communiun of
overture " the synod are of opinion that
whose religious profesthem a rigkt 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 sciuple of conscience to the contrary." Min. p. 413, and X[in» &f GcnH Assem, p, 97.
Christian masters and mistresses
sions and conduct are such as to give
—
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
And on
the next page (414)
it
4t
was overtured "wheth-
er Christian slaves having children at the entire direction of unchristian masters, and not having it in their power to instruct
them
in religion, are bounil to
have them
baptized; and whether a Gospel minister in this predicament ought to baptize them?" The synod determined the question in the ajirmative,
1787.
The minutes
of the Methodist conference for
this year, furnish the following question
and answer,^ indicative of continued interest in the colored population, *'
— What directions we give the welfare of the colored peoAns. — We conjure our ministers and preachers
Ques.
17.
shall
promotion of the ple
?
by
the love of
for
spiritual
all
God and
require them by
all
to leave nothing
undone
salvation of districts;
the salvation of souls,
the authority that
is
and do
invested in us
for the spiritual benefit
and
them, within their respective circuits or
and for
this
purpose
to
embrace every oppor-
tunity of inquiring into the state of their souls, and to unite in society those who appear to have a real desire
of fleeing from the wrath to come to meet such in and to exercise the whole Methodist discipline ;
class,
among them."
Number
of colored
—
members
3,893.
Again " Ques. What can be done in order to instruct poor children, white and black, to read ? Ans. Let us labor as the heart and soul of one man to estab1790.
lish
:
Sunday schools
ship.
in or near the place of public worLet persons be appointed by the bishops, elders,
deacons, or preachers, to teach gratis
all
that will attend
and have a capacity to learn, from 6 o'clock morning till 10, and from 2 P. M. till 6, where
4
in the it
does
not interfere with public worship.
The
compile a proper school-book 4»
them learning and
to teach
council shall
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGR0E3.
42
The experiment was made, but it proved Number ol colored
piety."
unsuccessful and was discontinued.
members
this
year n,682.
The Methodist
which has
the only denomination
is
preserved returns of the number of colored members in
connection.
its
find
I
it
make any
impossible to
estimate of the
number
denominations.
The Methodists met M'ith more
during
this period in
connection with the other
in
success
the Middle and Southern States
than in the Northern, and as they paid particular atten tion to the
Negroes large numbers were brought under
their influence.
The
first
Baptist church in this country was founded
Roger Williams, in 1639. I., by Nearly one hundred years after the settlement of Amerin
Providence, R.
ica,
" only 17 Baptist churches had arisen
Baptist church in Charleston S.
The dinomination advanced and Southern States and all.
one
in
The
in 1690.
slowly through the Middle
1790
Revivals of religion ^vck in
in it."
C, was founded it
had churches in them
enjoyed, particularly
commenced in 1785 and continued "Thousands were converted and many who joined the Methodists and A large number ol Negroes were ad-
Virginia which
until 1791 or
1792.
baptized, besides
Presbyterians." mitted
to
the Baptist churcn^s during the seasons of
revival, as well
as on ordinary occasions; they
however, not gathered
into
whites south of IN nnsylvania except in Georgia. notices of churches
fore the Revolution the the
Brief
composed exclusively of Negroes
will be given in the second period of this Sketch.
crowds
were
churches distinct from the
Negroes
in Virginia
Episcopal church, there
beiriij
denomination of Christians of consequence
Be-
attended in
no other
in the Slate
43
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
but upon the introduction of other denominations they went off to them. Old Robert Carter, or Counsellor or
King Carter, as he was commonly called, among the men in the Slate, owning some 700 or 800 slaves
richest
tracts of land
and large
county,
caster
built Christ'' s
;
He was
servants and tenants.
and died
in the faith
Lan-
in
fifteen
his
himself baptized, and
number of
aftervvLrds emancipated a large
and living fourteen or
Church
reserved one-fourth for
Va., and
his
Negroes
years a Baptist, embraced
of Swedenhorg.
The independence
of the
American Colonies was
The acknowledged and peace established in 17h3. articles of confederation of 1778 were superseded by our present Constitution
in
1787, from the ratification of
which to the present time our country has been rapidly advancing
in prosperity.
From the beginning of
our controversies with the moth-
er country to the breaking out of the revolutionary
throughout the period of thai arduous struggle
from
its
;
war;
and
close, throughout the period of national exhaus-
tion, loss of public credit,
derangement
in trade, political
excitements, and conflicting opinions, to the ratification
of the constitution, a period of near 20 years, the colonies sufiered
immeasurably
point of view
;
in
a
moral and religious
and the notices during
this period
of the
state of the churches and of the progress of the Gospel,
are gloomy, and ter.
Of course
some of them of
the gloomiest charac-
the Negroes suffered in
common
with
the rest of the population.
A
few remarks suggested by the facts embraced in period of our Sketch, shall bring it to a con-
this jirst
clusion.
The
religious
condition of the colonies up to the
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NECR0E3.
44
period of the revolution, taken on the whole, was not
lemarkable
one
there had been
foi
prosperity,
its
some
notwithstanding
The New
revivals of religion.
England Colonies were in respect to a supply of ministers and religious privileges and improvement beyond But the whole country was in a forming all the rest. state
;
but recently settled
;
colonists from abroad, and
way
their
repeated
into
new and
every year receiving fresh the older settlers
unexplored
regions
pushing while
;
wars with the Indians, and wars with the
French, the Dutch, and the Spaniards, threw
different
portions into protracted, distressing, and injurious com-
motions. Agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and the arts,
were but
in their
infancy
;
and the general conduct
of the mother country in regard to the government of the colonies and the policy to be pursued towards them,
was wretched
;
sometimes contradictory, frequently op-
pressive and injurious, and contrary to the wishes of the colonists.
Such being
the state of affairs,
we ought
not to antici-
pate any remarkable degree of attention, to the religious instruction of the Negroes, within the Colonies, as an
independent class of population. the effect of the slave trade, during
Especially too, as its
existence,
was
to
harden the feelings against the unfortunate subjects of it,
while their degraded and miserable appearance and
character, their stupidity, their uncouth languages
gross
superstitions,
operated
as
so
and
their
many checks
constant to
benevolent
for their conversion to Christianity.
who
And
and
fxcupation, efforts
thus, those
advocated the slave-trade on the ground that
it
introduced the Negroes to the blessings of civilization
and the Gospel, saw
their favorite
force, in great measure,
from year
argument to year.
losijDg its
A
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The
however,
fact,
while the Indians
and sold us
is
worthy of remembrance, that
— some of whom received us
their lands at almost
and others were driven back
whom we from lime
to
as guest?
no compensation
make
us
room
;
at all,
and with
had frequent and bloody wars, and we became to time, mutual scourges received some
—
eminent nnssionaries from the colonists, and had no
in^
awakened
the
considerable interest
for their conversion
;
African who were brought over and bought by us for who wore out their lives as such, enriching
servants, and
thousands, from Massachusetts
to
Georgia and were
members of our households, never received from
the
colonists themselves a solitary missionary exclusively
devoted to their good
;
nor was there ever a single soci-
ety established within the
Colonies^ that
we know
of,
with the express design of promoting their religious instruction
The that
!
conclusion, however, would be unwarrantable,
they were wholly neglected.
President Davies, "that no
man
The language
of
cared for their souls,'*
must be received with nhntement. For they had attracted the serious attention of societies in Europe, and of
men
eminent for wisdom, learning, and piety; and able appeals were written to promote their religious instruction :
and some attempts were made to send over missionaries and also to engage the services of the settled clergy in their behalf, the
Church of England
in this
good work
taking the lead.
We
are certified also, that efforts were
instruction, especially in the
their
numbers were greater
;
made
for their
Southern Colonies, where and that owners did
to
some
•mail extent desire and attempt the instruction of their
households; aud that the settled as well as itinerant
46
RELIGI0U3 INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
Many Negroes
ministers did not wholly neglect them.
were received
into
Colonies
olh
to ilie
the churches from one end of the r,
and the rest and privileges of the
Lord's day were secured to them either by custom or
We
lavr.
see them occasionally iioiiced in the proceed-
ings of ecclesiastical associations.
There were
cate-
chetical schools and schools for teaching tiiem to read, in a few places. The Negroes were allowed to read, and books were, upon occasions, distributed to them but the privileges of education were gradually discouraged and withheld, more particularly in those Colonies and Slates containing a large population of them, and ;
whose
policy
Were
it
it
was
to
perpetuate
llje
system of slaver3\
possible for us to obtain from
all
the ministers
of various denominations ihroughout the Colonies,
who
flourished during these 170 years, a report of their regular pastoral labors
few,
it
such as have been furnished by
a
might possibly appear that the Negroes received
a larger share of religious instruction than, upon a consideration of the facts led to imagine.
now
before us,
many would he
47
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
CHAPTER The Second Period — From
the
first
11
Census
in 1790, to
1820, a
Period of 30 years.
The
1790.
awakened
interest
in
Virginia,
by the
labors of President Davies, continued throughout this
by
period, as appears
tlie
following letter from the vene-
rable Dr. Alexander of Princeton.
"In
addition to the efforts
Davies of Hanover, faithful
coadjutor
are
apparent
still
county, Va.
The
made by
the Rev. Mr.
would mention the name of a
in this field,
in
the effects of
whose labors
Cub-creek congregation, minister to
Rev. Robert Henry,
many
I
whom
I
in
Charlotte
allude
a native of Scotland,
was the
who was
for
years the pastor of Cub-creek and Briery congre-
gations u.ited, although their distance apart was not less
than twenty
humble
miles.
This gentleman possessed very
talents as a preacher;
sometimes ruptly.
lost himself, so that
He
blundered much, and
he had
to
conclude ab-
was so absent that on one occasion
after
preaching, finding the horse of another person hitched
where he commonly left his own beast, he mounted and rode him without noticing the mistake. He was notoriously a
man of prayer;
for
when he turned out of the
public road to go to the house where he usually lodged
4b
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF
THE NEGROES.
the evening before he preached at Briery, he could be heard praying ah)ud long before he was in sight, and sometimes he became so much engaged that his old bald
horse would come up and stop
was
still
at the gate
whilst he
in earnest supplication.
This man judiciously turned much of his attention to and to them his ministry was attended
the Negroes
;
Many were
with abundant success.
gathered into the church at Cub-creek.
conveited and
As
this
congre-
gation was situated on the northern bank of Staunton river,
where the land
is
very
large estates, possessing
fertile,
many
there
were several
slaves, within reach of
the house of worship where he preached."
The Rev. Henry Lacy succeeded Mr. Henry; whose
ministrations at Cub-creek about
during
200 were added
to the church. There were 60 belonging to the church under the care of Mr. Cob. Rev. W. S. Plumer's Report.
—
Dr. Alexander proceeds:
Henry's death,
I
was
"Many
yeais after Mr.
settled for several years in this
county, and preached at the same places where Mr.
Henry had
labored.
At Cub-creek
black communicants, twenty-four of
one
estate.
They
I
found about 70
whom
belonged to
were, in general, as orderly and as
constant in their attendance on the word preached as the whites.
Some
of them had been received in Mr.
HenThe session of the leading men amon^ them
ry's time, but others afterwards.
church appointed two or three to
be a sort of overseers or superintendents of the
and we found that they performed
rest,
their duties faith-
fully.
It
was
in
this
same county and very much
to the
large colored congregation at Cub-creek, that Dr.
Ric^
49
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
labored after I
He was when
left the place.
pastor of Cub- creek and Bethesda, a
new
first
settled
congregation
which grew out of the former. As he was willing to bestow a part of his time entirely to the blacks, the Comraittee on Missions of the general Assembly^ appointed him for about three months in the year to labor among them, and I know that he was much encouraged
work had some very promising young converts and the number of communicants was not diminished The present pastor (1840) is the Rev. in his time.
in his
;
;
Clement Read, a native of the county? He has labored In general there and at Bethesda for many years past. the
and
Negroes were followers of the Baptists after a while, as they permitted
to preach,
the great majority of
preachers of their
many
evils.
In
own
some
color,
many
in Virginia,
colored
them went
to
men hear
which was attended with
parts of the state the Methodists
much attention to the Negroes and received many of them into their society but still professors among the Baptists were far more numerous. In many instances those who had been brought into the Presbyalso paid
;
by one or tiie other of was acquainted with the congregation at Cub-creek, I never knew one of them We had to leave their own communion for another. terian
church were swept
these sects.
But
off
as long as I
the testimony of their masters and mistresses, to their
conscientiousness,
fidelity,
and diligence.
The
lady
who owned 25 of the communicants, selected all her house servants from the number, though not herself a communicant in the Presbyterian church. And on several estates instead of overseers, some of these pious men were
appointed to superintend the labor of the
other field servants,"
5
"5^
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
The Rev. Henry
Patillo, pastor of the
and Nulbush churches
orlina, labored successfully this
to to
Grassy Creek
Greenville county, North Car-
in
among
the
Negroes about
time; the good effects of whose efforts continued
—
felt for many years after. -Dr. Plumer's Report Synods of N. Carolina and Virginia.
be
Towards
1793.
the close of this year the
first
colored
Baptist church in the city of Savannah, began to build a
The
place of worship.
corporation of the city gave
The
"them a lot for the purpose.
— the parent of several others — George
Lorn
Leile,
origin of this church is
briefly as follows:
sometimes called George Sharp, was
His master sometime
about 1750.
in Virginia
before the American war, removed and settled in Burke
Mr. Sharp was a Baptist and a deacon which Rev. Matthew Moore was George was converted and baptized under Mr,
county Georgia.
in a Baptist church, of
pastor.
Moore's ministry. preach. He began ent plantations.
Tl.e
church gave him liberty to
to labor
with good success at differ-
Mr, Sharp gave him his freedom not
long after he began to preach
preached
at
:
for about three years
Brampton and Yamacraw
hood of Savannah.
On
he
in the neighbor-
the evacuation of the country,
(1782 and 1783,) he went to Jamaica.
Previous to his
departure he came up from the vessel lying below the
and baptized an African woman by the name of Kate, belonging to Mrs. Eunice Hogg, and Andrew, his wife Hannah, and Hagar, belonging to city in the river,
the venerable Mr. Jonathan Bryan.
The
Baptist cause
among
the
Negroes
in
Jamaica^
owes its origin to the indefatigable and pious labors of this worthy man, George Leile. It does not come within ray design to introduce an account of his efforts
51
HISTOHICAL SKETCH.
he com; I shall add only that in 1784 a church, and formed and Kingston, in preaching menced communicants 1791 had gathered a company of 450 meeting commodious the erection of a in that island
m
and commenced
It finally cost
house.
with steeple and bell 4,000/.
He
years of age. was alive in 1810 and about sixty
About nine months
after
AndrevvT, surnamed Bryan,
George Leile left Georgia, man of good sense, great
a
to exliorl his and some natural elocution, began were followers his ar.d black brethren and friends. He religious in further reprimanded and forbidden to engage would however pray, sing, and encour-
zeal,
He
exercises.
Their the Lord. age his fellow worshippers to seek Their extent. inhuman an to carried persecution w;i3 those found evening asseniblies were broken up and
Andrew Bryan present were punished with stripes! about a year after converted brother, his Sampson and with about fifty him, were twice imprisoned, and they whipped, and publicly When others were whipped. that he declared Andrew bleeding under his wounds, suffer freely would but whipped, rejoiced not only to be while he that and Christ Jesus of cause death for the continue to preach life and opportunity, he woukl :
had
He was
Christ.
faithful
to
his
vow, and by patient
and shamed continuance in well-doing, he put to silence patrons and advocates his adversaries; and influential
were
Liberty was given Andrew by his religious meetings continue authority to His master gave him the use regulations.
raised
the civil
up
for
him.
imder certain
miles from Savannah, of his barn at Brampton, three little interruption. with years, two for preached he where he was long after Andrew began his ministry
Not
yifiited
by
tlie
Rev. Thomas Barton, who baptized eigh^
52
RELIGIOUS mSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
teen of
Ms
followers on profession of their faith.
The
was from the Rev. Abraham Marshall of Kioka, who was accompanied by a young colored preacher, by next
visit
the
name
On
the 20th of January 1788, Mr. Marshall ordained
of Jesse Peter, from the vicinity of Augusta.
Andrew Bryan, stituted
baptized forty of his hearers, and con-
them with
others,
which Andrew was the the
first
69
in
number, a church, of
Such was the
pastor.
origin of
colored Baptist church in Savannah.
combe^s Letters; Analytical Repository dict's Hist, of Baptists account has been taken.
:
;
— Hol-
and Bene-
from which the preceding
Before dismissing this notice, I cannot forbear intro-
ducing the remarks of Dr. Holcombe on Andrew Bryan, written in 1812.
" Andrew Bryan has, long ago, not only honorably obtained liberty, but a handsome estate. well-set locks have been bleached
and dressed
like a bishop of
His fleecy and
by eighty winters;
London, he rides, modemanly features,,
rately corpulent, in his chair, and with
of a jetty hue,
bows,
^v'nh
fills
every person
to
whom
he gracefully
pleasure and veneration, by displaying in
smiles even rows of natural teeth, white as ivory, and a pair
of
fine
black eyes, sparkling with intelligence,
benevolence, and Joy. In giving daily thanks to God for his mercies my aged friend seldom forgets to mention the favorable change that has of late years appeared
through the lower parts of Georgia, as well as of South Carolina, in the treatment of servants.**
1793.
The
African church
—
in .Augusta,
Let. 17.
Ga., was gath-
ered by the labors of Jesse Peter, and was constituted this
year by Rev.
Abraham Marshall and David
Tinsley,
Jesse Peter was also called Jesse Golfin on account
33
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
name
master's
of his
—
twelve miles below
living
Augusta. of Baptists in the United States this
The number
year was 73,471, allowing one-fourth
he
to
between
denomination would embrace
Negroes
eighteen
the
and
nineteen thousand
The
1795.
returns of colored
members
ia the
Methwere
to 1795, inclusive,
odist denomination from 1791
12,884, 13,871, 16,227, 13,814, 12,170.
Several annual conferences recommended a general March 1796, and in the enumeration of
fast, to be held
blessings to be invoked the last mentioned
Africans and Indians may help
And
of God."
in the matters
to
fill
was "that
the pure church
recommended
as subjects
day of thanksgiving for of grateful remembrance the last mentioned is October 1796, in Thursday the last in the
— " And
for African liberty
;
we
feel grateful that
many
thousands of these poor people are free and pious." 1797. The Methodists reported in 1796, II, 2^0 colored members.
1797
is
The
recapitulation of the
given by States, and as
document
I insert
it
is
numbers
for
a most interesting
M
RELIGIOtrS INSTRUCTION
color attached
These were
to
OT T®E NEGR0E3.
the Meth^)dist
chiefly in the
Episcopal
Church..
Southern States, and had been,
gathered principally from the slave population.
At an early period of the Methodist ministry in this it had turned its attention and directed its efforts
country
towards these people, with a view to bring them to the
enjoyment of Gospel blessings. The preachers deplored with the deepest sympathy their unhappy condition, especially their enslavement to sin and satan
they labored unsuccessfully by their
effect
and while
;
prudent means to
all
disenthralmpnt from their
bondage,
civil
they were amply rewarded for their evangeHcal efforts to raise
them from
by seeing These
their moral degradation,
thousands of them happily converted
to
God.
added much to the labor of the preachers, for
efforts
such was the condition of the slaves that they were not permitted, on working days, to attend the public administration of the
word
in
company with
their masters
and hence the preachers devoted the evenings
;
to their
instruction after the customary labors of the day closed.
And although
at first there
were was much aversioa
manifested by the masters, towards these benevolent efforts to elevate
the condition of the slaves
;
yet, wit-
nessing the beneficial effects of the Gospel upon their hearts and lives, they gradually yielded their prejudices
and encouraged the preachers
in their labors, assisted in
providing houses to accommodate them in their worship
and otherwise protected them
in their religious privileges.
While, therefore, the voice of the preachers was not heard
in favor
of emancipation from their
civil
bondage,
nor their remonstrances against the evils of slavery heeded, the voice of truth addressed to the understand-ings and consciences of the slaves themselves, was often
55
HISTORICAL ^ETCHj
heard with believing and obedient hearts and made instrumental in their deliverance from the shackles of
Those who were thus sin and the bondage of satan. redeemed were enroled among the people of God»and were consequently entitled to the privileges of the church of Christ. In some of the northern cities houses of worship were erected for their special and separate accommodation, and they were put under the pastoral charge of a white preacher, who was generally assisted by such colored local preachers as may have been raised up among themselves; for many such, from time to time, possessing gifts for edification, were licensed to
preach the Gospel
to their colored brethren,
of these have been eminently useful.
Southern States, where the
and some
In the more
municipal regulations in
respect to slaves are more severe, some portion of the
churches where the white population assemble set apart for the blacks.
been such as
is
to insure the confidence of their
and the protection of
usually
Their behaviour has generallytheir
civil
rulers,
masters
though they
labored under the disabilities incident to a state of servitude."
memorable for the commencement awakening which, taking its rise in Kentucky and spreading in various directions and with different degrees of intensity, was denominated, " the great Kentucky revival." It continued for above 1799
This year
is
of that extraordinary
four years, and
its
influence
of the Southern States.
was
felt
over a large portion
Presbyterians, Methodists, and
Baptists participated in this work.
In this revival origi-
nated Camp-Meetings, which gave a new impulse
Methodism.
From
Negroes received
into the different
to
number of communions, during
the best estimates the
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGR0E3.
56 this
season, must have been between
four and
jive
thousand. 1800.
I
Number
of
;Metho(iists 13,452.
members in The bishops
connection with the
M. E. church
of the
'were authorized to ordain African preachers, in places
where there were houses of worship for their use, who might be chosen by a majoiity of the male members of the society to which they belonged and could procure a recommendation from the preacher
in charge
and his
colleagues on the circuit, to the office of local deacons.
Richard Allen of Philadelphia was the
man who 1803.
first colored
received orders under this rule.
The second
formed out of the
Cunningham
African
church
in
26th Dec'r, 1802
first,
;
Savannah
and Henry
elected pastor and ordained to the
the ministry, January
1803.
1st,
On
the
work of
2d of January
1803, another church was formed out of the^r^f, called
Henry FranHenry Cunningham was a
the Ogechee Colored Baptist Church, and cis
appointed to supply
it.
slave, but obtained his fredom.
He is
still
the 2d African church, far advanced in
age unable
to attend
very limited extent.
to his
He
the pastor of
life,
and from
sacred duties, except to a
still
enjoys, (as he has always
enjoyed,) the confidence and esteem of
all
classes of the
which he has lived so long, so virtuously, and so usefully. The Methodist conferences reported 22,453 colored members— an increase over the last
community
in
year of 3,794. In the report of the congregation of the Moravian
Brethren
at
Graceham,
IVfaryland, for 1801, the
Rev.
Frederick Schlegel under date of April 19lh, writes
"As
a
number of Negroes had
for several
:
Sundays sue*
cessively attended our divine worship,! collected thirteen-
HISTORICAL SKETCH,
57
of them and after a suitable address, prayed with them. They were very devout, and declared it to be their sincere desire to be truly converted.
brother
A few Sundays
Browne (who preached theGospel
on Staten Island) being here on a
to the
visit,
after
Negroes
preached to
thirty Negroes, ami after the
sermon baptized two children. The transaction made such an impression on two of the adult Negroes that they requested this rite miglit be in mediately performed on them.
however ing
satisfied with the
reasons
They were
assigned for defer-
I
they had received further instruction in Chrisvery affecting scene took place at the close of the meeting. A Negro overseer who was present, kneeled down with his people and in an impressive it till
tianity.
A
prayer thanked God for what their souls had enjoyed that day. The number of Negroes that attended increased almost every week. At their request a regulation
was made according to which separate meetings them at stated tin.es. Opportunities
will be held with will also
be offered them for private conversation on
religious subjects."
were
in the
Some
sequel baptized.
the Brethren, vol. 2, pp.
1805.
An
children and a few adults
—
Thomas Paul
house of worship was finished
up
1806. 130, the
for a school
The
of the Church of
African church formed
the ministry of
fitted
i//^^.
292 293. in
a colored in
Boston under man. Their
1806; the lower stojy
room.
Baptist churches in South Carolina were ministers 100, and communicants
number of
10,500, of which perhaps 3,500 were Negroes. 1807. Hanover Presbytery, Va., addressed a circular to the
churches under their care, solemnly exhorting
them not to neglect their duty Ma^,, vol.3, p. 159.
to their
servants,— ITa.
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
ijglS
The Abyssinian or African church
1809.
fornned in th©
City of New York. House of worship in Anthony street. Also an African church in Philadelphia; supplied for a time by Henry Cunningham of Savannah, Ga.
The.
estimate of colored communicants in the Baptist churches In
Virginia
this year, I set
By the
1810.
down
at 9,000.
reports of the state of the congregations,
of the Protestant Episcopal Church
made
in the
in
South Carolina,
convention, there were 199 colored commu-.
nicanls in 3 churches, viz
:
St. Philips'
and
St. IMichaels',
Charleston, 120 and 73, and Prince George's, 6.
The
Winyaw,
other reports do not distinguish between white,
and colored communicants. There were 40,000 Negroes connected with 1813. the Baptist denomination in the States of Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
The
Georgia.
remarks,
historian
African Baptists
in
the Southern
" that States,
among
the
there are a
multitude of preachers and exhorters whose names do
They preach own color,
not appear on the minutes of associations.
principally on the plantations to those of their
and
their preaching,
many
though broken and
illiterate, is in
cases highly useful."
There was a report adopted by the General 1816. Assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States, on the question, " ought baptism on the ])romise of the
master
who
are
to
be administered
as follows:
slaves?"
members
1.
that
it is
to
the
children
of
the duty of masters
of the church, to present the children
of parents in servitutle, 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 to
them
the rich advantages
which the Gospel promises.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
That
59
the duty of Christian ministers to inculcate this doctrine and to baptize all children when presented
2.
it is
them by
to
their masters."
The ^uh]ecioi Missions attention of the
-M/zm^e^
of the Assembly,
Negroes occupied the General Assembly, but no plan of misto the
was carried into effect. Dr. Rice of Virginia was employed by the committee on missions in the assembly for a pait of the year, and his labors were encouraaino-, as already stated by Dr. Alexander in his letter, and Is appears also from the Minutes of the Assembly, p. 372. sions
The
Colonization Society was formed this year, and I as furnishing an index to the feelings of iTiany in relation to the improvement of the Negro race. The Methodists reported this year 42,304^ colored members, and a decrease of 883 since 1815. Dr. Bangs says, "this was owing to a defection among the colored people in the city of Philadelphia, by which upwards of notice
it
],OM^in that city withdrew from our church and set up Themselves, with Richard Allen, a colored local
f)r
preacher, an elder in the Methodist Episcopal their
at
head.— By
habits of industry and
Church economy,
though born a slave in one of the Southern States, he had not only procured his freedom, but acquired considerable wealth, and since he had exercised the office of a preacher and an elder, obtained great influence over his^brethren in the church At the secession they organized themselves into an independent body, under the title of the "African Methodist Episcopal Church."
At
their first general conference in April, 1816,
Richard
Allen was elected
Bishop.— At the conference in 1828, Morris Brown was elected joint superintendent with Allen ters
and on the death of Alien, in 1836, Edward Watwas ekcted.joint superintendent with Brown, the :
«
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES,
60
New York
colored congregations in
example.
— They adopted the
city
itinerant
followed
mode
te
of preach-
ing and have spread themselves in different parts of
New Yoik, New Jersey, Maryland and There are also some in the Western States few in Upper Canada. In the more Southern
Pennsylvania,
Delaware.
and
a
make no
States the Allciiites could
favorable impres-
were not recognized by the and the Slave population who were
as the'r preachers
sion,
laws of the States,
members of our church had
the character of our white
ministry pledged as a guarantee for their good behaviour."
1818. year, the
Under same
the report of colored
members
an increase of white members, amounting
was
a decrease of 4,261 of the colored
states that this
although not
foi this
writer remarks, " that while there
was owing
He
members."
Allenite secession
to the
who through
all
was
to 9,035, there
:
decked
influence
its
themselves independent, attached themselves
the
to
Allenites.
The
1819.
was but 24:
increase of colored
members
this yeai:
The
1819, 39,174, and 1818, 39,150.
smallness of the increase accounted for by the secession
of the Negroes in local preachers
New York
class-leaders, exhorters
A
amounting
city,
to
*'
14
and 929 private members, including
*
and stewards."
report dated June
14th, 1819, of a committee of
the board of managers of the Bible society of Charleston, S.
C,
respecting the progress and present state of re-
ligion in *"
South Carolina,
subject before us.
"
committee have been able
Gospel
is
will cast
From
now preached
some
light
on the
the best information
to obtain,
to about
the
they find that the
613 congregations
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
of Protestant Christians
who
ordained clergymen
;
that
61
there
are
about
292
labor amongst them, besides a
a considerable number of tlomestic missionaries, devoted and supported by each denomination, who dispense their
labors to such of the people as remain destitute of an established ministry.
From
actual returns and cautious
estimates where such returns have not been obtained, it
appears that
tants
who
Supper.
in the state there are
about 40,000 Protes-
communion of the Lord's Charleston upwards of one-
receive the holy In the city of
fourth of the communicants arc slaves or free persons of color ; and it is supposed that in the other parts of the state the proportion of such communicants
may
estimated
church
at
about
one-eighth.
In
every
they are freely admitted to attend on divine service
:
be
in
most of the churches distinct accommodations are provided for them, and the clergy in general of their
make it and
care to devote frequent
pastoral
a part
stated
seasons for the religious instruction of catechumen from
amongst the black population." It
may
be proper to state in connection with
this
report, that from the begin/.ing, with scarcely an exception,
the
Negroes applying
for
admission
into
the
churches have been under the instruction of white ministers or
members
:
have been examined and approved
as candidates for baptism
have been baptized and have partaken of the Lord's Supper at the sane time with white candidates and members, and been subject to the :
same care and discipline no distinction being made between the two classes of members in respect to the ;
privileges and discipline of the churches.
The
Episcopal church reported
colored
G
members from 1812
in part the
number of
to 1818, the majority in
RELIGIOUS IKST RUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
62
The
'Charleston.
328.
highest
number reported was
1817
in
In 1818 there were 289.
Bishop McKendree presented an address to 1820. the general conference at Baltimore, in which he took
The nmnber notice of " the condition of the slaves." conference, was of minutes the by members, of colored 40,558.
The
census of 1800 gave us 893,041 Negro slaves and That of free, making a total of 1,003,596.
110,555
1810 was 1,191,364 slave and 195,643 free total Negro That of 1820, ], 538,064 slave population, 1,387,007. :
and 244,020 free;
The
total 1,782,084.
importation of Africans into our country ceased,
by law, on
the 1st of
January 1808.
The
traffic
was
abolished by Virginia in 1778, and by Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, in 1780, 1787, 1788.
taken by
all
existed,
for
And
before the year 1820 measures were
the present free states, hi
which slavery had
bringing the system to a close.
special efforts, if any,
were made
in these states
What by
the
churches, or by societies, for the religious instruction of the Negroes thus attaining their freedom, I have no
means of ascertaining with accuracy. information in
my
From
the
best
possession special efforts w^ere very
few and very limited. As a nation we were scarcely reviving from the Revolution and the excitement of the formation and establish-
ment of our Constitution, when we were involved
in a
.var with France, which, with its influences, and what was worse, the infidelity and skepticism which our prenous connection with that nation introduced among us,
:nost seriously affected the interests of rehgion,
decline
was
and the
perceptible in a greater or less degree
over
ea
HISTOIUCAL SKETCH.
with whole Union. Not long after, our troubles war.. years England began, which resulted in a four ^,he
Spirit of God NoUvithstanding these interruptions, the the country. of parts was poured out largely in difieient witcentury nineteenth the Indeed, the first quarter of spirit in missioary the of revival nessed a remarkable Many English churches. the American as well as
were organized on a large and whose existence the world has reason
societies {in
liberal
scale,
to rejoice,) for
at home and abroad, the spreading of the Gospel, both the scriptures and auxiliary as well by the circulation of
publications, as
by the living teacher.
wrought in the hearts of ministers and peoimpulse was given to ple generally, and a new and mighty many to see the awakened it South In the rehaion. Many ministers Negroes. the of spiritual necessities faithfully to them more and particularly preach began to This
spirit
on the attempt a regular division of their time Attempts Sabbath, between the whiles and blacks. to teach the also made in some parts of the South,
and
to
were Negroes
letters, so as to
enable them to read the
word
These schools were short-lived for themselves. evidences that there was existence, of their
of God but the fact
considerable interest
felt in
their religious instiuction.
of the Houses of public worship, exclusively for the use towns, and chief the of many in erected were Negroes, care of white or they worshipped in them, under the space colored teachers. In numbers of white churches in Negroes, the was allowed for the accommodation of
house below; and the galeries or in the body of the churches, in some country of within sight and hearing with a stand or booths, with up fitted pleasant grove j^ul^it for
peaching, the Negroes would
o^t times
be
64
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
seen assembling for worship between services, or in the afternoon.
There were planters
also,
who undertook
to
read and explain the scriptures, and pray with their people.
much
It is not to>
to
say that the religious and physi-
Negroes were both improved during Their increase was natural and regular,
cal condition of the this period.
ranging, every ten years, between 34 and SG per cent.
As
the old stock
from Africa died out of the country the
grosser customs, the ignorance and paganism of Africa, died with them. Their descenilants, the country-born, were better looking, more intelligent, moie civilized,
more
susceptible of religious impressions.
under the eyes and
became more attached
to
them, were identified
households and accompanied
them
to
Gospel was preached
to masters
having no religion
renounce grew up
to
that of their masters.
Growing up
the families of owners, they
in
On
the
in iheir
church.
The
and servants; seivants in the belief
of
whole, however, but a
minority of the Negroes, and that a small one, attended regularly the house of God, and taking them as a class, their
religious
instruction
seriously neglected.
was extensively and mosi
65
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
CHAPTER The Third 1821. this
Period
— From
III
1820 to 1S42
—a
Period of 22
The Methodist Episcopal Church
year 42,059 colored n)embers
years.
reported
United Slates
in the
;
and their numbers gradually increasing. 1822.
The account
of the labors of the Moravian
Brethren by Mr. Schmidt,
down
their labors to 1837,
"In January 1822,
a
alre;-,dy
and
is
referred
Female Auxiliary
ary Society was formed at Salem and request an attempt was
made
brings
to the
own
Mission-
at their special
to collect the
a separate congregation of their
to,
as follows:
Negroes into which
— apian
had, indeed, long been an object of desire.
Brother
make
a comAbraham Sleiner was commissioned preaching monthly holding a mencement of the work by to
on a plantation about three miles distant from Salem, where the Negro communicants resided. At his first sermon there, March 24lh, 1822, more than fifty black After a fervent prayer and colored people were present. he discoursed on the words of our Saviour, " the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
With this monthly preaching, which was by the Negroes, catechetical instruction 6*
well attended in the great
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
66
truths of our religion
May
was combined.
19th the
Lord's Supper was celebrated wiih the three persons
who were
already communicants as the first fruits of this Negro flock. Great stillness and devotiot; continued to mark the attendance of the Negroes on divine
infant
worship, yet few sought for closer fellowship, so that this little flock has
never
to the
more than twenty members. A Negro chapel was built
in
present day numbered
1823, at the expense of
the Fenirile Auxiliary and consecrated the lesident Bishop,
December
by brother Benade,
2Slh, in the presence of
near a hundred Negroes aud colored people, and
members of
the congregation at Salem.
many
This was
fol-
lowed by the baptism of a married Negro woman, and the solemnities of the day were closed by a cheerful love
at
feast,
which the object of our covenant was
explained and two Negroes were received into the congregation.
It
was
a
day of blessing
for
tlie
Negroes,
many of whom seemed to be deeply affected. Having now a place of worship of their own, the meetings could be belter adapted
Several sisters
to their circumstances.
offered themselves, to keep a
Sunday school
for their
was diligently frequented, not only by This hopeful project was children, but also by adults. soon, however, painfully interrupted by a law which passed the legislature of North Carolina, forbidding any a school instruction to be imparted to the Negroes;
benefit,
and
it
—
prohibition which likewise operated very injuriously on their attendance at the meetings.
Negroes were called faithful
and much loved
to
May
mourn over
pastor*,
brother
22d, 1833, the
the loss of their
Abraham
Steiner,
and his plare was supplied by brother John Renatus Schmidt.
For the
last
year or two, they have manifested
61
HISTORICAL SKETCH. a greater desire for the word of
life and visited the house and our testimony to the sufferings and death of Jesus appears to find more entrance
God more
of
diligently,
In the private meetings of the
into their hearts.
Negro the
flock,
and particularly
peace of
God
is
at the holy
powerfully
little
communion,
The
perceptible.
company of emancipated Negroes, upwards of twenty in number, who sailed last year for Liberia, on the western coast of Africa, had
all
been diligent attendants
on our meetings and former Sunday school, and one of them was a communicant member of our flock. At parting the)' declared
them so much promised
remain
to
as
with tears that nothing grieved
They
the loss of these privileges.
devote themselves to the Lord Jesus and to
faithful to him.
In the fourteen years which have elapsed since their
church was dedicated 10 adults and 73 children have been baptized and 8 received into the congregation.
The
little
flock consists at present (1837,) of 17 adult
members, 10 of
On
whom
are communicants.
Wachovia, (N. C.,) was their most cherished object to communicate the Gospel both to the Indians on the borders of the Southern States and to the Negro population of those States, amounting to several thousands, especially to such as the settling of the Brethren in
it
resided in the neighborhood of our congregations, hop-
ing that they might be favored
them a reward
gather from
to
for the travail of the
Special meetings were accordingly
and Bethany, and elsewhere
in
commenced
the
among
Redeemer's at
soul.
Hope
neighborhood of
Salem, and the Negroes who were numerous in these districts, were in general diligent in attending them.
The
various ministers stationed at Salem, the late breth-
68
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTIOX OF THE NEGROES.
ren Fritz, Kramsch, Wohfahrt, Abraliam their wives, interested themselves with
Steiner,
Negroes ami the Lord so blessed their labors
tion for the sji ritual welfare of the vicinity,
many
hearts of
and
particular affecin their
the
to
that thoy could be admitted to a partici-
pation of the Lord's supper.
A
of their faithful services
retained by the Negroes.
is still
thankful
remembrance
In the prosecution of the mission am«)ngst the Cherokees, and
establish one amongst the Negroes dispersed among them were
the attempt to
in
Creek Indians,
the
Our brethren
not forgotten.
July 29lh 1827.
had the
Sj)ringplace
at
the firstling of tliese
gratification of baptizing
He was a
Negroes
native Afiican of the
Tjamba
and was baptized into the death of Jesus by the
tribe,
name
of
Jacob, continuing faithful
Chri.-^iian
Christian profession
his
to
end."
his hapj)y
till
The Rev. John Mines, pastor of a church in LeesVa published, "The Evangelical Catecliism, or
burg,
,
a plain and easy system of die principal doctrines and
duties of the Christian
instructing those
who
:
the
scholars
teacher until
much groes.
"he
is
to
of
called " oral instruc-
repeating the answers
committed
memory.
after
the
Mr. Mines was
religious instruction of the
Ne-
lie preface to his catechism, he states
thr.t
interested in Ill
to the use
new n"»ethod of Richmond 1822."
with a
cannot read.
His "ne.v method," was what tion ;"
Adapted
religion.
Sabbath schools and families
ih.e
h,.d several classes of
he commends the use of as "an humble attempt"
it
them (taught by his friends)" to masters and 7nistrrsses,
to furnish
them with appropri-
means for the instruction of their servants in religious knowledge; and he commends it also to '' his colored friends in the United States,'^ as a book written "espeate
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
69
daily for them," and says, "with the help of God, I will attend particularly to your spiritual interests while
Hive." Bishop Dehon of the Diocese of South Carohis good feelings excited in behalf of the
1823. lina,
had
all
Negroes.
"In his own congregation he was the laborious and paiient minister of the African; and he encouraged among ijie masters and mistresses in his flock, that best kindness towards their servants
"
their eternal salvation."
the
community on
this
brace opportunities relating to it," etc.
The Rev.
—
a
concern
for
He
endeavored lo enlKrhten " lie would gladly emsubject."
men
converse with
to
of influence
— Life, hy Dr. Gadsden. Dalcho,
Dr.
of
Episcopal
the
church,
Charle-^ton, this year issued a valuable
pamphlet entitled "Practical Considerations, fujuded on the Scripiu es, Relative to the Slave Population of South Caiolina." given in the first paragraph, namely, "to
Its design is
show from
the Scriptures of the Old and
ment, that slavery
and
at the
religious
same
in
New
not forbidden by the Divine
Testa-
Law:
time, to prove the necessity of giving
instruction
mentions that cants
is
in
to our Negroes." Dr. Dalcho 1822 there were 316 colored ommuni-
the Episcopal churches in Charleston, and
children in their colored
Sunday
200
schools,
A {e\v months before this pamphlet appeared. Dr. Richard Furman, President of the Baptist State Convention
of S.
addressed a
C,
in
the
name of
that
convention,
his Excellency,
Governor Wilson giving an "Exposition of the Views of the Baptists letter to
relative to the Colored Population in the United States:" in which,
ing:
among
"Their
other observations,
religious
interests
we
find the follow-
claim a regard from
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
70
their masters of the
most serious nature, and
it is
indis-
pensable."
The lamented this
in
Dr. John Holt Rice, already mentioned
Sketch, presented the subject of the religious
instruction of the Negroes in a strong light to the consideration
of
his fellow
citizens of
Virginia
in
the
Evanglical Magazine^ vol. 8 pp. (il3-4. He printed a sermon on the duty of masters to educate and baptize the. Through his influence many children of their servants. in Virginia
were induced
to give the
dnty of the religious
instruction of the
Negroes serious consideration, which
resulted in action
One
of his objects in devoting himself
Edward Theological at home
to the establishment of the Prince
Seminary, was that
and
a ministry
fitted for the field
servants,
bond and
might be educated
composed as it is, of masters and This was also one prominent
free.
object in the minds of
many
ministers, elders, and lay-
men, in the foundation and endowment of the Theological Seminary of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia in Columbia, S. C.
182S.
Number
of colored
members
in
Church, 48,096 and for 1825, 49,537;
Methodist E. 1826, 51,334;
1827, 53,565; 1828, 58,856; showing a steady increase.
In 1>28,
"a
plain and easy Catechism, designed chiefly
for the benefit of colored persons, with suitable
and
Hymns
Prayers
annexed," was pnblished by Rev. B. M.
Palmer, D. D., pastor of the Circular Church, CharlesSix or eight years before this he had ton, S. C." published a smaller ing
work
nearly the same
in Charleston
of the
title.
same kind and bear-
During
instruction of the Negroes, both in
1829.
all
his
ministry
he was a firm supporter of the religious
The Hoaorable
word and deed.
Charles Cotes worth Pinckney
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
71
of the Episcopal church, delivered an address before the Agricultural Society of South Carolina, in
which he
ably and largely insists upon the religious instruction of
This address went through two or more
the Negroes. editions
and was extensively circulated and with the
happiest
efi^rls.
The
1830.
historian of
church remarks, "
menced
the
Methodist Episcopal
year several missions were com-
this
for tlie special benefit of the slave population in
the States of South Carolina and Georgia.
of people had
been favored
with
Methodist ministry from the beginning of this country,
and there were at
This class
labors of the
the
this lime
its
labors in
62,814 of the
colored population in the several states and territories in
our chu^-ch fellowship, most of
whom were
It
was found, however, on
inspection into their
condition, that there were
by
a closer
many
slaves.
that could not be reached
the ordinary means, and therefore preachers
selected
who might devote themselves
were
exclusively to
their service."
He
"Missionary Society of to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church," alludes particularly to the
the South
of
which,
Carolina Conference, Auxiliary
at
least
Negro population,
so the
of Charleston, S. C.,
far
as
its
efforts
respect the
Rev. William Capers, D. D., is
the founder.
He
has
been
superintendent of these missions to the Negroes from their
commencement and has spared no exertions to The reports of
tend and render them successful.
board of managers, drawn up from year self exhibit the ])urity
and fervor of
to
year by him-
his zeal in so
a cause, as well as the remarkable progress which
made.
ex-
the
good it
has
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
72
In the winter of 1830 and the spring of 1831, two Associations of p'anteis
\A'ere
special object of affording
Negroes, by their own
formed
in
Georgia
for the
religious instruction to the
ries emwas formed by the Rev. Joseph Clay Stiles in Mcintosh county, embracing the neighborhood of Harris' r.eck, which continued in operation for some time, until by the withdraw^nent of Mr. Stiles' labors from the neighborhood and the loss of some of the inhabitants by death and removals it
and by mission
efforts
The
ployed fur ihe pnr|)ose.
first
The second w^as formed in Liberty county by JMidway Congregational church, and the Baptist
ceased.
the
church under their respective pastois the Rev. Robert
Quarlerman and the
i\ev.
Samuel Spry Law;
which
Association, with one suspension from the absence of a
missionary, has continued
its
operations to the present
time.
One
or
formed
more
in St.
associations for
Luke's Parish,
S.
tlie
C,
same purpose were
in
which John David
Mungin, Esquire, took an active part. An address, entitled, "the Religious Instruc1831. tion of the
Negroes," delivered before the Associations
of Mcintosh and Liberty counties, was published and
newspaper and pamphlet form.
circulated in
1832,
Edward R. Laurens, Esquire,
delivered an
address before the Agricultural Association of S.
which
this
duly
in the
proper arrangements culturist, 1832.
colored
"A
members on
Carolina: by
W.
C,
in
form of oral instruction, under
is
recognised.
Sovthcrn Agri-
short Catechism for the use of the
trial
of the
M. E. Church
in
South
Capers, D. D., Charleston, 1832."
This short catechism was prepared by Dr. Capers,
for
the use of the Metliodist missions to the Negroes of the
HISTORICAL SKETCH. S. C. conference, and
it is
used by
73
all
the missionaries.
The Missionary Society of the S. C. Conference -which had now fairly entered upon its work, 1833
reported that the missions were generally in flourishing
circumstances; that there were 1,395 colored members,
and 490 children under catechetical instruction
The
mission stations.
society also
establishment of four or five
new
at
the
recommended
the
stations
and the ap-
pointment of three or four new missionaries for stations already occupied.
The
— Report pp. 12 —
15.
First Annual Report, " of the Liberty
County was published and circulated in two editions. Two essays were read before the presbytery of Georgia, in April, 1833, one on "The Moral and Religious condition of our coloured population, " and the other, a ''Detail of a Plan for the Moral Improvement of Negroes on plantations," by Thomas Savage Clay, Esq., of Bryan County. They were both published by ''
Association,
The
order of presbytery.
" Detail, etc., "
which was indeed the result of
own
observation on his
plantation
extensively circulated and received
and has done, and
doing,
by Mr. Clay,
own experience and for many years, was
his
with approbation,
much
good. In December, of this year, the " Report of the
mittee, to
still is
whom was
Negroes, " of the synod of South
instruction of the
Carolina and Georgia was published. series of resolutions 1.
"That
country
is
to
To
this report a
were subjoined.
impart the Gospel
a duty
Com-
referred the subject of the religious
which God
to the
in his
Negroes of our
providence and
in
word imposes on us. 2. That in the discharge of this duty, we separate entirely the civil and religious condition of this people and while we devote ourselves to the improvement of latter, we disclaim all interference with
his
;
7
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
74
the former.
That
3.
the plan
which we
sliall
pursue for
by
their religious instruction shall be that pernniited
laws of the States constituting the 4.
That we deem
servant every
world and
member
religious instruction
way conducive
of this
to
to
this
the
synod.
master and
our interests for
this
That every, synod, while he endeavors to awaken the example and begin the religious in-
for that
others, shall set
bounds of
which
is to
come.
5.
own household, systemGod shall enable him. 6.
struction of the servants of his atically and perseveringly, as
That we cannot longer continue
neglect this duty
to
without incurring the charge of inconsistency in our Christian character; of unfaithfulness in the discharge of our ministerial
dutj-
the disapprobation of
and
;
at tiie
God and our
same time meeting consciences."
The
narrative of religion of the synod, at the same session,
holds the following language
same
feel the
responsibilities
:
'-the
synod continue
and desires on
which they have repeatedly expressed.
They
to find that increasing attention is paid to
it
of
many who
ety,
rejoice
on the part
are largely interested as owners in this
class of our population."
The
to
this subject
— Min. pp.
project of forming a
24, 34.
Domestic Missionary Soci-
under the care of the synod, with special reference
religious instruction of the Negroes, was somewhat discussed, chiefly in private, and a committee was appointed by the synod to bring in a repoit at the next to the
meeting.
The
reports from the Episcopal churches in South
Carolina
to the
the Negroes. fort,
convention, evidenced much attention to The Rev. Joseph R. Walker, of Beau-
reported 57 communicants and 234
Sunday
school, which
members of
was conducted by the
best society in the place.
first
the
and
07
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Bishop Ives of North Carolina, addressed
his con-
lo
vention, " on the interesting subject of providing for bur slave
I
population a
more adequate knowledge
doctrines of Christ crucified."
He
of the
stated in a letter to
efforts in behalf of this peo-
Bishop Meade, that active
were made in five or six of the churches, and singled out the church of St. John's, Fayetteville, embracing between three and four hundred worshippers of whom ple
forty were communicants.
There were several religious newsjiapers, conducted by different denominations, that advocated openly and efficiently,
about
Negroes
the
Charleston
:
:
this
the
time, the religious instruction of
" Gospel
Messenger," Episcopal,
the " Charleston Observer," Presbyterian
:
the "Christian Index," Baptist: the "Southern Christian Advocate," Methodist: the " Western Luminary,'*
Kentucky: and there may be added, the "New Orleans Observer," and the "Southern Churchman," AlexanThrough these papers, having an dria besides others. extensive circulation, the subject was presented to the ;
minds of thousands of our citizens. There was published this year. (1833,) "a Plain and Easy Catechism designed for the benefit of colored children, with several verses and hymns, with an appencompiled by a missionary: Savannah." This dix :
:
missionary was a Methodist; the Rev. Samuel
who "
labored
among
the Neo^roes on the
The encouraging
J.
Bryan,
Savannah
river
success which had attended the
labors of our preachers
among
the slave and free black
population of the South, stimulated our brethren in the
Southwest
to imitate their
example by opening ndssions
for the special benefit of this class of people. at the last
session of the
Hence
Tennessee conference the
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
76
African Mission, embracing the colored population of Nashville and its vicinity was commenced; a regular four week's circuit was formed, and the good work was prosecuted with such success that in 1834 there were reported 819 church members." 1834.
March
"A
— Bavgs
meeting was held
1834, composed of
in
4, p. 143.
Petersburg, Va., in
representatives
synods of North Carolina and Virginia.
from the
After dispos-
ing of the special business for which the meeting was called, the
subject of the religious instruction of the
Negroes was discussed and as a
result a
committee was
appointed, consisting of three ministers and elders in each of the States, " to bring before the presbyteries the subject of ministers giving the colored people
;
and
more
on the best modes of giving
tion
religious instruction to
to collect
and publish informa-
oral instruction to this
That committee, of which Plumer, D. D., now of Richmond, was
class of our population."
Rev. William
S.
the chairman, performed to the fall
its
duty and presented a report
synods of North Carolina and Virginia
sessions in 1834.
The same
report, with
at their
some
ac-
companying documents was forwanled to the synod of South Carolina and Georgia, and lead before that body in December, 1834.
The committee
of the synods of North Carolina and
Virginia, reported a plan ''for forming a society
by the
concurrence of two or more synods for the purpose of affording religious instruction to the Negroes in a
man-
ner consistent with the laws of the States and with the feelings and wishes of planters."
The
plan was laid
before the synod of North Carolina, and acceded
was
laid
to.
It
over by the synods of Virginia and South Car-
olina and Georgia, to their sessions in
1835 and then.
65
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
A
for special reasons, indefinitely postponed.
was presented by
Carolina and Georgia, on this plan.
adverse
to
report
a committee of the synod of South
The
repoit was
on account of the extent of the proposed
it,
organization; the excitement of the limes
and the be-
;
that each synod could of itself conduct the work
lief
more
The
successfully, than
when
united with the other two.
constitution of the proposed society, the reasons
in favor of
it,
and Dr. PJumer's report, were
all
laid
before the public in the columns of the Charleston Ob-
The
server.
report has been several times referred to
in this Sketch.
The synod
December That it be the presbyteries com-
of South Carolina and Georgia,
1834, passed the following resolutions: "
enjoined upon
all
the churches in
1.
prising this synod, to take order at their earliest meet-
ing to obtain the
full
and correct
statistical
number of colored persons
in
information of
actual attendance at
our several places of worship, and the number of colored
members
in
our several churches, and
synod
to the
at its
make
a
full
that the stated clerk of this synod furnish a this resolution to the stated clerk of 2.
That
it
report
next meeting; and for this purpose
be enjoined on
all
copy of
each presbytery.
presbyteries in presenting
their annual report to synod, to report the state of reli-
gion in the colored part of their congregations, and also to present a statistical report of the increase of colored
members, and that on
this
efforts
suhjecty
this he the
The
standing rule of synod
narative states " that increasing
had been made to impart religious instruction to
the Negroes,"
—
iir/;?.
pp. 22, 29.
The synod of IMississippi and Alabama, in their narrative, November 1, 1831, say, "another very encour5*
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
78
aging circumstance in the situation of our churches ia the deep interest which is lelt in behalf of our colored population, and the efforts which are
them
made
to
impart to
All our ministers feel a
religious instruction.
deep
interest in the instruction of this part of our population,
and when prudently conducted we meet with no opposition, A few of us, owing to peculiar circumstances, have no opportunity of preaching to them separately and at stated times
;
but embrace every favorable opportu-
Others devote a portion of every and two of
nity that occurs.
Sabbath
;
others a half of every Sabbath
;
our number preach exclusively to them. During the past year the condition and wants of the colored population,
have occupied more of our attention than at any we hope to be more untir-
previous period, and in future ing in life
this
all
and
our
efforts to
in that
which
synod enjoined
" united
efforts to
promote
is to
all
their happiness in this
come."
In their resolutions
under their care directly to make
provide means for the employment of
missionaries to give oral instruction to the colored
popu-
on the plantations with the permission of those persons to whom they belong."
lation
In this same year, (1834,) " the Kentucky Union, for the moral and religious improvement of the colored
race,"
was formed, and
a "circular"
ministers of the Gospel in Kentucky,
addressed to the
by
the executive
which the constitution was appended. It was a "union of the several denominaThe P^ev. H. H. tions of christians, in the State."
committee of that Union
;
Cavanaugh was president dents, selected from
to
;
there were ten vice presi-
different quarters of the State;
and
an executive committee of seven members located in Danville, of which Rev. John C. Young was chairman.
79
HISTORICAL SKETCIL
President that this
The
Young
told
me
at the general
assembly of 1839
Union had not accomplished much.
'^second annual report" of the Liberty County
Association was published, giving some good account of " An Essay on the Management of their operations. Slaves, and especially on their religious
instruction,"
read before the agricultural society of St. John's Colle-
C, by Whitemarsh
ton, S.
published by the society.
B. Seabrook, president,
was
Mr. Seabrook reviews some
former publications on the religious instruction of the Negroes, and suggests his own plans and views on the subject.
The Right Reverend William Meade,
Assistant
Bishop of Virginia, published an admirable ^^ pastoral letter, to the ministers, members, and friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the diocese of Virginia,
on the duty of affording religious instruction lo those The Bishop in his zeal and personal
in bondage."
on
efforts
this subject,
demonstrates the sincerity of his
published opinions.
The
missionary society of the S. C. conference le-
ported five missionaries to the blacks, in N. C. one, the rest in S.
C, and 2,145 members and
1,503 children
under catechetical instruction. "
The Colored man's Help
chism
:
:
or the Planters Cate-
Richmond, Va. " was now published.
Also, in the "Charleston Observer," "Biographies of Servants mentioned in the Scriptures: with Questions and Answers.
"
These admirable sketches were prepared by Mrs. Horace S. Pratt, then of St. Mary's, Ga. and now of Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Rev. Horace S. Pratt previously to his appointment to a professorship in the
College at Tuscaloosa, and
Vv'hile
Alabama
Pastor of the
St.
Ma-
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
80
ry's Presbyterian Churrh, gave
much
of hisaltenlion to
the religious instruction of the Negroes, and prepared at his
own expense
a comfortable and
commodious house
of worship for them, and which they occupy at the present time. Also, " A Catechism for Colored Persons. Jones, " printed in Charleston.
By
C. C.
"The Third Annual Report of the Liberty 1835. County Association, " was printed and more extensively circulated than the two preceeding. In the narrative of the state of religion in the synod of
South Carolina and Georgia,
it
is
said:
"even
the religious instruction of our slave population, entirely suspended in
some
parts of the country, through the
lamentable interference of abolition, fanatics has pro-
ceeded with almost unabated diligence and steadiness of purpose through the length and breadth of our Synod.'* 3Iin. 1835, p. 62.
Bishop Bowen of the diocese of S. C. prepared at the request of the convention and priiUed,
"A
Pastoral
Letter on the Religious Instruction of the slaves of
mem-
bers of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of
South Carolina; " to which he appended "Scripture Lessons," for the same. The subject had been presented to the Convention by an able report from a committee and a portion of the report,
was em.bodicd
The Missionary
in
Bishop Bowen's
letter.
Society of the S. C. conference re-
ported this year, 2,603 members, and 1,330 children
under catechetical instruction. 1836.
The Rev. George W. Freeman,
late
Rector
of Christs' Church Raleigh, N. C. published two dis-
courses on
"The
Rights and Duties of Slaveholders."
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
gj
Mr. Freeman with pathos and energy, urges upon masters and mistresses the duty of religious instruction. » 33
—
— 34
The report of the Liberty County Association was prepared, but not published this pear. The operations of the Association during the year had been successful. The bishops of the M. E. Church in the United States, in their letter of reply to the letter from the Wesleyan Methodisl Conference, England, held the following language "It may be pertinent to remark that of the colored population in the Southern and Soulh-wesl:
ern States, there are not less than 70,000 in our
membership
;
and that
in addition to those
led with our white congregations,
who
we have
church
are ming-
several pros-
perous missions exclusively for their spiritual benefit, which have been and are still owned of God, to the conversion of many precious souls. On the plantations of the
South and South-west our devoted missionaiies are
laboring for
tlie
salvation of the slaves, catechising their
children and bringing
all
within their influence, as far as
possible to the saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ; and we need hardly add, that we shall most gladly avail our-
selves, as
power
to
we have promote
ber of colored 1837, 1838.
ever done, of
all
the
their best interests. "
means
The
in
total
our
num-
members reported
The
for 183(5, was 82,661. subject of the leligious instruction
of the Negroes was called up and attended to in the synod of South Carolina and Georgia both these years, and many Sunday schools for children and adults reported from the difl^Tent presbyteries. attention in all the southern synods. to be a growing conviction of the duty whole an increase of efforts.
It also
received
There appeared itself,
and on the
82
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
The
instruction of the
Negroes
in
Liberty county, by
the Association, was carried forward as usual during the
summers of these years, but in consequence of the absence of the missionary in the winters, no reports were published.
The Missionary ference prosecuted
Society of the South Carolina conits
work with encouraging
success.
In an annuil meeting in the town of Colundna, S.
they collected for their missions
to the
C,
Negroes between
twelve and fifteen hundred dollars.
Bishop Meade collected and jiublished "Sermons, Dialogues and Narratives for servants, to be read to in families:
them
Richmond, 1836."
The second
edition of
"the Catechism
for colored
persons," by C. C. Jones: Savannah, T. Purse, 1837. Also,
*'
a Catechism to be used
by the teachers
religious instruction of persons of color, etc.: in
in the
prepared
cor.formity to a resolution of the Convention, under
The Revewho
the direction of the Bishop: Charleston."
rend gentlemen of the diocese of South Carolina
united in preparing this catechism, were Dr. Gadsden, (now Bishop,) Mr. T. Trapicr, and Mr. William H.
Barnwell.
The
following resolution was passed
in
the Episcopal
convention of South Carolina in 1838:
''Resolved,
That
members of
it
be respectfully recommended
our church,
who
and collectively,
to the
are proprietors of slaves individually to
clerical missionaries
take measures for the support of
and lay catechists
who
are
mem-
bers of our church, for the religious instruction of their slaves."
And
again, " Resolved,
That
it
be urged upon
the rectors and vestries of the country parishes, to exert
themselves sionaries
to obtain the services
and lay catechists."
of such clerical mis-
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
From
1839, 1840.
83
the reports of the Liberty county
Association for these years,
it
appears that a revival of
commenced toward the close of the summer of 1838 among the Negroes, and extended very nearly over
religion
the whole county, and continued for two years. The whole number received into the Congregational and
Baptist churches, on profession of their faith, was fully
The number
two hundred and fifty. dren
under catechetical
instruction
of adults and chilin
Sabbath
the
schools connected with the Association and in the different churches, ranged fromj^ue to seven hundred.
The Missionary ence reported
Society of Soutli Carolina Confer-
in 1839,
13 missions, 210 plantations, 19
missionaries, 5,482 church
catechised.
members, and 3,769 children
In 1840, 13 missions, 232 plantations, 19
missionaries, 5,482
members, and 3,811 children.
— Mi-
nutes.
The Methodists
returned in 1840, 94,532 colored per-
sons in their connection.
The Rev. T. a missionary
Archibald, (Presbyterian,) laboured as
to
the
Negroes
in
Mississippi for several
years, and in 1839 after leaving his charge in consequence
of the Abolition excitement, he received a
call to
Morengo county, Alabama. The Rev, James Smylie and Rev. William
to the
Negroes
(of the
same denomination) were and
information be correct) " engiiged in
still
this
are
is
defatigable father
groes has been
Negroes the
in his
C. Blair,
(if
our late
good work sys-
tematically and constantly" in Mississippi.
James Smylie,
preach
in
The Rev,
characterized as " an aged and inde:
his success in enlightening the
very great:
— a large
Ne-
proportion of the
oKl church can recite both Willison's and
Westminster catechism very accurately."
RELIGIOUS INSXrvUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
84
The names of many oilier pastors in the South might who have conscientiously and for a series of years, devoted much time to the religious instruction of
be given, the
Negroes connected with
their churches.
TJic Rev. James Smylie and Rev. John L.
Montgom-
ery were appointed by the synod of Mississippi in 1839 to vvrile or compile a catechism for the instruction of the
The manuscript was
Negroes.
presented to synod in
October 1840 and put into the hands of a committee of revision, but
The
it
has not yet been published.
table on the
sttite
of the churches of the Sunbu-
ry Baptist Association, Georgia, gives six ^/r/ca?? churches with a
total
of
members of
3,987, as returned
Of
nicants.
the other churches in the table, five
an overwhelming majority of colored members. three African churches in
with
tliis
association.
is said,
"
Sweat's
letter
all
have
The
connected
to
whom was referred
it
brother
on the subject of a mission among the Af-
rican churches report
— that
it is
highly important that
should be established and
recommend
that the subject be turned over to the executive tee,
one
In the appendix to the minutes
The committee,
such a mission
Savannah are
;
commu-
of these churches did not return the number of
commit-
with instructions that the brethren engaged in that
work, during the past year, be compensated for vices:
your committee further recommend
Connor be employed
as a missionary
by the
their ser-
that brother
association,
provided, he will devote half his lime to the colored people."
And
again: " That the table showing the state
of the churches, it is
may
be more correct than the present,
requested that at the next meeting of the association,
the church clerks will distinguish in their reports, be-
tween
tiie
white and colored members, and that such
85
HISTOUICAL SKETCH.
churches as send no delegates will forward a statement of their condition."
Missions to the people of color," are noticed
**
in the
annual report of the missionary society of the M. E.
Church, those
in 1840.
who
The
report thus speaks.
"And
surely
devote themselves to the self-sacrificing work
of preaching the Gospel to these people on the rice and sugar plantations of the South and South-west, are no deserving the patronage of the missionary society
less
who
than those
labor for the
same benevolent object
other portions of the great work. chiefly in the
The
refers also to
"In no to
in
these there are,
Southern conferences, 12,402 members
under the patronage of 1841.
Of
this society."
— Report
p. 23.
report of the same society for this year, ^^
missions
portion of our
to
work
the
colored population.
'^^
are our missionaries called
endure greater privations or make greater sacrifices and
of health slaves,
many
life,
than in these missions
among
the
of which are located in scclions of the
Southern country which are proverbially sickly, and under the
men And have
fatal influence of a climate
which few white
are capable of enduring even for a single year. yet,
notwithstanding so
fallen
martyrs
many
valuable missionaries
to their toils in these missions,
after year there are found others to take their places, fall
year
who
likewise in their work, 'ceasing at once to work and
live.'
Nor have our superintendents any
finding missionaries ready to
fill
difliculty in
up the ranks which
death has thinned in these sections of the work
;
for the
love of Christ and the love of the souls of these poor
Africans in bonds, constrain our brethren in the itinerant
work of
the Southern conferences to exclaim, 'here
are we, send us!'
8
The Lord be
praised for the zeal
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
86
and success of our brethren sacrificing
The
in this self-denying
and
self-
work."
missionary society of the S. C. conference, re-
ported this year, of missions exclusively to the Negroes,
14; plantations served, 301 members, 0,145 children under catechetical instruction, 3,407; and missiona.ies, Tlie report gives an animated at.d cheering view of 18. ;
;
the prospects of these missions. the society in them
is
The
thus expressed.
great object of
" So
preach
to
may be believed and being belcved, this may prove 'the power of God unto salvation,' is the great object, and, we repeat it, the sole object of our This object attained, ministrations among the blacks. Gospel that
we
find the
it
;
terminus of our anxieties and
toils,
preaching and prayers." — Report pp. 12 —
The
total
connection
of colored is
communicants
The South
102,158.
ahead of
all,
in the
Methodist
given in the minutes of the annual confer-
ences for the years 1840, 1841. 1841,
of our
17.
having 30,481
conference, 13,904
;
;
For 1840, 94,532; Carolina
for
conference
is
next comes the Baltimore
then the Georgia conference, 9,989
Philadelphia, 8,778; Kentucky, 6,321, and soon.
—
;
Mz??.
p. 156.
The Sunbury
association reported this year seven
African churches, with 4,430 members returns:) adding to this
;
(from one no
number the returns from
the
mixed
churches of white and black, and an estimate of some
from which no returns were made, a total of 5,664 colAppendix B: ^^ Resolved, ored members is obtained.
That the committee be authorized to offer a sum not exceeding $50 per month, for one or more ordained ministers to labor
among
tute churches within the
the colored people and desti-
bounds of
this association."
87
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Bishop Meady of
V;i.
made
a report to the convention
means of promolinjr
of his diocese *'on the best
religious instruclion of servants,"
the
the result of his ex-
tended o!)servalion and long experience in this depart-
ment of labor. Bishop Gadsden of
S. C. devotes a considerable poi-
tion of his address to
the ccjnvention, to the subject of
the
instruction of
religions
speaks.
the colored people
He
Negroes.
the
" Of thai class peculiar
thus
our social system
to
—
— many are members of our church
;
number of them who Gospel. To make these
as are the masters of a very large
as yet are not converted to the
who
fellow creatures,
share with us
tlie
precious redemp^
by Jesus Christ, good Christians, is a purpose of which this church is not and never has been
lion
which
is
The
regardless.
interest
and
efforts in this
But the feeling ought and the efforts more extended.
increased.
number who
are yet almost,
if
to
cause have
be much deeper,
Consider the large
not entirely, without the
restraints, the incentives, the consola'.ions,
and the hopes
of the Gospel; under the bondage of satan, on the precipice of the second death!
I
speak more particularly
of those the smoke of whose cabins ministers;
who
live
bers of our ciuirch. that can, be
done
to
is in
sight of our
on the same plantations with
mem-
Can nothing, ought not every thing bring such persons to the knowledge
and obedience of Christ?"
There are ihe thirty-one
amounting
31
parochial reports.
In twenty-two of
churches there are colored
to 869.
for colored children,
members,
In (ifieen there are Sabbath schools
amounting
to
1,459 scholirs. Eight
of the clergy preach on plantations as well as at their respective churches and give special attention to their
RELIGIOUS INSTCUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
88
colored congregations the
and there are two missions
;
Negroes, embracing 1,400
in the
to
congregations.
C])ildren catechised on the j)]antali()ns.
The
practice of the Episcopal church in this diocese
cannot be too highly commended
to
those
similar faith in the matter referred to, which tism,
who is
are of
the bap-
of the infants and children of Negroes who arc
members of visible
When God
the church.
established
his
church on earth he constituted the infant seed of
believers
members of
it,
and therefore commanded that
the sign and seal of his gracious
covenant should be His church has ever remained the the mem.bers the same under the same constiOur practice ought to conform to our faith to
applied to them.
same
;
tution.
;
;
word of God. A recurrence to be necessary when the means and plans instruction of the Negroes come under
the plain teachings of the this subject will
for the religious
consideration
in
therefore dismiss
the fourth pait of this work, and I in this j)lace.
it
ored children baptized
by the parochial
in
There were 159
col-
the churches of ihe diocese,
—
Journal of Fifty-second and pp. 33 48. From the seventh annual rej)ort of the Liberty County reports.
Convention, pp. 10
—
13,
—
Association for the religious instruction of the Negroes, it
appears
tlu't
the ellorts of the Association during the
There were 450 children and youth under catechetical instruction; and adding /our
year had been successful.
schools not immediately under the care of the Associa-
conducted by members of il, tliere were 265 Seven Sabbath schools in all were returned, and
tion, but
more.
three stations
year
fcir
preaching.
Congregations during the
and attentive; general order of the people commendable. full
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Apppnded
to this report
is
69
the address to the Associ-
by the president, the Ucv. Josiah Spry Law. address which received the cordial and unanimous
ation,
An
approbation of the Association as one which placed the religious instruction of the the It
great duty of
their
Negroes
was believed by the Association
calculated
in a clear light, as
owners; as well as of the churches. that the address
exert a favorable influence
to
should be circulated
in
our country and
it
was
with the consent of the author ordered
fore,
was
wherever
it
thereto
be
printed.
Having now presented such under each year of
now
collect, I shall
tliis
give a
and information
facts
period, as
I
summary
have been able
to
(and a very brief
one) of the action of ecclesiastical bodies, and of what has been done by different denominations of christians, I know of no action of ecclesiastical bodies on the great subject of the religious instruction of the Negroes, in
the/ree States,
altho' efforts
and
at least of no very prominent action have been made by benevolent individuals
societies, for their physical, intellectual
improvement
the free States,
came
and moral most of the cities and chief towns of and not without success. These efforts
in
into notice about the beginning of the period
under consideration.
now
Children and youth were gathered
week day and Sabbath schools improvements were made in their houses for public worship, and some permanent supplies obtained for their pulpits. Distresinto
:
sed families and orphans were sought out and visited and taken care of, and persons out of employment were assisted in obtaining
it. But a small part however of the was reached and permanently benefithad occasion to know from personal observation
entire population ed, as I
8*
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF TUE NEGROES.
90 in
1827 and
in
1829
Connecticut,
New
For example,
I
in Massachusetts,
York,
New
found them
with almost none
in
Rhode
Island.
Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Providence,
Rhode
to care for their souls.
Island,
^Yith a few
respectable exceptions, they inhabited the most cast-
away, decayed and debauched parts of the town, and were as deep in poverty, idleness, improvidence and I saw two, three occupying families more even sometimes and four, and The Nehouse. one stories of and rooms different the gro quarters of Boston, New York and Philadelphia
immorality as can well be imagined.
presented pretty
much
the
same
features.
My
observa-
summer was abundant room for
tions repeated again in the spring and
convinced
me
that there
of 1839 the im-
provement of the Negroes of the free States, and moreover, that the 'practical interest
among the whites in
their
was not remarkable. But to proDr. Anderson of Boston informed me while on a ceed visit to that city in 1839 " that the present generation of Negroes who had enjoyed the advantages of education were in advance of those that had preceded them, and were getting into respectable employments; and religious instruction ,
had been made on their been for many years an indefatigable laborer, foi the moral and religious improvement of the Negroes in New Haven.
that very considerable efforts
The Rev. Samuel
behalf."
Professor Maclean showed erected
by himself
individuals, for the
There
in
S. Jocelyn has
me
a neat house of worship
conjunction with other benevolent
Negroes
in Princeton,
New
Jersey.
are houses of public worship exclusively for
the Negroes in all the cities of the free Slates,
there
numbers make
it
where
an object, and the pulpits are
supplied by ministers of their
own
color,
and some of
91
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
them educated men of highly respectable
talents
and
standing, sometimes they are supplied by white ministers.
There are Sabbath schools
for the instruction of
children and youth, supported and taught chiefly by white persons. For example, " in Portland, Maine, the
colored population
is
They have one Con-
about 400.
gregational church, and an educated colored pastor, and
a Sabbath school conducted by white teachers." It is
not necessary to go into an enumeration of the
houses of public worship in Boston, delphia and other places.
New
York, Phila-
In country towns and villages,
the Negroes have seats appropriated to them
They
churches.
in
the white
are of different denominations. Epis-
copal, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian.
Of late
years the Negroes in the free States have manstrong inclination to be independent of the
ifested a
influence and control of the whites, and to create and
manage their ecclesiastical establishments in their own way; a very natural inclination, and not to be wondered at,
nor objected against, 'provided^ they are capable of
taking care of themselves, which however,
many of their
warmest friends not only seriously doubt but wholly deny. As a specimen of this disposition I would refer to the secession of Richard Allen and his associates in Philadelphia, from the Methodist church, which secession
New York and other states. Of this seNew York, Dr. Bangs thus writes, " it is now
extended into cession in
(1839) twenty years since this secession took place, and the degree of their prosperity
may
the following statement of their stations,
circuits
and
preachers and members taken from their min-
utes for 1839.
These
be estimated from
number of
circuits
Circuits 21, preachers 32,
members 2,608.
and stations are found
in the states of
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
92
New
York,
New
Massachusetts.
Jersej^ Connecticut,
In the city of
Rhode
Island and
New York where
the
secession originated they have a membership of 1,325,
making an increase of 396 in twenty years, which is by no means in a ratio with their increase while they remained under the care of their white brethien. In the city of Boston however, their success has been greater In 1819 they hnd only 33, but now, in in proportion. 1839 they have 126. As the M. E. Church never derived any temporal emolument from them, so we have sustained no other
may
arise
damage by
the secession than
what
from missing the opportunity of doing them all
the good in our power as their pastors, etc."
In the slane Slates there has been action tical bodies
and the value of such action disposition fulfil
'-.u
ecclesias-
on the religious instruction of the Negroes, is,
that
it
discovers a good
on the part of ministers and churches to
their duty to this people.
The Episcopal church, has rather taken the lead in making efibrts and in keeping up an interest in its own bosom. Bishop Meade of Virginia, a long and unwearied advocate of this cause, Bishop Ives of North Carolina
Bowen of South Carolina (before his decease) and the present bishop of that State, Dr. Gadsden, have each addressed their dioceses on this subject; and commended it to the clergy and laity. The subject has been Bishop
discussed in their conventions, accompanied with some able reports.
Many
instruction of the tions
;
of the clergy devote time to the
Negroes attached
andhave regular and
to their
congrega-
flourishing Sabbath schools.
It is stated as a fact, that in the
Episcopal churches gen-
South Carolina there are Sabbath schools for the Negroes, and some of them large and flourishing.
erally in
93
IIISTOmCAL SKETCH.
There are several Episcopal missionaries in
The churches
the Slate.
been active
in the
to this
Negroes; and the
instruction of the
present bishoj), Dr. Gadsden, has been long
The
an advocate of the work.
people
Charleston have always
in
known
as
lately elected bisliop of
Georgia, llev. Stephen Ell.ott, D. D., has brought the subject before his convention in his ''primary addra^s,'" it wiih an energy and a
(1841,) and urged attention to
which promise great blessings to the Negroes connected with the churches of his new and interesting
zeal
The Negroes connected with the E|)iscopal church have generally been noted for intelligence and diocese.
fidelity.
yield in interest and
The Methodists perhaps do not of their church tention to
proof
From
any denomination.
eftbrts to
liie
in the
Negroes
progress
of which
lliey
have paid
In the slave Stales
Baptists, the largest
The Negroes
same church regulations
are
as the
at-
we have bad ample
Sketch.
ol this
they have, next to the
communicants.
;
commencement
the
United Slates,
in tlie
number of
brought under the
whites,
class
iiaving
leaders and class-meetings and exhortcrs; and
cases of
church discipline, are carefully reported and acted upon
TUe number
as the discipline requires.
municants
is
reported
labors in their
at their
of
Negro com-
conferences, as well as
behalf and where
it
is
necessary travel-
ing preachers are directed lo pay attention to thenu
already referred to,
lias a
held of operations
among
Negroes along the seaboard, from North Carolina southern counties of Georgia. society
In
conference the missionary society
the South Carolina
labor chiefly
The
missionaries of this
on river botloujs, and
where the Negro population
is
the
to the
in districts
large and the white popu-
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
9i
lalion small
and,
;
is
it
understood, receive most of their
whose
support from the planters themselves,
We
they serve.
know of no
this
denomination so
field
;
devoted
fully
pl;intation3
other niissionnry society in to
this
particular
but there are AJetl.odist missionaries for the Ne-
groes, in Tennessee, xMississippi, and
of the slave-holdin^r
Alahamn, and other
Wiiiiout doubt as the Lord
states.
has opened wide the door of usefulness to this denomination,
among
the Negroes,
Bishop
to the utmost.
J.
it
will
the Southern Slates, has taken earnest and
prosecuting
is
not
fail
to exert itself
O. Andrew, whose circuit
it
up the subject
in
is
in
good
with energy and success.
Tilt Baptistfi have no societies in existence expressly for evajinelizing
the Negroes
;
although their associa-
tions and conventions do from time to time call up the There are more Negro comsubject and act upon it.
municants, and more churches regularly constituted, exclusively of Negroes, with their own regular houses of public
worship,
ordained Negro preachers,
with
and
attached to this denomination than to any other
denom-
ination in the United States. It is difficult
nomination
to
collect
the direct efforts of this de-
for the instruction
of Negroes, as the reports
of the associations arc not easily obtained, they being printed and circulated chiefly within their respective If investigation
bounds.
be found that ination as
much
Negroes, as referred
in
to.
many of attention
in
is
it
might
denom-
paid to the instruction of the association, Georgia, already
the Sunbury There are missionaries
in
ments who devote Perhaps
was carefully made the associations of this
a
in
destitute settle-
portion of their time to this people.
most of the chief towns
are houses of public
in the
South there
worship erected for the Negroes
95
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
alone; there are three, for example, in the city of Sa-
A
vannah.
Negroes ship, '1
in
year or two since
crowded
preached to the Baptist
own house of wor-
to suffocation.
have had ecclesiastical
Presbyterians
he
I
Petersburg, Va., in their
action
within the present period, in the synods of Virginia and
North Carolina Mississippi, antl
Some
synods.
;
South Carolina and Georgia
Alabama; and presbyteries
in
;
Kentucky
presbyteries in
have
all
distinguished
these
them-
selves by their zeal and activity in the instruction of the
Negroes. It is
unnecessary to transcribe the resolutions, reports
and acts of these several bodies.
The
met the eye of the reader. and satisfactory returns
in
Some have
latest
already
and most general
our possession were gathered
from the statements of members of the general assembly of 1839, from the slave-holding Slates, at a meeting called by themselves for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the religious instruction of the
Negroes, and
of communicating information and suggesting plans of operation.
whole
in a
It
will
suffice
to present
the
sum of
the
few words.
In the synods of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, and West Tennessee,
number of
it is
the practice of a
ministers to preach to the Negroes separately
There are some of the churches for child-
once on the Sabbath, or during the week. also
Sabbath schools
in
ren and adults; and in
all
the houses of worship, with
but few exceptions, a greater or less number of colored
members and Negroes form congregation.
excitement checked and
work of
a portion
of every Sabbath
In portions of these synods the abolition
instruction.
in others materially retarded the
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
96
Alabama and
In the synods of
Mississippi, almost
all
the ministers devote a portion of the Sabbath to the
There
Negroes,
are two or three
the bounds of these synods, and
Access
bath schools.
may be had
to the
many
in
missionaries within
some
flourishing Sab-
parts of the two States
The
Negroes, of unlimited extent.
abolition excitement injured the cause.
many
In the synod of South Carolina and Georgia ministers preach to the Negroes separately on
the Sab-
bath or during the week, and maintain Sabbath schools; especially
to the
is
along the sea-board of the two
this the fact,
The
Stales.
presbytery of Georgia has one missionary
Negroes, and
in the
county where he labors, there
are seven Sabbath schools connected with the Congregational
and Baptist churches, and upwards of 600 children
and youth
in a
course of catechetical instruction.
There
are three stations for niissioiiary preaching on the Sabbath, occupied
in
rotation, and
in
addition, during the
winter and spring, preaching on the plantations. are colored
members
and accommodations public worship the colored
in all the
for the
churches
Negroes
in
in this
There synod,
the houses of
the sessions conduct the discipline of
;
members
in
the
same manner
that they
do
the white; they are received into the churches, under the same form and partake of the ordinances at the
same
time.
The
ministers in the newly formed Presbytery of Flo-
rida are devoting attention to this field of labor, dispers-
ing information and preaching as opportunity
Such
are the principal
instruction of the
1820
to 1842.
Period,
we
feel
facts
Negroes during the
And
in
offers.
touching the religious third Period, from
view of them, as we close the
warranted
in
considering
it
a period of
HISTORICAL SKETCH,
97
to
this particular
duty, throughout the Southern States;
more especially
the revival
of religion in respect
between the years 1829 and
This
came
revival
J
835.
church, and
and powerfully
silently, extensively,
members of
affecting masters, mistresses, ministers, ecclesiastical
evangelical denominations.
bodies of
Some
all
;
the
the different
associations of
local
planters were formed, and societies on a large scale con-
templated,
and
one brought
to
perfect
organization.
Sermons were preached and pamphlets published; the dady press lent its aid; and manuals of instruction were prepared aud printed.
moment
to the
Nor was
uals, identified in feeling
Some
there any opposition of
work, conducted by responsible individ-
and interest wiih the country.
portions of the South were in advance of other?,
both in respect to the acknowledgement and performance
of the great duty itself
but the light was gradually difuising
;
every where.
Such was
onward course of things when
the
the
excitement in the free States on the civil condition of the Negroes manifested itself in petitions to Congress, in the circulation of
inflammatory publications, and other
measures equally and as justly obnoxious to the South all which had a disastrous influence on the success of ;
the
work we were attempting
to do.
The
effect
of the
excitement was to turn off the attention of the Soufh
from the religious to the civil condition of the people and from the salvation of the soul, to the in question ;
The very men went fortli
defence and preservation of political rights. foundations of society were assailed and to the
defence.
A
tenderness was begotten in the pub-
mind on the whole subject, and every movement touching the improvement of the Negroes was watclied
lic
9
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
98
with jealousy.
men
Timid, ambitious, and factious men, and and men desirous of ward-
hostile to religion itself,
ing off suspicion from themselves, agitated the public
mind within our own borders. arrest in
many
The
result was, to
places efforts happily begun and success-
fully prosecuted for the religious instruction of the
groes.
It
was considered best
to disband schools
discontinue meetings, at least for a season
;
Neand
the formation
of societies and the action of ecclesiastical bodies, in
some degree
The
ceased.
men
feelings of
being excited, those
who had
undertaken the religious instruction of the Negroes were looked upon with suspicion and some of them were obliged to quit the
field.
separation might be civil
condition
It
was not considered
made between
that a
the religious and the
and interests of a people
and that a
;
minister could confine himself to the one without interfering at all with the other.
sidering
all
— wrong,
This entire
effect
movements in the free circumstances, was natural, but
slave States of the
because,
let
upon the
States, conit
was wrong
others act as they might,
we
should have gone forward and done what was obviously
our duty. "We could have done it; for the whole arrangement of the religious instruction of the Negroes, as to teachers, times, places, matter and manner, was in our own power. And wrong again, because, admitting that the wishes of these professed friends of the Negroes were to be consummated, no better could be done for the Negroes, nor for ourselves, than to teach them their duty to God and man. The Gospel certainly hurts no man and no body of men. Parts of the Southern Country took such action as was deemed necessary, (if •any at all,) calmly and decidedly, nor were any difiicul-
99
HISTORICAL SKETCH. ties
thrown
way
in the
instruction.
A.
of the regular course of religious
missionary in the heart of three or four
thousand Negroes, during the period of excitement, ited plantations
vis'
during the week, and met congregations
on the Sabbath varying from 150 to 500 persons yet it cannot be denied that the Northern movements did sen;
sibly affect the feeling in favor of the religious instruction of the Negroes, throughout the
whole slave-holding
and prominent cause of decline in the revival of which we speak, was unquestional)ly those movements; and I mention the fact because the cause States, and the first
of that decline
is
sometimes inquired
into.
From
information obtained by correspondence, and
in other
ways, there are favorable indications that a re-
action has taken place within one or two years past
and
that,
taking the country throughout, more religious
Negroes now than most Lord while the labor on, and integrity, part retain their is impressing deeply the hearts and consciences of owners and is raising up many youth in the ministry and in instruction
is
ever before.
communicated
The
to
the churches to carry forward the
The
the
old friends of the cause for the
third Period is
now
work more
completed, and with
Historical Sketch of the Religious
Negroes, since their to the present time.
first
extensively.
it
this
Instruction of the
introduction into this country
I shall add, in the conclusion, the
following general observations 1. The Negro race has existed in our country for two hundred and twenty-two years ; in which time the Gospel has been brought within the reach of, and been communicated to, multitudes; and tens of thousands of them have been converted, and have died in the hope
253906
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
100
And
of a blessed immortality.
there are at the present
time^ tens of thousands connected sion, to the
church of Christ
;
by
a credible jirofes-
and the Gospel
is
reach-
ing them to a greater extent and in greater purity and
power than ever 2.
before.
"While there have been but few societies, and they
limited in extent and influence, formed for the special
object of promoting the moral and religious instruction
of the Negroes; and while there have been comparatively but
few missionaries exclusively devoted
to
them
:
yet they have not been altogether overlooked by their
owners, nor neglected by the regular ministers of the various leading denominations of Christians, as the facts
adduced
in this
Sketch
testify.
Yet it is a remarkable fact in the history of the Negroes in our Country that their regular, systematic 3.
religious instruction, has never received in the churches
any time, that general attention ard effort which it and the people have consequently been left, both in the free and in the slave states, in great nunibers, in moial darkness, and destitution of the means of grace. at
demanded
;
4. The great and good work, therefore, of the thorough religious instruction of our Negroes remains to he
performed.
The
colored population of the United States in 1830
was 2,009,043 slave and 319,599 free of 2,328,642: by the last census, 1840,
;
it
making a total was 2,487,113
slave and 386,235 free, with a total of 2,873,348. This
aggregate of 2,873,348,
awaken this
oui
people
is
most serious
in a religious
certainly large attention,
enough
whether
we
to
view
or civil point of light.
Their actual moral and religious condition, next claims our notice.
PART
II.
The Moral
and the Religious Condition of the in the United States.
CHAPTER
Negroes
I.
Disadvantages
to be encountered in prosecuting an inquiry into the Moral and Religious condition of the Negroes in the United States.
A
knowledge of the moral and
the Negroes
religious condition of
essential to correct feeling
is
and action knowledge and have it pressed upon our serious consideration, we shall have no just sense of obligation we shall feel no criminality for past neglect— no disposition for future amendment: thereto.
Until
we
arrive at such
—
nor shall we be able to adopt plans for their improve-
ment, as
we must
necessarily
become acquainted with we can hope-
the nature and extent of a disease before fully prescribe for
it.
That an inquiry into the moral and religious condition of the Negro population of the United States, may be prosecuted with success, admits of no question. yet,
whether we
withstanding inquiry,
we
9*
we
live at the
North or
at the
And
South, not-
enjoy favorable advantages for the labor imder some very serious
certainly
RELIGI0U3 INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
102
disadvantages, which threaten with which
it
to
impair the faithfulness
Nay, upon be prosecuted and
should be prosecuted and answered.
these disadvantages
may
exert such an influence
some, that admitting the inquiry to answered according- to truth, they may withhold assent.
These disadvantages therefore demand consideration.
They
arise, in
general, out of our intimate and long
continued connection with this people.
Habits of feeling and prejudices in relation to any wont to take their rise out of our education
subject are
or circumstances.
Every man knows
their influence to
shaping opinions and conduct, and ofttimes that while we may unwittingly they are formed
be great
how
in
;
be unconscious of their existence they may grow with our growth and strengthen with our strength. Familiarity converts deformity into
Hence we An-
comeliness.
are not always the best judges of our condition.
other in
it,
may remark inconveniences and indeed real evils we may be said to have been all our
of which
So
lives scarcely conscious.
also evils
which upon
first
acquaintance revolted our whole nature and appeared intolerable,
Men
custom almost makes us forget even
encounter a thousand things to which they can never be reconciled bilities
;
feel that
they
yet shortly after, their sensi-
— change passes over them they — they have accommodated themknow how — they new circumstances and
become
scarcely
dulled
Romans
in
a
relations
selves to their
are
to see.
passing out of one state of society into another
Rome.
That the people
of the United States indulge preju-
dices in respect to the Negroes, both in favor of and
adverse to them, as a distinct variety of the family and as a subordinate class in society,
is
human
a fact not
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. to
On
be disguised.
hand
the one
103
their ignorance, vul-
garity, idleness, improvidence, irreligion,
and vice, are be ascribed altogether to their position and circumstances let these be changed for the better, and the to
;
African will immediately equal,
human family
rest of the
not greatly excel, the
if
majesty of
in
intellect, ele-
gance of manners, purity of morals and ardor of piety; yea, they will become the very heau ideal of character,
On
the admiration of the world.
the other hand, the
race has been from time immemorial just what just
what
must continue
it
tion designed for
in
it
to be.
it is
and
occupies the posi-
It
nature and Providence, and no
changes and no
eiforts
for the better.
Prejudices, also,
can ever, on the whole, alter lie
all
these extreme oscillations of opinion.
it
along between
Happy
that
is
mind which under gales of excitement and conflicting with waves of agitation, preserves its balance, and keeping its eye upon the truth, steadily advances towards it. It
may be
likened to the well adjusted compass, Avhich
noiselessly preserves
its
equilibrium, and faithfully points
although the mountain waves roar and the driven with the fierce winds and tossed.
to the star,
ship
is
The
first
disadvantage which
I shall
mention
is
our
intimate knowledge of the degraded moral character
of
the
Negroes,
From
childhood
we have been accustomed
slovenly, and too frequently, their scanty dress
;
to their to their
broken English, ignorance, vulgarity, and vice. What in them would disgust or grieve a stranger, or truly afliict
us
if
seen in white persons,
we
pass by with
or no impression, as a matter of course;
Negroes,
Their character
is
throughout the United States
;
little
— they
are
held in low estimation, and, considering what
it
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
104
not without reason
is,
esteemed which
idle, dissolute, criminal,
cannot be
for that character
;
in itself is not estimable.
Whatever is
and worthless, attaches to them. we determine
Unconsciously, or rather, instinctively,
what the
fruits
must be from
condition, and circumstances
we
are not surprised.
We
;
their
known
character,
and when they do appear,
say, "
what better can be
expected?"
Such
a general corruption of morals as
the reputation of exist
any white community,
among them; and
yet
how
unaffected
would
blast
known to are we by it?
is
Indeed, the habit of our mind is to consider them in a lo expect little that is truly state of moral degradation ;
excellent and
praiseworthy
pass over as well as
We
we
can,
;
and
what
and
to feel lightly, is
to
revolting in them.
them as we would others by but by a just, and good holy, is which that standard their charto accommodated standard, worldly and low Vice seems to lose its hideacter and circumstances. are disposed not lo try
;
ousness in proportion as painting, with black
we
it
shades
itself in
obliterate the
black
warm
as in
;
light
and
and native hues, which gave depth and life and beauty to the picture, and the eye rests upon the dark, dead surface without emotion.
soft shades,
A
second disadvantage
is
our difference of
colore
and our superior relations to them in society. At the head of the varieties of the human race, stands the fair, or Caucassian variety ; "which," to use the language of another, " has given birth to the most civilized nations of ancient and modern times, and has exhibited
the moral and
intellectual
powers of human
At the nature in their highest degree of perfection." foot, stands the black or Ethiopian variety, " which has
105
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. ever remained in a rude and barbarous stale
and been
;
looked upon and treated as inferior by all the other varieties of the human race, from time immemorial."
There
superiority on the one hand and inferiority
is
Ascribe
on the other.
whether
nature itself
—
;
We
to
do.
elementary studies
at
school;
us, that
can but be
it
only with the fact, and
we have
on
;
providence of God, or to
the fact remains, and
It is
felt.
whatever cause you may
to
to a difference in original constitution, or
to circumstances
seen and
it
the immediate
to
its
influence
learn the fact in our
acquaintance
a larger
with the history of the world and extensive observation in after life,
superiority
impress is
A
more deeply.
it
hereditary
in
sense of this
citizens
the
of the free
States; originally and not very long ago these Slates
were slave States. to son,
and exhibits
and on
all
out, but
What
It
has been propagated from father
itself in the
manners and customs,
the face of society there.
It
may
be wearing
very slowly. renders the superiority more palpable and influ-
ential in our case in the South, is that
we
and
to maintain the relation of master,
still
all
continue
the difer-
enccs in our standing, privileges, and circumstances in society, created by that relation, in custom and in law.
There
is,
consequently, superioiity on the one side and
on the other, in almost every point of view. But as we are masters, so are we managers. They neither can nor will plan and execute their work by We are compelled to see that they i]o directions alone.
inferiority
their
work.
Neither will they act honestly, quietly, nor
virtuously, left to themselves,
regulate their conduct
by
age, reward, and punish.
we
are again compelled to
fixed laws
Hence
are
:
to
warn, encour-
we brought directly
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
106
in contact with their depravity in its multiplied devel-
We
opements.
are astonished from time to time at the
disclosure of their duplicity, dishonesty, trick, and cun-
Those only who have, or have had, the management of Negroes, know what the hardening effect is upon their own hearts. That man who takes possession of his property am] commences the management of his people with that feeling of interest and tenderness which he has cherished for lb em from his childhood, and with a willingness to favor them in every way, must be watchning.
ful
otherwise, from their general character and beha-
;
viour, painfully exhibited to him, he will
confidence entirely and settle
down
withdiaw his
into a state of indif-
ference, his patience being exhausted and his feelings
having undergone an entire change towards them.
Throw
then these points together
tinct varieties of the
human
:
we belong
to dis-
race, with the superiority
on
our side; a superiority rendered more apparent by the relation
which we sustain
real, both to
and
shall
we be
in
to
them
as masters,
and more
when we become managers no danger of cherishing, it may be,
them and
us,
of cherishing unconsciously, a disrespect, if not a con-
tempt
for
the Negroes, which
them lower
ligion, than in truth
A
may
influence us to sink
and
re-
many
in-
in the scale of intelligence, morality
and justice they should be
third disadvantage
is
our latent, and in
?
stances manifest disinclination to the full disclosure of tilt
moral aud religious condition of the Negroes. disinclination is in proportion to theuse proposed
The to ral
be
made of
the facts of the case, and arises from seve-
causes.
One is pride. There are citizens in the free States who give, perhaps without any conscious design, an en-
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. false
tirely pects;
port
coloring to the moral character and pros-
of the free Negroes
some
their
107
among them,
in
order to sup-
favorite theory, or to shield the
impotency of
own
proach
•'
efforts, or themselves, from the ancient rewhat do ye more than others? Physician heal
thyself.
In the South
we
spiritedly repel the charge of the in-
justice of the present constitution of society, by referring
our opponents to the sacred scriptures, which afford us their support, and to the argument drawn from expediency
On the charge of inhumanity we appeal ample provision of food and clothing; to the
and necessity. to the
attention paid to the sick and the aged; to the lightness
of the labor and the punishments
;
and to the good health,
We
the spirits, and increase of the people in question.
compare
their physical comfort
and the amount of labor
which they perform, with that of the laboring classes
in
England and on the continent of Europe and elsewhere, and we do not suffer at all by the comparison. But when the charge of degradation
is
their intellectual
preferred against us,
put the best face on
affairs,
we
knowing
and moral
are inclined to that this
darkest feature and the most vulnerable point.
is
the
We
dis-
cover this feeling in the class of factory and land owners in
England, whose statements on the moral condition of
their operatives cannot be taken
of allowance.
They would
many grains known to what
but with
not have
it
an ignorant and degraded race of operatives they are indebted for the comforts and conveniences lives as individuals,
and
of their
whatever of prosperity they enjoy as corporations or communities. for
But we are wrong, decidedly wrong. religious condition of the Negroes,
is
The
moral and
that subject
which
108
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROEP.
above
all
others, as a Christian people,
we should
desire
most thoroughly to investigate and understand and the truth coming from whatever quarter, will do us no harm, ;
provided we allow
Another cause
of
South,
in
its
proper effect upon us.
of investigation itself and
the fear
the consequences to
The
have
to
it
is
^
which
it
may
lead.
view of the excitement on the general
condition of the Negroes, in the North and West, has
become
We
sensitive.
have been thrown from necessity
4nto an attitude of self-defence, and our strength consists in
Hence the public mind exercises a sleepfrom abroad or it may detect, either
our union.
less vio-ilance, that
originating at home, any sentiments or opinions hostile to
There
our social constitution.
less
freedom of discussion, than
in
less discussion,
is
and
What
by-gone days.
we once bore from ourselves, is with difficulty borne now. That man runs the risk of losing popular favor whose candid statements and appeals, designed to do good at
home, are seized upon with
made matter
and perverted and
avidity,
of accusation against us
from
abroad.
He
Under such
has to pass between Sc}lla and Charybdis.
must be a strong inclination to ponder well the proverb, " a time to keep
circumstances there silence
;
he
will
silence, and a time to speak."
As
great
involved, should he speak, he will " ask
whogiveth
Many are,
liberally
all
and as they have been. if
of
are
God
and upbraideth not."
are disposed to let
misgiving that
interests
wisdom
we look
things continue as they
There appears
to
diligently into the moral
religious condition of the Negroes,
we
shall
be a
and
make such
discoveries that in order to satisfy conscience toward
God and man, we
shall
be obliged to enter
fully
vigorously upon the improvement of our people.
and
New
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. new
cares,
new
troubles,
themselves
before
new expenses
duties,
and we recoil
us,
Changes are inconvenient, even Masters
find
it
109 array
from them
from
bad
to
all.
good.
to elevate their servants in their
difficult
regards after they have for so long a time been depressed.
To
change
course of treatment would be
their general
acknowledging
virtually
them and
to
to all the
world that
they have been in error; that they have not placed them as high
in
the scale of intellectual and moral being as
they should have done; in short, that they have not done
them
justice.
but
is
it
Humility and self-denial are demanded,
not easy to exercise these graces towards inferiors
and dependents. lowering
this, a
They
Masters see, as they suppose,
down
in
all
of opinions, character, and dignity.
think that they shall lose respect and authority
—
the change will certainly inflate their servants, foster a spirit
of equality and disobedience, and in the end be
productive of no good.
There
how
far
are others again, to
may we proceed
in
whom
the qiiestion recurs,
the religious instruction of
the Negroes without endangering our interests, our safety,
and our support? begin to do what
where we
shall
Say they, we know not when we
may be
end or how.
fiecessary
in
the premises,
be hard to close the
It will
it is once opened. We may safely confide in who undertake the work now but what security have we that their successors shall be men of like char-
door
after
those
;
acter? before
It is better, therefore, to it
be meddled with.
condition
may not be
We
believe.
as
cease
from the matter
Their moral and religious bad as some would have us
have been doing well
in
times past;
apply
then the adage to the case in hand, "let U'cZZ alone."
10
Ho A
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION' OF THE NEGROES.
fourth and last disadvantage,
is the difficulty oj
obtaining an insight into the Negro character. Persons live and die in the midst of Negroes and know comparatively little of their real character. They have not the immediate management of them.
do with them
in the
They have
servants; further than this they institute no inquiries
The Negroes
they give themselves no trouble. distinct class in
much
They
are
whites, and another before their
towards the
former
is
one thing before the
own
Deception
color.
characteristic of them, whether
bond
or free, throughout the whole United States.
habit
—
a
Some
under current. on the surface
There
;
is
an upper and an
are contented with the appearance
others dive beneath.
Hence
the diver-
impressions and representations of the moral and
religious condition of the Negroes. tion of
It is
long established custom, which descends from
generation to generation.
sity of
—
are a
community, and keep themselves very
themselves.
to
to
ordinary discharge of their duty as
some
to
Hence
deny the darker pictures of
the dispositheir
more
searching and knowing friends. Besides
this,
all
the eye of one
man
is
" evil."
the moral perceptions of
men
differ
*
man is "single," and the eye of another What this esteems bad that considers to
be very good.
Nor have
all
the
same opportunity of
judgement by comparison. himself
in attaining a
assisting their
A man may
greatly
aid
correct opinion of the moral and
religious condition of the
and especially of those
Negroes
in the
United States,
in the slave States,
by becoming
from observation acquainted with the moral and religious condition of other masses of laborers, in other States
and countries.
It is
not good to measure ourselves by
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
One
ourselves.
Ill
opportunity of faithful comparison, will
shed more light and carry more conviction into the mind, ofttimes, than
volumes of
The
and arguments.
facts
only danger to be apprehended from such comparisons^ is that,
becoming acquainted with that which satisfied with that which is bad.
we may rest Here then in
are obvious disadvantages to be encountered
an inquiry into the moral and religious condition of
Theirs/, our intimate knowledge of
the Negroes.
degraded different
character
;
the
of the
variety
towards them
tiie
disinclination to a
fourth, the
Negro
human
The
for
involves their
all
mind
the
for
remaining
in
ignorance
subject involves our accountability shall surely
meet
earthly distinctions are at an end
own
in
Negroes we, especially of the
them, which we
eternal well-being, than
can be more valuable
mind should
in
In regard to the moral and
South, can have no just reason
them and
sustaining
from several causes; and the
They must be borne
religious condition of the
world where
and
family
of obtaining an insight into the
progress of the inquiry.
and inactivity.
their
belonging to a
our
disclosure of their moral and
full
difficulty
character.
second,
relation of superiors; the third, our
relicrious condition, arising
to
worse,
is
to
them.
be impressed
solemnity of the inquiry.
;
in that
and
it
which nothing
Every sober and reflecting with
the
importance
and
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES,
112
CHAPTER Circumstances of the Negroes which
II
affect their
Moral and Religions
Condition.
The
character of a people
circumstances.
A
may be gathered from
their
consideration therefore of the circum
•
stances in which we find oiir Negro population, is a necessary and preparatory step to the inquiry we have in hand.
The circumstances of
1.
As
the Slave Population.
habits of virtue and vice are formed, and character
shaped, at a very early age,
I shall
begin wilh
—
—
The formation of The Negro in his Childhood. good character depends upon family government and training; upon religious instruction, private and public;
access to the Scriptures and other sources of intellectual and moral itnprovement the character of associates ;
modesty of clothing, and general mode of living. If we take the mass of the slave population, properly speaking, we shall find but little famihj government, and
for the
reason that parents are not qualified, neither are fulfil perfectly the
they so circumstanced as to be able to duties devolving
upon them
as such.
ligent and piofis families, the children their prayers, to
go
to
In the more intelare taught to say
church on the Sabbath,
to attend
IMORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITON.
113
evening prayers on the planUtion, and a few simple good conduct and manners. The majority of
rules of
church members, come short of this. The moral training of their ciiildren forms but a small part of their
There
effort in the family.
and
is
nol one family in a thous-
which family prayer is observed morning and evening. Prayers are held in some families morning and evening on the Sabbath day in others in the evening in
;
of every day.
But a general meeting of all the members of the church as well as of worldly persons, for prayer in the evening on plantations, conducted by
some prominent person among them, takes family worship
To
family.
— the plantation
this
such
may
The hour is
be.
most of the children have is
lamilies, botii
usually so late
retired for the night.
the state of religious families
state of those
the place of
considered one large
meeting children are required to come
or not, as the case that
is
If
what must be the
which are irreligious? In multitudes of by precept and example, the children are
trained up in iniquity
;
taught by their parents to steals
to lie, to deceive;
nor can the rod of correction induce a confession or revelation of their clearly ascertained transgressions. in them.
Virtue is not cherished nor protected Parents put their children to use as early as it is
and their discipline mainly respects omissions of duty in the household moral delinquencies are passed by ; and that discipline owes its chief efficiency possible,
;
lo excited passion,
and consequently exists
of laxity or severity.
They
ofttimes
in the
extreme
when under no
restraint, beat their children unmercifully.
As to direct religious instruction, we have seen that amount communicated in families is sm^lL The
the
Negroes on plantations sometimes appoint one of 10*
their
/
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES,
1(14
number, commonly the old
woman who minds
thechild^
ren during the day, to teach them to say their prayers, repeat a
The
little
catechism and a few hymns, every evening.
however not
instances are
only approximation
I
fiequent, and
have ever known
to
it is
the
systematic
by the Negroes
instruction for their children, adopted
themselves.
But how much religious instruction do the young Negroes receive from their Masters, who sustain very What is the much the relation of parents to them ?
number of planters who have estabhshcd In other words,
schools?
plantation
who have commenced
tem of regular instruction
their
for
a sys-
Negro children;
conducting themselves that instruction daily or weekly, or enojagiug the services of ilies,
members of
their
own fam-
or even going to the expense of employing mis-
sionaries for the purpose
Push
the inquiry
still
?
further.
How many minisiers
assemble, at stated seasons, the colored children of their
congregations for catechetical instruction, exhortation,
and prayer
?
How many
Sabbath schools
churches have established
convenient stations in the country,
at
or in towns and villages, for colored children and youth,
and do maintain them from year to year?
must
it
are small
compared with the whole.
Shall
we speak
in
To
of puhlic instruction such as
municated by a prcacAeti Gospel?
is,
where no
children to remain at
effort is
home on
never having been taught
day
to
keep
it
these
to
holy," consider
made
is
com-
Negro children do
not enjoy the advantages of a preached Gospel
custom
all
candor be replied that the numbers
questions
to
alter
the Sabbath.
;
it,
for the
for the
Multitudes
" remember the Sabbath it
in the light, purely, of
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. a
holyday
;
— a day of
115
The
of sports, and plays.
rest,
distance to the house of worship
is
frequently consider-
able, too considerable for the attendance of small child-
ren
;
parents do not like the trouble of children; and,
in short,
should their children accompany them, the
services being conducted for the most part for the special
them no good, being above
benefit of masters, do
nf>t
only their comprehension, but even that of their parents. Shall
we speak of
access
to
the
Scriptures
statutes of our respective slave States foibid
ledge of letters
to the
do not custom does.
Negroes; and where the It is
The
?
know-
all
statutes
impossible to form an
esti-
mate of the number of Negroes that read. My belief is that the proportion would be expressed by an almost
The
inconceivable fraction. is
greatest
found in and about towns and
number of readers
cities,
and among the
Negro population, some two or three generations removed from servitude. There are perhaps in all the free
larger cities in the South, schools for the education of
colored children, supported chiefly by the free Negroes, and kept generally in the shade. On the one hand, therefore, the
Negro children cannot be "hearers of the
law," for oral instruction
is
but sparingly afi'orded to the
mass of them; and on the other, they cannot "search the Scriptures," for a knowledge of letters they have not,
and
legally,
With whom
is
they cannot obtain. the
young Negro associated?
With
children no better instructed and disciplined than himself,
and the whole subjected the adults.
They
to
the pernicious examples of
are favored with no association cal-
culated to elevate and refine.
Negroes, especially
the
children,
are
exceedingly
inattentive to the preservation of their clothing'.
The
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF "HIE NEGROES.
116
in
liabils,
the particular of dress, of their forefathers
from Africa
still
warmer
cleave to them, especially in the
when ihey
seasons of the year,
arc
left to
themselves.
This very improvidence on the part of the Negroes presents an increase of expenditure
owners
The
for clothing.
once for
all, I
tem are so
waste
oti
great.
tlie
part of
And
indeed,
wastes of the sys-
will here say, that the
great, as well as the fluctuations in prices of
staple articles for market, that sible, to
is
it
is diflicult,
nay, impos-
indulge in large expenditures on plantations
and make them savingly
profitable.
Their general 7node of living is coarse and vulgar. Many Negro houses are small, low to the ground, blackened with «moke, oflen with dirt floors, and the furniture
On some
of the plainest kind. framed,
made
weather-boarded,
sufficiently large
The improvement Negro houses
is
estates
neatly
and comfortable
in the size,
the houses are
wlnle-washed, and in
material,
every respect.
and
finish of
Occasionally they
extending.
may
be
found constructed of tabby or brick.
A
room
is
partitioned
ofl^
for a sleeping
appartment
and store-room, though houses are found destitute of In such dwellings piivacy
this convenience.
sible; sleep,
and we
may
in a
manner say
is
impos-
that families live,
and giow up together; their habits and manners
being coarse and rude.
Some owners make
to the houses according to
the
additions
number and age of
the
children of families.
Having now considered the circumslances of the Negro during his childhood, we may proceed and consider the circumslances of
The Negro'
at
Adult age.
— He
lives
in
a house
similar to the one in which he passed his childhood and
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
117
He has ihe necessary and annual provision made wants; associates with fellow-servants of like character to his own. The seeds of virtue or vice sown youth.
for his
in his youth,
and
now blossom and bear fruit. lie marries grow up around him and
settles in life, his children
tread in his footsteps, as he did in the footsteps of his father before him.
The remarks on
ihe religious instruction of children
apply with equal correctness instruction of adults
masters, ministers,
to adults.
Slated religious
on plantations, communicated bv or missionaries employed for the
purpose, taking the slave States together,
quent occurrence.
The
is
chief privilege
not of fre-
by evening prayers, conducted by themselves. If the individuals upon whom the conduct of the evening meeting devolves are able to read^ thousands on plantations
enjoyed
is
a chapter in the Bible is read
;
a
hymn is
out and sung; followed with prayer.
read and given If they cannot
read, then a brief exhortation in place of the Scriptuies it may be, on some rcmembeied hymn from memory and prayer. There
founded,
passage, then
a
are thousands
also, who, although freely allowed the privilege, do not embrace it, either from want of inclination, or of suita-
ble persons to conduct the meetings.
thankfulness that the owners are few
who
forbid religious meetings on
either
by
their servants
in
tlieir
It is
matter of
number, indeed, plantations, held
themselves, or by competent
and approved white instructors or ministers. " All men faith." I have never known servants forbidden to attend the worship of God on the Sabbath day, except
have not
as a restraint temporarily laid, for
some
flagrant miscon-
duct.
On
special occasions, such as fast days,
communion
)
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
18
seasons, and
meetings, a day or more
protracted
many
allowed servants by
slave-holding States the rest of the Sabbath
Ncgroes» and on
to tlie
is
Throughout the
masters.
is
secured
day they have extensive
this
opportunities of attending divine worship, in town and
But
country.
it is
numbers of
ways
causes conspire to
walk
known
day of
their to
church
;
distance
the
considerable
too
or spend the day in
more exceptionable. Various produce the efiect. For instance
seats, in certain cases, are
sanctuary are
the
;
which they must accommodations for
limited; the services of the
elevated
for
required or encouraged to go
;
them
they are not
;
they have no exalted
common
ideas of the importance of religion, and in
men, are naturally disinclined
all
to
it,
causes which might be mentioned.
Many,
tlie
and other
and die without an adequate knowledge of the
way of salvation. Nor can the adult Negro and
it;
in settlements
Gospel ministra-
that are and that are not supplied with tions, live
with
and are easily
with excuses for the neglect of
satisfied
atten-
people, that large
this
still
rest
is
who have
to those
home
adults remain at
visiting or in
it is
well
observed the habits of
tively
way of
salvation
acquaint himself with duty
throvgh
the
reading of the
more than can the child. Of those do read, but (cw read well enough for the edificaNot all the colored preachers read. of the hearers.
Scriptures, any that tion
Two
other circumstances
bearing on the moral
Negroes deserve riage state tection
it
is
which have considerable
and religious character of the
attention.
The
enjoys
is
to
that the marWhatever of pro-
first is
not protected hy law. be attributed
to
custom, to the
conscientious eflbrls of owners, and the discipline and
MORAL AND UELIGIOUS CONDITION. tloctrines of the
churches
;
119
and a]«o the correct principle
and virtue of the contracting
But the
parlies.
relation
disruption in a variety of forms, for some of
is liable to
which there is no remedy. The second is that the government to which they are subjected is too much physi-
To
cal in its nature.
of fear
—
discard an appeal to the principle
punishment of the person of the some form or other, would be runnino-
the fear of
transgressor in
governments in existence, both human While the necessity is admitted, yet the appeal should be made as seldom as possible and in the contrary to
all
and divine.
mildest form consistent with the due support of authority
and the refnrmalion of the transgressor. ftpiritual as
weU
ns an
animal
influences, should be brought to bear
and
in the first
upon
instance, as soon as he
between good and
Man
has a
nature, and corrective
is
that directly
able to discern
evil.
Such then are the circumstances of the slave population, which have an unfavorable influence upon their moral and religious condition. only have been referred in our inquiry.
to
Those circumstances
which pronjinently
In conclusion
it
may
assist us
be added that ser-
vants have neither intellectual nor moral intercourse with their masters generally, sufficient to
redeem them from
the adverse influence of the circumstances alluded to; for the it
two classes are
distinct in their association,
cannot well be otherwise.
Nor have
servants
deeming intercourse with any other persons. contrary in certain situations there with them, and
many
which they have tleplorable.
is
and
any
re-
On
the
intercourse had
temptations laid before them against
little
or no defence, and the
eff'cct
is
RELIGIOUS INSTiaClION OF THE NEGROES.
120
Ihe circumstances of the free Negro population free Negro population is about equally divided
2.
The
between the free and the slave
slates
be somewhat in favor of the slave
Their locations are chiefly
;
may
the balance
states.
in cities,
towns and
villa-
ges; they are but thinly scattered throughout the country.
Unless diverted by some uncontrolable circumstance
they invariably find their
way
into cities, partly because
they there find most society of their partly because they
labor
:
make out
own
to live at less
and
color,
expense of
have the means and opportunities of vicious
in-
dulgence more at hand, with less danger of detection, and in every respect are under less supervision and restraint.
Their station
in society as
one of inferiority.
'J'heir
w
ell
as their condition^
freedom consists mainly,
deliverance fiom compulsory labor.
real estate
whole population, is very ihew personal property is something greater;
owned by them trifling:
The
is
in
takir.g the
but as a class they are poor.
Here and
there one
may
be found cultivating his
land for a support, but the mass, are hired servants
own :
—
waiters in private and public houses, stewards and cooks
and
common hands on
board steam boats, and merchant
some few on board men of war: mechanics, tradesmen: shop keepers, porters, draymen: hour and vessels:
day laborers " hewers of wood and drawers of water." Multitudes have no visible means of living: no support :
but that of vice.
They
usually occupy
town, abandoned
to
some
particular quarter of the
them, with the exception of certain
poor and degraded white families and shop keepers. The houses which they occupy are built cheaply for tha
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. poorer class of renters
and when of sometimes accommodate from two to ;
a personal inspection of the entire
121
sufficient size, will
On
six families.
Negro
quarters of
one of the chief towns in the Northern states, I found white families mixed in with the black, a most motly assemblage lodged
in
whole families, sometimes taking in hoarders, one room, wMlhout partitions or screens. Their
:
furniture coarse and scanty,
clothing in which
where ground was accessible.
cultivated,
no
and so was their every day found them. There were no gardens
I
visible comforts
all
:
There were
things wore the appearance of
poverty, improvidence, idleness, drunkenness and debauchery. They seemed to Jive, literally, ' from
hand to work only in obedience to stern necesThere were a {qw, ai.d but a {q\w, creditable ex-
mouth: sity.
" and to
ceptions.
The
conveniences and comforts to be found
in
their
dwellings, the bounlifulness of their diet and clothing, the number of friends which they have, or can
command
in seasons of sickness
own
also.
generally
This
observations
is
depend upon their
states,
states.
all
condition of the
is
That charcondition
free
Negroes in the slave
ckcidecUy in advance of what
There
are
more
in the slave than in the ^r^e states
cannot marry, the support of
:
is
who have made
Their physical condition
on the whole,
the/rce
bad, their physical
the testimony of
on the
in the free states.
in
all
industry and uprightness of character.
acter being
bad
and suffering,
it is
free co\ore(\ families
in the latter the
a family,
young
especially through
the rigors of winter being difficult; and consequently
numbers of youth, abandon themselves to profligacy. Their advantages for education, and consequently ac^ cess to the ivrittcn icord oj God, are more limited in the 11
RELlCxIOUS INSTRUCTION OF
122
THE NEGROES.
slave than in the free states, on account of the existence
of laws against the education of colored persons; but notwithstanding, in the slave states the free Negroes, do
have schools tion,
and
it
difficult to
of them do not learn to read as
number
some
for their children, or
would be
of icriters
private instruc-
decide whether as in the free
states.
many
The
is less.
In the {xe.G states schools are established in the cities, supported chiefly as free schools, for the education of
Negro children;
provision
in villages,
is
also
and their employers teach them through College; the professions opened
them
;
3Ieclicmc and Divinity.
The
A to
made
for
few pass
them are
majority are ignorant of
letters.
Houses of public worship are erected in the chief towns and slave States, where they may have access
in the free to
a preached Gospel:
free Negroes —
The
officiating ministers either white
Negroes seldom
churches of the free States, in
Boston, Providence,
They
of the
in the slave States for the use of/rcciVe-
groes and slaves. or colored.
in the free States for the use
if
in
New
ever, worship in the white
the cities; for example, Yor"k, Philadelphia, etc.
are not expected to do so;
desirable by the people.
neither
is it
thought
Consequently their accommo-
dations are poor and scanty.
In the Southern churches
multitudes do; and the free colored population frequently prefer
it
manner
to
worshiping in the colored churches.
In like
Negro children number of places
there are Sabbath schools for the
and youth,
in the free States,
and
in a
But the
free
Negroes of the United
in the slave Slates.
States do not possess houses of worship, nor ministers of the Gospel, nor their
Sunday schools, in
accommodation.
They
sufficient
number for
are left in sad destitution of
MO.iAL the
AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
means of grace.
Children grow up, and adults
estranged from the house of
them
a
day of idleness
The amount limited;
of
God
— of vain
— the Sabbath
degraded whites
;
and
and
as to prospects
may accumulate
is
live,
with
and wicked pastime.
fami!?/ government
they associate with their own
society, they
123
instruction color
among
is
is
with
of advancement
wealth, there
distinction, except that of influence
or
in
no other
themselves,
arising from skill and intelligence and zealous devotion in the professions of medicine and divinity. They
can
never
rise
above their caste.
we have adverted to the circumstances of Negro population, it must be apparent that those
Briefly as
the free
circumstances exert an unfavorable influence upon the developement of good moral and religious character.
RELlGIOnS INSTRDCTION OF
124
THE NEGROES.
CHAPTER
III.
Moral and Religious Condition of the Negroes in the United States.
We we
have refered to the disadvantages under which for prosecuting our inquiry, and also, to the
labor
circumstances in which
These
we
find
our Negro population.
preparatory steps being taken,
intelligently,
with less surprise
and
we may now come at
the results, to a
consideration of their actual moral and religious condition. As to moral and religious character, the Negroes are
naturalhj what fore, will
be
other
all
made
men
either to
are.
No
show
that they
attempt, thereare more
depraved than another people would be in like circumstances, or to show that they are the most degraded of all
people on the earth.
To
attempt the establishment
of one or both these positions would argue contempt of the truth.
It is
subject, derived
my
wish to present the truth on the and other sources;
from observation
believing that nothing more, and nothing less,
by the importance of
it.
is
required
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
h The Moral and
Religious
Condition
125 the.
of.
Slave
Negro Population.
is
Ignorance of the doctrines and duties of Christianity^: among the Negroes.
prevalent
Their notions of the Supreme Being; of the characteroffices of Christ and of the Holy Ghost of a future
and
;
state;
nite
and
and of what constitutes holiness of
the
in
vicinity
of Jesus Christ for a
Some brought up
and confused.
but
;
are indefi-
life,
in a Christian land,
of the house of God, have heard
who he
is,
ruined world, they cannot
and what he has done
The Mohammedan
tell.
Africans remaining of the old stock of importations, although accustomed to hear the Gospel preached, have
been known to accommodate Christianity danism. IS
"God,"
Mohammed
*'
say they,
— the
religion
to
Mohamme-
is
Allah, and Jesus Christ
is
the same, but different
countries have different names."
The number the whole,
is
of professors of religion, in proportion to
not large, that can present a correct view
of the plan of salvation; although
where they their
fail
to
knowledge
is
do
so,
it
is
many
instances
greater than one not familiarly ac-
quainted with them would conceive their
in
but just to observe, that
power of expression
;
it
to be.
It
exceeds
since from the want of edu-
cation and practice, they are unable to slate accurately
and readily their own views and feelings.
True religion they are inclined in
forms and ordinances, and
And all
to place in profession,
in excited states
of feeling.
true conversion, in dreams, visions, trances, voices
—
bearing a perfect or striking resemblance to some
form or type which has been handed down
for generations,
or which has been originated in the wild fancy of
11*
some
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF
126
religious teacher
THE NEGROES.
among them. These dreams and
visions
they will offer to church-sessions, as evidences of conversion,
encouraged so
if
tion be neglected.
to do, or if their better instruc-
Sometimes principles of conduct are
adopted by church members at so much variance Avith the Gospel that the " grace of God is turned into lasciv-
For example, members of the same church by their religion not to reveal each others sins, for that would be backbiting and injuring And again, that which would be an the brotherhood.
iousness."
are sacredly bound
committed by a church member with a sin at all if committed with The brethren must " bear one another church member. another's burdens and so fullil the law of Christ.*'
abominable
sin,
worldly person, becomes no
All the various perversions of the Gospel are to be
met with, and more than probable, pushed to extremes. Antinomianism is not uncommon, and at limes, in ittt " worst forms. " Christ," is made " the ir.inister of sin the christian is safe, do what he may. To know the extent of their ignorance even where
—
they have been accustomed to the sound of the Gospel in wb.ite chuiches, a
himself with
— the
They
grief.
man should make
investigation for
result will frequently surprise
scarcely feel
shame
and
fill
him
for their ignorance
on the subject of religion, although they may have had abundant opportunity of becoming wiser. Ignorance, they seem to feel, is their lot; and that feeling is intimately associated with another, every
way
congenial to
the natural man, namely, a feeling of irresponsibility
ignorance
is
a cloak and excuse for crime.
Some
—
white
and teachers, in their simplicity, beholding iheir attention to the preaching of the Gospel, adapted
ministers
to their
comprehension, and hearing the expressions of
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. their ihankfulness for
come
tion,
ticated
tlieir
instruc-
to the
conchision that they are an unsophisthat they form one of the easiest and
race;
pleasantest fiekls of labor in a people
taken for
tlic piiins
127
llie
"made ready, prepared
more being necessary than and converts
will
world
and that ihey are
;
for the
to carry
Lord;"
them
— nothing
the Gospel
be multiplied as drops of morning dew,
yea, a nation will be born in a day.
Experiment shortly
dissipates these visions, and well the sober reality does not frighten the laborer in disgust and disappointment. He who carries
is it if
away
the Gospel to them encounters depravity, intrenched in ignorance, both real and pretended. He beholds the
Scripture
fulfilled,
"having the understanding darkened,
being alienated from the rance that
of
life
God through
the igno-
them, because of the hardness of their Eph A, 17 19. Rediscovers deism, skep-
is
in
—
hearts:'
—
ticism,
universalism.
As already
perversions of the Gospel, and
all
staled,
the various
the strong objections
the truth of God objections which he may perhaps have considered peculiar only to the cultivated minds, the rij^e scholarship and profound intellio-ence, of
against
critics
;
and philosophers
natural and
and a hardened heart. spirit
!
common ground
which ruleth
Extremes here meet on
He is
convinced that there
in the hearts of the children
"They are wise to do they have no knowledge."
bedience."
the
of a darkened understandino-
evil
;
is
"a
of diso-
but to do good
Intimately connected with their ignorance,
is
their
superstition.
They
believe in second-sight, in apparitions, charms,
witchcraft, and in akind of irresistible Satanic influence.
The
superstitions brought from Africa have not been
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
123
laid aside.
Ignorance and superstition render
them easy dupes
to their teachers, doctors, prophets,
wholly
When
fairly
may be brought
to the
conjurers; to artful and designing men.
committed
to such leaders, they
Facts
commission of almost any crime. prove
On
this.
in their history
certain occasions they have been
to believe that while they carried
made
about their persons
some charm with which they had been
furnished, they
were invulnerable. They have, on certain other occasions, been made to believe that they were under a proThat they might tection that rendered them invincible. pleased, and it they thing any do and go any where
would be impossible for them to be discovered or known They safely, successfully. in fine, to will was to do ;
—
have been known
to
be so perfectly and fearfully under
some leader or conjurer or they have not dared to disobey him in the
the influence of that
minister, least par-
nor to disclose their own intended or perpetrated crimes, in view of inevitable death itself; notwithstanding all other influences brought to bear upon them.
ticular
;
Their superstition
is
others like them.
made gain of by
They
the conjurers and
are not only imposed
and
more prominent but by each other more privately, by " trick-
practiced upon to their hurl, by these characters,
ing," as
of
lust,
it is
called, for the gratification of revenge, or
or of covetousness.
A
tation of the Gospel, usually
plain and faithful presenweakens if not destroys
these superstitions.
Their sense of obligation
to
improve religious pri-
vileges is seriously defective.
Necessarily so, both with the church and the world, because they have never enjoyed to any great extent, It is a matter depending pretty. early religious training.
129
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
tlie contingencies of the day or the hour whether they attend the house of God on the Sabbath One of the or the meeting for prayer on the phintalion. fiist efforts of the Minister or Missionary should be to
much upon
create a sense of obligation in respect to this very thing to enlighten their consciences,
and bring them improvement of
that they are responsible for the due
privileges
and that the
;
members of
;
feel
to
their
the church should
They
be foremost in meeting that responsibility.
will
now and then excuse their remissness, by pleading that or that they have no their leisure is needed for rest :
time
:
that
hard for tliem
it is
heavenly master groes
in the
power may
It is
and
for the
Ne-
but an excuse,
South, in general,
what
third of
too.
to serve their earthly
be,
fall
short at the least one
laborers perform.
free white
and sometimes
is
abused,
we
Yet
as
should look
by our exactions and treatment, we may not prevent our people from enteringin to the kingdom
well to
it,
that
of heaven.
but a poor standard of moral character,
They have
and are indifferent
to the
general corruption of man-
ners that prevails around them.
Which
is a
strong evidence of their moral degradation:
for a public sentiment in respect to various vices
and
improper customs, pervades with considerable force all societies advanced in some good degree in piety and virtue.
The standard the
members
not, but to be.
it is
of moral character
of the church, than
is much higher among among those who are
not by any means, what
They
it
mightand ought
say and do and tolerate what
dence that their standard
is
low.
To
for as elevated a morality as obtains
is
plain evi-
aspire to or
among
hope
the whites
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTIOxX OF THE NEGROES.
130
they think, can neither be expected, nor required of them. "With the people of
tlic
world there
is
scaicely any
standard of moral character, strictly speaking, at
They seem
to
feel that
ihcy have very
little to
all.
gain or
way they turn. They lake little interest in the moral improvement of their own color. Tiiey live not together as communities having common ties and interests which would lose eitlicr
prompt them
much
very
to
promote
and
the ])ublic piety
independent individuals and
as
Such a thing as their uniting vice, or to promote any good
virtue, but
families.
any particular has notbeen known
to su])press
object,
we except a few Temperance societies formed of late years. They regard not the evil influence which they may exert over their neighbor, nor the among
ilicm, if
injury which they
may do him
in his character, in his
family, or property, if their lust or malice or avarice be gratified.
They
follow their
ov^'n inclinations
and
interests, hav-
ing respect to consequences mainly, as they
them
the difficulties with their
adjusted,
But
if
the
cared for at
color will be easily
cause, as servants, in concealing' their
Inquiry
from their owners.
no one
own
all.
Negroes are scrupulous on one point; they
make common faults
feels at liberty to disclose
are profoundly ignorant
;
elicits
no information
that they
of their if
may
own
they
;
the transgressor; all
the matter assumes the sacred
ness of a "professional secret:" for they
and
bring
Should they escape the mas-
plantation or household. ter,
may
into collision with the lav.s and regulations of the
hereafter require the
remember
same concealment
transgressions from their fellow servants,
tell
upon them vow, they may have the
like
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
1(^1
favor returned them; besides, in the meanwhile, having their
names
cast out as evil
and being subjected
from among their
to scorn,
brctiiren,
and perhaps personal
vio-
lence or pecuniary injury.
The frequency of church discipline and the character of the crimes requiring it, cast light upon their moral and religious condition.
The discipline of colored menibers is involved,
Many
vexatious and disgusting. pline never appear for
it,
tedious,
cases worthy of disci-
because, at one time, they are
secretly hushed up, and at another, testimony cannot be
they avoid,
procured, as
accusers or witnesses.
if it
be
possible,
becoming
Excommunications, however,
and suspensions are of perpetual occurrence, for crimes shocking in character, and of themselves sufficient to
show
the general state of morals
;
such for example as
adultery, fornication, theft, lying, drunkenness, quarrel-
and
ing,
mon
fighting.
vices.
The
first three are their
most com-
Cut-breaking sins only are taken
in
hand.
Their bitterness, wrath, clamor, evil-speaking, and profanity are seldom noticed, and for the reason that all passes
away with
the breath, and
no man has his family
invaded, his property consumed, or his bones broken. I
have heard the observation made by men whose
standing and office in the churches afibrded them abundant opportunity for observation, that the more they have
had
to
do with colored members, the
less confidence
they have been compelled to place in theii Christian profession.
A
great
many
whites are very incredulous
on the point; indeed, the Negroes themselves do not place a great deal of confidence in each other's Chris-
and they should be good judges, for they have a more intimate acquaintance with one another than tian character,
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
132
Yet when we consider
the whites possibly can have.
Negroes are brought up
that the
of instances
in multitudes
incompetent teachings of preaching and instruction compieliension
;
;
men in
in
ignorance of religion
subjected ofttimes to the
of their
own
color; the
white churches above their
no access directly
surrounded with depraved society
to 'the ;
word of
life
;
subjected to mani-
fold temptations; destitute to a considerable
extent of
encouragement in ways of rigliteousness and a life of active employment, I apprehend that our surprise will be, not that there are so many spurious conversions and ;
so
many
defections, but that there are ^o
few ; and more-
over, that in judging their Christian character, charity
demands
that
we should consider make very great
circumstances and
their condition
allowances.
and
Hence
considering their condition and circumstances, and comparing them with the more improved and favored class of white members, I could not say that the amount and degree of piety were remarkably in favor of the one
over the other. fulfilled
I
have seen the Scriptures abundantly " hath not God chosen
amongst the Negroes
—
the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, v/hich he hath promised to them that love
him."— /a. But groes
2,
5.
a biief view of the prevailing vices of the
v/ill
Ne-
best reveal their moral and religious condition.
Violations of the marriage contract. divine institution of marriage depends for
The
its
perpetuity, sacredness, and value, largely upon the protection given
are
neither
it by the law of the land. Negro marriages The recognized nor protected by law.
Negroes receive no instruction on the nature, sacredness, and perpetuity of the institution at any rate they are ;
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. far
133
from being duly impressed with these things.
They
are not required to be married in any particular form, nor by any particular persons. Their ceremonies are
performed by their own watchmen or teachers, by some white minister, or as it frequently happens, not at all the consent of owners and of the parties immediately interested,
and a public acknowledgment of each other,
being deemed
sufficient.
There is no special disgrace nor punishment visited ypon those who criminally violate their marriage vows,
may be
except what
inflicted
be members, by the church and excommunication.
by owners, in the
or, if the parties
way
of suspension
Families are and may be divided for improper conduct on the part of either husband or wife, or by necessity, as in cases of the death of owners, division of estates, debt, sale, or removals, for they are subject to all the
changes and vicissitudes of property. Such divisions are, however, carefully guarded against and prevented, as far as possible,
by owners, on
the score of interest,
as well as of religion and humanity.
Hence, loses
as
may
much
character.
well be imagined, the marriage relation
of the sacred ness It is
pleasure, that
and perpetuity of
its
a contract of convenience, profit, or
may
be entered into and dissolved
at the
and that without heinous sin, or the of the property or interests of any one. That
will of the parties, ii:jury
which they possess
in
common
is
speedily divided, and
the support of the wife and children
husband, but upon the master.
want of industrious
falls
not upon the
Protracted
sickness,
habits, of congeniality of disposition,
or disparity of age, are sufficient grounds for a separation.
While 12
there are creditable instances of conjugal
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
134
fidelity for a
long series of years, and until death
infidelity in
the
marriage
On
ties
yet
;
marriage relation and dissolution of
uncommon.
are not
account of the changes, interruptions and interfe-
rences in families, there are quarrelings and fightings,
and a considerable item is
in the
management of
settlement of family
the
become disgusted and wearied their
people
the strife ere
own way
to their it
;
out,
plantations
Some owners
troubles.
and
finally
leave
while others cease from
be meddled with, and give
it
as an opin-
ion that the less the interference on the part of the
A
master the better.
few conscientious masters per-
severe in attempts at reformation, and with
some good
degree of success.
Polygamy is practised both secretly and openly; in some sections where the people have been well instructed it is
scarcely
and
is
is
known
a crime
it is
which among
stances, carries, in
crime has diminished
in others, the
;
diminishing;
its
to be all
hoped universally
people and under
all
so.
It
circum-
perpetration, vast inconveniences
and endless divisions and troubles and they are felt by the Negroes as well as by others, and operate as a great Polygamy is also discountenanced and preventive. :
checked by the majority of owners, and by the churches of
all
denominations.
Uncleanncss.
The
— The
acquaintance with
this
or in the free States classes of people
not
sin
may be
considered universal.
declaration will be sufiicient for those
my
point to
;
people
in the
indeed, with the ignorant laboring
wherever they
may
object to institute comparisons,
many
who have any
slave-holding States
be found. if it
It is
were, I could
tongues and people, in civilized govern-
ments, upon the same level of depravity with the Negroes.
136
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONmTlON.
The
viewed by them as by those of higher
sin is not
consider
intelligence and virtue, so that they do not
character as lost by sarily
may
it,
nor personal degradation as neces-
connected with
A
it.
from entire prostration. Intimately connected with the provision
made
view in
it
the crime of
is
good measure by
for the support of the child
by the punishment
part of the owner, tion,
this
— a crime restrained
Infanticide:
on the
in case of detec-
and by the moral degradation of the people that
away the disgrace of
takes
Theft. — They
bastardy.
they have borne
whither they have been carried;
character of slaves in color.
They
They
are proverbially thieves.
this character in Africa; tries
view which, however
spring from vitiated principle, preserves the guilty
steal
it
it
in all
bear
coun-
has been the
ages, whatever their nation or
all
from each other; from their masters
from any body. Cows, sheep, hogs, poultry, clothing; yea, nothing goes amiss to which they take a fancy; while corn, ever they
rice, cotton,
may
market be impunity.
or the staple productions, what-
be, are standing temptations, provided a
at hand,
Locks,
and they can bolts,
sell or barter
and bars secure
them with
articles desir-
able to them, from the dwelling of the master to that of the servant, and the keys, must always be carried.
Falsehood. is
— Their
veracity
one of the most prominent
is
traits in their character,
practiced between themselves, but
ards
their
Duplicity
nominal.
more
masters and managers.
cases o(feif^7ied sickness are vexatious.
especially tow-
frequent
Their
"When criminal
acts are under investigation, the sober, strenuous false-
hood, sometimes the direct and awful appeal the transgressor, averts the suspicion, and
to
by
God, of his
own
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OP THE NEGROES.
136
tact or collnsion with others, perhaps, fixes the guilt
The number,
upon some innocent person.
the variety
and ingenuity of falsehoods that can be told by them in "Where a few brief moments, is most astonishing. opportunity
is
Ser-
given they will practice imposition.
vants, however,
who
will neither steal nor lie,
may
be
found, and in no inconsiderable numbers.
Quarreling and Fighting. in
some
— The Negroes are
settled
quarter of the plantation, in houses near each
other, built in lows, foiming a street.
give each family a house of
its
own.
The custom is to The liouses some-
times have a partition in the middle and accommodate a
family in each end.
Living
These are
called double-houses.
near each other, and every day working
so
together, causes of
difference
must necessarily
arise.
Families grow jealous and envious of their neighbors
some essay
to
be leading families
they overhear con-
;
versations and domestic disagreements;
become privy
improper conduct; they depredate upon each other; a fruitful source of tumult is the pilfering and quarreling
to
of children which involve their parents. quarrel
more than
The women Where
the men, and fight oftener.
no decisive measures are taken to suppress these practices, plantations sometimes become intolerable, might the strong oppiess the weak. Every master gives right ;
own
or manager has the evil under his
They come
to
open breaches
too,
control.
with their neighbors
on adjoining plantations, or lots, if they live in towns. The Sabbath is considered a very suitable day for the settlement of their diSiculties.
may be
said, there are
However, with
fewer personal
truth
injuries,
it
and
among the Negroes in the same amount of population in
manslaughlers, and murders South, than
among
the
any part of the United States
;
or,
perhaps, in the world.
MORAL AND
RELItSIOUS CONDITION.
Insensibility of Heart.
— An ignorant and degraded
people are not wont to exhibit
human
SiSlT
much
of the railk
of
kindness.
Unless the Negroes are carefully watched and made accountable for power lodged in their hands, it will be abused. Parents will beat their children, husbands their wives, master-mechanics their apprentices, and drivers the people. In sickness, parents will neglect their chil dren, children their parents
They cannot be
relations.
and so with the other social
;
trusted as nurses.
Hence
they must be 7iiade to attend, upon the sick, and then watched lest they neglect them which ultimately brings ;
the whole care of the sick upon the master or manager. It is
a saying of their
more
for
them than
own, "that white people care own color ;" and again, " that
their
black people have not the same feeling for each other that white people have." It is an indisputable fact that
when Negroes become owners of slaves they are generally cruel masters. They will over-load, work-down, bruise and beat, and starve
all
working animals commit-
ted to their care, with careless indifference.
—
Profane Swearingis indulged in by both men and women and in certain districts to a most fearful extent. The vile habit is not so much under the notice of mas;
ters as
some
others, because servants restrain themselves presence and hearing, so that a plantation may be notorious for its profanity and the owner be ignorant in their
With profane swearing may be connected and obscene conversation, songs, and jests, which tend to the early ruin of delicacy, modesty, and of the
fact.
their vulgar
virtue.
Drunkenness because
—
is
facilities for
12*
more prevalent
in
towns and
cities
procuring ardent spirits are greater
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
138
than in country places.
Drunkenness
is
easily detected
and rarely escapes punishment, and the Negroes stand
But immense quantities of ardent
in fear.
spirits
are
by retailing shop-'i, established for the express purpose of NegroThese trading, wherever such trade may be secured. sold in the Southern States to the Negroes,
shops injure the pecuniary interests of the country^ they corrupt the morals, injure the health and destroy the lives of
many
of the Negroes
;
and are the greatest
nuisances and sources of evil tolerated in the country. Had the Negroes access to ardent spirit they would speedily
become
a nation of drunkards.
Sabbath-breaking.
— From
all
that has
been said on
the moral and religious condition of the Negroes,
it is
not necessary to enlarge on their Sabbath breaking.. If they go not to the house of
God,
as multitudes
do
not,
they spend the day in visiting, in idleness and sleep, or in hunting, fishing, or, sometimes, in thieving or for their
own convenience and
profit;
markets are tolerated, in trading.
few Sunday markets which
working
and where Sunday
The necessity
may
exist, is
for the
laid in the
cupidity and selfishness of those in authority; and the
deeper condemnation of the iniquity will be visited uporv them. The labor which the overwhelming mass of the Negroes perform in the South, especially in the cotton growing districts, leaves them abundant time for their own domestic affairs, if they have any disposition ta improve it. Hence the general fact that the Negroes
who keep liFe.
the Sabbath, are the
If a master so
works
most
thrifty
his people as to
and well-to-
compel them
measure to labor for themselves on the Sabbath, or he requires for himself any labor from them, on that
in a if
holy day, the burden of the sin
is
upon his shoulders
;
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
J3&
nor can such conduct be spoken of in terms of too it merits the attention of the
severe reprobation; and
and the severest penalties provided in be humane, and makes every
civil authorities,
law.
But
if
arrangement
a master to
promote the prosperity of his people, if know is wrong, the blame
they will do that which they
theirs and not his. There is, indeed, a limit to the responsibility of masters, as well as of others in authority. I am aware that there are exceptions in favor of is
mem-
bers of the church, particular parts
been made but
among Negroes, and
in
favor of
of our country, wherein efforts have observance of the Sabbath,
to secure a better
taking
the
country generally, our Sabbaths are
profaned.
Our observations to
have, thus far, had direct reference country, or plantation, Negroes, and exceptions to
our general view, are always implied if not expressed. Variations may be discovered in their character and circumstances in different States and in different parts of the same State.
The moral and religious condition of town and Negroes, may be disposed of in a {ew lines. They admit
of division into four classes: family ser-
vants, or those
serve
city
who belong
to
the families
hired servants, or those
who
which they
are hired out
by any other service; servants who hire their own time, and work at vaiious employments and pay their owners so much per day or month; and watermen, embracing fishermen, sailors, and boat-men. their
;
owners
Town
and
to wait in families, or to
city
Negroes are more intelligent and
sprightly than country Negroes, owing to a difference in circumstances, employments, and opportunities of
HELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
140
Their physical condition
improvement.
improved
is
somewhat
and they enjoy greater access to religious
;
privileges.
On
the other hand, they are exposed to greater temp-
tations
and vices;
opportunities of attending
their
upon places of pleasure and dissipation are increased; they have stronger temptations to theft, and idleness^ and drunkenness, and lewdness ; and the tendency to equally great. Their moral and
reli-
Sabbath breaking
is
gious condition
precisely that of plantation Negroes,
is
modified in some respects and aggravated in others, by peculiarity of circumstances.
but less subordinate
;
They
are
more healthy; enjoy
ticulars, but not
more
intelligent
better provided for in certain par-
greater advantages
improvement, but are thrown more directly and, on the whole, in point in the way of temptation of moral character, if there be any pre-eminence it is in but it is a difficult point favor of the country Negroes for religious
;
;
to decide. I shall,
now, having brought
to a close the
moral and
Negro population, present a few extracts from various and recent authoro, corroborative of the view which I have taken of it.
religious condition of the slave
Edwin C. Holland, Esq., in his, ''Refutation of Calumnies circulated against the Southern and Western States:''
asked
why
Charleston, 1822, says, page 59; "If
it
be
those in the lower country are allowanced,
while those of the interior are not
such are the
facilities
;
the answer
is,
that
of transportation to market, and
the disposition to thievery so innate to the blacks, that a planter's barn
bankrupt of
its
would
in a
very short time become
wealth, and the whole of his substance
vanish like unsubstantial moonshine."
Ml
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
Dr. Dalcho, of the Episcopal church, in his ^^Prac-
Considerations^
tical *'
Charleston, 1823,
etc.;^^
6.
p.
Ignorant and indolent by nature, improvident and de-
praved by
habit,
and destitute of
tlie
moral principle, as
they generally app^ear to be, ages and generations must
away
pass
before they could be
made
virtuous, honest,,
and useful members of society." Gen. Thomas Pinckney, in his " Reflections,
management of
"
"Every thing consigned who has neither the
Charleston, 1822; pp. 20, 21. to the
etc.;
the slave,
incitement of interest, nor the fear of certain punish-
ment,
is
animals
neglected or abused left to
;
horses and
all
inferior
their charge are badly attended
way
;
their
dram shop, and they are used frequently without discretion or mercy their car-
provender finds
its
to the
;
riages and harness are slightly and badly cleaned
;
the
tools of the mechanics are broken and lost through neglect
their
;
very
clothing
becomes
more expensive
through their carelesness arising from the knowledge that they
must be supplied with
all
these articles, as well
as their subsistence, at their masters expense that
;
and waste,
moth of domestic establishments, universally
pre-
vails."
The Honorable
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney;
"tIcZ-
dress before the Agricultural Society of South Caro' lina;^^ Charleston, 1829, second edition, pp. 10, 12. *'
of
There needs no stronger
human
illustration of the doctrine
depravity than the state of morals on planta-
tions in general.
Besides the mischievous tendency of
and elders, the little Negro is by these his natural instructeis, that he may commit any vice he can conceal from his superiors, and thus falsehood and deception are among the earliest
bad example
often taught
in parents
RELIGIOU3 INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROE3.
143
Their advance
lessons they imbibe.
in years is but
The
progression to the higher grades of iniquity. lition of the seventh
commandment
is
viewed
in a
%
rio*
more
European circles. Theif depredations of rice have been estimated to amount to twenty-five per cent on the gross average of crops, and this calculation was made after fifty years experience, by one whose liberal provision for their wants left no venial light than in fashionable
excuse for their ingratitude."
Thomas S. Clay, Esq., of Bryan county, Ga. ''Detail of a Plan for the Moral Improvement of Negroes on Plantations;'' 1833; pp. 8,9; speaks of " vice and impurity, as the inheritance, for ages, of this degraded race," and enumerates "quarreling and fighting, lying
and indecency," among their
vices.
The Honorable Whitemarsh B. Seabrook " Essay on the Management of Slaves : " Charleston, 1834 pp, " As human beings however slaves are 7, 8, 12, &,c. :
:
liable to
fanatical
might
all
the infirmities of our nature.
none are more
easily excited.
readily embitter their
a curse to themselves
Ignorant and Incendiaries
enjoyments and render them
and the community."
prominent offences of the slave are
— "The
to be traced in
instances to the use of intoxicating liquors.
This
most one
is
of the main sources of every insurrectionary movement
which has occurred fore
bound
in the
by interest
United States, we are there-
as well as the
common
feeling of
humanity, to arrest the progress of what may emphatically be called the contagious disease of our colored
What have become of the millions of freemen who once inhabited our widely spread country ? Ask Can there be a doubt, the untiring votaries of Bacchus.
population.
but that the authority of the master alone prevents hii
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITON.
143
slaves from experiencing the fate of the aborigines of
America;"- -At
one time polygamy was
crime:
of rare
it
now
is
a
common
— " Between
occurrence."
slaves on the same plantation there is a deep sympathy of feeling which binds them so closely together that a crime committed by one of their number Ts seldom discovered through their instrumentality. This is an obstacle to the establishment of an efficient police, which the domestic legislator can with difficulty surmount." The executive committee of the Kentucky Union for the moral and religious improvement of the
colored race
in their '^Circular to the ministers of the gospel in
tucky"-lS34, say-''
We
Iheir condition
it
worse than
shines around them,
desire
Ken'
represent
Doubtless the liaht that
is.
more or
not to
less illuminates their
and moralizes their characters. that some of them, though poor
We
minds hope and believe
in this world's goods be found rich in spiritual possessions in the day when the King of Zion shall make up his will
jewels.
that
many of them
We
know
are included in the visible church and frequently exhibit great zeal but it is to be feared that it IS often a zeal without knowledge:' and of the majority it must be confessed, that 'the light shineth ;
'
in
darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not.' After making all reasonable allowances, our colored population can be considered, at the most, but semi-heathen."-
Western Luminary, Bishop Meade of Virginia Letter
to the
in his
admirable, -Pastoral
Dloeese of Virginia^ urges the duty of
af-
lord.ng religious instruction to those in bondage, on the ground that they are degraded and
D.
a
destitute.
1834.
Alexandria '
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
144
Bishop Ives of North Carolina, (same pamphlet, Appendix pp. 27-28,) takes the same ground
in his
Address
to his Convention.
W. Gooch
C.
Essay
Esq., Henrico county, Va. Prize
on Agriculture in Virginia. "
The
with
seeming
no inducement
slave feels
He
effect.
to
be
busy when in fact he
Nor can he
nothing.
made
be
own
is
He
health,
doing
it
and
little
or
proper care of
to take
stock, tools, or any thing else.
of his clothes or his
work
to execute his
has a particular art of slighting
will rarely take care
much
of his com-
less
panion's when sick and requiring his aid and kindness.
There
is
perhaps not
nature a more heedless, thought-
in
human being than
less
Virginia
a
care upon his mind, with
warm
food under a good master,
is far
two. day.'
great. in
ter
His maxim
*
is,
come
sometimes
man of the God send Sunpoor white man is very the happier
feel a 7'ejlecfed
respect for him,
consequence of the confidence and esteem of and others.
But
this trait
as in the black man.
worship wealth.
is
remarkable
All despise poverty
To
With no
day, go day,
His abhorrence of the
He may
Negro.
field
clothing and plenty of
his
mas-
in the white,
and seem
to
the losses which arise from ihe dis-
must be added those which are
positions of our slaves,
There seems
occasioned by their habits.
to
bean almost
of moral principle among the mass of our But details upon this subject would colored population.
entire absence
To
be here misplaced. merit
among them,
cient times, and
as
is at
the greatest abhorrence are
and not
And is
to be delected is a
was with certain people
this day, with
portions of mankind.
There
steal
it
the vice which they hold in
that of telling
many exceptions
in an-
some unenlightened
it
is
upon one another.
true, but this description
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION*. embraces more ihnn the mnjoriiy.
145
Tlie numerous/rce
negroes and worthless dissipated wliites who have no
means of support, and who
ible
are rarely seen at
derive their chief siil)sistence from the slaves. thefts
amount
and operate
They
to a
good deal
like leeches
on the
Iheso
the course of the year
in fair
income of agricullnrD.
vary, however, in every county and
in exact proportion as the
vis-
work
market
for the
neighborhood plunder varies.
In the vicinities of towns and villages they are the most
Besides the actual h)ss of property occasioned by them, they involve the riding of our horses at niijht,
serious.
the corruption of the habits atid the injury of the health
of the slaves; for whiskey for
is
the price generally received
them."
These
A
extracts selected at random, are sufficient.
multiplication of them would be but a tiresome repetition.
After
all,
rience
of
That
them.
is
the observation a7id expe-
persons who are intimatchj acquainted with the
Negroes are
my knowledge
so far as It
the best testijnony, all
makes no difference
in a
degraded state
is a
fact,
extends, universally conceded.
if it
be shown, as
it
might be, that
they are less degraded than other portions of the
human
family, the fact remains true in respect to \\\e\w,thry are
degraded, and 2.
it
is
this fact with
The moral and
population.
They
which we have
religious condition
to do.
of the free Negro
Conclusion of the subject.
vive
emphatically Rovers of pleasure and of shoio.
All kinds of amusements, except those which involve
labor or reflectit)n, possess great attractions for them,
and
their
iudulgence
is
limited only by their
means of
access to them.
With
a
13
passion for dress, they frequently spend
all
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
146
they make, in fine clothes; their nppearanceon the Sab*
bath and on public days,
is
any thing else but nn index
of their fortunes and comfort clothing lor set occasions
if
at
home.
Tiiey
hire
they have none sufficiently
good.
Proverbially
the majority
idle,
work not except from little money they
necessity, and as soon as ihey collect a
must enjoy themselves upon
They have been known
it.
to refuse employment, because not exactly out of money.
Their love of ease overcomes
that of gain.
This pro-
pensity to idleness exposes them to manifold temptations,
plunges them into numerous vices and subjects them to great privation and f-uffering.
They from
a
ar«j
amazingly improvidnit.
long and dreary winter of suffering. of labor ing Rl
in
One
melting ray
summer's sun, dissipatfs every remembrance of a
is
passed
lazy, bungling,
the sun, or in
work.
ments do
Those
The
golden season
lounging along the streets and bask-
in
that
and
attempts
tilful
have regular trades and employ-
Profane swearing, quarreling fighting
better.
,
end Snbb at h-br faking,
common
are such
vices that they
require no special notice.
Drunkenness, with
numbers of them
to
dark, secluded, and
its
attendant woes, hurries large
sudden and untimely ends.
filthy
dram shops,
1
have seen them
and as
much whiskey
often the depositories of stolen goods. living upon a few crackers a day as they could procure; their revels,
life
Low,
are favorite resorts;
spent in idleness, nightly
drunkenness, and debauchery.
Theft
is still
acieristic vice.
with them, in a state of freedom, a
c/jcrr*
Their petty larcenies are without num-
ber, and they advance to burglaries and give constant
employment
to police officers.
Let any one attend the
147
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. city courts in our chief
towns
in the. free Stales, or read
newspapers, and he w.U be the reports of cases in the Stabbing persons. surprised at the number of colored infrequent. of late years not become
and murder have Lewdness is without bounds.
Great numbers, both in only pursue the vice, but the slave and free States, not Infanticide, of living. trained up to it, as a means are
connected with the and the crimes and wretchedness of infanticide is crime the vice are found among them in the free, Negroes free the among far more common Indeed it is by no means comStates. :
than
in the slave
Their States. the free Negroes in the slave dissolutions from relations too, are subject to
mon among marriage
and various other causes.
infidelity
It is a
remarkble
of those of a marriagable fact that a large proportion acre,
remain single, especially
the support of a family
is
in
the free Stales,
where
This
has a
difficult.
fact
morals. considerable bearing on their state of
Wilh
a
few
extracts
from
different publications, this
inquiry shall be dismissed.
branch of our -The experience of the Slates north and east of the persons, is not Susquehanna, with regard to this class of (i. e. than that encouraging." more much on the whole '* The number is bad.) of the Southern Slates, where it considerably greater indeed, of respectable individuals is Nor nearly the same. but the character of the mass the to access are here debared it be urged that they
can
regeneration. ordinary melns of moral and intellectual ihem they for established On the contrary, schools are religious of conveniences are aided in procuring the in united are ihey worship; and divine ;
instruction
societies adapted to vity;
produce self-respect and menial
exemplary atteution
is
acti-
paid in numerous instances
RELIOIOUS IXSTKUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
148
to the regulation of their
have every
habits and
which
facility
principles.
enjoyed
is
They
by the hiboring
among ilie whites, of acquiring a plain education comfortable subsistence and of making provision
classes
and
a
for their children. They have the same legal security in person and property and generally, the same political
rights as the rest of the
"Taken
as a
community."
whole the
the most worthless and
— Walsh's Appeal.
free blacks
must be considered
indolent of the citizens of the
United Stales.
It is well known tint throughout the whole extent of our Union, they are looked upon as the
and pests of society. Nor does this characfrom their disabilities and disfranchisement, by which the law attempts to guard against them. In the very drones
ter arise
non-slaveholding slates, where elevated
have
they
by law, this kind of population
condition and
much
in the slave-holding
is
been in
a
more worse
nu»re troublesome to society than
and especially
Ohio, some years ago, formed
in the
a sort
planting States.
of land of promise
for this deluded class, to which many have repaired from the slave-holding States; and what has been the conse-
quence?
They have been most
that State and forced to
Look through
all
harshly expelled from
take refuge
in a
the Northern States and
upon whom the eye of the police
is
foreign land.
mark the
class
most steadily and
constantly kept; see with what vigilance and care they
areljunted fail
of
down from
to see that idleness till
their n.isfortunes.
of our own country
place to place; and you cannot
and improvidence are
Not only does
illustrate this great
furnish abundant testimony."
Governor Giles, upon
at
the root
the e.xperience fact,
but others
— President Dew.
a calculation
based on the ave-
rage number of convictions in the State of Virginia froin
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITIOX.
T4^
the penetenlinry reports, up to 1S29, shows that " crimes amon^r the free blacks are more than three times as
numerous as among the whiles, and four imd a half times more numerous than among the slaves," and that tlie proportion of crime
is still
blacks in Virginia, as in
not as groat
among the Hence
Massachusetts.
free is it
inferred that they are not
so degraded and vicious in Virginia, a slave State, as in Massachusetts, a free State." Ibid.
—
"
We are not to wonder that this class of citizens should
be so depraved and immoral."
*' Idleness, and consequent want, are of themselves sufficient to grnerale a catalogue of vices of the most mischievous and destruc-
tive character. Look to the penal prosecution of every country and mark the situation of those who fall victims
to the laws;
among
and what
proportion do
a frightful
the indigent and idle classes of society
!
we
find
Idleness
generates want, want gives rise to temptation, and .strong temptation makes the villain. Mr. Archer of Virginia well observed in his speech before the Colonization Society, that the free blacks
ble
barrier, to
were destined by an insupera-
the want of occupation, thence to the
want of food, thence
to the distresses
which ensue that
want, thence to the settled depravatioti which grows out of those distresses and is nursed at their bosoms." Id.
—
A
colony of free blacks was expelled from Ohio, in 1832, on account of their dissoluteness and dishonesty
and misery; being considered and nuisances. in
New Haven
A
in
the light of vagabonds
college for free negroes was projected
about the same time, and the respectable
citizens opposed and suppressed
it,
because the increase
of that classof popul.ition wa^ considered an
evil.
"Few
of them, (the free Negro population,) are engaged in
150
RELIGIOUS INSTllUCTION OF THE NEGftOES.
trade or
commerce
or have any hopes of elevating them-
Nine-tenths of them are
selves to that situation.
in
sub-
ordinate and menial situations and likely thus to remain, at
low wages. Th:it they labor under the most oppressive
means
disadvantages which their freedom can by no
counterbalance is too obvious to admit of doubt." " 1 waive all inquiry whether this be right or wrong.
speak of things as
They
to be.
tl.ey
I
are; not as they might or ought
the most remote chance
are cut off from
of amalgamation with the white population, by feelings or prejudices, call them what you will, that are
The
cable.
majority of them
situation of the
many of
unfavorable than that of
the slaves.
'
ineradiis more With all
the burdens, cares, and responsibilities of freedom, they substantial benefits.
Their asso-
ciations are and must be chiefly with slaves.
Their right
have few or none of
its
of suffrage gives them
little if
and they are practically from representation
no
no
services,
of them to
a level
may
ception
in
talents,
if
any
political
influence,
not theoretically excluded
No
our public councils.'
merit,
can ever elevate the great mass
with the whites; occasionally an ex-
arise, a colored individual
merits, and wealth,
may emerge from
of this kind are to the
last
degree
of great talents,
the crowd.
rare.
The
Cases colored
people are subjected to legal disabilities more or less * galling and severe in almost every Slate in the Union.
*
*
*
*
And
there
lapse of centuries will (i.
e.
'
the jealousy
is
no reason to expect that the
make any change
with
which
They
will always,
race."
— Carey's Letters, Let.
*'
Mr. Everett,
they
in this respect,
are
regarded.')
unhappily, be regarded as an inferior
in
a
speech
12.
before the Colonization
Society, 1833, says, ''the free blacks form in Massachu-
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDlTiaN. setts
sixth
A
151
about one seventy-fifth part of the population; one of the convicts in our prisons are of this class."
memorial presented
cut, in 1834, stales
to the
"that not
a
Legislature of Connectiweek, hardly a day passes,
that they (the free colored people,) are not implicated in
some law. Assaults and batteries, insolence to the whiles, compelling a breach of the peace, the violation of
riots in the streets, petty thefts,
and continual trespasses
common
on property are such
occurrences resulting from the license they enjoy, that they have ceased to become subjects of remark.
It is
Negroes paraded the clubs and pistols and
streets of
but recently that a band of
New
Haven, armed with
avowed purpose of from being enforced
dirks, with the
preventing the law of the land against one of the species.
Upon being accosted by an and commanded to retire peacably to their homes, their only reply consisted of abuse and
officer of justice
threats of personal
owed and
violence.
The law was overshadown safety in a timely
the officer consulted his
The memorial then proceeds to show that the complained of has so rapidly progressed that the
retreat." evil
whites have become the subjects of insult and abuse, whenever they have refused to descend to familiarity with them: that themselves, their wives, and children,
have been driven from the pavements, where they have not submitted to personal conflict; that from the licentiousness of their general habits, they have invariably depreciated the value of property by their location in
neighborhood
its
liness and
the
filih,
community."
From state
:
and that from
— Meinorial.
the report of the
prison,
their notorious unclean-
they have become
183S,
it
common
nuisances to
warden of the Connecticut appears ''that iha number of
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTIOxN OF THE NEGROES.
152
blacks in confinement compared with the whites or twelve times greater than
black
to the
May
ten
— Journal
16, 1838.
records of crime in the free States disproportion in the
fiightful
is
proportion of the
llie
white population in the State."
of Commerce,
"The
is
show a numbers of white and
black offenders, and most especially
in
those
States
where there are no disabilities or restrictions by law imposed upon the blacks." "In Massachusetts they are one seventy-fourth part of the population, yet they are in the proportion of one sixth of the convicts in the state prison.
In Connecticut one thirty-fourth part of the whole, one third of the
number
New York one thirty-fifih New Jersey one thir-
in the penetenliary.
and one fourth of the convicts. teenth, and
and one
one
third.
Pennsylvania one
thirty-fifth,
In Ohio the black population
third.
one hundred and
fifteen
is
one
to
white; convicts seven to one
Vermont, by census of 1S30, contained 277,918 were Negroes. In 1831 there w^ere seventy-four convicts in the prison, and of these twentyhundred.
000 souls;
four were Negroes
!
When
compared with what
reported of the prisons of the slave-holding States,
shown
that the proportion of
Negroes
in the
ries of the free States is in the ratio of
one free
in
Negroes
in
Ohio,
in the
penetentia-
more than
favor of the slave-holding States.
*
is
it is
*
*
ten to
The
aggregate, are in no better
condition, therefore, than the slaves in Kentucky.
They
are excluded from social intercourse with the whites*,
and whatever of education you
may
give them will not
tend to elevate their standing to any considerable extent."
— Report of
the
to the repeal
of lam^ reposing" restrictions and disa-
Committee on
the Judiciary, relative
MOHAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITION. biliiies
153
on blacks and mulattoes^ hy Mr. Cusklng-, Feb.
Agreed
21, 1835.
unaniw.ously.
to
Legislature of
Ohio.
The view which
now been
has
taken of the Moral
and lleUgious Condition of the JNegroes of the United States, will,
we
believe, justify us in the following ^e';:e-
ral conclusions.
They
1.
are intellectually and morally a degraded
people; the most so of any
in the
United States
— and
;
while from their universal profession of the Christian system, and
their
attendance
worship, and the absence of
all
upon
ordinances of
its
fixed forms of idolatry,
they cannot, strictly speaking be termed heathen
may
;
yet
they with propriety be termed the heathen of our
land. 2.
The
majority of them have access to some kind of
means of grace,
either
among themselves
or
in
connec-
means them
tion with the whites; but lliey are not as efficient
as their necessities require; while multitudes of
wholy
are almost lation,
bond and
destitute.
Nor has
the colored popu-
free, eillier ability or
will
themselves with the Gospel of the grace of are
left in
sion, the 3.
supply
God
;
but
next to absolute dependence upon the permis-
countenance and assistance of the whites.
They
are living in manifold and gross sins; their
iniquities are aggravated
not the least of them spiritual
t«)
mercies
Thousands
is
and great before the Lord, and their neglect
and contempt of
and privileges within their reach.
are annually descending to the grave and
eternal misery, and they
benevolent feelings and
demand and ought
to excite the
eflbrts, for their salvation,
churches of Christ throughout the Union.
of the
PART
III.
Obligations of ihe Church of Christ
to atlempt the
Improvement of the Moral and Religious Condition Negroes
of the
United
in the
States, by affording
them the Gospel.
CHAPTER The
I.
Obligations of the Church to aflord the Gospel to the NegroeSo
There are one or two positions upon which the argument under this head is based, and as preliminary thereto demand attention.
The Gospel
He
1-14.
11-18; *'
1
our benefit. life,
4, 17, 3.
:
he gave in
the gift of
and the " For
his only begotten
him should not
16.
God
to our lost
took upon himself our
for
In him was
John
is
and ruined
— John li nature: — Heb.2:
Our Divine Lord "was mmle flesh"
race.
:
15.
—
God
so loved the world that
Son, that whosoever believeth
perish, but have everlasting life."
" Thanks be unto
2 Cor. 9
That benefit is eternal life. was the light of men.
life
God
for his
— 3: —
unspeakable gift."
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
156 It
pleased
liath
Almighty,
the
bfstow the Gospel upon but
He
a
in
liis
sovreignty, to
portion of ihe
human
race.
chosen to employ human agency in
has, however,
extending the knowledge, and the consequent blessings
of
this glorious gift, to
all
expressed designs, and his
He
made
has
in
fulfilment of
w ho possess the Gospel to impart
mands, of
all
who are
destitute
of
The
it.
implies the obligation to inipart
who
tion this position
i)is
promises.
under the most solemn com-
the duty
it
mankind,
own most precious
it
to those
possession of the gift
No man may
it.
ques-
by
allows himself to be guided
the conviction, of reason, the dictates of conscience, or the declarations of the word of God.
In attempiirjg to just rule of action
fulfil is,
general and the
this duty, the
that
we impart
the Gospel to those
of our fellow-men who are most dependent upon us
— who are most needy and most These three Negroes;
peculiarities
for
it
accessible.
meet
and consequently they
the case of the
in
stand Jirst in
And
claims upon our benevolent attention.
their
our remarks
in confirmation shall be directed,
To
1.
the
They the
Negroes in the Slave States.
are the most dependent of all people upon us
word of
A
glance
for
life.
at
the civil condition and connection of this
people with us,
will
demonstrate the point.
They
are,
an
in the eye of the law, property; over
which there
absolute control as such, excepting
so far as they are
in
is
human beings, and by law are protected in life and limb. The law, however, makes no provision for their religious training, and
all
the privileges of religion are regidated
by the customs of society and the
will
of owners; nor
OBLIGATIONS OP in the
is it
TttlE
power of any one
l57
CBtJRCH.
between the
to interfere
master and the servant, and dictate what privileges hi3 servant ought and must enjoy, any more than he may
between parent and
interfere
Throw
child.
By law
these facts together.
or custom, th«y
are excluded from the advantages of education; and by.
consequence, from the rea^ding of the word of
and
this
immense mass of immortal beings
is
upon oral communications
religious instruction
And upon whom?
Upon
their
i\\Q
for
entirely.
And
owners.
owners, especially of late years, claim to be
God
thrown
their
exclusive
guardians of their religious instruction, and the almoners of divine mercy towards them, thus assuming the responsibility
of their entire christianization
All approaches to
!
them from abroad are
against, and
no ministers are allowed
the bread of
life,
rigidly
guarded
to break to
them
commended them-
except such as have
selves to the affection and confidence of owners.
I
do
not condemn this course of self-preservation on the part
of our citizens.
I
mention
the point in hand
:
the entire dependence of the Negroes
upon ourselves
While
this
it
only to
show more
fully
for the Gospel.
step
is
taken, another has already
taken, and that of a longtime; namely,
been
Negro preachers
are discouraged, if not suppressed, on the ground of
incompetency
and
liability
to abuse
their
office
and
influence to the injury of the morals of the people and
the infringement of the laws and peace of the country. I
would not go
from
my own
all
ployed and confided
own
in,
and so regulated
color great good, and
see, if
we take 14
many on this point, for Negro preachers may be em-
the lengths of
observation,
as to
community no harm
the word of
God
for
:
our guide,
do their nor do I
how we
158
RELIGIOtJS INSTRUCTION
OF THE NEGROES.
can consistently exclude an entire people from access to the Gospel ministry, as
it
may
please Almighty
time to time, as he unquestionably does, to
them
to
this class still
"as Aaron was."
it
more
God from
call
some of
The discouragement
of
of preachers, throws the body of the people in their
dependence upon ourselves, who indeed
cannot secure ministers
in
numbers
sufficient
own wants. Nor have the Negroes any church rent from or independent of our own.
to supply
our
organizations diffe-
Such independent
organization? are, indeed, not on the whole acJvisablei
But the
And,
fact
bindsthem
to us with stillstronger
lodged
in
our
hands, forbid
religious instruction
such churches as we may select aJly
shut up the
suffer not It is
them
at
them
ail,
or only to
we may
;
liter-
kingdom of heaven against men, and
that are entering to
are in a state of almost absolute for the
They is
for
go
in
\
not too much, therefore to say that the Negroes
owners
This
meetings, and
religious
on our own plantations; we may
our servants going to church
forbid
dependence
add no more, we may, according to the power
to
words of eternal
dependence upon
their
life.
are the most necdi/ o( any people in our country.
very evident, from the exposition which
we have
given of their dependence; as well as of their moral and religious character. diate access to the
of their
own
They have no education, no immeword of God, no competent teachers
color,
no competent number of white
teachers, and are in a state of great ignorance and moral
degradation.
And
lastly,
they are the most accessible.
They speak
same language with ourselves; dwell in the same land, at our own doors; and are members of our housethe
159
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHURCH.
No
holds.
lav/ forbids the religious instruction
Negroes, orally,
or on the Sabbath day
week
Gospel, or
any owner, may
and prosecute
We
it
of the
proper instructers, either during the
\,y
;
and any minister of the
undertake the good work,
as largely and as long as he pleases.
are prepared
now
to take
up
obligation of the
the.
church of Christ in the slave-holding States to impart the Gospel of Salvation to the Negroes within those States.
That obligation
1.
is
imposed upon us
in the first
instance hy the providence oj God.
This follows undeniably from
all
our previous state-
ments, in the history of their religious instruction, and of their moral
in the sketch
But
may
it
this head.
and
be of some service It
religious
condition.
be particular under
to
was by the permission of Almighty God, providence over the affdirs of men,
in his inscrutable
that the to these
Negroes were taken from Africa and transported Tiie inhabitants of the Colonies at
shores.
their first introduction
mous to
traffic,
it.
The
had nothing
to
do with the infa-
and were, we may say, universally opposed
iniquity of the traffic
and of
their first intro-
duclicm, rests upon the Mother Country. Being brought here they were brought as slaves; in the providence of God we were constituted masters;
superiors; and
constituted
their
And
guardians.
all
the laws in relation to them, civilly, socially, and relig-
iously considered, were framed
by ourselves.
They
thus were placed under our control, and not exclusively for our benefit but for theirs also.
We
could not overlook the fact that they were
holding the same
relations to
God
as ourselves
men
;
— whose
religious interests were certainly their highest and hesU
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
160
and that our first and fundamental
ditty
was
to provide
to the extent of our ability, for the perpetual security of those interests^ Our relations to them and their relations
to us, continue the
providence of
God
same still
to the
present hour, and the
binds upon us the great duty of
imparting to them the Gospel of eternal life. 3. The obligation is imposed upoa u& by the word of
God.
As already evinced from general; principles and commands the sum of all is, that the Gospel is the gift of ;
men, and those who possess it are bound to bestow it upon those who do not. A few passages of a general character may be advanced, bearing strongly on the point in hand. * Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to
God
to
every creature." Our Lord
in this
command
recognizes
men, not as of a particular nation or color, but collectively, as the intelligent and accountable creatures of God. " God hath made of one blood all the nations of it is therefore necessary that the Gospel be men." preached
to the
Negroes as well
as to the other varieties
of the race, and seeing that they have not put it from them, nor judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life,
we
cannot,
we
dare not, neglect them and turn to
others. *'
who
Though
And They men; and
shalt love thy neighboj: as thyself."
are our neighbors
if
the
Negroes
c^re
not?
members of the same great family of members of our own communities and parts of our very households and spend their days in our service. If we
are
;
see them stripped of necessary religious privileges, and lying in their depravity, helpless, and exposed to eternal death, shall
we be neighbors unto them
if
we look upon
OBLIGATIONS OP THE CKURCHi
Wlx
them and see their misery and pass by without affording: them what relief may be in our power? "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them." Were we in the condition of the Negro and he in our own able to read ;
and us, if
to
appreciate the
word of God, and
would we not think
it
to impart
his duty to do it?
Yes.
he neglected that duty we should consider him
cient both in
humanity and
it
to.
And defi-
religion.
But we advance a step further. The word of God necognizcs the relation of masiter and servant, and addresses express commands to us as masters. In the constitution of his visible church, on. earth
Almighty God included the servants of families ; commanded the sign of his everlasting and gracious covenant to be made in their flesh, and thereby secured to them, as well as
knowledge of
to
children the privileges and blessings
He
of the same.
his
would have them, trained up in the most holy name and for his service
nor must they be neglected, nor excluded. Gen. 17: 12-13. " And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child tions,
he that
is
of any stranger, which
is
command
show
is
in
your genera-
born in the house or bought with money
repeated, to
not of thy seed
;
poor, and that his covenant embraces them. is
" and the
his tender regard for the
born in thy house and he that
is
money must needs be circumcised
;
"He
that
bought with thy and my covenant
be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant." In obedience to this command Abraham " in the self-same shall
day circumcised
his son Ishmael and
all
that
were born
in his house, and all that were bought with his money.''* V. 23.
He 14*
apprehended the
will of
God
as expressed
t^ ill
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
the covenant, and received the divine approbation
"for
I
know him
that
he will
command
his children
:•
and
and thoy shall keep the way of Lord to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."
his household after him, tlie
Ge7i. 18:
The the
19.
rest of the Sabbatli
Decalogue
:.
"
in
it
was secured
to servants in
thou shalt not do any work, thou
nor thy sun, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant nor thy
maidservant^
— Exod. 20
vals were opened
they were
to rejoice
:
8-
The sacred festi-
1 1.
them, and along with their masters
to
before the Lord
:
they were also to
present sacrifices and offerings to the Lord, in the
appointed place and eat of them "before the Lord," " Thou mayest not eat, within thy with their masters. gates, the oil,
tithe of thy
corn, or of thy wine, or of thy
or the firstlings of thy herds, or of thy flocks, nor
any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy free will offerings, or heave offering of thine hand but thou :
must eat them before the Lord,
Lord thy God
in the
shall choose, thou
place which the
and thy son and thy
daughter, and thy man-servant and thy raaid-scrvant^^*
— Dcut.
12:
17,
feast of weeks:
Lord thy God,
18.
"And
and thou
Thus
in the
shalt
keep the before
the
thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and
thy man-servant, and thy " the feast of tabernacles.''
Sanctuary and
thou
shalt rejoice
7n
aid-servant.^^
— Dent. 16
:
So
also
1-16.
Old Testament, the law of God, and the all its
privileges,
were opened
to servants
and secured to them by the declared will of God: and it
was
after to
the duty of masters to
command
them, that they should keep the
their households
way
of the Lord
do justice and judgment: otherwise the Lord would
not bring upoa them the promised blessings.
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHURCH.
The New Testament
is, if
possible
more
163 explicit.
In several epistles, the relation of master and servant is
recognized, and the mutual duties of each arising out
of that relation mutually insisted upon. servants are addressed as belonging
and heirs of the same grace of Eph. Col.
What
to the
life
:
1
kind of servants are intended
Masters and
same churches
Tim. 6
i*
;
1
—
5.
Slaves: the
original teaches us so, while the very duties enjoined
upon servants and the obseivations made upon dition, (1 Cor.
were isted
7:
20—
literally Slaves.
among
the
their con-
12,)
confirms the fact that they
And
the kind of slavery that ex-
Jews was
that allowed in the
Old Testa-
ment which may be considered identical with that which prevails amongst us at the present time and no one will deny that the slavery which existed among the Greeks and Romans and Gentile nations, was identical with our own. All authentic history, and the codification of the Roman laws made in the reign of Justinian^ prove it. The slaves were more heterogenous in their national origin, than ours. Among them however existed Negroes : and in no small numbers. Indeed a traffic in Negro slaves had been carried on for centuries before ;
;
Isabella gave permission for their transportation to these
western shores
;
and they were sold and scattered overall
the east.
When mands
to
We are
New
therefore the
Masters,
we
Testament addresses com-
are the identical persons intended.
Masters in the
New
Testament
sense.
We
are
addressed as directly and as identically, as when we are Fathers, and it is said " Fathers pi ovoke not your children to wrath.
^'
And what are
these
commands?
"
And ye
Masters^.
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
164
do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening; knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is :
Ejph. 6
there respect of persons with him."
As servants are exhorted to masters, "as the servants of God from the heart " having :
God
bility to
:
9.
their duties to their
fulfil
Christ, doing the will of
respect to their accounta-
so also masters are exhorted to do the
;
same things, to fulfil their duties the same principle of obedience
from
to their servants,
God and
to
respect to
future accountability.
"Masters give unto your servants that which is just knowing that ye also have a Master in Hea-
and equal ven."
:
CoZ. 4:
Masters are here required
1.
to treat
their servants justly and equitably, in respect, of course, to all their interests, both for time
and eternity
God for the same. God put his finger upon
;
for they
shall account to
Thus doth
us as Masters.
He
holds up before our faces our servants and our duties to
them.
He commands
us to
those duties under the
fulfil
He
pain of his displeasure.
tells
us that in the perfor-
mance of duty he does not respect us more than he
res-
pects them.
Can any one doubt is
that
among
the duties of Masters,
that of imparting, and causing to be imparted to
the Gospel of Salvation their servants that
ent
life
them
Supposing Masters gave unto
which was just and equal for this presmore:, would that come up to
— and gave no
the spirit and
and equal
power of
the
way
Would
command ?
for masters to suflfer
rance of the lost?
?
them
to
remain
it
be just
in igno-
of salvation, to die and be eternally Says Job. " If I did despise the
Surely not.
cause of
my
man-servant or of
they contended with
my
me: what
maid-servant,
shall I
when
do when God
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHURCH.
And when he
Hseth up?
him ?
And
Did not he
that
visiteth
made me
what
in the
did not one fashion us in the
165
shall I
answer
womb, make him ?
womb? " If we nemay justly have a
glect to evangelize our servants, they
controversy with us cause, in the day
and
;
if
we continue
when God
riseth
we shall be speechless. Thus by the providence and word
to despise their
up
for
of
God
judgement^ are
we un-
der obligations to impart the Gospel to our servants.
may be
It
gation thus
added, that
we cannot
divinely imposed,
disregard this obli-
without forfeiting our
humanity, our gratitude, our consistency, and our claim to the spirit of Christianity itself.
Qur Humanity. Humanity is that kindness and good
towards our
will
fellow creatures which prompts us to sympathize with
them
in their necessities
and sufferings, and
to exert our-
selves for their relief.
The Lord man and
Jesus has furnished us with the most beauillustrations of this virtue. "What
and striking
tiful
shall there be if it fall into
among you,
that shall
have one sheep,
a pit: will he not lay hold on
it and " Doth not each one of you, loose his ox or his ass from the stall and lead him a\yay to watering?'
lift it
out
?
"
And ought
not this woman being a daughter of Abraham, Satan hath bound, lo these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond ? " Matt. 12: 10—13 Luke *' 13,: 14 16, 14; 2 6. Apply the reasoning How
whom
—
—
much
then
is
a
man
better than a sheep
:
or an
ox?"
When
our servants are sick and diseased, we do not suffer them to want we physic and nurse them. But are ;
not their souls more precious than their bodiesl Much more then should we lift ourservants from the pit of igno-
1
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
66
ranee, moral pollution and death into which they have
Much more should we strive to loose them many years ) from the bonds of sin and (bound
fallen.
for so
satan and lead
of
!
away
the water
their famishing souls to
life.
Our
in infancy, contribute
pleasures and pastimes in youth
with
us
They nurse us
Gratitude.
to our
the
means
our wealth, and
yield us
niences of
they
life
;
all
may
and furnish constitute
the comforts and conve-
in a
degree adopt towards
Laban, "thus
I was: in consumed me, and the frost by night sleep departed from mine eyes " they watch
language of Jacob
us, the
;
They
education.
of
to
the day the drought
and
my
:
around our languishing beds in sickness; share in our prepare us for misfortunes, weep over us when we die ;
the burial and carry us to the house appointed for
all
the
living.
The
obligations, the sacrifice and service are not to be
on one
all
side, in the relation of
we have been made partakers o( duty
is
"
the
put
them
If
carnal things, our
in
spiritual things,
we consider The kindest and most grateful return which we can make them, is to them in possession of the lichest gift of God to men,
Rum. it
also to minister unto
master and servant. iheir
a
15: 27.
1
Cor. 9
great thing " to
:
And
11.
fulfil this
shall
duty?
the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Clirist. If
we
neglect to do
this,
we
shall forfeit also
our con-
sistency.
Consistency
is
the correspondence of our conduct or
practice WMih our professed
And As
it is
principles.
Ezra
8: 22.
an exceedingly rare virtue.
philanthropists and christians,
of our substance; and
offering
we
are contributing
up our prayers, that
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHUIiClJ.
167
kingdom may come, and
Cllrist's
that his Gospel may every people under heaven. have indeed assisted in sending missionaries to the heathen, thousands of miles from us and to multitudes of destitute while settlements in our own country; in founding
be preached
We
to
;
Theological Seminaries and that the
demand
be supplied.
preached
in
filling
them with
for laborers in the great
We
have assisted
our public prisons;
in
students,
harvest mi^ht
having the gospel harbors of our
in the
sea-port cities, and along the lines of our canals and the shores of our lakes and rivers, to those who do business
on the great waters.
We
have assisted in gathering the of parents of every condition into Sabbath Schools; and in efforts to stay the swellings of the fiery waves of intemperance. have been printing Bibles and tracts and religious works, with which to supply children
We
every family and every individual in our land, and also meet the urgent demands for the same from other
to
lands. This is all as it should be. But what have we done publicly, systematically and perseveringly for the
Negroes,
order that they also might enjoy the gospel Why are they as a class overlooked by us in our benevolent regards and efforts? What blindness hath happened to us in part, that we cannot see their in
of Christ?
spiritual necessities and feel the claims which they undeniably have upon us ? Our Lord in view of our works, will say to us, " these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone."
We
cannot cry out against the Papists for withholding the Scriptures from the common people and keeping
them tency
in is
ignorance of the
way of life, for our inconsis*^ we withhold the Bible from
as great as theirs, if
our servants, and keep them in ignorance of
its
saving
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
S68
which we certainly do while we will not provide ways and means of having it read and explained to
truths,
them.
The
celebrated John Randolph, on a visit to a female
friend,
found her surrounded with her seamstresses,
making up a quantity of clothing. *' What work have you in hand ? " *' O sir, I am preparing this clothing to send to the poor Greeks.^* of the mansion, he saw
On
taking leave at the steps
some of her servants
in
need of
the very clothing which their tender-hearted mistress was sending abroad. He exclaimed, " Madam, madam* the
Greeks are
If
we
at
your door ! "
neglect to impart the Gospel to the Negroes*
our inconsistency will be most glaring and shameful. And furthermore, we shall forfeit our claim to the spirit of Christianity itself.
The remarks under
the head of consistency evidenced
but nevertheless
this position,
will allow of a distinct
it
consideration.
This
God
"Thou
spirit is love.
with
thy strength of God.
all
shalt love the
that loveth
this
is
Love
all
is
God is God tow-
born of God, for
was manifested the love of
God sent his only begotten Son 1 we might live through him,"
ards us, because that into the world, that
Lord thy
thy mind, and with
and thy neighbor as thyself."
;
"He "In
love."
thy heart, with
all
—
7-11. His love has respect to the immortal For this our souls of men their everlasting salvation. Lord Jesus Christ came into the world and labored,
John 4
:
;
suffered and died
on the cross.
The
sa?ne spirit
is
wrought in the hearts of all v/ho are truly his disciples. Their chief joy is the glory of God in the salvation of men ; the increase of the church upon the earth. The
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHURCH.
169
cherished and ever-living desire of their soul
may
be converted
to
To
God.
effect
they willingly labor and submit to
need be, unto death.
This
men
conversion
sacrifices,
even, if
which burns and unquenchable invinci-
the spirit
is
word of God
that
is
this
—
glows in
all
ble in
progress, because originated and sustained
its
the
power of
the grace and
"
am
I
me
I
is,
and
am ready
Rome
that are at
it
I
am
the
is
lie not,
my
;
;
sorrow of heart.
first
me
witness in the
have great heaviness and continual For I could wish that myself were
my brethren, my kinsmen accorU-I6,and9: 1-3. "For
ding to the flesh."— i2om.
1
:
the love of Christ constiaineth us because that if one died for all
Jew
to the
that I
accursed from Christ for
for
you
power of God unto
conscience also bearing
Holy Ghost
to
" I say the truth in Christ, I
the Greek."
to
much
So, as
not ashamed of the
salvation, to every one that believeth
and also
Barba-
to the
preach the Gospel
For
for
;
Greeks and
to the unwise.
to
also.
Gospel of Christ
by
the Almighty.
a debtor both to the
rians, both to the wise
as in
;
that they
all,
which
then were live,
all
dead
we :
thus judge
and he died
should not henceforth live
unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." 2 Cor. 5: 14-15. "I will very gladly
—
—
spend and be spent for you (for your souls,") 12: 15. *'Yea, and if I be offered (i. e. my strength and life offered up,) I
upon the
sacrifice
joy and rejoice with you
Where
It
15
faith,
of Christianity
itself.
has lost his savor; wherewith shall it be is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be
salt
salted?
— Phil. 2:17.
then this spirit is wanting, there is wanting
the very spirit
"The
and service of your
all."
1
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
70
cast out, and
—
men!"
be trodden under foot of
to
Mat. 5: 13-16.
The
we
idea that
perfection, while
its
possess the spirit of Chiistianity in we constantly and directly neglect
the evangelization of the Negroes, when it lies within our power, is preposterous in the extreme. We are neither " the light of the world " nor " the salt of the earth." ;
Let us recur
Reverse the order of Providence.
Were we
the illustration already adduced. dition of the Negro,
and he
our condition, able to
in
read and to appreciate the Gospel
quainted with
it
a partaker of
:
its
:
which he was well able
to
experimentally ac-
privileges and of
hopes; would we consider
eternal
to
in the con-
it
his duty, (a
make
perform,) to
its
duty
us parta-
kers with himself in the Gospel: that Gospel to which
we have a right as the gift of God to we could claim at his hands as the almoner of God's mercy every thing
to
us
:
men; and which
all
divinely appointed
Gospel which
that
is
and which alone could our humble lot? Certainly we
to perishing sinners
yield us happiness in
Suppose he would or he did not? Could we felt all the amazing and soul-
should.
believe that he sincerely stirring truths
which the Gospel contains?
Could we
believe that he possessed the spirit of the Gospel
no
we could "There is !
there
is
that scattereth
that withholdeth
and yet increaseth
more than
is
meet, and
eth to poverty.
The
he that walereth
shall be watered also himself.
liberal soul shall
be made
withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him sing shall be upon the head of
Prov. 11: 24-26. spirit
No,
?
not
of Christ, he
"Now is
if
him
;
it
and
;
tend-
fat,
and
He
that
but bles-
that selleth it."
—
any man have not the
none of his."
— Rom,
8:
9.
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHURCH.
171
"Whoso halh this world's goods and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, Jiow dwelleth the love of God in him? " I
—
John 3: 16-20.
With more tremendous emphasis let be asked " Whoso hath the word of eternal life and
it
seeth his brother have need, and shutteh up his bowels
of compassion from him,
him?
in
Let
who without
this
how
dwelleth the love of
question be answered to that
God God
respect of persons judgeth according
to>
every man's work
Such are
the considerations which we must address to who reside in the Southern States, in order we may be awakened to the great duty of imparting
ourselves, that
the Gospel to the Negroes.
We
2.
And
now
turn to the
Negroes in the free
States.
our remaks on the duty of affording them the
Gospel, need not be protracted after what has been said. It is the
duty of the white churches in the free States
to afford the Gospel to the Negroes, for the following plain reasons
They **
the
to
among
Because of
1.
are, as a
others.
ihv'ir
general poverty. a poor people; among,
class,
poor of the land."
And consequently
give suitable encouragement
religion
;
to
the
if not,
are not able
institutions of
not able to build churches, support ministers,
or buy books and maintain Sabbath schools. The means must come from purses other than their own. Such has been the fact in the majority of instances where the
Gospel has received an adequate support among More than the majority have little or nothing to
them. give life.
;
they barely make out
to obtain the necessaries
of
1
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
72
Because of their moral degradation.
2.
This has been statements already
The They are
measure demonstiated.
in a
made need
not be repeated.
a proper field for missionary effort
;
and have been
great extent, veiy strangely overlooked.
of ignorance and vice can in no
way be
community, whether we view them
Such
a
to a
mass
desirable in
any
in a civil or religious
in cities, where they been inquired into, nor duly
Their corrupting influence
light.
chiefly congregate, has never
appreciated. 3.
Because of
their entire
dependence vpon the whites
for their every im.provement. They have almost no spirit of moral improvement
among themselves;
not to be expected from them
it is
considering their character and circumstances.
have no
who
men of influence, no
are able to
sway
leaders of their
the people
to project
;
own
They color,
and execute
plans for their general religious improvement.
Nor
have they societies of their own
The
truth
is,
for the
purpose.
they do not look to themselves
They
depend upon themselves.
they do not
;
look up to and depend
upon the whites. The feeling of subjection and dependence which they had in a state of slavery, is hereditary and is kept alive by the frequent accession of Negroes, escaped from servitude or riority of the
set free.
Then the
vast supe-
whites in point of numbers, intelligence,
morality, and station, cherish
Hence
it.
the efforts of
the whites for their benefit are received with special
favor and relied upon.
They have
At
of late years
least
it
was so
been taught
in times past. to
distinguish
between friendly and hostile whites; and they have been inflated with high notions of their perfect equality with the whites in wisdom, standing, rights, and impor-
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHURCH.
The
tance.
effect
has been, and
extraordinary, that they have
some of do them the good
high-minded to
;
disguted, have
ceased
Whether they
will
it
should not be deemed
become
to
ratlier
they wished feel
heady and
have not been able
their friends
that
173
and
to
and others
;
for them.
act
be ultimately benefitted by
this
increase of knowledge and sense of importance, remains
be seen.
to
4.
Because of consistency.
The
efforts for the
moral and religious improvcmen
of the Negroes in the free States, do not correspond
with the profession of interest in them, as a class of people.
"With some, the bestowment of freedom all
duty.
And freedom
is
is
the
sum of
the grand catholicon for
all
the evils which harrass and oppress the colored man. It
has not proved exactly so, in the free Stales.
are districts in
Rhode
Island, in
New
Jersey,
There
New York,
and Delaware, once peopled with Negroes. They were emancipated on the soil, and now there is scarcely one to be seen. They have been scattered and driven off, and have melted away before the whites. Their few descendants are "making out to live" in
country situations, here and there.
At
cities,
and
the present
in
day
the Negroes are not reached as a class by education and religion.
They
confessed on
and
thrift in
all
are
not a desirable population
— so
hands; and their intelligence, morality
the free States, give but poor encourage-
ment to the doctrine of emancipation in those parts of the Union where they are held to service. The overwhelming majority in the free States are
They possess all the intelligence, wealth, and power; and move on without disturbance from the few
whites.
15*
174
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
The weight
Negroes among them. the wheels of society
be the
is
scarcely
state of things if the
of the Negroes upon
felt.
But what would
whites were in the minority
and they the majority ? I shall not undertake to furnish an answer to the question which every man of ordinary consideration can do for himself the
put to him.
The
moment
after
it is
great duty of the churches and friends
of the Negroes in the free States,
is to
attempt,
more
systematically and efficiently, their moral and religious
improvement.
OBLIGATIONS OP THE CHURCH.
CHAPTER
175
li.
EXCUSES. I shall proceed to
immediately
to the
upon
the
excuses in relation
now proved
a discharge of the obligations
church of Christ in the United
to rest
States,
to
attempt the improvement of the moral and religious condition of the Negroes, usually advanced in the slave*
In giving them a candid consideration
holding States. those
made
in the free States
may
in a
measure be
anti-
cipated.
The Negroes have They have access
the
Gospel already.
to the churches
and hear the same preaching
on the Sabbath,
that their masters
do
;
they
are favored frequently with services from the ministers,
expressly for their instruction
;
they are received into,
and are under the watch and discipline of the white churches; there are some Sabbath schools for them;
they have plantation prayers, and numerous preachers
own
and exhorters of
their
are able to read
nor do they
;
color,
and some of them
know any
other religion
but the Christian religion. It is true
they have access to the house of
Sabbath; but
it is
also true that
God on
even where the
the
privi-
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
176 lege
within their reach, a minority only, (and frequently
is
There are multitudes of it. South and Southwest, in which the churches cannot contain one-tenth of the Negro populabesides others in M'hich there are no churches at tion a very small one) embrace the
in
districts
;
must be remembered also that in many of those is preaching only once a fortnight, or
It
all.
churches there
once a month, and then perhaps only one sermon. To say that they fare as well as their masters does not settle
numbers of masters have very few
the point; for great
or no religious privileges at
The
well, and
is
Negroes is But the number who do this
a great benefit.
smaller than
is far
all.
direct preaching of ministers to the
to the whites
The ordinary preaching
should be.
it
makes
litlle
impression upon the blacks,
being above their comprehension and not made applica-
Hence
ble to them. staring, their
What
is
gence;
their stupid looks, their indifferent
profound sleeps, and their
thin attendance.
there to light up the countenance with intelliattention;
rivet
to
to banish
drowsiness,
so
common to laboring men and men unaccustomed to think when sitting still what is there to attract them to the house of God? Nothing but sound and show. Solid ;
instruction,
men
to the
pungent appeals to the conscience, will bring house of God and retain them in attendance
there, and nothing else will.
thus adapted to the Negroes,
mons
to the
whites
;
But divine truth
by
upon
examknowledge
careful
ination, are found to be sadly deficient in a
we
not
and those Negroes who enjoy such
a dispensation of the Gospel as this,
of religion, and
is
ministers, in their ser-
are surprised to find Christianity in
absolute conjunction with a people and yet conferiing
upon them so few
benefits.
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHURCH.
The
177
general preaching to the whites will not answer
the purpose.
The Negroes
adapted to them.
It is true
require preaching specially
they are received into, and
are under the watch and care
of,
white churches
;
but
that fact does not prove that they are properly enlight-
ened, and are continued under courses of instruction, so that
they go on
unto
perfection.
instances the very reverse superstition,
piety
In hundreds of
the fact; their ignorance,
and deception are complained of. Their and the numerous and per-
taken upon trust
is
is
;
plexing cases of discipline for gross immoralities
suffi-
ciently prove that the complaints uttered against
them
A man
must not stand on the outside of a church and judge of the church character and standing of these people, he must go within.
are w^ell founded.
The Sabbath
schools for their exclusive benefit, taking
the entire population, need scarcely be named.
Their
plantation meetings serve to keep ahve religion
among
them, but contribute ligence
;
little to
the increase of their intel-
while there are hundreds of plantations where
there are no such meetings at
all,
there being few or no
church members to conduct them.
We have colored ministers and exhorters, but their numbers are wholly inadequate to the supply of the Negroes; and while their ministrations are infrequent and conducted in great weakness, there are some of them whose moral character is justly suspected and who may be
considered blind leaders of the blind.
It is true
there are no forms of idolatry
prevalent
among them, nor have the cofrvptions of Christianity made progress among them, the field being too low and poor
to enlist the
sympathies of the leadeis and advo-
cates of such corruption, except the
Papists,
who
in
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
178
some of our
chief towns have proselyted
some of them
yet Christianity, as understood and professed by them,
;
is,
as I have ah'eady attempted to show, exceedingly imperfect, and
needing great improvement.
The Negroes are incapable of
rectiving" religious
instruction, except to a very limited extent.
From is
the
neglected,
manner in which their religious instruction, it would appear that their incapacity is
taken for granted.
Appealing
in their instruction,
we should judge
a mistake. tion,
They
to our
own experience
the objection to be
are capable, even under oral instruc-
in any high degree of perfecmaking very considerable advances in religious
and that not enjoyed
tion, of
knowledge.
But
they are capable of receiving instruction
if
cient to
make
plain to
them the way of
their capacities should
In
extent.
them, for is
all
it is
reason
be
filled
to
overflowing, to that
and conscience deny
their everlasting
suffi-
salvation, then
it
The mind
life.
not to
of
man
created so as to admit of eternal expansion and pro-
gression in knowledge and holiness.
which
is
done
for
unto perfection
them
in
The good work
time will be carried forward
in eternity.
But to pursue the excuse a step further. It is customary with many to entertain low opinions of the Whether tl»is be intellectual capacity of the Negroes. right or
wrong we
leave every
man
to
judge for himself
due investigation of the subject and to judge, likewise, whether their mental weakness is to be attribafter a
;
uted to the circumstances of their condition, or to any difference as made by the Author of their existence between them and other men. If God has made such a difference, it cannot be proved to be any impeachment
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHURCH. of
either
wisdom, goodness, or
liis
179
justice.
Such
a
difference exists between individuals without any such
impeachment, and may races of mankind.
certainly
is
to
comprehend the
stupid to anity
exist in like man-ner
But
between the
suppose the Negroes too
essentia!
to disregard
doctrines of Christi-
the testimony of God's
word, the witness of his Spirit, the evidence of
What blood
all
the Scripture?
saith
nations of
earth;" and again,
men
"He
that dwell
"God
hath
on
all
facts.
made of one
the face of the
no respecter of persons every nation he that feareth him and worketh is
;
but in
righteousness
is
accepted with him."
What then can be plainer common origin, and that
— Acts 10: 34,35.
than that all
all
men have one
are capable of exercising
proper affections towards God; and this necessarily imof understanding the divine law. If it
plies a capahilitij
be allowed that the Negroes are men, then these things are true in regard to them, and thus by the word of God does
it
Gospel.
appear that they are capable of understanding the And does not the Spirit of God bear witness to
Are there not great numbers who have been enlightened, regenerated, and sanctified by him? Their ignorance of divine subjects is owing to their want of proper instruction, and not at all to any defect of mental constitution. their capacity?
The Gospel Grant the
tneefs
with
fact to be so
little
success
among
them.
from the view which has been taken of the limited instruction of the Negroes and their extremely ignorant and vicious condition, and the feeble ;
encouragement which many receive in their efforts to lead a religious life, our wonder more naturally might be, not that the Gospel meets with but that
it
little
meets with any success at
success all.
among them
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
180
The excuse
indicates a want of patience
feeling and consideration.
and proper
Negroes
in a state
of
ignorance and vice are not made intelligent and pious
in
a
If the
few days, we are ready to cry out that labor
vain
is
;
We
the field nnust be abandoned as an unprofitable one.
act unreasonably and uncharitably. We expect more of them than of ourselves or any other people. They lolio would evangelize servants must ''let Patience have her
perfect work.'' It certainly
of the
That
little
little
efforts
comes with
a very
ill
grace from us to speak
success of the Gospel amongst the Negroes.
success
is
our condemnation; for what great
have we made that we should expect great success,
W^here we bestow
little
labor,
we must expect but
in the
judgment of
little
reward.
But
I
apprehend that
charity, con-
sidering the circumstances of the Negroes, the Gospel,
when adequately preached to them, meets with as good among any other people to whom it may come. Why should it not ? Can it be shown that they
success as
are given over to judicial
ness of heart in
them
is
Can
?
more
it
blindness of mind
and
hard-
be shown that a work of grace
difficult to the
Omnipotent
Spirit, than
in another people?
Gospel
If the
should
operate
more vigorous
has met as
with
any
efforts.
Putting that success
point the salvation of but one soul,
For were
it
now
success at all,
an encouragement to
it is
it
us, to
make
at the
lowest
certainly great.
revealed to us that the most extensive
system of instruction which we could devise, requiring a vast
would
amount of labor and protracted through result in the tender
mercy of our God
vation of the soul of one poor African,
in
ages,
the sal-
we should
feel
OBLIGATIONS OP THE CHURCH.
181
warranted in cheerfully entering ui)on our work, with and sacrifices ; for our reward would exceed
all its costs
our toU and cafe above the computation of any mind.
all
finite
But
to set aside the
excuse
at once, if the Gospel met would be no reason why we should withhold it from the Negroes. For if we certainly determine (as we have already done,) that it is
with no success at
all, that
our duty to give them the Gospel,
do
The
it.
are
we
success of our
we
as certainly should
hclovgs
efforts
a blessing, to any particular time.
we
in faith, and r3ap
we
if
\\q shiill
Thus aciing, their blood will not our hands; we have delivered our souls.
And
it
becomes us
manifestly been speaking to us
has called
them
nor
are to labor
"In due time
are to labor on,
;
the view which every Christian should take of
is
the subject.
He
We
God
withholding
faint not."
be required at
This
to
to limit his sovreignfy in granting or
to
in
observe that
God has
favor of our servants.
many of ihem into his kingdom and made we do know. We have not as yet voice. It is time that we should. He
rich in faith, as
listened to his tells us that
salvation.
God's voice
We
he
is
Shall
willing to bless the Gospel to their
we
neglect them?
Shall
we
despise
?
have not the means of supplying them with the
Gospel.
The
whites themselves are destitute;
and when ministers may be
we cannot obtain own destiobtained, we are
times able to support them.
Servants cannot
ministers in sufficient tutions;
not at
expect
all
to fare better
numbers
to
supply our
than their masters.
Great numbers must necessarily coutinue destitute of the Gospel. IG
182
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
There
Our
is
much
truth,
and painful truth,
destitutions are very great!
*•
The
in the excuse.
harvest truly
is
plenteous, but the laborers are few;" and few, indeed, in compnrison with our wants, seem to be coming forward.
But
excuse cannot be admitted as valid, where suit-
tlie
able ffforts have not been
made to procure a minister Bnd suitable cnmpcnsation offered for his services, when such comj)ensation can be jifforded by those who call for There is criminal neglect in both particu* many neiorhborhoods and even organized churches.
his services. Jars in
There
is
too an error in the excuse, that of sfpcrating
the spirituni
and he
wants of
owners from those of
tlie
that ministers to one, should to the other.
loaf should be divided, yea, 'J'here are multitudes of left
their
They form one community, one household,
servants.
if
it
be but half
Negroes
in certain
wholly destitute of religious instruction
are their owners?
In
some
city, or
retreat, enjoying the privileges of the
families and a sn)all
at
The
n loaf,
:
locations
and where
some healthy
Gospel with their
number of their servants, while the who supply all their wealth and
great body of them,
comfort, are ated, nor
instruci(m
at a
!
distance, and not one dollar
made to procure Yea, some estates are in
one
effort
their this
approprireligious
condition,
whose income would warrant the employment of lain or missionary ti)e year
round
!
Is this
a
chap-
rendering to
mas \h:A *' which is Just and equal?" Our moans more abundant and may be more enlarged and mullipiied than we are aware of. An enumeration of them Ber\-
are
1
omit
for the present.
Thrre are peculiar and great in
Such some
for exan»j)le as
the
difficulties to be overcome.
ignorance, indifference, and
instances, the opposition
of masters; and the
OBLIGATIONS OP THE CWuKCH. want of funds
— of missionaries — of Negroes — of systems
ministers willing
to labor for the
and
the stupidity,
183
and
viciousness,
of instruclion;
hypocrisy of the
people themselves; confinement to oral instruclion; the
We
unhealihiness of the climate, and so forth
ask, will
these and other difficulties that might he mentioned be
removed by being
let
Are there means n'^w
alone?
operation for their removal?
in
Will they ever be fewer in
number than they are at the present time? There are difficulties in ev(;ry enterprise of benevoand if we wait in our efforts to do good until lence ;
men
cease to multiply excuses and objections, and until are removed,
all difficulties
Times have suddenly and if
we
shall
never commence.
strangely altered in the world
Christians can do good and perform their duty, without
encountering much that of their purposes.
we cower and
We
By no means.
difficulties?
patiently, kindly, perseveringly
God,
He
calls
his strength
we
Remember
Gfxl
;
retire
casting
great.
care upon
o«ir
The work
Do difficulties present
labor.
before
are to encounter theni
us to the duty.
is
and tirnuiess
will try the purity
Shall
In
is his.
themselves?
Difficulties
appear large in
more
resolute our ad-
the distance, but the nearer and
vance the smaller they beconie,
until
when
in
the strength
of the Lord we encounter them they vanish out of sight. "^wi
of whose creation are these difficulties? In them' we meet with no difficulties but such as arise
selves,
from the natural enmity of the heart difficuties lie
mainly
that they should be
at
our
made
own
to the truth.
door, and
it
is
The unjust
the innocent sufferers.
Before this head of excuses
is closed there are a few Bometimes urged by owners and ministers, which may
better be disposed of in this place than in any other.
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCnOX OF THE NEGROE3.
184 I
am
am
but no Christian, and
a master,
therefore
excused from the duty.
Not
of being no Christian excuses
If the fact
at all.
you from obedience
to the divine
to your servants thai which
you
bii
command
just
is
of rendering
and equal, then may
excused from obedience to every other divine
command
addressed to you
and relations
your various circumstances
in
The commands
in life.
of
God
in
themselves
man
considered, are no more obligatory upon the is
man
a Christian, than upon the
that
that is not a Christian.
If you have not the necessary
character and qualifica-
tions of a religious friend and
teacher of your servants
because yon have *'
failed to
repentance towards
Christ,"
You
greater
the
secure them, through grace, by
God and
faith
your sin
is
in
condemnation.
not only have the punishment of your
lency to bear, but
all
the consequences of
around you, especially
as
it
A
The
situation truly.
Pursue
it
excuse
will
You
a little further.
feel
not it
own it
you
disqualifies
per discharge of your duties to them.
Lord Jesus
the
and
inipeni-
upon those for a
pro-
most distressing bear
to be
the
light.
your duty to
afford religious instruction to your childrm,
and
to sup-
port the institutions of the Gospel for \\\Gsuke of society As far as you are able you will get others to at large.
do
for
your family and friends and neighbors, what you This is commendable and for them yourself
cannot do just.
Now
Make
efforts to
act in the
same way towards your
i,ervants.
have that religious instruction communi-
cated to them by others which you cannot communicate yourself, and give them every encouragement to attend
upon it and Although
to profit by I
hope
Jied to instruct
my
I
am
it,
in
your power.
a Christian, yet
servants.
1 am not quali^
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHUKCH.
You
185
are not, in giving them saving instruction from
the word of God, either expected or required to give them a theological education or a complete understanding :
of
the whole Bible.
The grand
points of doctrine and of duty; the things essential to be believed and to be done, are what you understand and have experience of,
if
you are
pains you
a
Christian; and
may be
and you
also;
The
you
will
be
for the
in their
at
a
little
others understand them
can give them the reasons
should embrace them,
you and operate
if
make
able to
why they
reasons had weight with
influence upon you continually.
very least expected of
Christian,
a
is
that he read
the scriptures and pray in his family day by day.
If
yon
can do no more, you can assemble your servants and read a porlion of scripture and pray with them, if not every day, then as frequently during the week as your circumstances will admit of.
This religion which allows
a
man
to live in the habit-
ual neglect of the religious instruction of his servants, when he is qualified or mny qualify himself to attend to
however much he may seem to be engaged in his own family or church, admits of the most serious question as
it,
to its reality.
But /
live
awaij
thrice during the
from my people ;
I see
week; sometimes not
them twice or
for a
month, or
months.
The system of non-residence, whether from necessity on account of health; or from choice, to be free from care, or to be in the midst of society for the advantages
of education and religion, cles with
which we have
to
is
one of the greatest obsta-
contend
in
both the physical
and religions improvement of the Negroes. system prevails to a great extent. It is easier 16*
And
the
to see the
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
186
To
than to remedy them.
evils,
only be said,
when you
meet the excuse
interest in their religious slate; speak
subject; notice the
them
at
them on the
to
When you
are
away
at
your ease,
of health and pleasure and privileges, do not forget
full
those
who
by their daily labor enable you to enjoy
blessings, and be at trouble
them the services of some ity
some
the church; meet with
members of
evening prayers.
need
it
are with your people take
to
all
these
procure for
settled minister in their vicin-
Let them have that which
some missionary.
or
and expense
not empoverish you, but enrich them for ever
The management and
instruction
religious
the
will
I
of
servants cannot be united in one person.
How
do you reconcile such an
assertion, in excuse for
neglect of duty, with the holy Scriptures?
ment and the in the
The manage-
religious instruction of servants are united
master by them.
— Gen.
18
:
The
19.
relations
of master and servant are recognized, and the duties of
them enjoined
;
and the duties
7nusf be
wise the scriptures are not fulfilled.
performed, oXher-
How
do you recon-
your assertion, with the experience of some masters 7 There are masters who have succeded in uniting the two cile
and
vitii
advantage every way.
my
my
people
little
good; they are more
disposed to receive instruction
from
strangers than from
myself.
You
reply,
instruction seems to do
This may all be true and true for very good reasons. Your own practice may contradict your precepts. When you call upon them to fulfil their duties they will expect you to set the example by a fulfilment of your own. ;
They can
discern consistency of conduct as well as
other men, and particularly in cases which involve their
own
interest
and happiness.
If you do not labor and be
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHURCH. at
some
sacrifice of time
187
and means to improve their
physical condition by providing more liberally and to the extent of your means for their comfort in good houses,
good clothing and good food your discipline so tice,
;
if
you do not regulate
as to maintain authority without injus-
and secure to every family and every individual just
rights and privileges;
in short, if you fail to impress your people with the belief that you are really their
and desire their best good
friend,
as for the next, it,
for this
world as well
and that you honestly intend
as far as lies
in
to
promote
your power, they cannot, they
They
not value your instructions.
will
view your
as hollow-hearted, pwre/y selfish, intended iox effect.
them
desire
be Christians
to
you may have
that
trouble in their management, your
will
efforts
You less
work more honestly
done, and your pecuniary interest njore prospered. " Thou, therefore, which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?"
own
•*
First cast out the
Or, your manner of
You may them
beam
out of thine
eye."
in
look
at
may be
instruction
them and speak
to
improper.
them, and pray for
your meetings, with harshness and haughtiness.
God resisteth the proud in religion, and so doth man. You may make them feel at an infinite remove from you and that there is no common ground in Christianity, upon which master and servant may happily meet. falling into the other
extreme, you
with undue familiarity
may come
and affectation of
to
Or,
them
regard — — elevating in
simpering,
canting
tones
them
equality
with yourself, not as a Christian,
to an
but as
a
master.
relation towards
and influence.
and expressions
As
a consequence the dignity of your them perishes, and with it your respect
Christianity
is
neither to be professed,
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NEGROES.
188
nor taught, so as to break down the orders in society established in the providence of God, and distinctly recognized by
You may
it.
and perseverance
lack regularity
in
your
instructions.
Instruction to do
much good, should be
occurrence, and persevered to
regular in
its
Learn to be palient, and
in.
moderate your expectations. Again, when I instruct
my
people they prestime upon it;
and if I have occasion to correct one of them immediately religious he absents himself from meeting, and thus ends instruction with him.
Admitting the objection tionably
way of
is,
yet
it
to
be true, as
the discharge of duty;
be encountered and overcome ble.
You
dren after
it
often unques-
presents no bar, but a difficulty, in the a difficulty
in the best
which must
manner
possi-
have to contend with the bad tamper of chilcorrection sometimes, and so will yon with
that of servants.
See
to
it,
first
of
all,
that your
discipline be just, then carry
it
plantntion
into
or family
effect, in all
neces-
sary cases, with all authority, without fear or partiality, and ere long you will be borne out by the consciences
They know, as well as you do, that a who knows his master's duty and will not do it must be made to do it; and that this is the doctrine both
of your people. servant
of religion and
reason.
A
steady, just,
and
efficient
discipline conduces to the happiness of both master servant.
Some
of your people
in the
and
beginning of your
through ignorance and viciousness, may presume upon your instructions; but persevere in them, and in ordmary and necessary discipline, annexing rewards
efforts,
to
good
conduct, and the
result will
be satisfactory.
OBLIGATIONS OP THE CHURCH.
189
There are owners whose experience accords with whal we have now advanced.
A
minister of the Gospel says,
I am
Negroes;
have no turn for
A
I cannot preach
make
not able to
to the
mi/ self understood ;
I
if.
sad confession, and an excuse never to be admitted.
Your Divine Master^ " preached the Gospel to the poor." 31aft. 11:5. He was not above noticing poor ser-
—
and
vants,
His
spirit
them
visiting
performing miracles
— 31aff.8:
was poured out upon them
others, and they
as
5-13. upon
well as
were called into the glorious
made "the Lord's freemen."
the Gospel and
even
sickness, and
in their
for their healing.
liberty of
—
Cor.
1
Wis Apostles were "forward to remember the
7: 22.
poor:"
spiritually
They preached
and temj>orally.
the
Gospel to servants, and many were born into the kingdom of
God through
their
They baptized
instrumentality.
and received them into the churches along with their masters, and addressed to
the churches.
commands
— £/;A.G:
them
to
5, Co/.
3
:
in their letters
Yea, the
22.
great Apostle to the Gentiles, receives as a son the ruri' ae^Trty,
Onesimus, " l)egotten
in
bonds," and kindly
his
writes his master Philemon, a letter of intercession, and
sends him back with
The
Apostles
make
it.
it
— Epistle
to
Philemon.
the duty of Mc/r successors in the
ministry to give religious instruction to servants, and to inculcate upon
them thedutiesof their
station.
—
1
Tim.
6: 1-5, "let as many servants as are under the yoke
count their masters worthy of things teach and exhort."
And
all
honor,"
—
'*
again in Titus 2:
These 9-10.
Surely with these examples and precepts before him, that •*
workman
" " needcth to he ashamed,"
who surrounded
with servants in perishing need of the Gospel, cannot
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE NECR0E3.
193
them the word of
He
truth."
**
rightly divide to
^^
study to show himself approved unto God,"
Woe
department of his labor.
should this
in
to him, if he fails to
do
worth of the
so through sloth, or indifference to the
through pride, feeling that one of his cullivalion
soul, or
and improvement would injure his style of compovsition anr
peared an
to nil
worldly
I
and godly couil
liiPir
God and
tha;
;
lusts,
in
"Let
A^ain: of
men
m
this
as
things;
biingelh salvation, hath ap-
tlial
thaldenying nnirodliness
we should
live
|)resenl
soberly righteously
world."
m:inv serv nits
isters
worthy of
iill
;is
Titus 2: 9-13. are under the
honor, that the
his doctrine he not l)la«5phemed.
because they are bretlirin;
because they are
may
they all
teachiti: us
have believing masters
benefit.
in
faithful
yoke name
And they
them not despise them, but ratlier do tb.em service, let
and behived, partakers of the
These thin-s teach and exhort."
And
the
Apostle is very positive with ministers that they impress these duties upon servants, for in the next verse he adds,
—
man tench otherwise, and consent not to *' If any wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus
OBLIGATIONS OP THE CHURCH. doctrine which
ChrifJt, anrl to the
ness, he
pron
is
is
193
according to godli-
iinowing nothing, hut doiinof ahout
!,
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy» railings, evil surnriisings, perverse disputings of of corrupt minds, and deslitnteof the truth, suppos-
strife
men
ing that gain
—
is
godliness
Tim. 6; 1-5. Writing to the church
\frnm such withdraw
be obetlienl the
to
them
at
God
saiih,
*'
servants
your masters according
with fear and tremhiitig,
flesli
pleasers
Ephesus, he
that are
in
to
singleness of your
Not with eye service as men-
heart, as unto Christ.
hut as the servants of Christ, doing the will of
;
fr(Mn the heart, with
the Lord and not to
men
good
doing service, as
will
to
knowing that whatsoever good the same shall he receive of the ;
man
