William S. Plumer

“ The opinion has already been started among them, that men may make such progress in religion, that nothing they can do will be sinful, even should it be the murder of those whom they are now required to serve and obey! The present state of the country presents a prospect truly alarming; and when the rapid growth of our population both black and white is considered, it requires a man of a stout heart indeed, to view the scene without dismay. It is appalling, when such a mighty power as that afforded by the religious principle, is wielded by ignorant and fanatical men. ”

“ Another says, "I cannot conceive how any one, who acknowledges the obligations of Christian duty can decline affording Christian instruction to his slaves. That this duty of instruction may be safely performed, seems to me manifest from the very precepts of Christianity. The whole tenor of the Bible inculcates nothing but what, if practised, must contribute to the common advantage of the parties [master and servant.] The chief source of danger from the negro race consists in keeping them ignorant of the principles of Christianity. ”

“ Why, thousands of this race have a set of religious opinions of their own in many very important respects at variance with the religion of the New Testament. They have long shown a most observable preference for those meetings, by whomsoever conducted, where there is most noise and vociferation, most to strike on the senses, and least to afford instruction. While some among them are, no doubt, true Christians, many unquestionably are rank fanatics. ”

“ The statistics of the negro race in the slave-holding States of this nation are of the most interesting kind. Their increase is prodigious. We cannot go into this matter now, farther than to say that the next census will probably show that the number of negroes and mulattoes in the United States is more than four millions. What an object for Christian love and wisdom and effort! Who will not pray for the salvation of these people? ”

“ All that can be said in favour of Sabbath schools, and Bible classes, can be said in favour of these classes: properly conducted, they are nothing less or more, than Sabbath schools, and Bible classes for coloured persons. Our main hope of permanently improving this people lies just where it does with every other people: in the instruction of children and youth. Be beforehand with their parents, who can only, in the vast majority of cases, inculcate evil both by word and deed ”

“ The preachers among them, although extremely ignorant, (often unable to read a verse in the Bible or a line in their Hymn book) are frequently shrewd, cunning men. They see what influence misdirected religious feeling gives them over their brethren and they take advantage of it. Many of them feel their importance, and assume the post of men of great consequence. This thing is growing in the Southern country. And while efforts to afford these people salutary instruction have been repressed or abandoned, a spirit of fanaticism has been spreading which threatens the most alarming consequences. ”

“ Let the friends of morality and religion persevere. Drunkenness is the enemy of the black and the white. It destroys both soul and body, in time and eternity. We have in possession a number of printed documents written by good men residing in the South on the subject of the religious instruction of the negroes. One of them is the "Rev. Dr. Richard Furman's exposition of the views of the Baptists relative to the colored population of the United States, in a communication to the Governor of South Carolina," and published at his recommendation. ”

“ I am the rather importunate for a good number of these, as I cannot but observe that the negroes above all the human species that I have ever known, have an ear for music, and a kind of ecstatic delight in psalmody; and there are no books they learn so soon, or take so much pleasure in, as those used in that heavenly part of divine worship. ”

“ They have abandoned the practice of polygamy, the besetting sin of the negroes; and the fatal influence of Obeah or witchcraft, which is often productive of the most terrible mischief, among the slaves, is effectually destroyed wherever Christianity prevails. As a proof of the general good conduct of the converts, it is not unworthy of notice, that when an office which requires trust and confidence becomes vacant, such as that of a watchman, it is a usual practice with the planters and managers to enquire for a religious negro to fill it. ”

“ It is most obvious to the careful observer that they are withdrawing more and more from those ministrations, where they can learn the true character of Christianity; and insist with increasing pertinacity, on holding meetings in their own way, and having preachers of their own colour. The profession of religion among them is becoming perceptibly less beneficial: so that in some neighborhoods, this very thing generates suspicion of the professor, rather than confidence in his integrity. ”

“ Another says, "Ministers ought not only to preach a great deal more than formerly to servants, but also preach a great deal to white people about the instruction of servants, so as to convince the whole church and the servants that we are in earnest in this business and intend to persevere." ”

“ My experience in this matter has been sufficient to satisfy me that there is no yeomanry in the world, who would make a better return for the labour of moral instruction, so far as the great leading principles of Christianity are concerned."
Another says, "Sermons to coloured people ought to be studied and well prepared. The preacher must by all prudent means enlist public favour. The negroes must be treated with kindness and respect. In giving catechetical instruction, their ignorance and blunders must not be allowed to expose them before their fellows, but must be covered. ”

“ The religious instruction of the negroes will contribute to safety: Another benefit is, we shall thus promote our own morality and religion: Much unpleasant discipline will be saved to the churches: The last benefit mentioned is one that we thus convey to the servants instrumentally: It is the salvation of their souls. ”

“ We have spoken thus far of the labours of the dead only. Did time permit, interesting details of the labours of many living men might be given. It has been clearly ascertained that in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and in all the Southern States, there are many who are fired with love to the souls of the dying negroes, and are, with various success labouring for their salvation. It will appear by statements already made, and yet to be made, that all denominations of Christians are fairly pledged to this work, so that they cannot consistently retreat from it. ”

“ This state of the human mind, may be regarded as a predisposition to fanaticism where there is a general prevalence of ignorance and rudeness. Now it is well known that there is a large and increasing part of our population whose ignorance is almost absolute. Their spiritual interests have been very generally neglected; and attempts to afford them religious instruction have often been frowned upon by men of power and influence. ”

“ It is proper here to state that among the most serious obstacles to the spread of the gospel among this people, the use of ardent spirits has long held and does still hold a prominent place. We once heard a slave-holder say that if Abolitionists had stirred up as much rebellion and caused as much bloodshed among the negroes as the retailers of ardent spirits had done, there would long ere this have been a civil war. ”

“ On a plantation in Georgia, where in addition to superior management, the religious instruction of the blacks is systematically pursued, the crops are invariably the best in the neighborhood. The neatness and order which the whole establishment exhibits, prove that the prosperity of the master, and the best interests of the negro are not incompatible. ”

“ The Missionary must be supported by Christian owners; they must labour to improve the servants at home; having regular schools for the children and meetings for the instruction of adults. They should encourage their people to attend public worship, especially should they send the children to Sabbath school; otherwise such schools, let the missionary or teacher do what he may, will decline in all ordinary cases. ”

“ On another occasion when an order was issued that no negro should be seen on the streets or roads after seven o'clock in the evening, he made a regulation that such negroes as had attended the meetings of the Brethren, and could produce a certificate to that effect, signed by their teacher, should pass unmolested by the watch. Such was the confidence the governor placed in the missionaries, and the slaves under their care. ”

“ Another says, "On the modes of communicating a saving knowledge of Divine Truth to the coloured population, best suited to their genius, habits, and condition, we must remember that oral instruction is the kind of instruction alone that is universally allowed in slaveholding States. ”

“ In the foregoing statements, one fact of great importance is brought to light, viz.: that the gospel, as dispensed by the Moravians, has, other things being equal, been more successful among slaves than among free negroes. So that the civil condition of these people cannot be pleaded against an honest discharge of our duty to them. Though the United Brethren need the testimony of no man to the importance and utility of their labours ”

“ In the earlier stages of instruction, the catechetical method may be resorted to with success, your subjects being of the simplest kind; as you advance and your people acquire habits of attention and reflection and improve in knowledge, your subjects may be more elevated. "5th. The matter of preaching, at least for no very inconsiderable a time, may be chiefly, narratives, biographies, striking works of God, miracles, parables. Didactic discourses, at least at first, are far from being interesting to them. Vary the exercises of worship by singing, and sing standing. ”

“ Is it not wonderful that our churches have so long remained indifferent to this most interesting field of labour? One-half or two-thirds of our members have nothing to do. And why is it so? Because they will not labour for the coloured population. ”

“ Hence the question with us will be, in what mode can oral instruction be best communicated? "I answer, 1st. Nothing can take the place of competent, qualified ministers or missionaries; men exclusively devoted to the work, who shall make it their lifetime labour and study, to whom adequate support must be given. The church is as much bound to furnish and support such missionaries, as missionaries to any other heathen people in the world. "2d. Their labours must be at churches or convenient stations on the Sabbath; and from plantation to plantation during the week. ”

“ Nothing can be gained by postponement. The moral wretchedness of our coloured neighbours demands immediate relief; and every principle of humanity and religion urges us to afford it. Preaching intended for this class of persons should be on important subjects, as simple as possible, familiar, attractive and solemn." Another says, "I think that our white population is prepared for this work; and I know that many of the negroes are perishing for lack of knowledge. All our churches are doing a little for these too long neglected immortals ”

“ A friend of ours, who has long felt an interest, and who has through a course of years conducted an extensive correspondence on this subject, has shown us a large number of letters obtained by him for public use from clergymen of high standing in several different denominations, from lawyers, physicians, judges, members of Congress, intelligent planters, officers of public institutions, and others residing in Virginia and Texas, and States lying between them. We find in these letters from men residing far apart a remarkable agreement both in feeling and in judgment. ”