Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-09-27
FROM tuc Charleston Observer.

l4ON pr IHE 4\CuhOE>s
Rec. C. C. Jones:
DEAR SlR.-Since began wiring YOU
on the religious instruction of the negroes, |
happened to cast my eye on letter writ
ten on this very sub lect, more than centu-
~ ago, and addressed TO the owners of
slaves in the American Colonies by the right
reverend, and truly learned Bishop Gibson
of the See of London. From this letter
beg leave to make few extracts which
are as well adapted to our times as any thing
can be. 1t will be recollected that all the
Colonies were under the supervision Of the
Bishop of London, and therefore it became
his duty 10 provide, as far as possible, for the
instruction Of all classes Of the people. The
Bishop begins by considering and obvia-
ting two difficulties, then formidable, but
which can now be scarcely said to exist
The first was, the slaves having been
brought up in paganism were deeply inlec-
ted with their African supers!itonS. The
second was, that they knewvery little ofour
language, and therefore it was almost i'm
possible to gain access for the truth TO their
minds. In regard to the first, he says, "lf
this were good argument agalns! attempt.
ing the conversion of the negroes, 1t would
follow that the Gospel is never to be fur
ther propaga;ed than it is at present, and that
no endeavors are TO be used for the CONVEX
sion ofthe heathens at any time, or in any
country whatever: because all heathcnS
have been accustomed to pagan rites and
idolatries, and such vicious and licentous
living as the Christian religion forbids. But
yet God be thanked, heathens have been
converted and Christianity propagated in all
ages and almost all countries, through the
zeal and diligence ofpious and good men,
AMI this without the help ofmiracles. And
if the present age be as Jealous and diligent
in pursuing the proper means of conversion,
we have no reason to doubt that the Divine
assistance is and will be the same in all
ages"
Passing over the second difficulty about
the language, proceed to extract what he
says in general respecting the difficulties of
the work. "But supposing," says he, "the
difficulties to be much greater than ina
CINE, they are not such as to render the
work impossible; SO as to leave no hope Of
any degree of success; and nothing less
than an impossibiGty Of doing any good at
all, can warrant our going over and laying
aside all means and endeavors where the
propagation of the Gospel and the saving
of souls are concerned. Many under
takings look far more impraciicablc before
trial, than they are afterwards found TO be
in experience; especially where there is not
4 good heart to 60 about them. And it is
frequently observed that small beginnings
when pursued with resolution, are attended
with great and surprising success. But in
no case is the success more great and sur
prising, than when good men engage in the
cause of God and religion, out of q just
sense of the inestimable value of a soul, and
in a full and well grounded assurance that
their honest designs and endeavors for pro-
noting religion. will be supported by a spe-
cial blessing from God"
81 am 10th to think so hard of any Chris.
tian Master, as to suppose that ne can lie.
Eberately hinder his negroes from being in.
structed in the Christian religion, or which
is the same thing, that he can deny them the
means and opportunities of instruction.
Much less may believe that he can, after
he has weighed the matter, permit them to
labor on the Lords day, and least o. all
that he can put them under kind ofnecessity
of laboring on that day, to provide them
selves with the conreniences Of life, since
our religion so plainly teaches us, that God
has given one day in seven to be day of
resi-, not only to man but TO the beasts
That it is day appointed by Him for the
Improvement the soul, as well as the re-
freshment of the body; and that it is duty
incumbent on Masters to take care that all
persons, who are under their government,
keep this day holy, and employ it to the pi-
Gus and wise purpose for which God our
great Lord and Master intended it.
"Ifit be said that no time can be spared
from the daily labor and employment of the
negroes, to instruct them in the Christian
religion: this is in effect to say; that no con.
sideration ofpropagating the Gospel of God
or saving the souls Of men, is to make the
least abatement from the temporal profit Of
the Masters: and that God cannot or will
not make up the little they may lose in that
way by blessing and prospering their un.
dertakings by sea and land as a just reward
for their zeal for his glory and the salvation
of mems souls. In this case | may well
reason as S.. Paul does in case not unlike
it, that if they make you partakers of their
temporal things, (ofthslr strength and spirit
and even offspring, you ought to make them
parsakers of your spiritual things, though it
should abate somewhat of the profit which
IL lol