The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-30

informed, by one of the "colored deacons.n tina,
a man wishes to offer to the church with view
to baptism. The fact is announced, meeting
of the church called, and the candidate comes
forward.
Pastor "Well, John, tell me in few words,
in your own way, your religious experience.
What have been your feelings, and what are
your present hopes and purposes?"
John. 81 see other people trying, and so /
thought would try too, as had a soul to save.
So l went to pray, and the more pray the wus
| felt; so l kept on praying, and the more I
pray, the wus / felt. / felt heavy-I felt a
weight-and 1 kept on praying till at last felt
light felt easy-I felt like / loved all Chris
tan people, felt ike loved everybody"
Now, this is positively the whole of the expe-
rience which is generally related by colored can
didates for baptism. There may be slight va
ration of expression now and then, but the
sense is almost invariably the same. On this
experience, hundreds have been received into
the churches-I have received many upon it
myself. / am somewhat curious to know how
many of the seventy, baptized by my good
brother Bagby, told this tale. I'll warrant not
less than fifty. Have any of us been right in
receiving persons on such relation as this
In the whole of it, there is not one word of Cos
pei, not one word about sorrow for sin, not one
word about faith, not one word about Christ.
know that all these things are subsequently
brought out by questions; and were this not the
case, have no idea that the candidate would
in any instance be received. But that these
questions may be understood, they are made
necessarily "leading questions" such as sug-
gest their answers; and, consequently, these
answers are of comparatively little value. 1t
80 hao
perienced real sorrow for sin, and has exercised
real faith in Christ, he can, and will, in some
way, Il care not in how broken manner, but
in some way,) say so of his own accord. If he
IS incapable of saying so, he is equally incapa-
BILE OF exercising the feelings of penitence and
faith, and should on this ground be rejected.
l know that great allowance must be made for
the ignorance of the colored people; but have
no warrant, In the Scriptures, to allow for igno-
rance of Christ and the plan of salvation. /
am constrained to conclude that person who
tells such an experience as that i have record
ed above-I mean one in which nothing is said
of penitence, faith, or pardon-should be reject
ed. To take this course viii, L know, be fire.
quently very Notifying to the cOlored congre-
cation, and very painful to the church and pas
tor; but it is only thus, so far as can see, that
we can impress the colored people with the dan
and feelings instead of the blood and righteous
ness of Christ. | am aware that, as brother
Bagby suggests, private instructions by masters
have been too much neglected. But these can
accomplish but little good, so long as they are
counteracted by the teachings of leading colored
members, in whose views, after all our efforts,
the colored people will have most confidence.
These teachings can be corrected more effectu-
ally, in my judgment, by showing those who
impart them that we will not tolerate an un-
scriptural experience, than by any other meth
od. Perhaps it might be well, too, occasionally
to examine the leading members of the church,
and if they betray any of these dangerous su-
perstitions, at once to exclude them.
The Importance of the subject, trust, will
excuse the unanticipated length to which this
has been drawn out. AS have
written very much currente caIamo, it may be
that some erroneous sentiments or some inju-
dicious suggestions are to be found here. If so,
any of your readers would do me favor, and
at the same time subserve the cause of truth,
by pointing them out and correcting them.
Very truly, yours, LUKE.
P.S. 1t may be suggested, that if colored can
didates for baptism should be rejected on the
story they now tell, they will learn scriptural
experience by rote, and recite that before the
church, and thus nothing will be gained, after
all. In reply to such an objection 1 answer
that, should this be the case, a few questions
will very readily detect the cheat, and then of
course the candidate should be rejected, howev-
er scriptural may be the account he at first gave
Of his experience. If, however, the church
should be unable to detect any deception, while
it still really exists, they free from all re-
sponsibility.
Permit me to add one other remark. While
this communication is designed to urge on the
churches the necessity of more strictness in the
reception of colored candidates for baptism,
think that greater carefulness should be observ-
ed in the examination of all who ask admission
into the church, whites as well as colored per-
sons. With the anthor of the circular letter re-
TERED to above, i think the purity and eflicen-
cy OF the churches would be promoted, and the
glory of God advanced, by the rejection of all
candidates for baptism who do not give an in
telligible and scriptural account of their reli
gious exercises. l..