American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-08-14
A SIGHT WORTH SEEING.

During the sitting of the Baptist
General Association of Virginia, in the
city of Richmond last June, there
were two persons who went uninvited
to an old and rather unfolding looking
building on the Sabbath morning. =
They were met by well-dresscd man
as they entered the door, who kindly
conducted them to seats,-in position
that overlooked the whole house. Be-
fore them was company of nearly
four hundred children most of them
were from seven to fourteen years Of
age, they were dressed with rcmarka-
bic neatness, some of them perhaps
little too showy. Their countenanccs
were beaming with pleasure; their eyes
sparkled with intelligence and bet
ter behaved, more orderly, and atten.
tive congregation Of young people, or
one more eagerly engaged in the bust
ness before them, need hardly be de-
sired. A man who, though his head
was white with years, seemed still to
be in the full vigor of his strength was
standing before them; and by simple
words was teaching them lesson in the
science of salvation. He read a hymn
and the chorister led the youthful vol
ces as they filled the large house with
echoes ofpraise. Another, and anoth-
CT hymn was sung,-then further in
struction given, then other hymns :;
and stranger who was present was cal
led on to preach sermon five minutes
long. More singing and another lit
tie sermon. And thus the hours pas
sed until the time for the meeting of
the church, when the children went
out after some good advice, from the
aforesaid white haired man and their
place was occupied by about twelve
hundred grown people, who crowded
into the building, leaving perhaps some
three hundred more outside, about the
windows and the doors, who could not
enter. This great congregation listened
most attentivcly to the sermon, and
the choir III the gallery sung most de-
lightfully, and somewhat artistically
several hymns and anthems with their
notebooks in their hands. It's said to
be equal to any choir in the city.
These four hundred children are ser.
wants; these twelve hundred adults are
colored people. lie had seen the Sun
day school and the congregation of the
First African Baptist Church, - a
church that numbers three thousand
and eighty members. The white hair
cd man is brother Ryland the honor
ed President of Richmond College, one
of the best scholars and most success
ful teachers i'll the land. believe that
people put ID. ID. at the end of his name
when they write it. But for myself |
want to say, that however much [ have
admired DIR. Ryland, the scholar and
the President Of one of the noblcst iii
stitutions for the education of Young
gentlemen in the arts and sciences, |
lore brother Ryland, the supcrittth-
dent of the colored Sunday school,,
brother Ryland the pastor of the color
ed church; nay L respect, | admire
HIM vastly more in this capacity
than the other. ] could not resist the
impulse felt to go and take him by
the hand, and thank him for the noble
lesson that he is teaching the ministers
OF the gospel all over the South by his
example, for the evidence lie has Civ.
cn of the fact that colored people may
be not only converted to God, but
made intelligent Christians, with a
full understanding of the scheme of sal
vation. Oh how / wish that those mch
who feel themselves above the work of
preaching and teaching Christ's gospel
to the blacks could have been with lis
that day. May the good Lord help
all his people to feel more and labor
more for the salvation of their servants.
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