Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-04-06

Messrs. Editors II have just read letter
from "a colored man., in the New York Tribune
of March 9th, giving an account of his attend
ance at one Of the recent daily prayer meetings in
that city, held at the North Dutch Church. You
have doubtless seen the letter l refer to. read
it with much interest, but when l had done,
could not but ask myself if this of Africa had
taken the right view of the matter. 1t is true,
no opinion is expressed upon the conduct of the
Christian brother who led them. There is not
word of censure upon any one. mere narrative
OF facts is gven and the reader is left to form his
own estimate of what was done-to draw his own
differences. But the conduct of the writer was in
itself sufficient Indication of his estimate, which
was untavorable. l could not but ask myself if
it were not uncharitable as we'll.
This c1lored man took his seat, he says, in
the rear of the room on the second floor of the
building, as he entered from Fulton street Here
the chief gathering seemed to be. Against the
back wall of the room sat we'll dressed colored
woman. There we're no other colored persons
present. These speedily addressed by "a
brother in Christ" and very civlly asked to walk
out There was little hesitation on the mans
part, but. on the request being repeated, he rose
and boz h persons followed their guide into an up
per room. where they were in the kindest manner
invited TO commune together, aud then left alone.
A ter a few words, however, they parted. and the
man went off to his business, apparently in
dudgeon. Now, did not Christ say that where
two or three were gathered together in his name
there would he be in the midst of them Re-
membering this, could the two not have prayed
together And, as the spirit moved ,hosein the
room and the prayers of that meeting went up to
heaven, would these not have passed through the
room above and perhaps have filled the hearts Of
the brother and sister with grace, although their
ears could catch no sound Indeed, they threw
away golden opportunity.
But there is another and wider view to be ia
ken of this matter. 1t is one which the narrator
might not fully appreciate. This regards the in
furious effect which the presence of colOred peo-
ple-of negroes, in short-in the general prayer
met ing might be expected to have on the minds
of the whites present. The whites came there to
pray, to commune with God and their own souls,
to seek their salvation. 1t important that
the things of this world should be put away, that
there should be present little possible tn dis
tract the attention, to divert the mind. Now,
would not the sight of colOred people lead the
thoughts too much to externals In some minds
the thought ofmenisl offices needed about their
houses in this Spring time Of the year might be
awakened in others, the higher subject of the
relation Of master and servans, of owner and chat
tel, might come up, and whatever their views of
this, its consideration would have been inappro
pirate to such season. With others, again, the
profane subj ct which so crowds our newspapers
and fills our ears at this time-the Kanzas ones
ton, Lecompton or snti.Lecom pton-would be
brought to mind, and what could he more insult
ed to a prayer meeting Was not the guide Of
the cOlored people on this occasion at once far
seeing philosopher and a true friend Of all, when
he put the two negroes (only two) into an upper
room by themselves, and left the more numerous
whites belowi And on the expression of slight
feeling the part OF the lady, did he not respond
entirely to "the hope that in the other world
these distinctions would be done awayi I" Truly,
he seems to have been skilful Christian, and to
have managed most difficult duty admirably.
And l could almost hope that, should our colored
brother meet these wo ds he would at once cast
off the unkind feeling, which 1 must think he be-
trays, and view the whole affair in the light Of
Christianity, shall say, Or-the world