Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-06-17
From the Providence Journal.1

RY CHURCH BuYINo ITS OwN PAsroR.-
day developes some new beauty of the
larchal institution, some new evidence
divlne origin and of its scriptural
tion. The following paragraph, which
lily appeared in the Tennessee Qmd
and has been copied with much com.
Ption IN other papers, suggests how
arly 1t is adapted to the relation of
and people, and what convenience.
ny and harmony would follow if every
should buy its own pastor, and reckon
schedule OF property its minister as we'll
pulpit that he breaches in
SLAVE PASTOR foR WHITE PEopLE.-On
preek, Giles county, Tennessee, there is a
ell Baptist Church, supported by a number
llthy oommulican Of that persuasion
several years past, have had their regular
negro man, black as the ace of spades,
George-known as 'Bcntley's Old George,
longing to the estate of one Matthew Bent.
ceased. George Is said to be a most ex-
man, and good preacher. Some time ago
noted public discussion, lasting four days,
white preacher, on tho subject Of Baptism,
hicl the white man is said to have come off
v diierence) second best Tho Church
20 buy George, but he is unwilling to be
OF his masters family, and Is, withal, 4
southern pro-slavcry parson. George is
cacher in charge of a tn,regation, nea rly
Fhom are Shareholders, and who pay him a
of $4,000 or $1,000 for his pastoral services
of the most disagreablc things in wha t
puthcrn brethren would call the "hire-
relation of minister and people, is the
Pit difficulties between them. the
ption of authority on the one side. and
lncc on the other. We have councils,
ials, and dismissals, and excommun-
$, and all sorts of discipline. and some
when the ecclesiastical tribunals leave
after, the civil ones take it up, and we
he scandal of pastors bringing suits a.
their churches, and churches refusing
the salaries of their pastors.
Her the system Swallowed forth in the
Ftive paragraph which we have copied,
bf these evils could alilct the church.
klary of the minister, fixed at a peck Of
week and two suits of clothes year,
never be matter to quarrel about;
there, could be no quarrel when all
wer was on one side, and nothing but
ssion on the other. Should the minister
b heresy in the morning, OF speak I'M
liable sentiments, the deacon, who would
orally an "ovcrscer' of the church,
take him behind the pulpit, between
Fviccs, and give him ten or twenty
according to the enormity of the
b, or the digestion of the deacon. There
be no hcresy from that pulpit in the
oon.
cannot understand why this subject
verlooked by that patriotic, dignifed
hinently practical body of men, the
ern Convention. Why, when they
urated so many other material reforms,
icy overlook the spiritual wants of the
Fh, South? Why, when they built rail
and steamships. opened relations with
n governments, and Americanized the
continent, did they not decree to each
h a negro pastor?
: reluctance of the Rev George, in the
eferred to, to be sold out of the family
Thing strange, and is not to be taken
he account, The wishes of the slaves
ot usually consulted, when they are
ferred from one master to another. This
be absurd it would half destroy the
hantable value of one of the chief pro-
of the Northern tier of slave States, and
greatly retard thegrani philanthropic
fspreading slavery all over the continent
ward. Indeed, as general thing, the
population do not enter into that idea |
tho alacrity which we might expect
the long advantages that they have en-
J under the civilizing and outstanding
noes of plantation life. They do not
TO share in the anxiety of their masters
Try the glad tidings OF servitude to the
that are in the darkness of freedom; we
ID say that they IRE lacking in the
binary spirit, and that they were not
|ally willing to leave the hog and hominy
fginia for the sweets of the sugar culture
|he delightful rice fields Of more sunny
b. Indeed, they often object to being
where the sale involves no change OF |
try, and they seem to have certain absurd |
OF preference between masters at home.
often act precisely like men who have
|gs and affections, and loves and hates.
ideas, however, seldom take any prac-
form of inconvenience to those whose
ests demand the transfer of property.
g is no reason to suppose that objection
d develope itself more in clerical than in |
: slave property.
le spirit of the age lsprogressive, and the
that is happily suggested in the Tennessee
r will not be permitted to die out. 1t
be taken up by those far-seeing and
-hearted men who are engaged, with so
! earnestness and with such excellent
is, in extending and perpetuating the
g institution of slavery; and if the move
is blessed, as we may reasonably hope |
it will be, We may see in the course of
v years, advertisements, in which the |
,r establishment will be, not negro
ing on the trot with bundle slung to a
over his shoulder, but negro standing
pulpit with an open book in his hand;
this should seem to be a reproach upon
wise and humane laws that forbid reading
writing to negroes. then in tho attitude
,eaking. These advertisements would
somewhat in this way:
he First Presbyterian Church offer for sale or
Inge their negro man George. lie is good at
'tation and gifted in prayer, and is sold for
ult except that he is grown rather dull for a
onable congregation. He would answer capt.
for plantation or rural church. Being
and healthy, he is we'll adapted to other la
uring the week, and to serve as sexton.
B. A wife and four children for sale, either
George or in separate lots, at the option Of
purchasers"