Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-03-10
Alis(rlI0un.
Contraband Church Discipline.

Contraband Church Discipline.
CARtroN the Army correspondent or the Bos
| ton Journni, writes from Hilton Head, Feb. is
| the following account Of church meeting for busi
ness, q the "clnlablnd congregation ut tha
place
In the afternoon at ? O'Clock there is q meetin.
Of the First Baptist Church for business. Accom-
plned by Mr.. N. Motto, superintendent. Of bscai
employed in tie Omar srmaser's and Comm.,
nrls departments at Hilton Head, am permit
led TO be present. II il stiictya church meeting
for business, Rev. Abraham Murchson, ta
copperhued ncsro,is pastor and pres.des over the
deliberations. lie vas slave In Savnnah, but
made his way to our lines !, O s,orekeeper OF
huckster on week days, and prsac'e es on SnDdly
ID. church is plain wooden building, bu.t by
order Of Gen Mitchell for an African church
There are tNo rows Of pine benches, plain pine
pulpit, a ventilated ceiling, from which depend
three or four gas amps-a.l teing very much
like the small churches o be found in the thny
settled praries Of Illinois
We are a little hte Rev. Mr.. Murchson j,
lining off the hymn, two lines al time.
Sweet fields beyond the swelling food, is
sung by the congregation, led by round.headel
compact lively, energetic, loud voiced negro,
twenty-five years old, whose zeal is bounded on.
is by the capacity Of bis lang'. !: is the wei.
known tune Jordan, sung by millions in times pas,
and present. The women occupy one SIDE Of the
h'u.e, the men sitting opposite. Il Is du,ky
view, looking down the aisle from my seat az The
right Of tbe pulpit They are counienances not
fair to look upon, not types o beauty, not attract.
iye Intellectually There Is per.ec, dec1rlm and
,ulemujty. All head. are bowed when the prel-
cher addresses the 1nrone Of Grace |. is o pray
sr fall Of applications snd thanksgiving, express.
ed 10 fitting words.
To. church has a case OF discipline. Their sex.
ton has been r,mis in lighting the amps aud is
arr,gnsd for trial The pastor states tb. case.
lie calls the sexton to tha front and thus indc,'
him
"John, my son, you are arraiguel FOR not doing
is you have agreed, and covenant TO do We
ply ycu one hundred and twenty dollars year
far lighting these we're beautiful lamps which the
church have so generously provided, and sir, you
have been remis .n your duty Ga Thursday
night when We we're assembled for holy PRAYER We
Nere in darkness. You did wrong. You break
your Obligations. You must be puni he'd. What
say you2 Brethren We will hear what he has to
say"
DO not laugh OF this record. DO not pass owe,
il o, pueriis, or unworthy Of notice. This people
stand on the threshold of civilization. The frs,
s,mmerug rays have fallen upon them. All be-
mind them is brbarism. Before them is a iu'ure
uuteyealed bu, possibly 10 be career Of cyi.A
ton which will b, blessing to countless millions
Of human beings. ! write not merely for the
passing hour-not merely to convey TO YOU the
rudeness aud simplicity Of the picture bu, : make
record for the historian Of the future, Who when
the writers aud present readers OF these lines
stall have passed away, in turning over some dus-
ty yeosed lies Of the Boston journal will see a
rue report Of the beginning Of the African race
in the scale Of civilization on the soil Of South
Carolina Let il not be forgotten that these are
nearly all plantation hands-the rudsst Of the
race.
The arraigned member pleads that he lighted
tie lamps but that they went out. The preacher
calls one Of the delcons to the chair-a middle
aged coaI.back negro bald.headed, dressed in
pants and coat made o. sail cloth, BY his side
sits bis colleague wearing United States soldiers
blue coat. The epreacher addresses the chair. "Sir,
our brother am prssumpias. lla say he light de
lamp and dey 60 out. How dots he know dey
20 out lie ought to stay and see dey don't 20
out. lie am presumptus ard should be punished.
move eir dat cur brother be set aside from
commin to de Lords table ill he make satsAc-
tor.
A brother seconded the motion and the question
was put by TIE deacon. Two or three voted af-
irmatyely, but nearly all negatively. The ques-
ton was not understood. The preacher explained
" lou is discompossd in your minds. You do not
understand de question. Can any Of YOU tellme
how YOU voted )" They could not. lie pul the
question aud the offender was unanimously de.
barred the privileges Of the church, 1t ID no, the
first time have Witnessed deiberaliye body in
confusion aud muddled over simple question,
Congressional records will show several ike in
Stances.
After the discipline a candidate for admission
was presented stout, reguarfeaiured young
man, named Jonas.
Well my son, where are YOU from? said
the pastor.
"Frcm Charleston, sir
"Was you member of the Church there, my
sou N"
Eyes sir, was a member Of the Church."
"Doe, any one here know any thing about Jo.
mas
A half dozen responded "Yei,' all agreeing
that his department was correct.
add you bring your 'stiicate with youP
No sir came away in hurry, aud had nj
any time 10 get one
ayes, my SOM we understand that you were
obliged to leave in hurry or notatall. But what
made you bCcomea Christian
Because felt was sinner"
Did you pray, my son ?
Yes sir and feel taai through tho mercy
of Jesus Christ my sins are pardoned.'
1t was a simple narrative, and expressed with
ev dent feeling and consciousness of the solemn
ty of the declaration. 1t was plain that in ,pir.
itus things these people were hrther advanced
thin in business matters. The evidence was sat,
saetory, aud the member received by right hand
Of fellowship on the part of the pastor. ln ths