Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-29
Our Relations to the Negro.

Our Relations to the Negro.
A few days ago we introduced Our Re
lations to the Negro" to the consideration
of our people. Pursuing the ideas advan-
ced in that article, wo purpose to-day to
treat at some length what we believe to be
our duty in connection with the religious
condition of that portion of this race whose
lot is, and is to be, among us.
The Christian religion is so comprehen-
sive in its bcneficence as to embrace all
classes of men and from time immemorial
it's light has been shed upon the hearts of
all, irrespective of position, class or condi-
ton. In times past, not one of the differ
ent orders of Christian Churches in the
South but thought the slaves fit subject
of spiritual interest, and all strove, with
wonderful success, to bring them into the
full embrace of Gods love. 1t is true that
our relations are changed, but to what is to
be attributed the almost entire absence of
effort on our part now to retain the late
slave under the holy influences of Christ's
gospel? We have permitted him to fall
away, and to accept the teaching Of those
who preach and practice q religion which
bellies every precept and practice of our
Saviour. Fanaticism, prejudice, material
ism, hate and money are inculcated by
these new apostles from strange land in
the place of practical riety, generous friend
ship, true spirituality, love and charity
We ought to arouse ourselves, and at once
take the place which rightly is ours. Let
us step, without hesitation, into the pull
pits, the public ways, narrow lanes, the
humble cabins and point the weak, the
ignorant, the young and the old, to that
Saviour who died for man. Look the world
directly in the face, and say that duty calls
us to this work. There may be some, but
that number must be small, who feel that
the negro, being free, no longer has a
claim upon our good offices. Why has he
not? For generations past our fathers
taught and protected him, and changed
him from what he was when bought, by
New England rum, to what he nov is. For
this same time he has furnished us with the
means to cultivate those noble characteris-
tics of which our people are so justly proud.
Is there nothing in memory to recall us to
duty? We thought formerly that the
Southern matron, opening to the slaves the
Book of Life, and disclosing its truths, was
an example worthy of the highest position
assigned to woman. How often has the
young maiden of our best blood taught the
negro child the simple lessons of Christ's
mission on the bright Sabbaths, which
were then truly holy days in our land p
Have we forgotten that the noblest speci-
mems of our race, born and reared among
us, thought it privilege to be disciples to
these very slaves What has happened to
change or prevent the performance of this
duty? Left to themselves, the result to
them is too plain to be doubted, and too
painful to be contemplated. Turned over
to the tender mercies Of the sharks of the
Freedmen's Bureau, or to the emissaries Of
New England, the consequences will send
the poor negro to destruction and perdi-
: ton, and produce horrors for us at which
the world would stand appalled,.
| We have before too often in these col
umns asserted our conviction of the utter
impossibility of producing anything like an
} equality between the white and black races,
: and because we now draw the earnest at
tention of our people to what we conceive
to be their plain duty, and what, in world
ly view, we believe will conduce powerfully
to our material interest, we must not be
) considered as having changed, in the slight
! est degree, our opinions. What we desire
is the good of the country, and as journal
J lists, we wish to point out the means to at
tain that good in the highest degree. With
this in view, we presume to call directly
upon the Church organizations of our land,
| and to urge them to unite speedily in this
work of bringing back to their charge, to
their instruction, and to their kindly affec-
tons, the negroes who formerly belonged
TO them, and to use the means which God
members into their respective folds. Ii
:. need be, educate men specially for this
work. Let all feel thatitis right, and thatwe
should do that right earnestly. lis there
I degradation in this I? Have we not often
| sent missionaries to the heather Let us
drop the practices of the Pharisee and Pu-
ritan, and turn with manly hearts and
Christian love to this w6.4 which COM
mends. itself by all that can influence our