Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-08-17


than ours-any barbarsm into which they
may have since elapsed, they have fallen
into alter they had passed from under our
Influence. Where in the worlds history
has there been case like this Of forbear-
ance anu quietness where an Inferior race
has been opposed ly superior, and had
the means given it Of vcngeance9 Our
own times furnish ns two Instances in fear
fnl contrast-tle one Of the ferocity Of The
French in their terrible overthrow OF the
Church, the monarchy, AMI The ari>tocra-
cy, anu that OF The negroes Of ST, Domin-
go, who have furnished TO this age name
forevery,hing inhuman- and ba,baou'. One
Of two things is, therefore, cIcar-ei,her
that thso people suffered no oppression
worth the name, or that slavery has pro-
1uced Christian virtues, through its teach.
ings and discipline, Of The most rare and
striking chara ter.
This aspect Of things leads 10 two impor
tant practical results. First, il vindicates
the Christian Church in The South from
the ob!oquy that has been poured upon it:
AS If it was w,nklng at barbarous and
uncl'ris:ian system, and doing nothing to
ameliorate in a vindication which it ought
10 have done, and which now lay humLIy
upon its altar. No people have ever labor.
ed more faithfully, more devotedly, With
more sclfdenial, than havo Southern
Christians TO do their best for the slaves
committed to their trust. Very many
have known who have given up their lives
for their religious instruction-many who
have impoverished themselves that their
slaves might be comfortable or free. Al
most every minister for a half century
past, has devoted some of his time to the
poorer members of lis focks, and very
many more would have kneeIed at our al
tars, had they not preferred more excl.
ting worship and moro enthusiastic cxhibi.
tion Of their feelings than we allowed.
sny without any fear of rightful coutra,lic.
ton, that if slave did not receive religious
instruction it was because hs did not care
about it., or because he was in some remote
position, where the whites were as badly
,.ff as himself.
Tie other practical point is that We
have ao need 10 change our system OF in-
struction because of this emancipation; or
10 call in any foreign help to our assist.
ance. The Church in Georgia has always
taught The colored race so far as the NUN.
Der of clerGymen aud the rivalry Of other
denominations would permit her. We
must simply carry on the same plan in the
future. We have always had Sunday
schools for them; let us continue the same
We have always welcomed them 10 our
churches and altar<; let us continue the
same. We have permitted them 10 organ.
ize churches for themselves-lhey have
been free as all upon this point; let US
continue the same. II those churches are
organized as Episcopal churches, we shall
be glad 10 assist them in the way Of true
godliness. l SEQ no necessity 10 change
our course for tue present; nor do I see
that we need any help from abroad in their
religious culture. We have Christian men
and Christian women in abundance among
U.S. who viii undertake any work for the
Church. Organize them in your various
parishes, and they will do the work more
efficiently than Others can.
None understand the colored race as
we'll as we do-none have it's confidence as
fully as we have My sincere conviction
is that if any future good or blessing is to
come for these people, it must, be of home
growth; it must be the continuation Of the
same kindly feelings between the, races
which has heretofore existed. Every per.
SOL imported from abroad to instruct or
teach these .is an Influence, uniptentional'y
perhaps, but really widening Ihe breach
between the races, This work must 10
done by 'ourselse done faithfully, earnest.
" aud.a as in .hs sight Of God. Love must
go aiong with ii; gratitude for their past
serricss; memories of infancy. aid child.
hood;, thoughts OF. the glory which will
acerue1o ua, when we shall lead these >peo:
pIs3 once our servants, but NOW as servants.
but above servants, as bre.Lrep bclossd,t
end present item 70 Christ az our aasiing
Of repentance for what NE. hare faded to
falfl, in the past Of our truss.sr srsi.as ~
49,. ~ s------e<<-s~r--- :.s.0,f -
The widow, Of Gsnsrai Gaines"is at the
Northampton Mass:l water cure establish