The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-12
LOCAL MATTERS.
NETHOD;ST STATE SUNDAY
SCHOOL SOCIETY.
FOURTH DAY.

Doggctt in the chair. The meeting was
opened by singing and prayer by Rev. G
W. Langhorne.
MIR. j. X. Bickers, of Louisa county, Of
fercd the following resolution:
"ReSolued, That the Executive Commit
tee be, and they are hereby authorized to
compile form book on discipline, setting
forth the plan for the organization and 60
vernmcnt of Sabbath schools within the
bounds Of this Association said book to
be printed on a cheap scale and paid for
out Of the funds of the Society, for gra-
tuitous distribution.''
| On motion Of Mr.. J. H. Peay, it was re-
solved to refer the above to the Executive
Committee, with instruction to take such
action upon it as they shall see fit.
The Pcsdent announced as next in Or
der Of business the report of the Commit.
tee on Colored Sunday Schools.
The Rev. n. Head, chairman Of the
committee, submitted the following re-
port:
The committee to which was referred
the subject of the missionary work Of Sun
day school instruction in behalf Of the CO.
lored people, beg leave to report:
great importance, and that it is deeply to
be deprecated that any apathy or inditfe-
renee should be felt or manifested on this
subject, and it is to be hoped that through
the agency of this Association the obStruc-
tionS of the prosecution Of this work which
have been withheld, to considerable cX-
tent embarrassed it, will be removed !;
| therefore
"RcSolued, That we earnestly recommend
that Sunday schools for the instruction OF
colored people be established whenever
and as soon as practicable"
Some discussion followed this, during
which the Rev. 2. A. Peterson offered the
following:
"ReS0lred, That true TO our past record,
we feel profound interest in the moral and
religious Improvement of our colored
population, and deeply regret that intlu-
enccs and events beyond our control seem
for the present to have closed against us
the door Of access TO them"
An animated discussion followed this
resolution, into which Messrs. Nelson
Head, f. Nj. Peterson, P. A. Peterson, e.
W. Langhorne, T. l.. II. Young, L. A.
Ware, W. T. Davis, Colonel Clarkson, and
- Moore entered.
By those favorng the substitute Of Mr..
Peterson it was urged that the prejudice
said to be existing was as much, If not
more, on the part of the blacks than Of the
whites, There was not a preacher in the
city who preached at the present time to
one fourth of the number Of blacks to
which they preached before the war. Tney
would not come into their churches. In
nuences had been brought to bear upon
them which the southern ministry could not
avert. and preiudices had been engralted
in their minds which could not at present
be eradicated.
On the contrary, facts in cXcmpllca-
ton of the docile and easily influenced
disposition of the black man were set forth.
The wonderful fidelity of these people to
their masters during the war was referred
to. The colored people could be APP
preached by the proper effort, energy,
and perseverance. The preJudlces which
now exist among them could not be won
dercd at. Four millions Of them had been
suddenly set free, and the most demoral-
zipg influences had been simultaneously
eyerted over their too susceptible minds.
These influences were about wearing out,
and the colored people were fast coming to
the conclusion that the southern people
were their best friends. Several Of the
country delegates gave examples Of the
successful operations of colorcd Sunday
schools among them. Though at first they
we're rather distrustful, and the white peo-
pie we're consequently discouraged, yet
by perseverance in few Sundays large
schools were established, and white teach
n nj
these facts it was urged that no efforts
should be spared to bring the influences OF
the evangelical churches to bear upon
them, and to lead them in the true path oil
Christianity.
The Rev. DR.. Lee being called upon by
the Association, gave his views upon the
subject in a series of practical aud enter
tainincrcmarks. He was opposed to the sub
stitute. Hethought that thong the class OF
peoule referred to were beyond the inttu-
ence of the southern ministry now, the
time would come when they would remem-
her the past. 1t would not be brought
then by any exertion Of our own, but by
their own recollections and experience OF
the past. He rccounted several personal
incidents in his own experience OF the In
huence that could be cxerted over these
people, by timely efforts. He urged the
extension of sympathy and cooperation 10
all colorcd people who were willing to
affiliate religiously with them. The time
would come, he repeated, when the col
ored people would come to their senses
upon the subject. A monkey never used
the cats paws to pull chestnuts out of the
fire but once. If an orange had senslblll-
tv, it would not be sucked but once. the
colored people will, in time, be ike a
sucked orange thrown away, ana they VIII
not be at all obliged to the people who
sucked them. He placed the time 1or q
full rejection at about 1870.
The question being put was decided IN
favor of the original report, the substitute
being voted down.
The following resolution was offered by
Rev. p. A. Peterson, and adopted:
"Resolved, That the responsibility Of the
moral and religious training OF children
rests primarily and mainly with their pa
rents; that as Sabbath school workers we
do not pretend to assume their obligations
in whole or in part, but desire our efforts
to be regarded as simply cooperative WITH:
and auxiliary to, parental authority and
home training; and therefore, in order
that the parents who patronize our schools
NAV desire the fullest benefit therefrom
they should encourage their children tc
love. obey, and please their teachers assist
them in the study of their lessons, enforce
their constant attendance on o school into
which they may have regularly entered,
keep them at the Sunday schooi TO the
kr1ln No.,