The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-13
For THE CENTRAL PREsBYTERIAS.


For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
To Rev. DR.. Montfort, Editor Cincinnati
Presbyter."
Rev. Sir,-Your issue Of February 9th, con-
tanned letter Of Rev. w. L. Miller, Of North
Carolina, which truth and justice require to be
answered. AS we presume that you have no
desire to promote the wretched work of mis-
representation which has so mischievously d.
vided the North and South, we confidently ask
of vour Justice the insertion Of the following
explanations. Rev. Mr.. Miller has seen fit to
publish his statements under his own name, 80
that, while we purpose to refrain from all cpl
thets, neither he nor any other can complain
of the facts which his own course may elicit
First he states, that she lost his church,
because he proposed and urged Sabbath
school for freedmen, to teach them to read the
Bible. Now, if your readers will reflect on
these facts which we shall mention; their
own good sense will suggest to them, that
surely it must need some explanation. The
facts are, that, las your readers ought to know
our General Assembly, the Synod Of N. Caro-
lima, to which Rev. Mr.. Miller belonged, his
own Presbytery of Concord, and his own
Church Session of Alamance, had all recon.
mended this very thing, Sabbath schools for
freedmen to teach them to read the Bible; and
that such Sabbath schools are actually in pro-
gress in all our prominent churches, to the
common satisfaction Of pastors, sessions, and
people. Isit not rather queer that Rev. MIR.
Miller should "lose his church, for doing just
what all our ministers are doing, as far as cir
cumstances' permit?
Now as Rev. Mr.. Miller has compelled the
publication of the true state Of the case, you
shall have it, without comment, save the
pledge that the names Of responsible fndfoid-
a.als will be given, if anybody asks them, for
every title of the following statement. We
aver then, that Rev. Mr.. Miller did not "lose
his church," because he desired Sabbath
school for freedmen He had been recent
and active advocate of the so-called rebellion,
having at one time, notwithstanding his sacred
calling, been Captain in the Confederate
army. At the close Of the war, he was under
charges, raised by some people Of the vicinage,
generously sustained him during this trying
season but it was perfectly well known that
Rev. Mr.. Miller considered his influence for
good so unhappily affected, by these accuse
tions, as to be contemplating voluntary resig-
nation of his charge on that ground.
Next The plan of colored Sabbath school,
to teach freedmen to read, was not originated
there by Rev. Mr.. Miller, but first suggested
BY an enlightened and patriotic member of his
session; and accepted by all the rest, including
Rev. Mr.. Miller himself, with unanimity.-
They also concluded, under the wise advice Of
, leading pastors in the neighborhood (who are
now affectionately laboring in this way for the
: freedmen,) that the opening OF the school
should be postponed for season, from pru-
Dental reasons. The war had just terminated
by General Johnston's capitulation in the
. neighborhood, it was swarming with Federal
/ soldiers, the Freedmen themselves were unset
J tied with novelty and excitement, and the peo-
pie were in an alarmed state not knowing what
was before them. The session understood
that Rev. Mr.. Miller fully concurred in the
, necessity of this delay; and they promised him
that in about sac ,0eeks, D. ", they would be
, ready to move. WAS this a very uureasona-
bic delay2) But unfortunately the pastor
seemed to get into hurry about it, and in his
pulpit complained of this postponement, and
charged that the Congregation Of Alamance
, desired to make the Bible a sealed book to the
colored race" His session were greatly sur
prised and mortified at this and his people
, cruelty wounded by such charge, made against
them by the pastor whom they had generously
sustained in his recent trials, at such time Of
public and private distress. II ,oas THIS, with
previous difficulties, which caused Mr.. Miller
to conclude with the concurrence of his ses-
sion, that his usefulness was at an end, and
not his proposed school for freedmen.
I'd. We wish to advert to his statements as
to the secession of 1000 colorcd COMMITMENTS
in the two Carolinas, from our communion,
and his efforts for them. One would think,
from his tone Of appeal, that all these people
were as sheep scattered abroad, having no
shepherd" Now, we simply request your
readers common sense to advert to the ques-
ton, how came they so? Are the churches
and pastors who gathered them from the world
extinct2 Have these colored members been
robbed of any church rights? Have they been
treated with any discourtesy? Not at all The
churches which they voluntarily Joined few
years ago, the pastors whom they loved, are all
there still, ready, willing, affectionately anx-
ious to labor for them. For it is our solemn
duty to truth, to bear this testimony, that
while our ministers and people well know that
violent emancipation was an enormous wrong
to them, and fatal cruelty to the colored
race, they have not blamed the latter; and
have treated them in every respect with mag
unanimous kindness.
But, it is said, the colored people are de-
cided in their desire for Northern connection.
Does it not deserve to be considered whether
this desire is prompted by Christian feelings
and if it be not, should not Northern Chris
tians discourage, instead Of stimulating it?-
But we beg you to note, second, that our AS
sembly has provided for doing all that may be
innocently done, to crafty it, under present
circumstances: and for doing as much as Rev.
Mr.. Miller and his associates are really able to
do. Has he, have you, really any corps Of ed
ucated black men, from whom to ordain minis