Smyrna times., 1867-10-02

CORNERSTONE IAfINU.-1ne ccreIDOHlcS
of the laying Of the corner, stone of the new
African NJ. Z. Church, OF this town, were per
formed on Sunday afternoon last, Rev. j. n.
Brown, of Baltimore, officiating. A large au-
dence was IN attendance, including a consld-
cradle number of white persons After the
usual exercises had been observed the preach
er made an able address to the congregation.
He alluded to the numerous edifices OF this
character that were being built not only in this
State but all through the South by the colored
people, who were thus evincng their desire
to elevate their Christian standard, and make
all possible progress in religion, education and
refinement 1t might be asked why they did
not worship with their white friends, as for
merly? There were several reason for sepa-
rate action, he thought, the main one being
known to every one present, and need not be
mentioned Besides, he believed it was the
will Of God for them to work out their own
salvation and reformation, and the instrument
of power had been taken from their own ranks,
as it had on other occasions in the history of
the Church. When the Catholic Church was
to be reformed God chose Luther and Melanc-
thon from that Church to do it; when the
Church of England was to be re-Spirltualized
John Wesley was chosen; when the Presby-
terian Church was established John Calvin was
chosen; and for the founder of the African
been chosen-a poor slave boy of Sussex coun.
ty, who had been Influenced by Bishop Asbu-
rvs peaching and who commenced preaching
in that faith under Asbury, who educated and
qualified him for the work. This man was
Richard Allen, Of Georgetown, in your own
State. 1t was sometimes asked why they did
not join the other denominations, like the white
people? He replied that by all uniting under
one Church organization they possessed more
controlling influence for good among their Owl
people and more strength as a religious body
than if divided, fifty members in one Church
thirty i'll another, &c. Just as it is in por
tions of Pennsylvania he had recently visited
there the Germans worshiped as one denomi
nation, singing, praying, ETC., in their owl
language. He thought they were stronger by
it, These Germans had their localities as wei
as their language and their manners. Ill
thought the colored people would, also, to
great extent. And they would remain in tn
South. He travelled in the Northern State
considerably and had been well pleased witt
them, but the Southern States were more con
genial to him because he was born here (twelv
miles above this town. and it felt like home
The proposition put forth by Kentuckia
to transport their race outOf the country woul
not work. 1t was an impossible task beside
! there was the late masters who, i'll many il
stances, had their favorite coachmen, butler>
etc.-they would not want them sent away
! And the mistresses had their tavorite old sci
| wants whom they would not consent to pal
with In addition to this there was the ii
of blood relationship which had in some cast
5 occurred between the two races. During the
a ensaveInent it would not work because th
4 Southern people would not give up their pr
t perty. Their destiny was cast in this countr.
unalterably, and now that slavery was aboisl
e ed now that the shackles had fallen from the
i. hands, never, thank God, to be replaced, q
they asked was the rights which belonged
@ them. They desired to raise themselves fro
e the degraded position which their late thra
dom has placed them; to purify and save the
o souls by these churches to elevate and instru
l. their minds by these schoOhouses to raise Il
men above the row the women above the brOt
e ell. His white friends would not object
it that. Only the other day, in FELTON,, whe
ii he spoke, a gentleman, prominent Democra
1t told him that he believed that it was the be
thing for them. He had been repeatedly to
ct the same thing in the South. And we mU
- appeal to our more fortunate white friends
De assist u.s. They have all the wealth, the int
r ligence, the refnement-they own all the ra
Sc roads. telegraphs, steamboats,, factories, e
Therefore we cannot get along without th'
aid. They can get along without us but
It. cannot get along without them. Our mo
a. of worship, our enthusiasm, may be incompl
or hensble to our white friends, still it is earn
ed and soul-inspiring, and while he was not p
I'd pared to sanction shouting himself, still
,i- thought it better to be eccentric in a go
of cause than to act ludicrous in sin and Grin
it He alluded to the rapid progress they We
making in religious and educational point
,al view they have two thousand ministers,
en- college, newspaper etc., and their object v
as to bring these boys up in the church and &c
ht cate them for missionaries to Africa Althou
i'll he was not native of that country, and
IN though he and many others were considera
beached, still it was the home of the bls
man and his interests were enlisted in its
yal halt
on The discourse was able, well-timed and
at chile.