The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-07-01
For the Standard.
The COlOred Sunday School Exhibition.

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For the Standard.
The Colored Sunday School Exhibition.
MEssRs EDITORS With a candid mind
visited the above display of capabilities
among, the youthful Hembers Of the Metho-
dist Church, at their last nights celebration,
the design in part, being to raise funds for
the purchase of Melodeon. ,a.a,
I condense what IS said, but hope to be
understood. These exhibitions are supposed
to concentrate the talent of the schools, in
taxing the capacity of pupils, and likewise
of teachers in the matter of elocution, pro-
nunciation, selection of pieces. &C., &C.
Having seen exhibitions by different white
congregations, as well North as South, and
having formed in my mind true pat
tern or standard of such proficiency, it was
easy to compare and contrast in every part
of the exercises. giving credit to whom
credit is due. For painness, let me distin-
guish the parts of character involved into
first, -t..
MEMoRY.-I was prepared to hear pieces
well memorized. This population possessing
rare talent of the kind, whether caused by
necessitated reliance thereon during former
ignorance, and I was not disappoint-
Ell, for no prompting. seemed requisite
Even the smallest child was at no fault.
CoNFIDENcE.-Here was surprised. 1t
had been my opinion that in such novel at
tempts, some degree of timidity would be
manifested. Not So Beyond the courage
of whites, these all met their responsibilities
of character whether in song, elocution or
dialogue, promptly and unfllnchingly.
VoIcE.--Here again l was surprised, and
that doubly, as my idea was that females
all had rich voices, whereas, all appeared
deficient in fullness and tone. They did
not sing as we'll as in the white schools of
like ayes But what these lacked the males
made up in the astonishing fuIlness, and
oratorcal quality of voice; while some of
the speeches excelled in style and force of
intonaton. They seemed to apprehend the
full meanings of their recitals, uttering all
with gesture, command and the lip, surpri-
singly. ssMWa "a lo 3
PRoNoUNcING.-This is always critical
part. And here I noted every out-of-the-
way word to see their skill. The instruc-
tors had prepared for this, and such words as
heroism, ""haunt," were unerringly uttered,
while Poe's most singular and complex
piece was recitod by a young girl of sixtoon,
perhaps, with creditable procession of rythm
and expression.
THE SELEcTIoNs.--These were in good
taste, and as chosen by the other schools,
great help TO the singing. but this deficien-
cy, it is hoped, will soon be remedied. Fond
of music myself, and impressed with its in
fluence on character, it gave me great salts
faction to contribute towards such pur-
poses. Let all the colored churches have
music in aid of worship, and obtaining
good leaders, it will be the means of inspir-
ing their lack of taste generally, in time, an
indispensable element in all melody.
THE SUM OF ALL.-How compare the color
ed with the white youth9 If equal in these
primary exercises, will they equal in advanced
respects 1t is said, the freedman learns by
rote, and cannot 60 beyond; that he learns
all primary branches more rapidly. perhaps,
than the other. I am not yet able to say,
how this is. But watched carefully to see
speakers. and lam free to admit closing the
eyes and listening, the delusion would have
been complete that the orators were doing
exceedingly well. There seemed force of
character in what was done, the main idea
in such an inquiry as this as to the re-
spective merit of our former slaves and our
selves, in rigid comparison. ra7
My impression is, that the freedman's
capacity will fall short in close mental pro.
cesses as in mathematics and the like; that
for personating, he represents somewhat the
Chinese for quickness in imitation; for
love of the plain, tender teachings of the
scriptures for example; and for what ever
ranges little below the logical compass of
mind, the race just emancipated will equal
ourselves, and just here, I would add, that
the churches are correct in teaching this
race the forms of worship, as they seem
doubtless to enjoy the services of the
Episcopal or Romish church as well as Others.
In a word, if such minds can be develop
ed int this indexed shape, and such educa-
ton advance happiness, as it undoubtedly
must, it becomes our duty to give scope to
this new element of society, and impress
both virtue and intelligence on it. Leaving
the fact of emancipation to the fiat of the
sword, it would i'll become me to deny its
destiny. shall never throw any obstacle
in the way of this race, but encourage it in
becoming wise, virtuous, useful and happy.
H.- A FORMER SLAVE OWNER.
/ GENERAL GRANTS FAMILY.-In the very best
of the short biographies of Grant printed since
= T.