The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-01-27
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE
REV. S. C. LOGAN AND THE REV.
DIR. ]. LEIGHTON WILSON.

PITTsBURG, Pa, Aug. 25, 1868.
Reu. J. L. Wilson, ID. d,
Sec. S. F. s. p Ch
Rev. and Dear Sir: 1 enclose by mail
to you to-day copies of the second and
third Annual Reports of the General
Assembly's Committee on Freedmen, and
would respectly ask your attention to the
resolution of the last Assembly, as you
find it on page 2Sth of the Sd report,
and numbered Sth. This resolution was
unanimously passed by the Assembly,
thereby declaring the general and hearty
desire to cooperate with your Church in
the work of planting the gospel institu-
tiOns among the freedmen. A pressure
of duties alone has prevented an earlier
attention to this resolution on my part,
as it received my hearty support at the
time it was adopted. By an examination
of the two reports enclosed to you, you
will be able to gather correct idea Of
the general plan upon which the Assem-
bly's Committee are endeavoriDg to pros
ecute the work. No doubt you will find
many mistakes in that plan, and possibly
insuperable objections to it. 1t is the
outgrowth of limited experience in field
of peculiar difficulties, Our whole work
has been an experiment, and has been
continued in its main features chiefly be-
cause of the apparent substantial success
which has attended it. We have tried
to look upon the Africans in this country
as We would on the same race in the laud
Of their fathers-as capable of true ele-
walton only by the power of true rel-
gion. Like all other sinners, they can
have hope only through "the saving
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" We
desire to conduct the work of missions
among them as we would among any
other people, without regard to any ulti-
mate destiny or relations, social or poht-
ical, which the Lord may have in store
for them. Our aim is to give them the
Church of Christ with all its institutions
and blessings. The peculiar prejudices,
which are natural and in many cases
just, which have gathered about this peo-
pie, have constantly perplexed and great,
ly hindered the work while the passions
engendered by civil war, which subse-
quent events have tended rather to in
crease than allay, between brethren of
the same ecclesiastical household, have
come in to aggravate these prejudices,
and so make it more difficult to secure
now an active and hearty cooperation.
But surely we ought TO make the attempt
in the spirit of Christ. Has not the time
come, dear brother, when we ought to
hear the voice which says "to the North,
give up, and to the South, keep not
back?
Will you be kind enough to to give me
your views on this whole matter, and
suggest any plan Vhieh mag occur to
yoar mind by which our Church can
cooperate with yours in this great field.
can assure you that whatever may be
the difference of judgment between US,
your suggestions and propositions will
always be treated with brotherly candOr
and respect.
There are two things which seem clear
to my mind in regard to all successful
work among the freedmen. 1st. They
must be placed in separate church or
ganisations, whatever ultimate ecclesias
tical relations they may sustain to the
Church at large. ] have not room to
give the reasons which lead to this con-
clusion. 2d. 1t is both unreasonable
and destructive of true evangelizatiOn
among .hem to try to perpetuate the
distinctions between New and Old School
or the prejudices that unhappily exist
between the Northern and Southern Pres