The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-03-19
Religion # the NegrO-Its Pecu-
l!aritics-Thc "BOOra, Faith
Effects OF Radical Teach
tng-A Negro Meeting,
RICMMONn- Va Enh

it? Does it deserve the name of relig-
ion? How few of us know anything
in the world about that miserable COM
pound OF ignorance, superstition, wick
edness and political prejudice upon
which rest the negro's hope of what he
hears called Heaven. Although we
hear continually Of the religious demor-
alization of the colored race, how few
of us have any idea of the extent to
which it has gono, and of the immi-
nent RELAPSE into barbarism which it
| foreslIadows.
The negro is an fmpressible, impul-
sive being, and before the war the la
bors OF many good masters at the South
for his spiritual welfare gave rich prom
ise of reward. A religious contempora-
ry remarks, 1--WE do not expect to see
this side of heaven scenes of greater
spiritual attractivcness than many of
these colored Sabbath schools and as
semblages for worship often afforded, in
the days of slavery.n But with the
passing away of the peculiar institu-
tion" of the South has vanished that
reverence for his late master which led
the poor negro to accept with faith the
words of divine truth which fell from
his lips. Under the influence cf de.
signing demagogues they have become
alienated from their old friends and
teachers, and have apparently come to
feel that the marks of true religion are
principles directly opposed to all they
before professed to love and cherish. A
new theological system with these
characteristics has recently been dis
covered to prevail in the most of the
Southern States. 1t is called by the ne
gro "Boora religion" which may be
derived from "Burcau," or "Frced-
mems Bureau" for under the teachings
of its agents has the new system sprung
into being. Its fundamental dogma is
salvation-not through Christ, but
through the mediation of the Bureau,
Its catechism, as reported to one OF
the editors of the Christian CJserrer OF
this city, is strange compound of SUI
perstition and blasphemy. 1t COM
mences:
"Who made you ?"
God"
"Who redeemed you?"
1.-THE Lord Jesus Christ"
"Who redeemed you from slavery ~
"Adrdham Lincoln"
In all this may plainly be trace / the
influence of the sanctimonious Massa-
chusetts carpet-baggers whose only aim
is their own political advancement in a
country in which they have no interest
and who to gain vote would scarcely
hesitate to damn soul. These men,
aware of the credulity of their dupes,
use every means to impress them with
the belief that Radicalism must be a
part of their religion. Their breath la
den with the odOr of Mountain Dew, or
just arisen from the couch Of sin, with
the, words of profanity not yet cold up
on their lips, the impious wretches will
go to a'political meeting composed of
hundreds of negroes and say, as did one
within my hearing, not long ago, with
sanctimonious drawl: "Brethren, we
should engage in nothing without invo-
king the blessing of God. Let us pray"
Then follows petition, not directed to
the throne of grace, but designed, as
much as the speech which it precedcs,
to work upon the minds of the ignorant
auditors. Negro preachers harangue
their congregations from the pulpit on
political subjects, and often invite pro,
minent politicians Ofthc same political
stripe to do the same. Underwood thus
preached sermon in the First African
Church in this city; so did Henry Will
son " hen he came to Richmond, and if
mistake not Senator Pomeroy In 1865!
Religious notices aro given out at pO-
litical meeting, and political notices at
Sunday services and prayer meetings
in the churches. A negro who "goes
back"o the party is liableto be expelled
from the church-a penalty tn fear of
which fills his weak mind with terror.
BY such means are the purposes of the
Radicalaaccomplished in the South. TO
such base devices does the "God and
morality" party resort in this year of
grace 1860.
To Northerner visiting the late re-
bellious States, the spectacle presented
at Il place where negroes worship is full
of strange interest. The night is their
time for service. Visiting church at
"early candle-light" we find it crowded
to its utmost capacity with negroes of
all ages and both sexes-an excited
throng of blacks, from whose perspiring
skins there arises an efiluvia not only
offensive, but almost insufTerable at
first. The preacher has not arrived and
tho people are getting impatient. Soon
a burly black rises to his feet and strikes
up an old familiar tune. which he sets
to words, perhaps improvised as he pro-
ceeds. Sometimes the "hymn" contains
gospel truths, though rudely and even
unintelligibly expressed; at other times
verses of plantation melodies burst
forth, and toe often it Is but politieo.
religious song; perhaps the blasph0-
nous abolition chorus, "John Brown's
body lies mouldering in the ground" and
sometimes "We'll rally ronnd the fiag,
boys" ascends rs a "hideous mockery
of praise to God" Whatever 1t is, hun
dreds of brazen throats join la hearty
chorus, and every moment tho excite
ment increases. Then the preacher