The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-06-16

item of, ALLEVIATE them from ia, and
increase the antipathy between tho
racrs2
When ] returned from n Northern
prison, some Of the blacks asked mo to
peach to them. I agreed to meet a
sew OF their leading men,, but found a
whole congregation gathered to meet
me. | asked theth what had brought
them thus together2 Nothing but the
love Of jesus. They wcpi, and wcp.
with them. l.r, us culiva.c that bond.
the bond Of tie love Of Jesus, and some
Of the ronghncsscs and asperllirs may
be healed.
II we reliin them, what policy shall
We adopt towards them? l urge Civ.
lns them formativ" orgnniza.ion.--
Not to erect barrier, and say you
shall not take any part in the govern.
ment of your churches and nsurp The
prerogatives Of God in saying "you
have not been called to preach the Cos
pei"
[ would not DO rash, but I would
make a present policy, and then, in the
future, rccede from it or maintain it,
a cording t, its practical workings.
Shall we len provide Tor them in
our own churches, or give them a scpn-
rate organization Dr.. Thornwell urg.
ed the latter The style of instruction
given to the whites is above Tie capaci.
, ty Of the blacks.
Say what you will about the simplci.
ty OF preaching, we mnsL conform our
preaching to the capacity Of our hearers.
We do not address the same language
to children in Sabbath School and to
adults in church.
Then, too, arises the question Of pror
crly. The sooner We separate the
blacks, aud give them distinct service,
the sooner shall we be free from fears
! Of the loss Of our church buildings. AS
to the machinery, there is great Difficult.
ty, and mo entertain no tendency TO
dugma,ism.
We propose to keep them under a
capable white ministry for the present
There ale yet none Of them qualified to
perform the delicate duties of q pastor.
1t will take years and years of enlght.
ened instruction, to fit them for it,. The
second point is to give them ruling cld-
ers. see tho constitutional difficulties
of the matter. Irespect the. Constitu
zion and lwonld not needless)y break
over it. But on missionary ground we
cannot demand the came earthly kuowl.
edge as a qualification Tor the Office OF
ruling elder. And further, the inatruc
tiop OF Tie Spirit Of God is The best pre-.
paralion for holding Office, and some of
them have the ability to make prayers
that we would gladly learn to make
So much as to their qualification. And
as to their performance of The duties Of
rnl"g elders, they have for years and
years been virtually and practically
elders, doing the " ork. visiting the sick
and administering to the dying. Why
not now make tlm formally so2
But the real constitutional difficulty is
iic Introduction Of 4 distinction Of color
| But the Constitution was not framed
with q view to the present position Of
the South. 1t has already been the case
that wo have not represscd the Preshy-
rlan rights of these people we have not
suffered them to be elected to the elder
ship. If we were then justified in de-
parting so widely, why not now depart
less widely? twill he said that we are
setting a dangerous precedent, but the
case Is so peculiar that have little fear
OF any injury from it. Suppose we do
refuse ruling elder the privilege of a
scat in Presbytery and he consents to it,
we do HIM no violent wrong. and refuse
him one privilege only because Of pecu.
liar difficulties.
The whole question turns on tLis
first question. If VIC do not adopt
that, then [ abandon the rest of the
scheme. But l should 90 home with
a heavy heart. For without some
plan of this sort, can see no prospect
of retaining our influence over them
! for good.
A Methodist brother lately said to
me, you are wasting much sanctified
material upon'this people. The Metho-
dist policy has been to throw them off
into q separate organization with q
Yo'y sliSu6 ,cQHnecClon WAth Vnat
Church. Shall we also set them
adrift upon the sea of ignorance, super
stition, radioalism and fanaticism
After some further discussion, in
which various amendment and substi-
tntes were offered and lost, tho report
was adopted. - Charleston Courier. j,
RETURN OF Ex-GovERNoR REY-
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