The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-05-05
THE GOSPEL AMONG THE COLoRED
PEOPLE.

When Rev. j. G, Shepperson, at the late meet
ing of Montgomery Presbytery, introduced an
overture to the General Assembly on the SUBJECT
and signi6ed his intention to make speech upon
it, there were probably many who felt sort OF I'M
patience at the return of thread bare theme, ana
saw no reason for any effort in this quarter and no
hope in it. But the views presented by the excel
lent brother should satisfy such that some Of our
Southern people have too soon resigned in despair
an obvious duty.
The Presbytery did not approve an overture to
the General Assembly, as that body had already
acted in the matter, and RENTED it to the Presby
teries to take such steps as to them may seem
best, but it did adopt such measures as revealed
its sense of the importance OF still trying to do
something for the religious improvement OF our
colored population,
The argument presented in favor Of some action
in this matter by Southern Christians is unanswer
able By no process of reasoning, as MIR. S. sug-
gested, can we exclude the African race from the
great commission, to preach the Gospel to every
creature. The difficulty of the undertaking, their
apparent inaccessibiity to our efforts by reason of
their prejudice in favor of their own, or Northern
teachers, is not sufficient reason for inactivity.
| 1t is only one of those obstacles which in some
form or other develop the opposition of the great
adversary to the promotion of the Gospel We
might Just as nationally abandon missionary efforts
in India on account of caste, in China because it
is so hard to learn the dialects, or in South Africa
because some of the tribes have not word IN
their language to express religious idea
If it be suggested that the religious instruction
of these people has been assumed by Northern
Christians, and may be left to them-then it may
be as well to commit to strangers any other class
of our ignorant neighbors who naturally belong to
our sphere of labor. He may, by the same pro-
cess of reasoning, resign to Northern laborers the
whole work of preaching the Gospel to the South
ern country.
These people are members of our community,
our peace and safety are involved in their moral
and religious character. A man who cares nothing
for religion would desire that they may be properly
instructed in the Scriptures.
The argument of Mr.. Shepperson is the basis of
what has been given above Its here reproduced,
not with the view to raise any vexed question about
ordination of black preachers or anything of that
sort but simply to excite the mind of the Chris
tian reader to inquire care l doing what [ can
to promote the Gospel among my colored servants
and neighbors?" Many will say "Oh they
wont hear u.s." But have you approached them
In many families over the land the blacks about
the house come in to family worship. In thous-
ands of others they come not; are they asked ?
The writer has seen in two instances during the
last twelve months, groups of eager and interest
ed colored people gathered round Christian lady
on a Sabbath afternoon in the country receiving
instruction; he knows of another case in which a
refined and cultivated Virginia woman has taught
since tho war, colored school, from day to day,
with such acceptance and success that she acquired
unbounded influence over both children and par
ents. The confidence of the latter was such that
during school hours they committed their children
entirely to her control, and to any discipline she
thought proper to maintain. They were punctual
in the payment Of the small stipend she exacted of
them, it being mainly labor of love on her part
they were enthusiastic in their support and appro-
baton and clamorous always for the school to be
resumed after every temporary suspension.
Let us be satisfied to do what we can; to do a
little, and do it at once Great results will follow
by and by. The ecclesiastical order to be estab-
lished.will natural grow up into form when honest,
earnest efforts have, by the blessing of God, given
us substance about which to legislate. The Pres
bytery of Montgomery wisely determined first of
all to send the Gospel to the people in question.
The brother whose arguments have been given
was appointed as an evangelist to labor among
them, and two other ministers were appointed to
devote part of their time to the work. If public
efforts of this sort are generally initiated, and are
seconded by such methods of private instruction
as may be put in operation in families and schools,
we shall probably soon discover that the utter sep
aration of our former slaves from us in religious
concerns, and their abandonment to barbarism or
fanatcism is MT, as many seem to suppose, a
fixed, and unaterable, and irremediable fact