The national Republican., 1869-01-09
our Washington Correspondence.

JASuART s, 1850.
Tug METHOD ST MISSIONARIES AND rHK NE
GRoBs,
To THE REPUBLICAN,: On the llth instant the
annual meeting or convention OF the Northern
Episcopal Meth oiist Missionary Society takes
place here. Up to this time, that association
has failed Iamentably In the matter OF making
due provision for missions among the blacks
In all quarters of the Union. With all its real
in other directions, and its ample means at
command, 1t has seemed almost entirely to
overlook and disregard the most inviting and
really most promising field for its labors. /
mean among the blacks of the United States.
Never were a people more thirsty for general
knowledge and Christian instruction than the
blacks of the South have been for the last
three years. No other people ever learned
faster or improved faster than these same ne.
groes in that time, 10 all elements OF personsl
character likely to enable them to appreciate
the solid advantages Of Christian instruction.
Upon the rApidity Of their Improvement In
that and all other ways depends In great
measure the solution OF the problem OF the
SOuth's Industrial regeneration in due time
The improvement OF labor has been the key
to the advance ment OF our great West, North
and East. True, labor In those societies has
been well nigh exclusively white. Neyerthe.
less, its Improvement by common school and
Christian instruction has been OF vast benefit
to all classes aud all interests in society,
not only surrounding it, but throughout the
land. No well read msn-no man eonversant
with the progress Of society, the arts, litera.
ture, science, Sc, In different countries, fails to
comprehend at this late day that popular edu.
cation-the education OF labor-is worth vastly
more to all than what 1t costs property In
taxes paid to advance and secure 1t. II II
pays, morally speaking, to enlighten with les
sons OF practical Christianity the laborlng
white man-and what Christian denies the
faeti-will It not as surely pay to spread Cos.
pei among, and otherwise enlighten, the labor.
Ing blacks That is, among all the blacks, for
the non'laborerA among them are so few as to
form no exception worthy OF consideration. !
regret to say that In Kentucky, NJ aryland and
Virginia, at least, not one Episcopal NJ ethod
ist preacher In fifty has OF late taken any part
In the duty Of aiding, by special means, the
efforts OF the black for their own combined
Intellectual and spiritual advancement.
know | am correct In assuring the REPUBLI'
CAMS readers that In their meetings for al
most every end they are far more prone ia
open them with invocations OF Divine Provi
dence for guidance and assistance In the worli
they may have on hand than any others
Thus, OF all men In those States, at least, they
Cyince more powerful frame OF mind for sue
ceSsful missionary miniStration than any
Others surrounding them. Yet the Episcopal
MethodisH and all other white ministers in
their midst pay almost as little attention to
their spiritual necessities as though morally
sure they are without souls. Fear OF white
popular dlsiaYoF, AN sorry to have to say, 10
at the bottom OF this apparent neglect IN their
part. Before the late abOrtive rebellion they
were far better attended to in this matter than
flate.