The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-15

The establishment of Normal schools for the ne
groes, like the excellent and we'll endowed Agrcui- |
tural and Polytechnic Institute at Hampton near
Fortress Monroe, will do than anything else W
confirm their possibly waverug interest Ill eaucal
tonal schemes for their benefit Enlightened anu
well trained colored teachers thoroughly under,
standing the diosyncrases of their own race ana
sincerely DESTROYS to promote their good, without
partisan or selfish aims will become the best agency
tor keeping alive their present zeal for setlmproVe-
ment and for insructng them how to guard the grea
political estates recently and suddenly conferred
on them against the raids OF pillaging and unpnn
: cipled demagogues.
AFRICAN INDEPENDENT CHURCHES.
Next as to the efforts made for the direct re
Egious instruction of the freednen, may say that
every Evangelical Church In the South has their
spiritual welfare at heart, and gladly embraces
r every opportunity for doing them good. The col
ored people among us prefer separate independent
ecclesiastical organizations, and those OF the "h'Ve
race, who have given the subject the most cohsci-
1 entous thought are disposed 10 encourage them 10
5 forming churches Of their own, with ministers and
officers Of their own choosing-all TO be gathered
< when they become sufficiently numerous, under tue
S care of Presbyteries Synods, Conferences, Asso-
/ cations or Conventions, according to the deuoml
nations TO which they belong, their white breth-
+ rem, in the meantime giving them all the encour-
agement, pecuniayy aid, and moral support ID thelr
/, power. This is the preference of the freedmen
+ and the policy of the Methodist and Bapus
q Churches to which denominations the cOlored peo
S pie IN the South for the most part belong.
h Few of them now remain IN connection with the
Methodist Church South. But with Its approval
and under Its auspices an African Methodist church
IS has been organized distinct and independent, yet
t still looking to their old spiritual guardians ioI
} sympathy, counsel and help This they receive
? All the houses OF worship belonging to the Metho-
odist Church South, which we're built tor their col
T ored members are transferred to them Wheh they
q organize churches OF their own and In every Wa
they are encouraged and assisted In carrying Out
their wish to maintain distinctive eccieSlasticai
Ite with congregations composed exclusively OIL
81 their people, under the control oil their pas
r tors aud officers OF their own race
This instructive and intense regard Tor race, which
z first segregates ana then consohdates them, Is a
stronger bond than that OF nationality, and 1t Is
J. perhaps prophecy and preparation Tor the time
Is when they will be cOOnzad into some State or Ter
5, Iitory Of their own This will probably be the
q happy ano harmonious solution of the problem OF
their destiny in this country, for all history shows
1t how difficult it is for two races dissmllar IN
10 character and capacity to live together 10 the
peaceful exercise of coordinate authority IN Church
D and State.
1t is now admitted to be one of the great discOv-
p cries OF modern missions, that Christianity Is most
+ rapidly and permanently advanced by the establish
Y ment OF selt-rellant churches composed Wholly OF
e native converts each church complete In ITSELF,
l, with pastors of the same race with the people,
The illustration OF this principle is already oegin-
ID ming to be seen 10 the South. The cOOred Bishop
ID of the Methodist Church, the Right Rev. W. H..
Is Miles, man Of eminent prudence ana plety, at
Is recent General Conference held at Augusta, IRA,
- reported IA annual Conferences with more than
n 600 travelling preachers aud nearly 600 local
d preachers, and a membership OF about 10 OOO -
lc He opposes mixed schools, mixed membership
~ and favors an organization conhned TO his own PEG
u ple-not in any spirit OF antagOnsm or unklndness,
ID for he exhorts them to cultivate the most amcabe
g, relations with the whites, and to Identity them
u selves with the interests OF the communities In
er which they reside. Besides this there are two
* other divisions of the Methodist Church IN the
re South Nor are cur Baptist Churches less active
~ and efficient In their abors for the colored people
is They have missionary societies. whose business 1t
is to set the blacks to doing something Tor them
selves, and the whites to helping them They hnd
the Sunday School TO be an instrumentahty ad-
Ut miraby adapted for giving them Just the training
os they most need, because OF the opportunity 1t al
D. lords of impartDg such instruction as informs the
rs understanding and enightens the Conscience
{ These are springlDg up all over the South, and
{ those which are MAINTAINED during the Winter as
IL we'll as the Summer months are called by the sig
Is ni6cant name Of EVergreens.
" WHAT THE FREEDMEN NEED
1t But after ALL the paramount necessity of the
10 Southern African churches is a thoroughly educated
~ ministry of their own. Nothing can be INSTITUTED
,e for this nor catthe complete development OF their
ecclesiastical life ever be attained without 1t. The
Is negroes are cOnsututlouauy imaginative ana mer-
q cural with strong inclination to superstition and
ianaticsm and what they most require 10 couneract
these tendencies is systematic instruction IN divine
!, truth-not the technical systems OF schools not
metaphysical subeties seotarlan polemlcs, but
8 grounding in fundamental ncples-such ground
- ing as comes from illustrating these prime pies so
simply, and relteraung them so patiently, as 10 lu
> sure true and clear comprehension OF them. II
ignorant enthusiasts and fiery fanatics are their
y spiritual guides, their religion will be the lntoXlca
u ton of excited animal sensibihtes, full OF the
chimeras of distempered fancy instead OF the calm
sobriety of rational faith aud the salutary con
d vctions of conscience enlightened by the Spirit Of
ID Truth. The Church. therefore, which secures this
n kind of instruction of them is their greatest bene'
e factor The American Baptist Home Missionary
d Society is doing noble work in this direction. 1t
e has established seven schools one IN Washington
City, and the others in the Southern States at well
e selected points, VIZ, Richmond, Raleigh Columbia
e Augusta New Orleans aud Nashville, for the edu-
cation of young of color for the gospel ministry
% TYPE OF CIVILIZATION AND CHRISTIANITY AMONG
THE FREEDMEN.
v Let us hope that these various instrumentalites
. will be blessed by the great Head of the Church
to the highest good of the African people in this
n country nNothing but the conservative power of
f Christianity them against the Influences
# which threaten them Nothing else can bring
n them happy future. There is much to hinder
their attainment of high degree of civilization.
: They are mentally and physically united to cope
L with the superior energy OF the white races 1t Is
no disparagement to the African, and no reflection
j. on the wisdom and goodness Of the Creator that
these inequalities exist. The truest friend of the
African is not the man who inspects him through
/ the rOse-colored lenses OF a sentimental phanthro
by, but who looks at him In the light OF truth,
recognizing his weaknesses that he may guard him
against their Influences and approaching his good
/ qualities that he may encourage him in their de-
yeopment
There is before him the hope of moral and
D spiritual progression of greater worth than any
that is merely mental aud though his type of civ
= ilizatOn and Christianity may be different IRON
that of the Caucasian 1t need mot be necessarily
an inferior one; though he may never be distin-
y guished in the walks of pbilosopbic or scientific
research OF broad states nanship or of original
discovery, yet he may attain to a spiritual devel'
opment of the gentlest and most attractive char
e aoter The very traits so prominent in his nature,
his freedom from ambition and ayarice, his hum
D BILE, doae, forgiving oontented patient loving,
submissive spirit may, under the eherishng and
sanctfying influence OF divine grace, prepare him
for type of Christian civilization, softer kndlier,
fuller of the virtues of the Sermon on the Mount,
t more selEsacri6cng and richer 10 the sweet char
tiles OF the Gospel than any yet exhibited by the
l more aggressive and dominant white races
THE RED MAN.
A glance at another race thrown upon our Chris
tan charity iu the providence of God will CON-
pete my sketch of the mission Field of the