The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-04-27
Religion among the Negroes.

A correspondent of the Catholic Revic,
Brooklyn, writes very interesting lett,
from Palatka, Florida, concerning the rel
g'oas STATUS OF the Southern negroes. Fro,
5hls letter we extract the following:
a Inc progress of tho Church among tb
8 coIcIed people since the war has not bee
!, Tapio or pretentious. That which ba
6een accomplished has been al most who'll
, oone ny tue local and humble forces of tn
resioent Catholics themselves. Sunday an,
gay classes for the colored children have
oeen formed and encouraged as UNIVERSAL,
, as possible. Here and there separat,
care, usually, of religious teachers. The
female Orders have been foremost in this
wSrk. IL ls a pleasing spectacle to see, in
d oouthern town, the devoted Sisters mar.
shai their neat and orderly little armies on
sundays or festival days and lead them to
The colored children are naturally good
natared and tractable. In fact, their do
ciilty 01ten degenerates into fault, since
through 1T they are easily msled. They
are initiative in high degree, and fear
sy thss ats greatly inu
difficulty which we have to overcome
among the colored people," said a Jealous
priest, who has long made them a study.
lis their human respect"
1hey are Influenced by numbers and by
the tie of races. Thus, where Catholics
serves, they will readily attend the Catho.
nc church but where Catholics are in the
minority their conversion is difficult ana
eaelr perseverance uncertain. The shout
ing and singing gatherings" of their own
race race, described in my preceding letter,
nave great attraction for them, and have
drawn away not few week minded Cath
oHcs. 1here are many, however, eScep-
tlonally steadfast and devout, who, as
fruits of the Church, give excellent pro-
mise for the future.
Through the instruction of their children
IN the schools the older negroes arc indi-
rectly reached. They are encouraged in
other ways: to come to Church and frequent
the sacraments. Towards this end they |
are united in pious confraternities, and |
brought together occasionally for special
services and Instructions, where thew ioin.
most pleasingly and decorously, in singing
the customary hymns of the Church. In
81. Augustine, for example, where the
blacks are almost wholly Catholic, they
are united in the confraternities of st.
Joseph and st. Benedict, the latter negro
saint of South America. attended in the
old cathedral there speca! sermon for tho
negroes 10y Father Concilio, of Jersey
City,, and Benediction, at which there was
q large representation, the women, as usual
predominating: Their singing was in
every respect devotional, and very similar
in effect to that of the children of orr Sun
Jay schools, nor was it 0larred by the
siightcst tendency to extravaganza.
SO largely Catholic is the negro COM
nunlty OF this antique town, that their ex-
'eptionally good character may be readily )
to their faith. ~ have noticed,n
laid Protestant visitor to me "that the ]
negroes in this place are milder in disposi. t
ION, and more reliable in character than
Elsewhere. They are given neither to /
lying, nor profanity" t
Despite the "attractions" of Methodist {
md Baptist gathering, the latter lately or 7
anized there by some Georgia negroes, :
olored residents have remained, with rare 7
RECEPTIONS, wholly attached to the faith. 4
1t Is yet vexed question whether in 7
tempting the work of converting the L
outhern negroes, separate church edifices c
aust be established or not. 1t has been Il
aid that they themselves object to such o
ISOLATION, and prefer either no distinction Q
the usual plan Of accommodation in a U
esigncd portion of the existing churches.
is certain, however, as has been said,
lat there is, to them, a special attractive o.
ess IN congregations wholly of their own OF
Dior. Where their numbers are small. tc
nd their faith exposed to attack, doubt. 81
ss, isolation would be unwse. But where G.
le ability exists, and the prospects Justify, r
'parate churches would seem best cn!cu. tr
ted to gather and unite them. The CO.
1lohCe VI race anu tne power OF mum OerS, :,
q auxiliaries which should be utilized ST
Id not ignored. missionary priest, who th
Is passed six years in their midst, ex- CO
'essed to me his positive conviction, that tie
accomplish great things among them m
ey must be drawn into separate congre- dt
Itions, ~and special services adapted t. -
cir appreciation be frequently held.
here would be little danger of any such -
'generacy as that into which the Protest. 7
&c services has fallen in its adoption of this tro
an. In the presence of the Divine mys- GoI
rles' commanding that involuntary ST. NJ
nee and devotion which distin cuishes the
cry Catholic Church, there is no pretext acc acc
: such liberty of behavior. Yet, after emit
4, he felt that there were objections, v vid
ither few nor slight, to such a separa- pro
n. A slow and solid progress was far s S1s
tier than an ambitious straining at great \
ngs. Time must be taken to work ont Of I
refully the right solution of the pro- Of !
I'M. Lot
Upon the white Catholic laity of the ban 7,
nth the future will greatly depend. By odit
city and zeal, by example and influence Is
y can do much, in quiet ways toward the