The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-11-14

OF Virginia by Mrs. Ann Chrlstlan hent, OF ooutn-
western Virginia and asked that a committee be
appointed to examine the will and look after the
proDerty. Committee appointed Ruling elders
f. n Watkins, Robert 0 I'D, and John l. Marye.
REPORT ON SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE COL.
oRED PEOPLE.
A committee of seven appointed at last Synod to
consider the spiritual condition and wants Of the
colored people presented a report. De- Pryor,
chairman asked leave for the report to be read by
Colonel j. T. l. Preston, member OF the com
mttee.
The report gave some information as to the COL
ored churches of other denominations and the
work in their behalf by Baptlsts, Methodlsts, and
Eoiscopalians.
Our own church has an Institute at Tuscaloosa
for the education of colored ministers; and there
are under our care 25 churches of colored people,
ministers, centiates, and six candidates for the
ministry. The Northern Presbyterian Church has
expended about 500 900 in the work OF evangeliz-
ing this part of our southern population.
The report presented an encouraging view OF the
prospect for usefulness In this hsld. Two facts
were made prominent in the report First, that
the coIOred people are sverse to fusion with the
whites in their ecclesiastical relations aud second.
that generally their preference for the Baptist and
Methodist Churches that only under peculiar cir
oumstances would they unite with the Presbyterian
Church Yet it is our duty to do fully our part
for their moral and spiritual elevation. Where
they have churches of their own their pulpits are
generally open to our ministers. who are welcomed
by the congregations Besides the opportunities
of beneitting through the pulpit we have an inVit
ing field for Sabbath School instruction.
The reading of the report was followed by re-
marks from the chairman, DR.. Pryor, giving a full
aud forcbe presentation of the SUI jeot He &C.
knowle6ged the courtesy OF Dr.. Jeter, of the Bap.
fist Church, and DR.. Bennett of the Methodist,
IN furnishing the committee II tJrmatlon as to what
was doing in this cause ia their respective Church
ss. The speaker wished, as an Offset to the state
mert made In the recent Pan Presbyterian Council
10 Z limbaugh that only the Northern Presbyterian
Church, and not the Southern, had done anything
efficient for the coored people OF the South, to
state some facts as to the action of our Church.
Lexington Presbytery had licensed colOred minis
ter in 1901 and facts were cited from the history
of the Church showing that from that time on
ward we have been interested in this work. Whilst
the Northern Church bad been able to furnish
more means than we we're able to d. yet owing
10 the relation in which we stand to them the
work of their evsngellzatlon must be chiefly done
by u.s. In their religious elevation, whilst 1t was
best, and indeed necessary, that they should have
separate organizations, yet it was all important
that they should be kept under the influence Of
the whites He spoke Of their moral condition,
which was in some respects gratifying, considering
their circumstances. In the matter Ct temperance,
comparison was to the discredit of the whites
This race has strong religious tendency, and If
we do not give them true religion they Will have
a false one Dr. Pryor desire was not to make
them Presbyterisus, but Christians.
Colonel Preston added some facts as supplement
tary to the report confirming the positions pre-
sented in it. There were in his town (Lexington)
five churches FIR the whites and three for the col
ored people. The zeal shown by the oolOred peo
pie in the erection of one of these churches was
more commendable than that of any white congre-
CATION They had raised So 500, though all poor
laborers, and had done this work themselves. =
Their pastor had gone to Philadelphia to seek aid,
but did not receive enough to pay bis travelling ex-
penses home. The credit was all their own. The
spirit manifested in their church work was exceed
iugy encouraging for the future Of this race. The
race may pass away before the Anglo Saxon, as the
Indian has done; he hoped it would not; but
whilst here we owe duty to those with Us before
thev pass from the stage Of life.
Rev. DR.. j. NJ. P. Atkinson heartily endorsed
the report.
Dr.. Pryor. in his reference to the efforts made
10 Lexington Presbytery many years ago, mention
ed the names of Moses Hoge, grandfather of our
Moses, and Alexander, the grandfather OF our Alex
AZ der and Samuel Brown, father OF our Sam
He gave many amusing aud instructive incidents
ia tue life of the celebrated colored preacher Of
NottoWay, Uncle Jack, who among other wise |
savings, said in reference to strutting members in
bis meetngs, that he had always noticed in passing
through the woods that dry leaves made the most |
nyise. Speaking of atheists, Uncle Jack said no |