The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-09
tions, and the work in theiC behalf by Bap-


tions, and the work in theE behalf by Bap.
lists, Methodists, and EpiscopaIians.
Our own Church has an institute at Tus-
caloosa for the education OF colored minis
ters; and there are under our care %
churches Of colorcd people, 5 ministers, .
lcentiates, and 6 candidates for the minis
try. The Northern Presbyterian Church
has expended about 5000 in the work OF
evangeliZing this part OF our southern
population.
/ The report presented an encouraging
view Of the prospect for usefulness in this
field. Two facts were made prominent in
the report First, that the colored people
are ayerse to fusion with the whites in their
ecclesiastical relations; and second, that
generally their preference for the Baptist
aud Methodist Churches was so decided
that only under peculiar circumstances
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 min
listers, who are welcomed by the congrega-
tons. Besides the opportunities OF bcne-
fitting through the pulpit we have an in
vitng field for Sabbath-school instruction.
The reading OF the report was followed
by remarks from the chairman, DR.. Pryor,
giving full and forcible presentation Of
the subject. lie acknowledged the courtesy
OF DR.. Jeter, OF the Baptist Church, and
Dr. Bennett, of the Methodist, in furnish
ing the committee information as to what
was doing in this cause in their respective
| churches. The speaker wished, as an Offset
to the statement made in the recent Pan
Presbyterian Council in Edinburgh that
only the Northern Presbyterian Church, and
not the Southern, had done anything effi-
cicDt for
THE C0LORED PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH,
to state some facts as to the action OF our
Church. Lexington Presbytery had licensed
4 colored minister in 1901; and facts were
cited from the history OF the Church show
ing that from that time onward we have been
interested in this work. Whilst the North
ern Church had been able to furnish more
means than we were able to do, yet owing
to the relation in which we stand to them,
the work OF their evangelization must be
chiefly done by US. In their religious elera-
| ton, whilst it was best, and indeed neces-
sary, that they should have separate organ
iZations, 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, con-
siderng their circumstances. In the mat
ter OF temperance, 4 comparison was to the
discredit OF the whites. This race has a
strong religious tendency, and il we do not
give them a true religion they will have a
false one. DR.. Pryor's desire was not to
make them Presbyterians, but Christians.
Colonel Preston added some facts as sup
Elementary to the report confirming the po-
| 80 fol in in n hic
town Lexington) five churches for the
whites and three for the colored people.
The zeal shown by the colored people in
the erection Of one Of these churches was
more commcndabe than that Of any white
congregation. They had raised $4,000,
| 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 his travelling expenses home.
The credit was all their own. The spirit
manifested in their church-work was ex-
cecdingly encouraging for the future OF this
race. The race may pass away before the
anglo-SaXon, as the Indian has done; he
hoped ID would not; but whilst here we
owe duty to those with as before they pass
from the stage of life.
DR.. J. NJ. Z. Atkinson heartily endorsed
the report.
DIR. Pryor, in his reference to the efforts
made in Lexington Presbytery many years
ago, mentioned the names Of Moses Hoge,
andfatbcr OF our Moses, and AleNandcr.
the grandfather or our Alexander, and Sam
uel Brown, father OF our Sam. lie gave
many amusing and instructive incidents IN
the life Of the celebrated colored preacher
OF Nottoway;;.." Uncle jack" who, among
other wise sayings, said IN reference 10
strutting members in his meetings, that he
had always noticed in passing through the
woods that dry leaves made the most noise.
Speaking Of atheists, Uncle Jack said he
had noticed in the woods that when hogs
ate acorns they never looked up TO see
where they came from.
Colonel Preston described the intelli-
gence and good order and dispatch OF busl-
ness in colorcd Baptist association which
sat at Lexington.
Rev. J. R. Bowman said that during his
ministry in Alabama the colored people
were drilled thoroughly in Jones's Cate
chism, and that his difficulty was not in in
ducing them to Join the Presbyterian
Church, but in restraining them from join
ing before they were ready.
| Colonel Preston explained that the Ian
guage OF the report was that we could not
largely PreSbyterianize them.
| Or. JO0Q LCyUuIu uLSloly auoi uCO
no example Of q people so peculiarly STU
ated as the colored people Of this country.
! He had advocated fraternaf relations TILL
! Brown had shut his mouth. He knew that
if these relations were established we could
get the money to aid them. l wanted CO.
operation on this subject. That was one
great moving thing In my mind. have AID.
ed Tuscaloosa. AS one OF the trustees OF
Princeton Dr. Leyburn had voice in estab.
fishing n large trust fund for the beneht or
the colored people. II fraternal relations
existed, this could have been diverted to our
Tuscaloosa Institute, but now 1t went 10
the Hampton Institute, which is under con-
cregational influence. I mention this faca
merely to show what we lose by our posi-.
ton. do not blame the General Assem-.
bly. When l speak to northern friends OF
our institute at Tuscaloosa, with only SIX
students, they considerjt "a small affair.
The report Of the committee on the dlVl'
sion Of Synod was read-viz.:
/. That division is expedient and deslra'
BILE. .....
2. That the General Assembly be over
tured to divide the Synod as follows: East
Hanover, West Hanover, Chesapeake, Roam
oke, and Sac Paulo be one Synod. to bt
called the Synod OF Virginia, and that Ab'
ingdon, Montgomery, Greenbrier, Lexing'
ton, and Winchester be another Synod, tc
be called the Synod of -.
Two other plans were added, which VII