New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-21
LIFE TN THE SOUTH.


sxFEINC FbucATloN uNpER DIFFIcULrIEs-A VISIT
1o (. nAox-couNTRY MICRO cHuRcH-oLD AND
Nrw sry,Fs OF PULPIT oRAToRY-IMPRovE-
MINI oP THE MORAL TONE OF TUE RAcE--PoL-
.Y1cs AMONG THE NEGROES" HAS NIGGERs GOT
ANY TRUNKsp
tvpon +. spscrAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNE.l
Ruony Tenn. Feb. I'll have visited many
negro schools in Virginia, North Carolina and
Tennessee. They oil appear to be doing fairly good
work, and the teachers have usually better charae-
tsr and qualifications than expected to ind Much
OF this rs due to the school at Hampton. Va the
graduates of which fiad at work in most of the
larger towns, and even IN the remote country dis
triets, Many Of these schools maintained under
great disadvantages and Inconvenience such as
would be regarded as most discouraging by white
teachers in Northern town. Thus Isaw two colored
men last week at work in room with school OF
which the average daily attendance during the WIN
ter has been 1885, They hal to conduct recltations
ut the same time in opposite corners OF the room.
The house was open and very cold The teachers
were obliged to furnish fuel for the schOolhouse,
and to provide desks brooms. blackboards and all
other appliances at their own expense The school
b free to the pupils, the salaries OF the teachers
being paid out of the public school fund.- The house
In which the school Is maintained belongs to some
Northern missionary or aid society aud Is held
by colored trustees in the town In
which it is situated. But they are too
Door to repair Improve the building,
and the (white public school officers will not appro
pirate anything whatever for repairs of the house
unless the colored people will surrender their title
10 the property which they decline to do. think
1t would be well for Northern missionary and Freed
mans AID societies to continue their interest 10 the
polorsd teachers whom they have formerly aided or
employed IN the Southern States. Many OF these
teachers and many of the coOred ministers greatly
need reading matter. books and magazines Tor them
sslves and for distribution among their people Many
people in the Northern States might send them
thing of the kind with but small cost or incOnven-
lence to themselves
It Is most to hear tho singing in the col
pred schools. heard hundreds of children singing
together the old plantation and revival melodies
and other songs of their race Some of these are
very peculiar and wonderful One hears every
where few rich and powerful voices, and the
negro churches IN the larger towns have fine
Ehoirs.
CHURCH SERVICE AMONG THE NEGROES.
I was at "colored church" in the country a
Sunday or two ago, in populous black district"
The services were to begin at IL a. IN. When ar
rived minute or two before the hour there were
bat five or SIX persons present. but soon aferward
morning to me as sat near the stove. At 1880 the
minister came in and gave his people scOlding for
being late. He said they had ought to
eome promptly at IL o'clock Then he proceeded to
erganlzs Sunday-school. He spoke with an air OF
much authority, which probably wise and
necessary under the circumstances. young man
did most Of the work, under the direction of the
minister. He put those who could read in the
in o class By themselves. and formed
other classes to a simple catechism as lesson
book and others still to primer. Several cid
srly women were in the primer classes. Many off,
GERS were eected-superintendent, clerk, treasurer
librarian and Others The proceedings exhibited |
queer mixture of awkwardness and dignity. in about
equal proportions One thing was especially com.
nobody declined to serve or made any ex-
cuses or apologies There was no indifference or LASH
kude, but general air of resolution and purpose.
The minister was competent to direct, and the
people obeyed. The Sunday-school closed at half
past IL o'clock, and the minister proceeded once
with the devotional services which were to precede
the sermon. The discourse was good illustration
Of the transition now going on among the colored
peope from the old order TO the new. The minister
evidently had some education and made the most
pf it, He used great many educated words" to
quote phrase from an old colored minister whom
had heard on the Sunday before. All that be said
/
my particular SUBJECT nor was IL in any way that
could see suggested by the text Here, again.
was reminded that the negro is not
without traits resembling those of the superior race.
The minister wasvery emphatic in his condemnation
pf stealing, lying and the sins of the flesh" He
indicated pretty plainly what sins he meant. OBJ
serve that this denuncation of theft RIGHTEOUSNESS
Thinking and other immortality marks everywhere
The work of the colored ministers who represent the
new order of things, while the preaching of the
older, uneducated men is far more emotional and
The people evidently enjoy the old
fashioned preaching much more than they do the
more rational and practical preaching of the new
men, which is strange, and much of it without
ing TO them. II seemed to me pathetic situation
and felt sorry for the old people Hes good
man" aged negro said to me. but dey all gives
ns SIGH way-up preachn' desc days."
The new men plainly have the upper hand" in
III the towns Their morals are, think. nearly al
ways ireproachable, and this cannot be said of the
men of the old order. Some of them, older preach
rs as the people here say, TUX to preachn for an
,asy way o. hvin,n and had no very high view of
he nature responsibilities of a ministers work.
TO quote again from the talk which hear every
nay, "They never.thouzht il no harm for man TO
take his teddy of mo'nn'.D The younger preach
srs say It's hard on the old men, but things have
rot to be changed"
To go back to the meeting which have described
n part. The discourse was about an hour in length,
md there were many hymns and prayers. The
Iinging was disappointing. The people wished to
ing their old songs but the minister would not let
Ehem. He compelled them to sing modern or ordi-
harry hymns, white peoples hines" as an old COL
srcd woman called them. These he " lined out" two
|ines at time and the people stumbled along over
he unfamiliar words in painful way. The
people had been coming all through the ser
vices, and at o'clock, when the sermon