Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-12-14
Views Of a Northern Man,

The American Baptist Homo Missionar,
Society, few years after tho closc u' of -;
war, established 10 Columbia tho Renod;a'
Institute, an institution designed for ths
training of colorcd ministers. The coIorod
n mem ,11 bership of the Baptist churches Of tbo
ooQth just after freedom Voluntarily with
ute% themselves FROM the churches and
'estaoIlshed churches of their own, presided
oS'r ny ministers aud dcacons Of their own
color. For time they sought the assist.
aeoe 10 the administration of church affairs
OF the ministers, deacons and membcrs of
INC churches from which they had with
of'wn' But BY degrees this hus lon,
since ceased, and now their couosels are aI'.
ID, most II not wholly disrcgarded. Professor
Becker, President Of the Benedict Iosti.
.u'e, VINO Is minister sent from the Nc,tb
oy the American Baptist Home Missionary
society," bus bad charge of this institution
Tor number of years Prot. Becker. a, n
gre"t sacrifice to himself, has faithfully Ia.
oo'eu tor the promotion Of the educational
.porai ana religious interests Of this peoplo'
Ignoring altogether all political and social
Ioes'ions lo this work he has received
tne "a hearty aud cordial appreciation of the
baptlsts OF tie State, but at tic same TINA
mas arrayed against himself aud the society
which he represents the leading Radical
politicians of the State, and quito oumber
of the colorcd ministers. If it is dilticnlt
10 solve the political problem relating 10
th's people it is much more SO TO solve ,
I. .hat relating to the future moral and re- |
'g'ous status. Ehc Northern people will
sooner or later learn that while the co)ored
people OF The South are led ns mere tools nv
corrupt political leaders, and arraycd against
'nc ~. "nlte race lor no purpose but 10 obtain
o'hoe, al their efforts to elevate, moraize
anu christlanizo the coorcd people will be
eo'ire failures, and that if thew cannot
arag down the agents sent here to level
WIN themselves, their efforts to better their
condition will be in vain
frof. Becker, iD an address before tbe
DaPtist State Convention, which recentlv
met ~ Darlington, govo fearful dcscrin
non OF the dccadence of this people. and
'$p'ctoUy OF the ministers and members of
Inc church. In his address he said: "Tbc
ignorance and degradation of the colorc3
people apPa! me. In times of slavery YOU
preached to them, and your wives and
ianShters went among them, Since tbo
'ar they have drawn out from YOU and
one from bad to worse, aud to 1ov tbcir
onditlon, as to religion, ia immcasurabIy
horrible iu hcathenism in""fH iHathh athhmees. es...,-
the colored Baptists of this State. lnstead
of 80 900 coorcd Baptsts in South Caro-
lima | should rather say 10000 PdgaM
B,ptis,s. The North knows nothing of it
"TheIe is no more sense in the prench-
ing of the most of the negro preachers
than the gabblc of goose.
81 all thrusting myself upon the colored
people where I am not wanted. Their
leaders don't wish NC, and try to foil me
all they can.
"rhe Northern people have no idea of
the magnitude of this black negro problem,
llca.henism- bowing down to idols
would be an advance on the condition OF
many colured churches in this State, aud 1t
is getting worse every day.
III is as dstastcful to me as it can be to
you to thrust myself upon this people, but
am doing it, and wish you to help me
for Christ's sake, will you do it? We
shall do little without your help-will each
of you do your best for them III your re-
spcc,ivc ncighborhoods?
"rhe friends of tho American Baptist
Home Mission Society do not deem it best
to cducate these colored men at the North.
/, is believed by many that it viii 'dscalisc
thcm-f may coin word. We wish to
do the work in the South.
"The colored AS, ociations here are voting
that they will have uothing to do with
| Benedict Institute unless it is put nnder
their control; aud one co!ored leader here
is ruling and running these people they
demand that the whole property, aud oil
the money given by the Society, shonld be
controlled by ignorant men that know moth
ing about it,"