Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-23
THE NEGRO PREACHER.

nv nS6ho PaSoShSA thoy NC cnoI ply
divided into two classes, the educat-
ed and the uneducated; or, as they
phrase it, the "larnt" and the "un.
lsrnt." The former are young men
who have grown up amid the new
order of thirgs. and who, by dint of
their own industry and frugality
have managed to defray part Of the
cost of their limited education, some
assistance having been afforded by
their respective churches. They
read with { )lersble fluency. are slight
smatterers in theology. and write at.
ter fashion, which, although almost
wholly unintelligible to educated
people, Is, l believe, deciphered by
their own race. These young divines,
though they have higher ideas for
their race, and are gradually acquir-
ing q wholesome influence over them,
do not possess the sway Of the older
uncducated preacher. II would seem
that they have learned just enough to
make them obscure; enough to lift
them out Of sympathy with their
simple-minded hearers, but not
enough to give them true breadth
aud insight; aud while sticklers for
polysyllables, they fret in grammati-
cal traces, insomuch that the soul.
glow, the ebullient spontaniety Of the
race, Is entangled and smothered.
Book lore is as yet clog, not pinions. 1t
is among the older set. if anywhere,
that we must look for the traditional
black orator. His originality would
more than satisfy the widest apostle
OF the unconventional. Neither in
point or rite or document Is he fet-
tered, scarce even guided. by rule or
precedent. He manufactures theolO-
gy with the nonchalance of Jesuit,
and coins words with the facility of q
Carlyle. He may just be able to
founder through chapter Of Scrip
ture. uncouth in gesture. barbarOus
IN diction, yet earnestness lends dig
nifty to his manner, and passion fuses
his jargon into eloquence. He may
habitually outrage logic and occasion
ally cOntravene Scripture. but the sa-
lient points of his discourse are
sound. and his words go straight
to the hearts of his hearers.
His power out of the pulpit is also
great, almost bounless. Within his
own parish he is practically priest
and pope. Recommendation itself
Is his most trcnchaDt weapon. Never
was papal anathema a more potent
qugbear than his threat to "cut of.
His censorship OF morals and deport
of his flock. though to our minds in.
supportably annoying and humiliat.
ing. is undoubtedly wholesome and
necessary. Though his discipline
can by no means escape the charge Of
Inconsistency. his influence is always
excrted to make them honest and
faithful men and women, and to re-
strain the besetting sins of the race.
In many instances he resorts to their
employers for information. touching
their honesty and industry. Thea
monthly. on stated Saturday. they
are ricidly required to assemble and
give an account Of themselves. As
the negro possesses almost. morbid
local attachment. they are exceeding
~ 10th TO transfer their membership;
when In quest Of employment they
move to a distance. and in many in-
stances this monthly attendance 10
wolves tramp of forty miles or more
But no excuse Is taken, and upon
failure to attend for three consecutive
months they are unhesitatingly cut off.
1t is at these meetings that all rumors
touching the morals and department
OF each member are rigidly investi-
gated. and the culprits summarily,
though from our standpoint indis-
criminately. punished; the same pen
alty-six months suspension-being
inflicted for dancing and for theft,
for :worldliness and for unchasiity.