The state capital., 1891-08-29
GROWTH OF AGNOsTIC SENTIMENT.

The fact has never been printed, but
it remains fact nevertheless, that
there is growing agnostical sentiment
among Afro Americans Those who
have not stopped to consider it, do not
appreciate to what extent this senti-
ment is prevailing. The German and
the French races have usually been re-
garded as the races most prone to inf
deity, and the Afro Americans given
credit for supera abundance of super
stition, have excited no remark, for the
reason that one would least expect ag-
nosticism to find birth in superstition.
Of course the reason for this spirit of
rebellion against creeds and tenets is
more plausible as one studies it more.
Ignoring the right or wrong of this ag
nostic sentiment. and looking at it from
standpoint of mental development,
there is a pleasing solace to be found
1t evidences the fact that the Afro
American is thinking for himself In
former days, around the church clus-
tered all the races interestS-moral,
religious and political-and the church
was the greatest preceptor that stood
OF the times eXerted power influence
to foster superstitious beliefs in the
minds of colored people, and the result
was that the infalability of the Pope
was never as blindly and generally be-
lieved as was the belief by every col
ored man. woman and child that the
church was unaltera bly, right and any.
thing done in the name of the church
was beyond criticism. To belong to
the church. in the minds of most. made
them privileged class, if their acts CO.
incided with their pastors interpreta-
tion of the Scripture. The preacher
taught them, thought for them, and
they relied upon anything their minis
ter said was Gospel. no matter how
much the truth or facts were perverted.
He, the preacher, was the court of last
appeal
It's different now. The minister
stands only in the light of teacher. and
the church in the light of place for the
promulgation of things best for their
interest A visit TO any city will show
that but small per cent. of the color
ed population are regular communi-
cants, whereas the case was directly the
opposite in former years Among many
religious beliefs and tenets are reject
ed. In former years a colored man who
would dare question even single law
of discipline of the church was looked
upon as monstrosity, a devil as black
as those supposed to inhabit their SUI
perstitiously- believed hades Now an
AfroA American who evinces a senti-
ment in any way opposite to the accept
ed belief of the church is regarded as
''smart fellow. but an infidel," showing
that they either believe it takes a smart
deity is degree of progress. 1t may
be that the supposed agnostic sentiment
among Afro Americans is coessential of
the times or it may be simply a make
believe sentiment, and therefore false.
However, we are prone to the belief
that it is a sentiment born in pro-
scription and fostered by injustice:
That is. the Afro-A American after re-
garding the whites injustice to him, in
direct opposition to all Scriptural be-
lief and Biblical laws and knowing that
the whites, generally, are regarded as
Christians and observers of Biblical
laws, and knowing that all their injus-
tice is rewarded by wonderful progress
and worldly gains, that there is moth
ing gained by making the sacrifices re-
qllired by the Bible as interpreted by
them, the Afro Americans.
We don't propose to discuss the cor
4
propose to denounce them. as that is