The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-14

ton, who know the Bible and feel and
understand the grace Of God in their
hearts. At present, they have, by far,
too many preachers 1t really seems
that they ordaiu or license every man
who shows any ability to talk, and those
among them who want to be preachers
amount to. legion. Each of these
preachers must have church. aud so
they split up one organization, and di-
vide it so as TO have enough for all.
Hence are there so many little weak
and unworthy organizations scattered
all over the woods and fields.
8. What can the Southern People do
for Them
We ought to be willing to act as mis-
siouaries among them, and teach in
their Sunday Schools and in their
homes, where such thing is possible.
But they do not want US? Who says
SO? Who has tried it? And what if
they do not? Is this to destroy our
zeal or cause US to abate our efforts !
Does the Chinaman, or the Mohamme-
dan, or the Japanese, want our mission
aries? Aud yet no man says We must
discontinue the work among them on
that account But l am not sure that
an honest effort has ever been made by
us, to enable US to find out whether our
help is wanted or not.
Some of the white women who came
from the North to teach the Negroes
we're of the first families of the people.
Their position was very uncomfortable
one. They knew aud felt that they
we're superior to the Negro; but as sooa
as it was found that they were to engage
in the work of teaching Negroes, the
Southern white mans door was shut
against them. It was race prejudice
that caused US to do it. To teach the
Negroes, it was necessary to 60 among
them, it was necessary to appear on the
streets with them; it was necessary to
enter their homes. 10 the Southerner,
all this seemed like social equality, and
at once the teacher was spurued and
charged With seeking to upset Southern
customs and institutions. believe we
would do better cow, for We have learn
ed better. Negro companionship was
no more desired by the lady from Con-
necticut than by our ladies, but her
work required it, aud it is no mean soul
in one which prompts one to do menial
aud disagreeable work for Jesus sake
The troubles were two-fold-the North
erD lady did not understand the Negro,
and we did not understand her motives.
We can now look upon the thing more
dispassionately, and l am glad of it. |
hope God will forgive the sins OF those
days wherein We would do no work our
selves, nor let any one else do it for the
poor creatures fresh from centuries OF
bondage. The very fact that { am
allowed to talk in this manner from this
pulpit is a good sign Fifteen years
ago, it would have been set down as
treason to all our Southern sentiment.
Our next duty is to do something IN
the way Of educating their preachers
They have but little money. They are
not able to endow schools or set up
semiuaries of learning. Almost all our
great schools have been endowed by
gifts from great-hearted men. Just as
others helt ID US. We must help the
Negroes. If it is necessary to have an
educated white man to preach to white
men, it is doubly necessary to have edu-
Gated preachers for the Negroes. Apeo-
pie will rarely rise above their preachers.
Ignorant men in the pulpit vii! keep
down the whole race for years to come
That every man can preach who can
talk is an exploded idea but the
Negroes have not learned it, and very
few are trying to teach them
Our Home Mission Board expend
over hundred thousand dollars yearly
among its bene6ciaries, helping poor
churches io the Southern States. in Cuba
and among the Indians. With over
seven million Negroes living around our
doors, our Board gives to work among
them only ten thousand dollars. Three
years ago. when induced our State
Convention to extend aid to young
Negro men studying for the ministry.
brethren arose in arms and said it would
iniure the work Of the Board, that our peo-
pie we're not not willing to have mission
money spent on Negro preacher educa,
ton. My plans were eventually ruled
out, while yet every Board of our
Southern Convention, in every mission
field we have on earth, is spending mis-
sion money to educate heather children
aud heather Bible workers. The