New-York tribune., 1902-05-20
WORK AMONG FREEDMEN.
IT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE MORNING
SESSION-LACK OF CANDIDATES
FOR MINISTRY.

DR. van Dyke the moderator, presided al yes
terdav mornings session Of the Presbyterian
General Assembly. and called upon the Rev
Dr. James D Moffat to lead the devotional ex-
ercises. The morning session was devoted 10
the consideration Of the work Of the Freed
mans Missions and OF the Presbyterian Board
Of Education
The Rev. DR.. Samuel A. Martin. president OF
Wilson College Chambersburg. Penn, chair
man OF the standing committee on Freedman's
Missions, presented the report OF that COM
mittee. He said that the Board Of Freedman's
Missions had 400 workers in the field and 353
churches devoted TO the work. The churches
had attended 10 the religious wants Of 21.0Oo
freedmen and their families the Sunday
schools had given instruction 10 21OoO chill
dren: the schools and colleges TO 10000 pupils,
and !, 700 freedmen had been converted through
the efforts of freedmen's missions.
The total receipts for the year. he said. had
been S1S5.SO4 65. an increase of 1928 81 over
those Of the previous year. Most of this increase
had been due TO increased Iegacies, and but for
them there would have been a falling off in
ceipts. Dr.. Martin said there were nine mill
ion Of freedmen in the South. and he took the
General Assembly severely 10 task for the in
difference shown by the Church toward this
branch of its work
One elderly commissioner arose and asked DR..
Martin If the Baptists and Methodists were not
having large following among that people"
and how large a proportion il would be neces-
sary for the Presbyterian Church 10 worry
about.
Dr. Martin said he could not answer this ques
ton The Rev. Dr. E P. Cowan. corresponding
secretary and treasurer Of the board. took the
platform and told the assembly that the Presby-
terian Church would have 10 bestir itself and
do its share Of the work among the freedmen If
the day was 70 be uskered in when the freed
men could take their stand not only as political
but as spiritual equals
The Rev. John y. MacGonigle, Of St Angus
tire, Fla, evoked applause by fervent appeal
for the freedr7en's missions. He said the negro
was not religious by nature. He was only emo
tional and superstitious. The average coIored
preachers in the South. he said. were en igno-
rant LOT.
They play upon the emotions Of their people
on Sunday" he declared, by preaching bout
A paradise Of laziness as a reward for the good
and a wasting he'll for the wicked. on week
days they set examples which Will lead those
that follow them 10 eternal perdtion The emo
riOnal excitement Of a Southern negro is easily
transmitted from the meeting house to the gam
ing house. And right here there is a danger not
limited 20 the colored race. for the color line
is not drawn in passion it is in politics"
The Rev Levi J. Melton, a colored preacher Of
Charlotte. y. c. made a plea for the work
among his people. He resented the statement
OF Mr. MacGonigle that the negro was not re-
Iigiousy inclined. but merely emotional
1T is true" he said the colored man is emo
tonal. II is true that if the coIored preacher
makes a monkey Of himself the people flock
there 10 see him act rather than to hear him
preach Who is there among YOU who would
not go 10 Barnum's circus 70 see the clown
act2"
In reply to question from commissioner
as 10 what self-hep the freedmen were capable
Of giving. the Rev r. ". Holman, of Eutaw
Vile {. g. said the freedmen had given 5000
more last year than in any previous year. This
was under adverse conditions. he said when
colored people were working for 20 cents day.
Mr. Holman referred to the presence Of two
professors. one successful physician and lead
ing druggist Of Alabama. al colored men. who
were commissioners to the General Assembly.
The report of the committee recommending
increased contributions 10 the Freedmans
Missions and the reelection Of the members
Of the board whose terms had expired was
adopted
Vile Ohio a cousin of President Mckinley. pre-
sented the report of the standing committee on
educa ton Ii approved the work of the board
of education. deplOred a decrease in the number
OF candidates for the ministry. and recommend
ed PRAYER in the churches for more laborers in
the field
The Rev. Dr. Edward B Hodge. secretary Of
the board Of education, pleaded that the church
shouId maintain the high standard of educa-
tfon in the Presbyterian Church He was fol-
lowed bv the Rev John II. Hatfield. Of Pontiac.
IN rrbo said that the commissioners ought 10
have heard the discussion the report in the
committee room. He said that the lack Of can
df1ates was due 70 lack of piety and prayer
and the great restIessness that pervadeG the |
age Mr Hatfield said he had heard that in
some Chicago saloons they conducted kinder
qartens where children were fed candy con-
taining spirits. as 10 teach them the taste Of
liquor.
g,,.a The voung people the taste OF the Church.
m van Dvke the moderator, closed the dis |
cussion bv saving that il the duty of the |
minister TO find csnoldate for the ministry |
IN his flock.