Year: 1866

HE hDUOhlAUNV VE He NEWhU


Pastoral letter from bishop Green


Of MEssissIppi-The subject Of Eduea


ting she Negro Urged upon Tn.


Chureh-The Dufy and Feeling Of tI'


south. ..s.are (


To THE CHURCH AND LAITY OF MIssIs


sIFPI--DEAR BRETHREN: Among th,


many duties arising ont Of the presen


crisis in our domestic and political affairs


| know of none which more imperiously ol


more Immediately claims our attention


than that of contributing our help towards


the moral and intellectual improvement OF


the colOred population now in the midst OF


us. You viii remember that In my ad-


dress TO our last Diocesan Convention, ex-


pressed in brief but very decided terms my


views on this snbjeoi and that the iourn-


ais OF the Diocese will show that even as


far back as 1853 or 1854, recommended a


moderate and judiciOus course of elemen-


tary instruction as a reward for such slaves


as we're distinguishing themselves for good


behavior. e.


By the recent revolution in our political


world this unhappy class is presented be-


fore us in new aspect, and with claims


founded, not as formerly, on the reciprocal
dependence and attachment Of master and
slave, but on the cold, compulsory and un-
sympathetic relation Of hireling and em-
ployeT An inscrutable Providence has SO
ordered that the slave who once stood in an
almost flialrelation 70 us, and looked to
our hands, nor looked in vain, for food,
clothing and shelter, and nursing, care and
instruction in the things Of God, is nov
without preparation for his new and un-
tried state, thrown upon his own resources,
and with almost the helplessness of child
hood, left TO provide as far as he can, for
the necessities ofboth body and soul.


This change has literally been forced
upon them for happier race of laborers
was never known upon the face Of the
earth, nor any Who were in general 50
kindly treated, so moderately tasked. or
80 amply rewarded for the work of their
hands. That they were content with their
condition and strongly attached TO their
owners, their conduct throughout the late
war when Our wives and children and
our aged parents were entirely at their
mercy-will abundantly testify. Before
the intermeddling hand Of a blind fanati-
cism saw fit to SOW discomfort among them,
thereby riveting the chains which they
thought 10 break, gradual but marked
improvement was going on in both their
moral and intellectual condition. A more
general sympathy was felt in their behalf;
the strong arm Of the law was extended
frequently in their defense. No barrier
was interpOsed TO prevent an honest and
Trustworthy servant from learning to read
his Bible, and thousands upon thousands
might hsve been seen uniting in PRAYER,
and kneeling at the same altar with their
masters and mistresses. In my annual
rounds it was my delight to give to them
the afternoon of each Lords day, and 70
receive a considerable number into the
folds Of the church. Now those once
happy congregations are broken up; not
one negro has approached me on the sub
jeet of religion since their emancipation;
they love 10 60 where their animal feelings
can be most strongly excited; and, in the
country, where there is no longer a kind
mistress 10 catechise them, they are re-
lapsing into the lowest kinds Of superstition
which their fathers brought With them from
the shores Of Africa. The distinction of
caste lin the meaning Of the term) which
was before unknown, and unthought of
is now forced upon us. To replace him in
his former state, however desirable on his
own account, not ours, is now beyond the
power Of those who know him best, and feei
for him most deeply. We are compelled.
therefore, 10 look around and see in what
manner we can best repay him for his past
fidelity, and acquit ourselves Of the claims,
which his ignorance, improvidence and
impose upon us. To treat him
with kindness In our daily, unavoidable
with him, to be fair and even
generous in making contracts with him, 10
be puHCtual in the fulfllment of our en-
gagements, and 30 make all due allowance
for his shortcomings, are duties so plainly
binding upon us that pass al once to that
other, and | may say, no less important OBJ
legation Of providing 3 suitable measure Of
Cor him, especially for his chill
dren. To this duty we are called by every
motive Of selfinterest, as well as of graft.
tude and humanity. II this race, our
equals, if not superiOrs, in numbers. are 10
remain in the midst Of us, sound policy.
no less than Christian charity demands that
we should do all in our power to elevate
them in the scale Of social being. and make
them more worthy Of the political status
that has been thurst upon them. This end
can in no way be more efIeCtually accom-
plished than by establishing schools for
their instruction, on the various plantations
and in country neighborhoods, as well As in
our towns and By employing suitable
teachers to take them in charge. A rude.
but comfortable school house might be
erected by two or more neighboring
planters, and the bnrthen Of providing
books and teachers be thus divided among
them. Through 3 provision of Congress,
a liberal allowance has been made for the
rentOf each schoOl house, which rent NAV
fairly be appropriated by the planter to-
wards the payment Of the teacher. II


In carrying ont this object / am happy
10 inform you thai every facility within his
power will be afforded by Gen. Thos. J.
Mood Commissioner Of the Freedmen's
BurSu, whose headquarters are at Vicks-
burg, A personal aequaintance with that
&c itleman, prompts me to say that whilst
scupulOus in the performance Of his duty
as an officer Of the general government, he
warmly feels for the depressed condition Of
our Southern country, and desires to hold
in equal balance the interests Of both the
whites and blacks. He will take pleasure
IN giving al necessary information and
to any person disposed to engage
n this good work. Let me, therefore, dear
earnestly commend to your seri-
,us and prompt attention, the intellectual |
md moral improvement Of those who were |
ately our faithful slaves To my brethren /
4 the clergy trust nothing more need be
aid than 70 remind them that within their
espectiye spheres, they are bound 10 do all |
he good they can to al men, without dis- /
ihctlcn Of grade or color. To my brethnen