Read Ebook: Thoughts on the Religious Instruction of the Negroes of this Country by Plumer William S William Swan

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The statistics of the negro race in the slave-holding States of this nation are of the most interesting kind. Their increase is prodigious. We cannot go into this matter now, farther than to say that the next census will probably show that the number of negroes and mulattoes in the United States is more than four millions. What an object for Christian love and wisdom and effort! Who will not pray for the salvation of these people?

From what has been already said, our minds are fully satisfied of the correctness of the following positions:

How literally this "prediction" was fulfilled in the Southampton insurrection, many remember. A "crisp-haired" fanatic led it on.

Among the negroes, however, the Methodists were more successful, and in a short time collected such numbers of them in their societies as amply recompensed them for the failure of their labours among the Caribs. In 1793 the Legislative Assembly of St. Vincents, which had at first patronized the Methodist Missionaries, passed a very rigorous act against them, prohibiting them from preaching to the negroes under the severest penalties. For the first transgression, it was enacted that the offender should be punished by a fine of ?10; for the second, by such corporeal punishment as the court should think proper to inflict, and likewise by banishment; and if the person should return from banishment, by death!

The emissaries of the Pope have shown their real feelings in reference to evangelical missions, in their attempts on the Sandwich Islands and in their bitterness after their failure, as also in their more recent and cruel conduct in Otaheite.

In the prosecution of the work, it must not be forgotten:

A friend of ours, who has long felt an interest, and who has through a course of years conducted an extensive correspondence on this subject, has shown us a large number of letters obtained by him for public use from clergymen of high standing in several different denominations, from lawyers, physicians, judges, members of Congress, intelligent planters, officers of public institutions, and others residing in Virginia and Texas, and States lying between them. We find in these letters from men residing far apart a remarkable agreement both in feeling and in judgment.

We propose to conclude this article by quoting a few sentences on topics, which we deem of great importance.

One says, "From my own experience I should say there is but one obstacle to success, and that is a belief among the slaves, that all scriptural passages which bear upon their peculiar situation, have been interpolated by white men. How far this notion prevails I cannot say, but I am sure it does to a great extent."

Another says, "I cannot conceive how any one, who acknowledges the obligations of Christian duty can decline affording Christian instruction to his slaves. That this duty of instruction may be safely performed, seems to me manifest from the very precepts of Christianity. The whole tenor of the Bible inculcates nothing but what, if practised, must contribute to the common advantage of the parties The chief source of danger from the negro race consists in keeping them ignorant of the principles of Christianity. My experience in this matter has been sufficient to satisfy me that there is no yeomanry in the world, who would make a better return for the labour of moral instruction, so far as the great leading principles of Christianity are concerned."

Another says, "Sermons to coloured people ought to be studied and well prepared. The preacher must by all prudent means enlist public favour. The negroes must be treated with kindness and respect. In giving catechetical instruction, their ignorance and blunders must not be allowed to expose them before their fellows, but must be covered. Their feelings must not be wounded."

Another says, "Undoubtedly Christians ought to engage in this great work without delay. Nothing can be gained by postponement. The moral wretchedness of our coloured neighbours demands immediate relief; and every principle of humanity and religion urges us to afford it. Preaching intended for this class of persons should be on important subjects, as simple as possible, familiar, attractive and solemn."

Another says, "I think that our white population is prepared for this work; and I know that many of the negroes are perishing for lack of knowledge. All our churches are doing a little for these too long neglected immortals; but the efforts used bear no just proportion to their numbers and necessities."

Another says, "Our Convention appointed a committee to prepare, or collect and publish a series of tracts for the benefit of the slaves, which may be read to them, or by such of them as can read. I trust the scenes, which are enacting in some parts of the north, will convince all our citizens that our first duty is to instruct them in the principles of religion, and not seek to inspire them with lofty notions, which will only rouse up against them the worst feelings of the whites."

Two others relate at length how they overcame reluctance in their negroes to attend upon religious instruction. They gave them a part of Saturday for doing those things, which they had formerly done on the Lord's day, as going to a market, &c. They also gave them two or three hours, when preaching could be had during the week. They thus showed that they were willing to lose, a portion of their time for their spiritual good. "This course soon removed all outward opposition."

Another says, "Ministers ought not only to preach a great deal more than formerly to servants, but also preach a great deal to white people about the instruction of servants, so as to convince the whole church and the servants that we are in earnest in this business and intend to persevere."

Another says, "May I entreat you to be zealous, as you value the welfare of your country, the prosperity of our church, your own reputation as a minister of the gospel, and the approbation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am assured that nothing under God, will ever give motion to our Southern Zion in this most momentous of all causes of Christian benevolence before us, but the united, determined and protracted effort of God's ministers."

Another says, "Under present circumstances it is evident that they who engage in the delicate business of instructing our slaves, must confine themselves to the method of oral communication. But this limitation should not produce the slightest discouragement. Written documents bore but a small part in the early propagation of Christianity. Until the present age, indeed the mass of the people have received by far the greater part of their religious knowledge and impressions from the mouth of the living teacher. Even now perhaps the majority in our own country have their religious principles and character formed mainly by oral instruction.

"Respecting the method best adapted to the negroes, experience must decide. A few remarks will develop the general principles on which I would act if called to this high and holy duty.

"2d. To study maturely, and to digest in a lucid order, a systematic course of instruction--not the technical system of the schools--but a system of plain, practical truth, adapted to the peculiar state of the people to be instructed--illustrating, inculcating, repeating fundamental truths, and scriptural maxims, till they are well understood: aiming first to lay the foundation of a rational faith and an intelligent conviction--before the feelings and fancies of a blind enthusiasm are stirred up. It is peculiarly dangerous, to set fire to the combustible heap of crude and fanatical fancies that occupy the brain of an ignorant person, such as are most of the uninstructed negroes. It is no hard thing to guide a well instructed mind, in which reason and conscience have their due influence--but what can be done with a full blown enthusiast, or a furious fanatic, who is maddened by the chimeras of a diseased fancy? They will disdain sober instruction and set up for themselves. They will be your rivals, and have the advantage of you too, when once the flame of blind enthusiasm is kindled in the congregation.

"3d. To avoid cramming an unprepared mind with too much at once. A few ideas at one time should be clearly expressed and deeply impressed. Do not hurry matters; but let the weak stomach digest one bit, before another is administered; relieve the wearied attention, and quicken pure devotional feeling, by sweet hymns and simple fervent prayers, and short affectionate exhortations.

"4th. To combine various modes of instruction; now a short sermon, methodically exhibiting a single point of truth or duty; now a suitable passage of scripture with a pithy commentary; now a catechetical exercise, either on the last sermon or by lecturing at the time, propounding a point clearly, and then examining the auditor to see if he remember and understand. This will quicken attention, fix what is understood, and detect what is wanting.

To carry on this course, meet them twice on Sabbath and once in the week if possible. But do not claim too much of their Sunday leisure, or they will shun you.

"5th. To gain their confidence and love, sympathize with their innocent feelings, talk to them privately, preserve a mild dignity without contemning their ignorance and degradation. Have all patience with them.

"6th. Do nothing without the master's consent. Teach them what Paul directed slaves to do and be; but beware of pressing these duties too strongly and frequently, lest you beget the fatal suspicion that you are but executing a selfish scheme of the white man to make them better slaves, rather than to make them Christ's freemen. If they suspect this, you labour in vain."

Another says, "On the modes of communicating a saving knowledge of Divine Truth to the coloured population, best suited to their genius, habits, and condition, we must remember that oral instruction is the kind of instruction alone that is universally allowed in slaveholding States. Hence the question with us will be, in what mode can oral instruction be best communicated?

"I answer, 1st. Nothing can take the place of competent, qualified ministers or missionaries; men exclusively devoted to the work, who shall make it their lifetime labour and study, to whom adequate support must be given. The church is as much bound to furnish and support such missionaries, as missionaries to any other heathen people in the world.

"2d. Their labours must be at churches or convenient stations on the Sabbath; and from plantation to plantation during the week. Plantation meetings are scarcely exceeded in utility by Sabbath or any other kind of meetings, and therefore should be vigorously prosecuted. As a general rule none should attend but residents on the estates where they are held.

"3d. In addition to the preaching of the gospel, classes of instruction should be formed, embracing in the first division, adults; and in the second, children and youth. Special instruction should also be given to those who are members of the church, and those who are applying for admission. Let hasty admissions be avoided.

"4th. The manner of communicating instruction should be plain and familiar; fully within their comprehension; without coarseness or levity; and with fervour. In the earlier stages of instruction, the catechetical method may be resorted to with success, your subjects being of the simplest kind; as you advance and your people acquire habits of attention and reflection and improve in knowledge, your subjects may be more elevated.

"5th. The matter of preaching, at least for no very inconsiderable a time, may be chiefly, narratives, biographies, striking works of God, miracles, parables. Didactic discourses, at least at first, are far from being interesting to them. Vary the exercises of worship by singing, and sing standing. Let portions of scripture be committed to memory, as well as psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, to take the place of the foolish and irreverent ones that are often in use among them. The besetting sins of this people ought to be exposed continually. Here give line upon line, and precept upon precept, until conscience is enlightened. Give encouragement in preaching, address them as men, men whom you love, men whom you believe to be capable of improvement, and who, you make no doubt, will improve.

"6th. Of the classes of instruction, I would say that they are of incalculable benefit. All that can be said in favour of Sabbath schools, and Bible classes, can be said in favour of these classes: properly conducted, they are nothing less or more, than Sabbath schools, and Bible classes for coloured persons. Our main hope of permanently improving this people lies just where it does with every other people: in the instruction of children and youth. Be beforehand with their parents, who can only, in the vast majority of cases, inculcate evil both by word and deed; and if it were practicable, an entire separation of children and adults would be the best thing that could be done. Every effort therefore should be made to draw out and attach children and youth to the schools opened on the Sabbath, at stations, and to schools opened in plantations. Wherever these schools are opened, if the missionary cannot be supported by good teachers, let him instruct the whole school, on the infant school plan himself. His instructions too should not be short, and imperfect, but embrace some regular system of Christian doctrine and practice; so that after a reasonable time, when the course is completed, a connected and intelligent view of Christianity will have been communicated. Connected with such a regular course of instruction, may be the use of scripture cards, and the like; teaching them to sing hymns, &c. Every thing I may say depends upon the teacher. If he is an interesting man, he will behold increased interest and rapid improvement in his classes.

"With adult classes the improvement will generally be slower and the interest perhaps less and not so easily kept up. Let the same general course of instruction be pursued with them, for literally they are but grown up children.

"7th. I must not omit to mention, that these efforts of regularly appointed missionaries, must be seconded by pastors of churches, and when they can, let them have in their own churches, coloured schools, under the superintendance of elders and laymen. Is it not wonderful that our churches have so long remained indifferent to this most interesting field of labour? One-half or two-thirds of our members have nothing to do. And why is it so? Because they will not labour for the coloured population. Let pastors awake and bring the subject strongly and repeatedly before their people.

"8th. The Missionary must be supported by Christian owners; they must labour to improve the servants at home; having regular schools for the children and meetings for the instruction of adults. They should encourage their people to attend public worship, especially should they send the children to Sabbath school; otherwise such schools, let the missionary or teacher do what he may, will decline in all ordinary cases.

"9th. Let owners also pay special attention to their plantation regulations; all these should be founded on Christian principle. Discipline, labour, houses, food, clothing, should all be attended to; lest in works we deny our profession. This is fundamental.

"10th. While strict subordination is maintained on plantations, the general police of counties should be rigidly adhered to, and if possible the coloured population protected from ardent spirits. The plan now hinted at, or one very similar, will perhaps be found best suited to their genius, habits, and condition."

But we must close. If our readers feel half the interest in this subject, which its importance demands, they will thank us for these views, even if they should not concur in every suggestion made. Let every man stand in his lot, and put on the whole armour of God.

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