Page:Annual report of the missionary to the Negroes of Liberty County, (Ga.).djvu/11

 labours. Near fifty plantations have been returned by members of the Association, as open for religious instruction; which shews how extensive is the field, and it may be further enlarged. We deem plantation meetings highly important, and, in some respects, more efficacious than those held on the Sabbath. The plantation meetings have been suspended during the summer and fall months, from motives of prudence in regard to health; it being the advice of physicians and the injunction of friends, which could not be resisted, however much your Agent may have had a desire to continue them. During the summer and fall months, a regular Lecture has been maintained on the Sand Hills, on Thursday evening, for servants in the families that resort there for health, and also for the negroes on the plantations in the immediate vicinity. In addition to the public preaching of the Gospel on the Sabbath and during the week, some effort has been made, as opportunity offered, of holding personal conversation with the negroes on the subject of Religion. Many of these conversations have been by the way, and in the house, and have led me to a better acquaintance with the moral and religious condition of this people, than I could otherwise have obtained. I scarcely need say to the Association, that ignorance is prevalent to a lamentable degree. Some of these conversations have been pleasant and profitable; and your Agent has, at times, been agreeably disappointed in receiving instruction, when he hoped to have the privilege of imparting it. Correspondence has been conducted with persons in different parts of our country, on the subject of the religious instruction of the negroes, and a little effort made through the press to awaken public attention to it. I think it necessary to make this statement for the satisfaction of the Association, as some may suppose, that preaching constitutes all necessary labour.

It may not be improper for me to state to the Association, the manner in which I have generally conducted the meetings at the Sabbath stations and on plantations. Plantation Meetings.Notice is sent to the planter, that on such an evening the Missionary will visit his plantation for the purpose of preaching to his people, if it suits his convenience. The planter takes into his own hands the arrangement of the meeting, confining it, or not, as he pleases, to the people on his own place. The Missionary has nothing to do with making arrangements for plantation meetings, nor does he give any notice whatever to the negroes on other plantations, or on