Page:Eleventh annual report of the Association for the Religious Instruction of the Negroes, in Liberty County, Georgia.djvu/16

 and answer and to relate experiences, and to fill up a round of prayers and attendance upon meetings. The colored instructor we may say, is doing his best to fulfil his duty: but the mind of the enquirer is frequently diverted from, the power to the form of godliness: and with accelerated step should he be received into what the black people call "Society": that is, received among the members of the church on a particular Plantation, or in a particular district, as one of them"a mourner," or "a follower" or "seeker"one under instruction for the church, but not in full fellowship, because not yet examined, received and baptized. It is to be feared that many after being thus admitted into "Society"deem their state good and henceforward, until they become members of the church, do no more than conform to an outward morality and secure the requisite information for a successful examination. Their reception into "Society" is honestly designed by the watchmen and members, for their assistance and benefit. It is, doubtless, so blessed to many inquirers. This, arrangement tpuching inquirers seemingly the best that can be made in certain situations does not, however, obtain in all churches. It is to such sort of instruction defective in frequency and in character, that we must attribute a large portion of that nominal Christianity which prevails among themno greater in extent, I believe, than would prevail among any other people similarly circumstanced. What remedy shall we propose for this evil? Some reply"forbid black teaching: abolish watchmen altogetherthey are blind leaders of the blind. "Admitting the power, I scruple about the right, on our part. Upon what ground of reason or scripture may we forbid a man from conscientiously and to the extent of his ability, communicating knowledge, purely of a religious character, which is sought for and needed by his fellow man for hip eternal welfare? And who may doubt that such knowledge is communicated in multitudes of instances in sufficient purity and measure by one colored person to another, for the salvation of thp soul? I am as confident that God uses this agency extensively to the salvation of souls among the negroes, as I am that He uses any other. Admitting the right, I scruple about the practicability of exercising the power. Watchmen have long existed: they will in some form continue to exist. In all societies some men possessing greater knowledge, zeal and popularity of manners and excellency of character., than others, will become leaders