Page:Eleventh annual report of the Association for the Religious Instruction of the Negroes, in Liberty County, Georgia.djvu/17

 in fact, whether they are made leaders by any official act of the societies in which they move or not. They may not desire to exercise either influence or authority, but the necessities of the people and their continual resort to them, will oblige them to do both. Besides, there are some Watchmen in the Churches who are men of great piety and fidelity, whose lives are exceedingly useful and who cannot be spared. AH attempts to suppress this class of influential men among their own colour have signally failed and must continue to fail, as every reflecting man must see for himself. Who ever saw any society in which all the members were upon a perfect level? What remedy then shall we propose? Appoint the best men to be had to the office of Leaders or Watchmen, and by careful instruction and supervision qualify them for usefulness. Appoint also, willing and competent white members as instructers: and fix some suitable period of time for the instruction and trial of Inquirers. Our churches have endeavoured to proceed in the manner indicated, but with feeble efficiency. Our watchmen are not sufficiently attended to:nor have our Committees of instruction done much for several years past. It is exceedingly desirable that all the Churches adopt substantially the same management in respect to inquirers. For the Churches to say they will receive none but those who come recommended from their committees of instruction, and they are few or no committee men at all to act, is virtually to shut the door upon all who would seek to enter in. And again, for the Churches to fall into the very convenient custom of receiving individuals to membership, chiefly upon the recommendation of watchmen, is highly injurious to the interests of religion. Certain it is that the Church which makes the terms of its admission the easiest, will have the greatest number of members; and of course, the greatest number of unworthy members. This whole subject, dernands most serious and prayerful consideration. The year has been marked by a general good attendance at the House of God, and occasionally good attention to its sacred services. We have had nothing like a Revival, and the state of religion has been better the first half of the year, than the last. There has been much coldness among the watchmen and members, and too frequent neglect of public worship and plantation prayers. I have as in former years, performed a number of marriage ceremonies: two only in the Churches