Page:Eleventh annual report of the Association for the Religious Instruction of the Negroes, in Liberty County, Georgia.djvu/27

23 together the pale of the Church." New Orleans had also been visited: sixteen were added to one Church.

We perceive that the Lord has not been unmindful of our Southern Zion. He has made no distinctions, but poured out his Spirit as well upon Servants as Masters. Indeed in the Conventions, Synods, Presbyteries and Churches, specially blessed, in many cases which we have referred to, the religious instruction of the Negroes had engaged much attention. We must therefore identify the progress of religious instruction with the progress of true religion in the South.

The Episcopal Church.—By the last Journal of the Convention of the Diocese of Maryland, in my possession, it appears that nearly one half the Parochial Reports, embrace Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages and Funerals of colored persons: and in a few, five or six, some special attention is paid to the negroes in the way of preaching and catechising: there are a few Sabbath Schools, one colored Church in Baltimore: one colored candidate for Holy Orders: and one colored licensed Lay Reader.

Bishop Meade in his report of official acts in the Diocese of Virginia, (1845) speaks of confirming colored persons and in his concluding remarks urges the claims of the negroes upon the faithful attention of the Clergy. The assistant Bishop, Dr. Johns reports Confirmations also and several special services which we held exclusively for the negroes—in Town and Country, in which the Bishop appears to have taken great interest. In 46 Parishes (more than half reported) we have records of Baptisms &c. of colored persons: in 14 of these Parishes something efficient is doing in the way of Sabbath Schools and special instruction on the Sabbath or on some day of the week. The Rector of Charles City County, reports "about 40 colored children baptized in one household who were instructed in the doctrines and duties of religion by their Mistress who presented them by request of their parents, and appeared as their Sponsor." Dr Empie from the Committee on the State of the Church brings forward as "a matter of more than common importance—the religious instruction of our colorod classes." After speaking of the duty and the benefits, he thus concludes: "If the souls of our Servants as well as our children are intrusted to our care, how shall we answer it to our consciences and unto