Page:Eleventh annual report of the Association for the Religious Instruction of the Negroes, in Liberty County, Georgia.djvu/28

24 God if we do not endeavour to secure to them all the benefits of careful instruction. And since God in his providence has caused Sunday Schools to be established for this purpose does He not clearly make it our duty to bring our coloured classes as far as practicable under the religious instruction of Sunday Schools?" Bishop Meade in a very recent letter writes, "Many of our Ministers shew that their hearth are deeply affected with a sense of duty towards the negroes by holding meetings on the afternoon of the Sabbath, either in the Churches or at private houses. In some places Sunday Schools for their oral religious instruction are sustained by members of the Church."— "I have been much gratified at the manner in which all my recommendations whether to the Conventions, or to congregations have been received. The large slave holders are generally those who are most favourable to their religious instruction. In different parts of the State, little Chapels have been built expressly for their use where occasional services are held by the Parish Ministers, or some instruction given by Masters or Mistresses."

In the Journal of the Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina, (1845) Baptisms &c. of colored persons are reported in 19 Churches. One Rector has a Sabbath School and another preaches in rotation on week days, on three plantations. The Parochial Reports are deficient in stating the number of colored Sabbath Schools: nor is mention made of instruction given in private by owners. The Committee on the State of the Church remark "among other grounds of thankfulness and other evidences of faithfulness on the part of our Clergy—an increasing attention to the spiritual wants of the blacks."

The Journal of the Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina, (1845) furnishes evidence that this Diocese continues to set an example to all others in the Southern States, in its faithful attention to the colored field. We have 31 Parochial Reports and in every one there is special mention made of the negroes: an evening in the week or some part of the Lord's day being devoted to them by a number of Rectors. Nine Rectors preach on the Plantations in connection with their white charges : twenty two have colored Sabbath Schools and classes of instruction: several Catechists labour in conjunction with Rectors, who are in part or wholly, supported by a Society of Laymen formed for this special purpose of employing Catechists and Missionaries for the colored people of the State