When we consider the nature and extent of the work committed to the care of this organization, and that the appeal comes to us as a Christian duty, to help educate and Christianize these millions of our own citizens, now living in a condition of ignorance and degradation, we are forced to the conclusion, that our churches do not realize sufficiently, either their obligation or privilege, to meet the call with liberal and glad contributions.
The annual receipts of this Association, engaged in Christian work second in importance of no other, ought to be greatly increased. May we not ask the Pastors of our churches, to bring to the attention of their congregations, the necessities of those for whom this Association is laboring; and we urge individual Christians to such faithful labor and consecration as will extend a knowledge of the needs and deepen the interest felt in this great and good work, so that contributions may be largely increased.
From an examination of the various statements submitted, showing in detail the operations of the Association, and the condition of the property interests it has in charge, your Committee are prepared to commend it most heartily to the continued confidence and sympathy of our churches, and to recommend that every effort be made to secure enlarged receipts, so that the debt shall speedily be paid and the increased work that so needs to be done can be undertaken.
E. H. Sawyer.
A. L. Williston.
The report was discussed by Secretary Strieby, District-Secretaries Woodworth, Pike, and Powell, Hon. E. D. Sawyer, Rev. George F. Stanton, Rev. Addison P. Foster, Rev. Cyrus W. Wallace, D. D., Hon. Edward S. Tobey, Rev. Rowland B. Howard, Rev. Albert H. Plumb.
Rev. John S. Ewell led in prayer.
On motion, it was voted “that a committee of three be appointed to present to the churches the expression of the Association concerning its debt.” The Rev. George A. Oviatt, Rev. George F. Stanton and Rev. William L. Gaylord were appointed such committee.
Rev. Heman P. DeForrest read the report of the committee on “Moral and Religious Education,” as follows:
The Committee, to whom was assigned the topic of “Moral and Religious Education, especially among the colored women of the South,” offer their Report with a deep conviction of the central and commanding importance of the work thus indicated. The two faculties which, in the Freedman, need chief attention, are his intellect and his conscience. Of these, the moral faculty must take precedence in importance. By the effect of slavery, and its accompanying influences, acting through many generations, a blight amounting, in some directions, well-nigh to extinguishment, has fallen upon his moral sense. His education, under the old system, did not develop this faculty, for it was only the hard education of rough contact with life and with men, which, indeed, sharpened his intellect sometimes, but buried conscience yet deeper under the weight of false teaching and falser custom. His religion did not help him here, for it has been a sensuous and emotional experience, not deemed inconsistent with the grossest violations of moral law. It is the work of Associations like this to solemnize, in his behalf, the marriage, subject to no subsequent divorce, of religion and morality. And it is, we believe, a happy quality of the genius of Congregationalism, that it will not pour oil upon the flame of emotional piety, but will chiefly emphasize the spiritual truths and moral laws which forever underlie all true religion.