This is a genuine Congregational body save in hue—one cannot long say just that, for we are to have many of the same hue. Its modes, motions, votes, reports, papers on appointed subjects, discussions, care to recognize the precedence of churches over mere officers of churches, and its devotional spirit, are like those of Maine Conferences. But in the half a hundred brethren and sisters who are present forenoon and afternoon, white faces are to be seen only here and there; those who possess them are admitted, so far as I can see, to an entire equality with others! The moderator is a white professor of languages in Fisk University; the scribe a colored pastor at Nashville. The preacher last evening was a colored minister from Alabama; a white minister from Iowa assisted him, whose daughter, teacher of music in the Normal Institute for Freedmen here, led the choir. In one corner sits Rev. Dr. J. E. Roy, the A. M. A. Field Superintendent in the South. The (white) chairman of the business committee is at the head of a church and one institution supported by the Association in Mississippi. Fervent and spiritual, yet orderly as a Northern prayer-meeting, were the devotional exercises of the first hour this morning.
Narratives from the churches coming first in the proceedings, indicated the practical working character of the Conference. One of them was the story of a church holding on its way without a pastor, growing in steady Christian work in its prayer meetings and in its Sabbath attendance, and fostering an institution of learning the while. Another was a written apology from the pastor for absence, because of conversions and a promising work of grace. Another was a thrilling narrative of a brotherhood whose main body, thirty strong, went two years ago to Kansas, and its Sabbath-school has twice since been swept away; yet it has come up from six to forty-five in numbers, built a pleasant house of worship, and made Christian education victorious over the deadly opposition of secular public education. I learned of another, not represented to-day, whose real acting pastor is a lady teacher, nineteen years at her solitary post. The dashing heroism of anti-rebellion days has been succeeded by the quiet, persistent heroism that is often the greater of the two; and the self-sacrifice of many of both races for the cause of Christ is wonderful.
There is hopefulness among these brethren and sisters as to the reviving of God’s work in the special direction of practical righteousness. With all the immense moral evils of a Federal election, they feel that conscience has been stirred, and profound gratitude to God for the result has been awakened among the Freedmen. Thought and energy, it seems to them, are more likely to turn in the direction of religion now than in any other great common channel, and they have courage and cheer for coming work. No salvation movement among them can overpass their need.
I add, at a later date, that an afternoon given to church extension and the spread of education was of the deepest interest. Between the two papers, or addresses, was another on more generous giving by the churches, entirely in keeping. How vast a work in both church and school is laid upon them, one needs to be among them, and to see and hear them, in order to realize. How the treasury of the A. M. A. could fill to repletion if all who support it could have an inside view. In conversations at Andover on two different occasions, Prof. Park uttered the strongest and most anxious impressions respecting our national future and the condition of the South. I am sure that he and all deep-sighted and far-sighted men would find them intensified on actual examination of the facts. The task before us is vast, and, but for divine help, overwhelming and impracticable. Nothing in church order and work can save these people but the freest and most intelligent system; nothing in education but practical training for the duties and competitions with a more favored race, guided and inspired by thorough Christian principle.
Another afternoon was given to an ecclesiastical council, called by the 2d Congregational church of Memphis, to advise as to the ordination of a pastor. The examination of the young man who had been preaching to them for some months was a thoroughly delightful one, specially full and rich in the recital of Christian experience. The young brother is a light colored man, a native of Pennsylvania, of an earnest, intense nature, studious, modest, instructive as a preacher, and edifying to a group of Northern white teachers in Le Moyne Institute, and bore himself as to clearness and soundness of doctrine, in a manner so admirable, that many candidates for the ministry from the more favored race might well look up to him. Very tender and sweet was his testimony to parental faithfulness, and the divine blessing upon it in the Presbyterian church in which he was brought up, and to the providential leading that guided him into the ministry “for the sake of the work in the South.” The Conference, at an earlier session, licensed two other young brethren, whose work in gathering churches and schools is sorely needed in the communities they represent. One of these preached before it.
Twice this week I have given before Freedmen’s institutions lectures prepared for Northern college audiences. One’s respect for these institutions and for their students could only be raised by the intelligent attention given. The city press—Democratic—has made courteous and even generous notice of the religious proceedings of the week. Dr. Roy and myself were promptly invited to occupy Presbyterian pulpits in the city, and were most kindly and respectfully received. We were assured that we should be heard with pleasure again, and that the Gospel which we preached was that which they received, knowing “no North, no South.” On Sabbath evening the place of worship of the 2d Congregational Church—the first is of white people—was crowded with attentive hearers of both races while the ordination exercises were held. The young pastor had been chosen by the Conference delegate to the National Council at St. Louis, and the people, at the close of the ordination, raised a sum of money to defray his expenses. I have never seen more genuine and grateful joy among a Christian flock at the gift of a pastor and teacher than these people showed as they crowded up to take his hand after he had pronounced the benediction. They are ordinarily more social and demonstrative at all religious gatherings than white Christians.
Some views of their future, and of the great and grave problems involved in their elevation by a free Christianity and by Christian education, were deeply impressed upon me during my week among them, to which I may give utterance hereafter.—Christian Mirror.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Tannerism in Church Work—Charm of Old Songs—Temperance Revival.