On the next page (414) of the same record, it is said that "It was overtured, whether Christian slaves having children at the entire discretion of unchristian masters, and not having it in their power to instruct them in religion, are bound to have them baptised; and whether a christian minister in this predicament ought to baptize them? The Synod determined in the affirmative."
Again on the 315 page of vol. iii., containing the minutes of the General Assembly for 1816, is this entry:
"The committee to which was referred the following question, viz.: Ought baptism on the promise of the master, to be administered to the children of slaves, reported, and their report being amended was adopted, and is as follows, viz.:
"1st, That it is the duty of masters who are members of the church, to present the children of parents in servitude, to the ordinance of baptism, provided they are in a situation to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, thus securing them the rich advantages which the gospel promises.
"2nd, That it is the duty of Christian ministers to inculcate this doctrine; and to baptize all children of this description when presented to them by their masters."
It is proper here to state that among the most serious obstacles to the spread of the gospel among this people, the use of ardent spirits has long held and does still hold a prominent place. We once heard a slave-holder say that if Abolitionists had stirred up as much rebellion and caused as much bloodshed among the negroes as the retailers of ardent spirits had done, there would long ere this have been a civil war.
Nat Turner's insurrection broke out in the region that formerly manufactured vast quantities of apple-brandy. His followers are known to have been highly stimulated with this liquid fire. Indeed, we know a clergyman who for many years has resided and travelled extensively in the South, and who testifies that among scores of negroes under sentence of death whom he has visited, he remembers but two, who were not led to commit the crimes that brought them to such a sentence by some sort of influence arising from strong drink; and in most cases by drinking just before they committed the crime. It gives us pleasure to state that the sound principles of the Temperance reformation are so few, so plain, and so simple, that they are of easy application to this kind of population. Many recent experiments in the South prove the truth of this assertion, and exhibit most blessed effects arising from the introduction of this reformation among them. Let the friends of morality and religion persevere. Drunkenness is the enemy of the black and the white. It destroys both soul and body, in time and eternity.
We have in possession a number of printed documents written by good men residing in the South on the subject of the religious instruction of the negroes.
One of them is the "Rev. Dr. Richard Furman's exposition of the views of the Baptists relative to the colored population of the United States, in a communication to the Governor of South Carolina," and published at his recommendation. In this document, it is stated that the result of his inquiry and reasoning leads among others to the following conclusions:
"That Masters having the disposal of the persons, time, and labour of their servants, and being the heads of families, are bound, on principles of moral and religious duty to give these servants religious instruction; or at least to afford them opportunities, under proper regulations, to obtain it; and to grant religious privileges to those who desire them, and furnish proper evidence of their sincerity and uprightness. Due care being taken at the same time that they receive their instructions from right sources, where they will not be in danger of having their minds corrupted by sentiments unfriendly to the domestic and civil peace of the community." Page 15.