PRESBYTERIANISM AND THE NEGRO.

[An address by the Rev. John A. Savage, D.D., representing the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., delivered Nov. 15, 1895, at the Inter-Denominational Congress at Atlanta, Ga.]Standing in this historic city in the midst of such a magnificent display of human greatness, representing, as it does, the vast resources, inventive genius, and artistic taste of the American Southerners, two questions confront us: Whence this greatness and to what height shall it reach?

No one is willing to concede that the South has reached its limit of development, and should now write over its doorway: "Ne plus ultra."

To our mind, this exposition is but a presage of the possibilities of the future. Emerging from the throes of a desolating war, the Negro and his ex-master began together the construction of the New South.

Baronial life with its cultured and elegant leisure received a baptism of power and is now a devotee at the shrine of industry, rejoicing in the democracy of labor. The Southern gentleman as well as his emancipated slave is now earning his shekels. The Sunny South, under these new conditions, is evolving the purest type of American manhood.

We would gladly linger in the contemplation of the coming South, but another duty summons us and we hasten to its performance.

Christianity is a necessary and potent factor in the development of the South. All the Christian Churches have 00042taken noble part in the regeneration of the old South, and in this Congress their representatives will tell the story of sacrifice, conflict, and victory, among these the Presbyterian Church is proud and happy to be numbered.

In 1865, at the close of the war, there were two distinct races in the South. Each, though free, was dependent on the other. Misunderstandings and prejudices tended strongly to separate them. At this juncture, the Presbyterian Church, whose catholicity is as broad as humanity, hastened, through its Board of Missions for Freedmen, to preach the gospel of reconciliation. Its ministers were days-men with one hand on the Negro teaching and uplifting him, and with the other on the whites, pleading for charity for the defects of the lowly freedmen. Time and the patient, self-sacrificing labors of faithful missionaries have smoothed away many of the past troubles and have covered from sight many of the old wounds and scars. Of these two, one is a race of muscle and brain, and the other is a race of brain and money. But both receive the kisses of the rising sun that speak hope for the future and while there are still grave difficulties and differences and some painful isolations, the Providence of God is unfolding and the image of God is seen reflected by both his white and sable children. These two races in the South are one in interest and "whom God hath joined together let no man out asunder."

The Presbyterian Church has never assumed the responsibility of teaching or advocating social equality between the races. It simply preaches the gospel of peace and good will.

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The friends of the Negro often seem disappointed because his progress though phenomenal is not yet complete. They forget that freedom can never create virtue or self-control. These can only be attained through the slow but sure process of development that comes through rigid self-discipline and the formation of mental and moral habits. The proud Anglo Saxon, the master of the world, once roamed naked through British forests, eating herbs, roots and wild fruits. By industry and perserverance he has evolved a civilization that astonishes the world. Let the Churches go on with their work. Give the Negro time and he too will evolve a civilization that will make his friends proud of him.

It is often asked, Do the Negroes take to the Presbyterian Church The late Senator Vance of North Carolina once met a colored Presbyterian and inquired of him--"Uncle Ben do you believe all the doctrines of your Church?" "Yes sir," was the quick reply. "Do you believe that hard doctrine about Election?" Uncle Ben drew himself to his full height, threw himself back and eyed the Senator sharply, and replied: "Senator, I have never heard of a man being elected to an office who was not a candidate. Is you a candidate, sir?" The Senator was surprised at such wisdom. A theological professor might have been proud of the answer.

Yes, the colored people can be good Presbyterians. We have over 20,000 of them in our 306 churches, and more than that number have answered the roll call on the other side since our work began.

The test of loyalty to a cause is the amount of sacrifice one is ready to make for it. With not a millionaire on 00064our rolls, we gave over $63,000 for self support last year, an average of $3.50 per capita. The great lesson for the Negro to learn is self-reliance. Air passes into the lungs with scarcely any effort on the part of the individual, but food is obtained by the sweat of the brow. Promiscuous ingathering must give way to honest toil. The Negro must know that he is a man, a free man, with all the responsibilities that that implies. The civilized world is watching with mingled feelings of hope and fear to see what he will do with his freedom. God helps the man who helps himself.

We have two lines of operation. During the week our 251 missionary teachers prepare the soil and plant the intellectual and spiritual seed. Thus the people are led up to the truth through our 69 parochial schools, schools, 13 academies, 4 female seminaries and one college. On the Sabbath 175 ministers preach the truth to over 30,000 immortal souls. Our people take pure and unadulterated Calvinism three times during the week.

Where the ministers are faithful the church grows in numbers and the people in morals. Whenever Presbyterianism is taught by precept and example, the common people receive it gladly. When we think of the moral, intellectual and financial depths in which our people were formerly, it makes us proud and happy to see that the people we teach and to whom we preach are changing their habits of living and thinking to such an extent that they no longer are ignorant, careless; but, in their communities and among their own people are intelligent, upright and useful citizens.

The colored people are burdened with ignorant, selfish, mean leaders, mere time servers, demagogues, wolves in sheep's clothing. There are many good men and women in all the churches patiently laboring to lift up the race, 00075but near them is found the irrepressible demagogue who, through wiles and enchantments leads many astray. How shall we rid ourselves of these little men? How shall we fill their places with strong men? The State and denominational schools are sending out recruits every year. The Presbyterians sent out over 100 trained young men and women last year. But the demand is much greater than all the schools and churches can supply.

Another thought, and a very sad one is, hundreds of ignorant men are every year authorized to preach the gospel. The inducements to leave the fields of honest toil and to eke out a scanty subsistence itinerating among the simple people are too strong for some, and the woods are now full of little preachers. To my mind the remedy for this evil lies in that form of church government that carefully guards the door of admission into the sacred ministry. The Presbyterian Church has always been jealous concerning the sacred archives, and refuses to place them in the hands of ignorant and incompetent men. There is safety only in an educated, consecrated ministry.

Another thought. Our Church Courts, the Session, the Presbytery, the Synod and the General Assembly have the constant oversight of all the churches and the ministers. Laxity in morals or in doctrine is promptly rebuked. Even our Theological professors are not free from this ever present and jealous care. With us every minister is a Bishop, and every officer is his brother's peer. The Presbyterian Church gives to the Negro the highest type of leadership and guarantees to him the character of its ministry.

The Negro is not celebrated for his profound Scriptural exegesis, but for a religious activity that expresses itself in weird songs, plaintive melodies and confessionals. 00086Often he cannot read, so he is anxious to hear incidents, anecdotes and illustrations. The flexibility of the Presbyterian Church permits its ministers to consider these conditions and to drive the truth home on the lines indicated. But the simplicity of our worship is a centripetal force to draw even the unlettered man to a careful search for truth, that he may know the meaning and effects of his own acts and states, in relation to that Infinite Being under whose government he lives and whose laws he must obey. While he sits in the church his mind is aroused by the eloquence of the preacher and tears unbidden flow down his ebony cheeks, but ere those tears be dry the old gospel, told in its simplicity and power, finds its way into his head and heart, and in such a presence he learns that he must must be silent that he may learn.

The name that the Presbyterian Church has adopted for its agency, which is operating in 14 States including the Indian Territory, is "The Board of Missions for Freedmen." During the 30 years of its life it has collected and spent over $2,250,000 on the field. It controls over $500,000 worth of property and commissions over 300 ministers and teachers to labor among the colored people. The head masters of 12 of our Academies are colored people. At Augusta, Ga., we have honored a colored woman. Miss Laney is the principal of Haines Normal and Industrial Institute. Middle University, at Charlotte, N.C., has for its president the sauve, the erudite Dr. D.J. Sanders, and exslave. Ten of the eleven professors in that University are refined, scholarly colored men. The marvelous progress in all departments of this institution as well as the rigidness of the discipline maintained proves beyond controversy that the Negro, when properly trained, is competent to govern himself and others.

The great Presbyterian Church, through each successive 00097General Assembly, reviews all the work of this Board, and with unanimity praises it for what it has done. The Church is well pleased.

Some have thought that the peculiar conditions that brought the Freedmen's Board into existence have now passed away, and that this Board should now give place to some newer agency. But the careful student knows that the legitimate work of the Board is but fairly begun. Only 3,500,000 of the 8,000,000 of Negroes in this country can read and write. About 5,000,000 of them are still without any Church relations, living in this world without God and without hope.

Confronted with such stupendous facts we respectfully ask, What conditions have changed? The work of the Presbyterian Church, through the Board of Missions for Freemen, will not be done until there are no more poor, ignorant colored people to be taught, no more poor churches to supply with the Gospel. Until the colored people are able and have also learned to help themselves the work of our Board must still go on. We have been laying deep and solid the foundation; the superstructure can now go up.

There is a mania for Industrial Education and the Presbyterian Church has joined the procession. All of our higher schools have this feature. But if this be the only education for the Negro, fifty years from to-day our friends and our enemies will ask, Where are your educated men?

The Presbyterian Church is preparing to answer that question. Already we have sent more college bred men into the field than all the other denominational schools combined. There are to-day more students in the college classes in our institutions than in those of all the other Church schools combined. We shall point to our educated men in village and city pulpits and in all the professions and proudly say, Here they are.

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It is needless to say, we are happy in our work. We are making history in our 9 Presbyteries and 2 Synods. Eternally opposed to the formation of an independent African Presbyterian Church, we shall continue to send up our delegates to the united Assembly. Assembly. With a vigor that knows no rest and a patience that knows no weariness we will work for the uplifting of our people until the day dawns and the shadows flee away.

Mr. Chairman, it is utterly impossible in this epitome to give an adequate account of our work and its possibilities. Our hearts rejoice when we think of the two Methodist Bishops and the several college presidents and professors, graduates of our denominational institutions, who are now laboring in other Churches. Think of the noble women, the wives of many of our leaders, who were fitted for usefulness in our schools! Think of the street waifs and gamins gathered and taught in our Sabbath schools, a mighty army drilled by trained men and women! What a power for God and native land! Oh watchman, what of the night?

Despite unfriendly criticism on the one hand, and the mistakes and unwise speeches of our own people on the other, the Negro is surely destined to be one of the bright jewels in the diadem of our King.

It is for this glorious consummation that the Christians of America and of our Church do now earnestly toil and patiently wait.