Part 67 (1/2)
”Another question of considerable delicacy and importance still remains to be discussed. Is it advisable, under all the circ.u.mstances of the case, to circulate the Holy Scriptures, without note of comment, among the slave population of these islands? Your Committee can feel no hesitation in affirming that such a measure is not merely expedient, but one of almost indispensable necessity. The Sacred Volume is in many respects peculiarly adapted to the slave. It enjoins upon him precepts so plain, that the most ignorant cannot fail to understand them: 'Slaves, obey in all things your masters, not with eye service, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing G.o.d.' It furnishes him with motives the most impressive and consoling: 'Ye serve,' says the Apostle, 'the Lord Christ.' It promises him rewards sufficient to stimulate the most indolent to exertion: 'Whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.' And it holds forth to him an example so glorious, that it would enn.o.ble even angels to imitate it: 'Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a _slave_!'”
”It may here be proper to observe, that the precise import of the word, which in general throughout the English Bible is translated _servant_, is strictly that which has been a.s.signed it in the foregoing quotations; (!) and so understood, the Sacred Volume will be found to hold out to our slaves, both by precept and example the most persuasive and the most compelling motives to industry, obedience, and submission.”
Nothing could more plainly show the corrupting influences of slavery, upon all within its reach, than this spectacle of a n.o.ble, religious inst.i.tution, prost.i.tuted to the vile work of defending oppression, and, in the zeal of its advocacy, blasphemously degrading the Savior into a self-made slave!
The receipts of the Antigua Branch Society have greatly increased since emanc.i.p.ation. From receipts for the year 1836, in each of the British islands, it appears that the contributions from Antigua and Bermuda, the only two islands which adopted entire emanc.i.p.ation, are about _double_ those from any other two islands.
MISSIONARY a.s.sOCIATIONS.
These a.s.sociations are connected with the Wesleyan mission, and have been in existence since 1820. Their object is to raise funds for the parent society in England. Although it has been in existence for several years, yet it was mostly confined to the whites and free people of color, during slavery. The calling together a.s.semblies of rural negroes, and addressing them on the subject of missions, and soliciting contributions in aid of the cause, is a new feature in the missionary operations to which nothing but freedom could give birth.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
The first temperance society in Antigua was formed at the beginning of 1836. We give an extract from the first annual report: ”Temperance societies have been formed in each town, and on many of the estates. A large number of persons who once used spirituous liquors moderately, have entirely relinquished the use. Some who were once intemperate have been reclaimed, and in some instances an adoption of the principles of the temperance society, has been followed by the pursuit and enjoyment of vital religion. Domestic peace and quietness have superseded discord and strife, and a very general sense of astonishment at the gross delusion which these drinks have long produced on the human species is manifest.”
”The numbers on the various books of the society amount to about 1700.
One pleasing feature in their history, is the very small number of those who have violated their pledge.”
”On several estates, the usual allowance of spirits has been discontinued, and sugar or mola.s.ses subst.i.tuted.”
The temperance society in Antigua may be specially regarded as a result of emanc.i.p.ation. It is one of the guardian angels which hastened to the island as soon as the demon of slavery was cast out.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.
The friendly societies are designed exclusively for the benefit of the negro population. The general object is thus stated in the const.i.tution of one of these societies: ”The object of this society is to a.s.sist in the purchase of articles of mourning for the dead; to give relief in cases of unlooked for distress; to help those who through age or infirmities are incapable of helping themselves by marketing, or working their grounds; _to encourage sobriety and industry, and to check disorderly and immoral conduct.”_
These societies obtain their funds by laying a tax of one s.h.i.+lling per month on every member above eighteen years of age, and of six pence per month on all members under that age and above twelve, which is the minimum of members.h.i.+p. The aged members are required to pay no more than the sum last mentioned.
The first society of this kind was established in St. John's by the present rector, in 1829. Subsequently the Moravians and Wesleyans formed similar societies among their own people. Independent of the pecuniary a.s.sistance which these societies bestow, they encourage in a variety of ways the good order of the community. For example, no one is allowed to receive a.s.sistance who is ”disabled by drunkenness, debauchery, or disorderly living;” also, ”if any member of the society, male or female, is guilty of adultery or fornication, the offending member shall be suspended for so long a time as the members shall see fit, and shall lose all claim on the society for any benefit during the suspension, and shall not be readmitted until clear and satisfactory evidence is given of penitence.” Furthermore, ”If any member of the society shall be expelled from the church to which he or she belongs, or shall commit any offence punishable by a magistrate, that member forfeits his members.h.i.+p in the society.” Again, the society directly encourages marriage, by ”making a present of a young pig to every child born in wedlock, and according as their funds will admit of it, giving rewards to those married persons living faithfully, or single persons living virtuously, who take a pride in keeping their houses neat and tidy, and their gardens flouris.h.i.+ng.”
These societies have been more than doubled, both in the number of members and in the annual receipts, since emanc.i.p.ation.
Of the societies connected with the established church, the rector of St. John's thus speaks: ”At the beginning of 1834 there were eleven societies, embracing 1602 members. At the beginning of 1835 they numbered 4197; and in 1836 there were 4560 members,” _almost quadrupled in two years!_
The societies connected with the Moravian church, have more than doubled, both in members and funds, since emanc.i.p.ation. The funds now amount to $10,000 per year.
The Wesleyans have four Friendly societies. The largest society, which contained six hundred and fifty members, was organized in the _month of August_, 1834. The last year it had expended 700 currency, and had then in its treasury 600 currency.
Now, be it remembered that the Friendly societies exist solely among the freed negroes, _and that the moneys are raised exclusively among them._ Among whom? A people who are said to be so proverbially improvident, that to emanc.i.p.ate them, would be to abandon them to beggary, nakedness, and starvation;--a people who ”cannot take care of themselves;” who ”will not work when freed from the fear of the lash;” who ”would squander the earnings of the day in debaucheries at night;” who ”would never provide for to-morrow for the wants of a family, or for the infirmities of old age.” Yea, among _negroes_ these things are done; and that, too, where the wages are but one s.h.i.+lling per day--less than sufficient, one would reasonably suppose, to provide daily food.
DAILY MEAL SOCIETY.
The main object of this society is denoted by its name. It supplies a daily meal to those who are otherwise unprovided for. A commodious house had just been completed in the suburbs of the town, capable of lodging a considerable number of beneficiaries. It is designed to shelter those who are diseased, and cannot walk to and fro for their meals. The number now fed at this house is from eighty to a hundred. The diseased, who live at the dispensary, are mostly those who are afflicted with the elephantiasis, by which they are rendered entirely helpless. Medical aid is supplied free of expense. It is worthy of remark, that there is no _public poor-house_ in Antigua,--a proof of the industry and prosperity of the emanc.i.p.ated people.
DISTRESSED FEMALES' FRIEND SOCIETY.
This is a society in St. John's: there is also a similar one, called the Female Refuge Society, at English Harbor. Both these societies were established and are conducted by colored ladies. They are designed to promote two objects: the support of dest.i.tute aged females of color, and the rescue of poor young colored females from vice. The necessity for special efforts for the first object, arose out of the fact, that the colored people were allowed no parochial aid whatever, though they were required to pay their parochial taxes; hence, the support of their own poor devolved upon themselves. The demand for vigorous action in behalf of the young, grew out of the prevailing licentiousness of slave-holding times. The society in St. John's has been in existence since 1815. It has a large and commodious asylum, and an annual income, by subscriptions, of 350, currency. This society, and the Female Refuge Society established at English Harbor, have been instrumental in effecting a great reform in the morals of females, and particularly in exciting reprobation against that horrid traffic--the sale of girls by their mothers for purposes of l.u.s.t. We were told of a number of cases in which the society in St. John's had rescued young females from impending ruin. Many members of the society itself, look to it as the guardian of their orphanage. Among other cases related to us, was that of a lovely girl of fifteen, who was bartered away to a planter by her mother, a dissolute woman. The planter was to give her a quant.i.ty of cloth to the value of 80 currency, and two young slaves; he was also to give the grandmother, for her interest in the girl, _one gallon of rum_! The night was appointed, and a gig in waiting to take away the victim, when a female friend was made acquainted with the plot, just in time to save the girl by removing her to her own house. The mother was infuriated, and endeavored to get her back, but the girl had occasionally attended a Sabbath school, where she imbibed principles which forbade her to yield even to her mother for such an unhallowed purpose. She was taken before a magistrate, and indentured herself to a milliner for two years. The mother made an attempt to regain her, and was a.s.sisted by some whites with money to commence a suit for that purpose. The lady who defended her was accordingly prosecuted, and the whole case became notorious. The prosecutors were foiled. At the close of her apprentices.h.i.+p, the young woman was married to a highly respectable colored gentleman, now resident in St. John's. The notoriety which was given to the above case had a happy effect. It brought the society and its object more fully before the public, and the contributions for its support greatly increased. Those for whose benefit the asylum was opened, heard of it, and came begging to be received.
This society is a signal evidence that the colored people neither lack the ability to devise, nor the hearts to cherish, nor the zeal to execute plans of enlarged benevolence and mercy.
The Juvenile a.s.sociation, too, of which we gave some account in describing its anniversary, originated with the colored people, and furnishes additional evidence of the talents and charities of that cla.s.s of the community. Besides the societies already enumerated, there are two a.s.sociations connected with the Established Church, called the ”Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge,” and the ”Branch a.s.sociation of the Society for Advancing the Christian Faith in the British West Indies, &c.” These societies are also designed chiefly for the benefit of the negro population.