Part 32 (1/2)
”A Let us labor, as the heart of one man, to establish Sunday schools, in or near the place of public worshi+p Let persons be appointed by the bishop, elders, deacons, or preachers, to teach gratis all that will attend or have the capacity to learn, fro till ten, and from two o'clock in the afternoon till six, where it does not interfere with public worshi+p The council shall co and piety”--Rev Charles Elliott's _History of the Great Secession front the Methodist Episcopal Church_, etc, p 35
A PORTION OF AN ACT OF THE GENERAL assEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN 1800
The asseroes, the poor and those who are destitute of the race in various parts of this extensive country; whoever contemplates the situation of this nunorance of the plainest principles of religion, their immorality and profaneness, their vices and dissoluteness of manners, must be filled with anxiety for their present welfare, and above all for their future and eternal happiness
”3 The purchasing and disposing of Bibles and also of books and short essays on the great principles of religion and morality, calculated to iiven with a sense of their duty both to God and man, and consequently of such a nature as to arrest the attention, interest the curiosity and touch the feelings of those to whos of the General assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the USA in the Year 1800_, Philadelphia
AN ACT OF THE GENERAL assEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN 1801
”The assembly resumed the consideration of the communication froone through the same, thereupon resolved,
”5 That there be ard to the other objects of the asse the the poorer classes of people, and the blacks, or wherever it is thought useful; which books shall be given away, or lent, at the discretion of the distributor; and that there be received froe of his debt, books to such amount as shall appear proper to the Trustees of the assembly, who are hereby requested to take proper s of the General assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the USA_
PLAN FOR IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF THE FREE BLACKS
The business relative to free blacks shall be transacted by a committee of twenty-four persons, annually elected by ballot at aof this Society, in the month called April, and in order to perfory this co sub-committees, viz:
I A Coeneral conduct, and ordinary situation of the free negroes, and afford thes, and other friendly offices
II A Co people with suitable persons, that theya moderate time of apprenticeshi+p or servitude) learn some trade or other business of subsistence The committee may effect this partly by a persuasive influence on parents and the persons concerned, and partly by cooperating with the lahich are orcontracts of these occasions, the committee shall secure to the Society as far as uardianshi+p over the person so bound
III A Committee of Education, who shall superintend the school instruction of the children and youth of the free blacks They ularly the schools already established in this city, or form others with this view; they shall, in either case, provide, that the pupilsas is necessary for their future situation in life, and especially a deep ied ious principles They shall also procure and preserve a regular record of the es, births, and manumissions of all free blacks
IV The Committee of Employ, who shall endeavor to procure constant eroes who are able to work; as the want of this would occasion poverty, idleness, and many vicious habits This committee will by sedulous inquiry be enabled to find coreat number; they will also provide that such as indicate proper talentsupon them to bind themselves for such a term of years as shall compensate their masters for the expense and trouble of instruction and maintenance The committee may attempt the institution of some simple and useful manufactures which will require but little skill, and alsobusiness, such as appear to be qualified for it
Whenever the Committee of Inspection shall find persons of any particular description requiring attention, they shall immediately direct them to the committee of whose care they are the proper objects
In matters of a mixed nature, the committee shall confer, and, if necessary, act in concert Affairs of great importance shall be referred to the whole committee
The expense incurred by the prosecution of this plan, shall be defrayed by a fund, to be formed by donations or subscriptions for these particular purposes, and to be kept separate from the other funds of the Society
The Cos, and of the state of their stock, to the Society, at their quarterly s, in the s of Benjamin Franklin_, vol x, p 127
EXTRACT FROM THE ”ADDRESS OF THE AMERICAN CONVENTION OF DELEGATES FROM THE ABOLITION SOCIETIES, 1795”
”We cannot forbear expressing to you our earnest desire, that you will continue, without ceasing, to endeavor, by every method in your pohich can promise any success, to procure, either an absolute repeal of all the laws in your state, which countenance slavery, or such an aradually produce an entire abolition
Yet, even should that great end be happily attained, it cannot put a period to the necessity of further labor The education of the emancipated, the noblest and most arduous task which we have to perform, will require all our wisdoreatest skill and discretion When we have broken his chains, and restored the African to the enjoyreat work of justice and benevolence is not accomplished--The new born citizen must receive that instruction, and those powerful iious truths, which will render hi the various duties he owes to hiher branches of science, and all the useful parts of learning, and in the precepts of religion and morality, we shall not only do aith the reproach and calumny so unjustly lavished upon us, but confound the ene that the unhappy sons of Africa, in spite of the degrading influence of slavery, are in no wise inferior to the more fortunate inhabitants of Europe and Aree, a design so virtuous and laudable, we recommend to you to appoint a committee, annually, or for any other more convenient period, to execute such plans, for the improvement of the condition and moral character of the free blacks in your state, as you may think best adapted to your particular situation”--_Minutes of the Proceedings of the Second Convention of Delegates, 1795_
A PORTION OF THE ”ADDRESS OF THE AMERICAN CONVENTION OF DELEGATES TO THE FREE AFRICANS AND OTHER FREE PEOPLE OF COLOR, 1796”
”In the first place, We earnestly recoular attention to the duty of public worshi+p; by which ratitude to your CREATOR, and, at the sae, union, friendshi+p, and proper conduct a yourselves