"It cannot be too distinctly explained, that the measure to be submitted to Parliament, will be so framed, that the indispensable condition of receiving the consequent benefit, will be the fact of a statute having passed the colonial legislature, simply, and without qualification in terms, or limitation of time, declaring the order in council to possess the force of law in the colony." (K.) Page 48. The following affords a specimen of the kind of instruction which have been given by the Missionaries, and of the mental character of the persons admitted by them to baptism.— "The contributor of the following brief article, was once a little sceptical about the great success of the Baptist WestIndia Missionaries, on account of the vast number of supposed conversions; but, having been permitted to see their labours and the good effected, he begs leave to give as a sample a few of the many queries and answers which the missionary and the candidate for baptism respectively put and received, prior to that ordinance. "The "What is sin? the badness we do 'foretime." Son of God." And what has "Him 'tand for we." Another, for we." Do you repent of sin? time, me sorry for to me heart." self to be a sinner? "Me tink me Bible read." Do you love Jesus? me wish me always at Him feet." Why do you love the Saviour? "For Him come down and be crucified, and Him 'till pray." Can you do good of yourself?" By de power of Jesus." Why do you wish to be baptized? "Massa Jesus leave de word, and me wish to follow him track." But if any one should mock you afterwards, what would you do?" "Me take him hand, and me say, how you do?". What does the minister break the bread for, and pour out the wine? "To mind upon it, and 'member upon it, how Massa Jesus "All that don't fitten." Another, "All body broke for we, how Him precious blood 'pilt for we." Why do you wish to partake of the Lord's Supper? "It bring feeling over me mind; for Him wounded for me sin." One of them having been asked if she loved God, replied in the affirmative; and on being further asked, whether she loved all the brethren and sisters, answered, "Hi Massa! me no lub me broder and me sisters, who me see ebery day, when me lub God who me neber see."-Missionary Herald, January, 1832. (L.) Page 49. I had a few months since an opportunity of speaking to the Rev. Mr. Wray, who has been a Missionary more than twenty years in Demerara and Berbice. He was the intimate friend and brother of the faithful Smith, the murdered Missionary. I asked Mr. Wray, whether from the knowledge which he had of the negroes he thought their emancipation would be attended with any injurious consequences: he instantly replied, "If I had the power I would give them all emancipation to-morrow." I was pleased with his frank and explicit reply; but should have been better satisfied had he not said, "to-morrow," but " to-day;" because I know that when, in cases of extreme importance, persons have said, like a Roman soldier," serious things to-morrow;" the events of" the day," on which it is said, may prevent, as in that instance, the possibility of attending to "serious things to-morrow." This has always been the plea of the British Legislature respecting slavery: "It ought," it has said, "certainly to be abolished; but not to-day,'- to-morrow!'" This is the spirit of the Government at the present moment. Let us, say they, first prepare the slaves by ameliorating measures for liberty; and then "to-morrow" we will grant them emancipation. Alas! I fear that the "to-morrow" opportunity, for setting the oppressed negroes free by law may never arrive; therefore, I earnestly and respectfully say, to all persons concerned, "Do it to-day." (M.) Page 54. I am happy to have it in my power to introduce the sentiments of the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, D.D. of Stepney, on the sin of Slavery, as delivered in a Sermon preached at Spa-fields Chapel, on the 3rd instant, on behalf of the Moravian Missions, which makes the remarks the more valuable, as the Rev. P. Latrobe, and his father, the Rev. C. J. Latrobe, both contend, in their recent correspondence with me, that the slaves belonging to the Unitas Fratrum, are their "legal property." Dr. F.'s text, was Rom. i. 14-"I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians: both to the wise and the unwise." Applying his observations to slavery, he said this debt of obligation to serve persons of all descriptions, by preaching the gospel to them, was enforced by the command of Jesus Christ; and after alluding to the late Orders in Council, and the Instructions to the Governors of the Colonies by Lord Goderich, which he pronounced to be truly christian in their sentiments and spirit, and noble and elevated in their style and composition! he said (as I am told by an intelligent gentleman, who took down the words at the time) "This debt and obligation are binding upon those who hold persons in bondage, and whom they proudly and unjustly call their property, and as unjustly have made them slaves! It is the duty of their masters to impart unto them that knowledge of the gospel, which is able, through faith in Christ Jesus, to make them the Lord's free-men." (N.) Page 56. The following letter, signed by six of the Baptist Missionaries, against whom no proceedings had been taken, in vindication of themselves, their brethren, and the Society, against the malicious slanders propagated by the slave-holders, is copied from the "Jamaica Watchman," of the 25th of February, 1832. "To the Editor of the Watchman. "Sir-Considering the present state of public opinion, as induced by heavy charges alleged against the 'Sectarians,' relative to the late rebellion; it is probable that those by whom our characters are appreciated, and doctrines understood, might inquire why we have not earlier appeared in defence of the one, and explanation of the other? Our delay has not arisen from fear of investigation, or reluctance to defend the doctrines we inculcate: but long accustomed to revilement and false accusation; considering the improbable and contradictory nature of the charges alleged, together with the total ignorance manifested by those who made them, both of our sentiments and discipline; and feeling happy in a conscious rectitude of our motives and conduct, we were disposed to pass over in silence such unfounded allegations. But having exercised our patience, until the lawless rage of those, who are alike inimical to the laws of God and man, has demolished ten or eleven of our chapels, and thus destroyed full £16,000. worth of property belonging to the Baptist Mission in this island, we deem it high time, on the part of ourselves, and our brethren with whom we are not able at present to confer, to offer the following remarks, with a view to vindicate our characters, and repress such disgraceful depredations. "Our missionaries here, and the society at home, have been reviled and calumniated by every species of abuse that ingenuity could invent, or malice promulgate. Every epithet has been employed that could blacken the character, or misrepresent the motives, both of the society and their agents. We have been charged with preaching doctrines of a seditious and dangerous character, and of propagating, among the slave population, principles and sentiments tending to disobedience and insubordination. This charge we FLATLY DENY, and call on our accusers for PROOF. The doctrines we maintain, we are prepared, at any proper time, modestly but fearlessly to defend! But, not thinking it necessary to trouble the public at present with an extended statement of our belief, nor considering a newspaper the most proper medium for a confession of faith, it may suffice to remark, that our religious doctrines, however misrepresented by our enemies, differ not from those contained in the authorized compositions of the Established Church; nor, as they regard the present question, from those of any other body of true christians. "Our doctrines are not only charged with destroying the relative obligations between master and servant, but of leading to robbery, sedition, incendiarism, and murder! How they can tend to such evils, more than the doctrines of the Established Church, we are at a loss to ascertain, since the fundamental doctrines of our belief are to be found in her articles. "We are said to be sent hither as spies and incendiaries; encouraged by our society to propagate sedition; and, finally, to accomplish the destruction of the colony. Charges so ridiculous, must carry with them, to every unprejudiced mind, their own refutation. With reference to our society, the following quotations from the Instructions given to every missionary, on leaving England, will clearly evince that their object is not to spread anarchy and confusion, but, without any interference whatever with the political constitution of the colony, to seek the happiness of the slaves, by presenting to them the blessings of christianity, in the life that now is, as well as that which is to come; and inculcating attention to all the social and relative duties of life. "We enjoin it upon you ever to remember that the office you have voluntarily undertaken, is wholly of a spiritual nature. Leaving to others the acquisition of property, and the management of temporal affairs, you go forth in the service of Jesus Christ, and to seek the salvation of immortal souls. "It is matter of the first importance, that you carefully abstain from all interference whatever in political affairs, or with the civil business of the town and neighbourhood in which you reside. To the island of Jamaica this direction applies with peculiar force. Be careful, therefore, that your conduct, without any mixture of a worldly or temporizing spirit, be such as shall give no just occasion of offence, and that none may be able to bring any accusation against you, save in the matter of the Lord your God. As you are going amongst a people, many of whom are in a state of slavery, it will be incumbent upon you to use great caution, both as to your language and conduct, that there may not be the least ground for the charge of interfering with their civil relations. On all persons in the condition of slaves, you will diligently and plainly enforce the following apostolic precepts: Eph. vi. 5-8, Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters |