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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0062 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0062 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
| 68 MARYLAND COLONIZATION JOURNAL. (From the Baltimore Literary ami Religious Magazine.) The Condition of the Coloured Population of the City of Baltimore. Some statistics anil facts with respect to the condition of the coloured population el Baltimore, collected from observation and inquiry, EB»J b* useful and interesting as a record lor future tunes. Their present physical, intellectual moral, reli- gious and social condition, and the names of their churches, Sabbath schools, and societies, will be illustrated by an article of facts and statistics, as accurately as can be ascertained from statements given, and Sabbath school reports Some docu- raent respecting their condition, as the population is numerous, appears desirable to excite public interest and attention. In this article will be col- lected together some Information w bieh, perhaps, maybe usetul and valuable; and M there is noth- ing on record, in these respect* published, which gives the information desired, we will -peak from experience and observation, and statistical reports, •which will make an intereiting impression upon the minds of those who have an interest in the moral and religious welfare of society. The number of coloured people in the city of Baltimore, is estimated at this time at about 25,000 souls, as it appi ars from the last censuis of the general population. Of this number 10,000 are free people of colour, and 9,000 are slaves. Their intellectual, moral, religious, physical ami social condition will allbrd to the christian mind and to the patriot and philanthropist, a topic of considerable interest j and all persons who know the value of moral and christian influence, cannot look upon so vast a multitude immersed in a re- markable decree in Ignorance, vice, immorality, wickedness and infidelity, without Inquiring what can be done for the amelioration of their condition in society, and as members of the human family. The friends of colonization in the state of Mary- land, have been zealously diligent and active to promote the welfare and prosperity of the coloured population, by opening the way lor those who wish to go to Africa, to be removed there in the most convenient and comfortable manner. The climate of the city, it is said, is unfavoura- ble to the coloured population, as mora of tin' coloured population die each year, in proportion, than among the white population. Intemperance may formerly hare been one great cause of the death of numbers The establishment of tem- perance societies has been, accordingly, an object of much interest among the Methodist locieties, to ameliorate the condition of the coloured papu- lation in this respect. Placet for drinking have been and are still numerous throughout some puis of the town. About 1500 persons have joined the Temperance Societies in the Sharp street, Asbury and Bethel churches. Whatever may promote religioui and moral instruction and education, and the extension of the light and knowledge of the goapel, will excite the attention, and call forth a corresponding inte- rest among the friends of Christianity, and the ministers of the gospel of different denominations. There are among the coloured population, some who attend the Methodist, others the Episcopal, and the Presbyterian, and some goto the Catholic chapels. Not more than perhaps 5,000 or 7,000, probably go to any place of public worship on the Sabbath day. leaving from 18,000 to 20,000, who do not go to places of public worship. These either go about the streets, collect in the alleys of the city, or remain at home. Of fate years Sabbath schools in respective denominations have been established and attended with much success, and great moral Influence among the coloured population! Hundreds of coloured youth, and some ol advanced years, have for a few years past attended on Sabbath school instructions, and a wide field of uaefulneai i-. opened in the city for doing good in this manner : arid a respectable number of persons have devoted their attention on the Sal.h itli d iy, to instruct the coloured population and rising generation. The field is wide and extensive, and difficult, and much remains to he accomplished lo carry forward the great objects of christian instruction anion; the coloured people in future years. A fi iv years ago there were no Sabbath schools, and tins.-' pee- pie were lelt in Ignorance of reading the Scrip- tures, and to habits of vice and immorality on tie' Sabbath day. Since the introduction of Sabbath schools, much has heen done for their intellectual, moral and religious improvement ; and many who have enjoyed these inestimable advantages for instruction and improvement, have improved these advantages so far as to be able to read in the sacred Scriptures. There is a coloured Sabbath school attached to the 1st Presbyterian congregation of the city, Rev. J. C. Backus, and DM number of people attending, youth and adults, is about 100, There are twenty-four white teachers in this Babbath school, male and female, and eighteen of the teachers are ladies; and a number who read in the Scriptures among the coloured people WOO attend. Mr. Hyde acta at ti is time as superintendent of the school, formerly directed by Mr, Gill, This school collects together on the Sabbath. not far from the City Spring, in some street back of it, in the basement story of a church. A room for their accommodation is wanted, and would facilitate operations among the coloured population of the city ; as more could and woejM attend on the Sabbath schools there formed and as- sembled on the Sabbath mornings and afternoons. Mr. James P. Walker, John Watts, and Harrison Webb, are among the coloured teachers of this Sabbath school. There is also I Sabbath school of 100 scholars, under the superintendence of Mr. Cary. in Old Town, and connected with the 2d Presbyterian church. Rev. R. J. Breckinridge. In this school there are 10 white, 4 male and 6 female, teachers with their respective classes. About 30 of the adults and youth read in the Scriptures, and 50 say Brown's Short Catechism. The names of the Sabbath school teachers are Mr. Wm. F. Cary, Mr. James Wilkinson, Mr. Joseph A. Ramsay, Mr. James Barnes, Mrs. Sarah Cary, Mrs. Jane Barrier, Miss Elisabeth Ramsay, Miss Avis Ely, Miss Nancy McClelling. Within three years tu.. hundred youth and adults have heen instructed in the elements of knowledge, anil in the principles of the christian religion. By the exertions and activity of a few friends of the cause of christian education, the Sabbath school has been collected and kept together on the Sabbath mornings and afternoons; and the congregation assembled in the room have usually heard a sermon or appropriate addresses from the Rev. Win. McJimsey, who has preached much among the coloured population of this city. There are also schools in Sharp street church, in the Asbury church in Potter street, the Bethel on the Point, in Strawberry alley. From reports received from Bethil church school in Saratoga near (Jay street, it appears that there were some time ago about 160 scholars before the Hood of last summer in June. Hev. Jacob Gru- her is presiding elder of the Sharp street near Pratt, and Asbunt and (Hd Wesley Chanel con- gregations ot coloured people at this time. The Asbury Sabbath school has N scholars and a few coloured teachers; and it is the same with the Sharp street church and congregation of coloured people. There are about forty persons who con- stitute the often] board, consisting of preachers, class leaders and exhorters, the most of whom are coloured persons. There is much room for doing good by preach- ing the gospel, establishing Sabbath schools and pruver meetings and forming Bible classes for instruction In the sacred Scriptures. There is a small Presbyterian congregation, of which Mr. J, P. Walker and Mr. S. Douglass are elders.— Prayer meetings are held on Thursday evenings at Mr. Green's, in Light street, and at Mr. Walk- er**, led far from Rev. Mr. Breckinridge's church. Boca* of the friends of the cause have spoken respecting the bed measures to be taken and adopted to provide rooms for Sabbath schools, and for obtaining a church In some convenient and proper location for public worship on the Babbath and other days. Many dilliculti. I have prevent) d any measures which would be effectual in act......- plishing this object, from being decided on by the Presbtery or commenced by the exertions of the people themselves, who appear to be desirous for the erection of a place of Worship, and the pur- chase of a lot for this purpose, The St. James's Episcopal church in North street, near Saratoga, has a Sabbath school, and the number of coloured friends in attendance is about 100. with some white and a few coloured teachers, Rev. Mr. Peterkin preaches to them here for some time past, on the Sabbath day. From a report recently obtained, it is found that the coloured Protestant Episcopal Sabbath school attached to the St. James's Episcopal church, contain* about a hundred or upwards on the roll, of both sexes, adults and children, and from TS to so in usual attendance, Mr. McGee, awhite young man is superintendent of the school at this time; and there are also four white ladies permanent and regular teachers of the females. The coloured male teachers are Mr. Garrison Draper and Edward Hollan, with 4 or 5 assis- tants ; and also female coloured teachers Mrs. Draper, Miss Cook, Miss Whipper with several others. More teachers of both Colours, and of both sexes are wanted in the school, as it is increasing in numbers lately, particularly some white young men. The Bethel coloured church ill Saratoga, formerly called Fish Street, has a Sabbath school attached to the congregation.— From a statement and report received respecting the progress and situation of the Bethel church coloured Sabbath school from its commencement in 1836 to this time, it appears that this school Was commenced and regularly organized by a lew coloured young men, ot" good moral religious dis- position*, desirous to do something with respect to Sabbath schools; and they went forward with efforts till the late flood in June last, stopped for a time their operations and labours ill this cans.', in which they had engaged with some zeal. It in- creased from the beginning, in number* beyond expectation, till the flood came and destroyed a large library of one thousand Babbath school books. This event for a time Impeded their ope- rations, till they could get another library by sub- scription and were successful in raising funds suf- ficient to get a small library. They have !» teach- ers and 80 individuals of different ages attending the school. With respect to the occupations and employments id the coloured population some few have schools for Instruction in the elementary branches of knowledge. Mr Watkins, Mr. .For- tie, and Mr. Stokes have schools during the week, in which about 200 young men mid chil- dren are instructed. There are* also night schools kept by them. English grammar, reading, wri- ting, and arithmetic are taught in these schools, There are several coloured preachers of the gos- pel of the Methodist denomination. .Not many an- engaged as Sabbath school teach- ers, owing t" want "t attention and experience in Sabbath schools. There is a Sabbath school at the F.bene/.r church, where a number of youth attend. No reports can. with accuracy be obtained,from the coloured Babbath school- of Strawberry alley on the Point at this time. They have it is supposed from what can he learned trom them, about sixty boys and girls of colour, and a lew teachers. The coloured population have some societies for benevolent purposes and objects; and some association* and institutions for the promotion of intellectual and moral improvement. Tempe- rance societies, three in number; lemale essocia- tions, aynung men's society for mental and moral improvement) beneficial societies, so called, are sixteen In number, ami do good among people of colour, in their circumstances of poverty and suf- fering, in winter and in time of sickness among the people. Some efforts are in progress to estab- lish nee schools for the common Instruction and education of poor children, who are very nume- rous in the city. There are some of the people of colour, who are in good circumstance* wnh respect to property, and who have acquired pro- perty by persevering industry and application to trades ami callings of different kinds. The gene- ral condition of the coloured population is as good, if not better than in other cities, according to the number of population and inhabitants con- tained in these respective cities. Mr. Cary visited dining the last and preceding winter and summer, about 800 families, and read tie- Beriptures and distributed tracts on various religious subjects calculated to be useful, and was cordially received by the families among the co- lour,,! 'people whom he visited as a Babbath school teacher. Many persons in these families promised to attend public worship on the Babbath day, and also to come to the Sabbath school; but too many of them have not attended as they ought to have done, and remain very careless and Indif- ferent and neglectful in these great and important respects, so essential for their comfort and wel- fare. Th,. coloured people where Mr. Cary at- tended in these families, were glad to have the Scripture read to them, and they always on si.rh occasions heard him read with pleasure and atten- tion. Many of these people live in heathenish darkness and ignorance and Insensibility with the light and knowledge of the Gospel shining around them. There appears to be a very wide fu Id lor doing good -pread out here, anil opened lor those who in this department of christian enterprise and benevolence have a desire to do good in ame- liorating the condition of these people. Prayer meetings have been established among the coloured people ; one lately commenced a Mr. Dunn's house in Short street, in Old Town, is attended by the coloured people in that neigh- bourhood and by some of the Sabbath school, who attend at the room, up stairs, by the fire engine house in (lay street, and is conducted by the Sab- bath school teachers of the same school. Not a few persons can give their testimony to Ihe advantages o| the Sabbath school education, Bible class instruction, and preaching of the gospel there enjoyed, and some. W* brut, who have gone to glory and happiness, have left their testimony in their last words, ascribing their salvation from sin and hell, through the agency of the Holy Spirit and the power and word of Cod, to the benefits of religious instruction there obtained. There is a great want of help in the Sabbath schools; it is highly desirable that the friends of the cause of Sabbath schools, would come forward and give their personal aid anil assistance in this great exceedingly difficult work of keeping up and conducting Sabbath schools among the co- loured population. A voice may be heard to say with respect to this vast neglected and uncultiva- ted field. 'Come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and in carrying forward a great and effectual warfare and controversy against sili aii I infidelity and ignorance and prejudice and immo- rality in its varied forms.' It would require perhaps almost 500 Sabbath school teachers to carry out among the coloured population the great work and objects ol' Sabbath school education in the city, and perhaps almost that number in (lid Town al......, not to speak of other part* of the city, where vice and misery prevail to an alarming degree ; but it appears to be almost next to Impossibility to get coloured adults ill families to attend in Sabbath schools for their benefit and improvement. Indifference and inattention to know ledge, to virtue and to religion are loo prevalent; and whatever can excite and arouse general attention and interest lo know- ledge, virtu* and religion will advance the pros- perity, welfare and happiness of society. The coloured children who attend the Sabbath schools often express their kindness and gratitude for the effort* and labours of those friends who have come forward to teach them in the elements of knowledge, and to impress upon their minds and hearts the great principles of morality, virtue and religion. Some few years ago, to bear of white teachers in coloured Sabbath schools was uncommon; but of late years, great attention has been given lo the establishment and encourage- ment of coloured Sabbath schools in the city of Baltimore. In Potter street and in other places, such as Bel-Air and Douglas streets, scenes and occur- rence* which ought not to be permitted if they could be prevented, are witnessed, such as Intem- perance, profanity and noisy and tumultuous col- lection* of black and coloured people. These things are very unpleasant and obnoxious to the feelings and wishes of the friends of good order, of virtue and of religion. Something should he done to prevent such occurrences. Many who are now collected together in the Babbath schools, are drawn from such scene- of wickedness and misery and wretchedness in the remote parts of the city ; and Sabbath schools for coloured youth and adults attract them from those places of temptation and crime, and have the great and happy effect in an eminent degree, by moral and religions influence, to break up these haunts of wretchedness, and to prevent such scene*, and to open doors of usefulness for the humane and philanthropic, and to give ample opportunities for ihe promotion of moral Improvement. Grog shops and Intemperance and profanity and Sab- bath breaking and their concomitant evils are prevalent to a considerable and alarming exlent in the community, and something should he done by moral and religions influence t" stop the pro. givss of wIckednees, and to give an additional Im- pulse to tlie efforts of christian acti< My and enter- prise, and to accelerate the motion of Ihe wheels of moral and religious influence. The fli Id is wide, but the labourers in the Held of religious and moral effort are comparatively few in number. There are a number of coloured persons in the Penitentiary of the city, to whom with the other there, the Gospel is preached ami religious In- struction is given on the Babbath, From the statistics of destitution in the city of Baltimore by the Rev. Stephen Williams, who visited 854 coloured families last spring, we find reported 1544 coloured children in these families. 870 of whom were above 6 years of age ; and 221 of them attending Sabbath school ; and 72 at day schools; persons out at senile 237; number of church members visited 566 and 31 persons of colour who were members of Temperance socie- ties These Inquiries and visits were among the population in the cast part of the city of Baltimore. With respect to religion and the public worship of God while much ignorance. Infidelity, neglect, carelessness and Indifference prevail among a great multitude, others are less attentive to older and decorum in public worship both on the Babbath and at weekly prayer meetings. A degree of fanaticism, and wildfire, and religious enthusi- asm, perhaps, in some cases, prevail among others of the coloured people in some places in the city, when thev meet together. The excitements at the meetings in Sharp street, Bethel and A-bury are some times considerable ; and much noise pre- vails occasionally among the people assembled together at night meeting*. Shoutings, singing, clapping of hands, and stamping with the feet, and exercises producing excitements and commo- tions. prevail at some of these meetings as we have heard. Curiosity, idleness and love of excite- ment and noise, draw crowds of people together, while they neglect instruction and will not apply with spirited activity and exertion to regular forms of worship. The institutions of different kinds among the people of colour in the city of Baltimore, are as follows:— Female societies. 1. Old Union association. 2. Benign do. 3. McKendrean do. 4. Wesleyan do. 5. Union Branch do. 6. Young Women's Beneficial association. 7. Star in the East association. 8. Female Ebenezer do. 9. Daughters of Jerusalem association. The above are for mutual relief in time of sick- ness and for burying their own dead, and money is collected for these purposes by the members:-- Males. 1 Young Men's Beneficial association. 2. United Brethren do. do. 3. Mechanical do. do. 4. Porter's do. do. 5. Coachman's Beneficial association. 6. Caulker's do. do. The object of both male and female in these societies are for the same purpose as stated above. 7. Young Men's Mental Improvement Society, for the discussion of moral and philosophical ques- tions of different kinds. 8. Temperance Societies. 9. Sabbath School Associations. 10. Coloured Masonic Lodge. 11. Coloured Sabbath schools of different deno- minations. 12. Old Beneficial Societv. 13, Young Men's United'Society. 14. Columbian Beneficial do. 15. Barbers' Association. 16, Daughter's Bethel Society. 17. Olive Branch do. 18. Simeon Female Institution. 19. St. Mary's Institution. 20. Female Beneficial Society. 21. Good Samaritan Society. 22. Young Men's Beneficial United Society. 23. Beneficial Association. 24. Young Men's Branch. 25. Harmonious Friends United Society. 26. Union Volunteers do. 27. Brick Makers' do. 28. The Relief Society in cases of seizure. 29. Sharp Street Juvenile Sunday Temperance Society. 30, The coloured people's Bible Society auxi- liary to the Young Men's Bible society of the slate of Maryland, Some of these societies above named, are for mental relief and Improvement, and there are a few more smaller societies whose names cannot be ascertained here. Mr. Thomas Green, has a well known barber Shop in Light street. He came here upwards of twenty.live years ago, from the Barbadoes Island, West Indies, and has since that time, been estab- lished here in business, and by industry and atten- tion has acquired considerable property in houses and real estate, Mr. J. Watts, in Light street, has a store and boarding hou-e. lie can accommodate from 30 to 40 coloured persons in the house at once. Some of the coloured people are tobacconists, some brick-makers, some shoe-makers, some merchant tailors, and some few have small stores, where tlmy .sell various articles for common use in society among people of colour. Some of the more usual employments are day-labourers, dray- men, pollers, sawyers, and servants in families, mala and female, There are several places where they take their position on the wharves, or in the public streets, where they can be found by their employers, as porters, or draymen, or work- men in labour of different kinds. It appears from statistics, that there are about 7IHI youth and adults among ihe coloured popula- tion, who attend on Sabbath school instruction. There are hundreds and thousands of families among tlie coloured population living in neglect o| the great salvation, and what can be done for them in this respect—as difficulties are great and numerous, in accomplishing the great object of preaching the gospel in the best possible manner. To accomplish these objects, white Sabbath school teachers and ministers of the gospel could employ their talent and Influence with great and powerful effect in exciting attention to the obser- vance of the Sabbath, the Importance of religion, and the great value of Sabbath school education among the coloured population, he. flinch has been done by different denominations of christians with respect to these objects, and much remains to be done for the good of the community, in this neglected, difficult and uncultivated field ol moral and christian exertion*. Irreligion, and vice, and Sabbath breaking, pre- vail to a great degree and considerable extent; and many difficulties and obstacles are in the way of (he amelioration of the coloured population in these re-p, els. Much is to be done in removing Irreligion and wickedness; and much can be done, if persons and means to help us with the work of moral reformation, could be obtained ade- quate to the work to be accomplished. The cir- culation of tracts, and Ihe distribution of bibles, have been attended to, in families among the peo- ple of colour; and more remains to be done for their good, and the general Interests of Ihe com- munity with respecf to them. Whatever can be '"He to promote moral and religious influence, is worthy of attention, us Interests of vast amount are at itakt for eternity. The Influence of the christian religion, and the promotion of christian knowledge, are objects of inestimable interest, and di sen,' our highest respect and estimation. The Rev. William Mc.Iiinsey, by an appoint- ment from the Board of Missions of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church, on recom- mendation of the Committee on Missions, has laboured for a year and six months, within the Issl time years, among the coloured population of (lie city generally. It has been the great object of .Mr. McJimsey, to preach the gospel, to estab- lish bible Glasses and Babbath schools, and to pro- mote the amelioration of the condition and pros- pects of the coloured population, by extending christian knowledge and education, and by endea- vouring as far as possible, to excite attention to the worth and value of intellectual, moral and religious influence in society at large. Ignoi. nco and poverty, and other causes, such as long estab- llsbed habits in vice and neglect of the Sabbath day and Sabbath schools, have produced in thou- sands of coloured families in the city, an indiffe- rence to the observance of the Sabbath, and to the trreat importance vl' religious and moral instruc- tion. These general facts will illustrate in a more particular manner than can be found in any other article, the condition of the coloured popu- lation of the city of Baltimore. Emancipation and Colonization. The New Orleans Picayune of the 13th Feb. says—'We understand that six hundred negroes, belonging to a gentleman of this city, lately deceased, are to be liberated according to his will, provided they are willing to go to Africa, in which case ample provision is to be made for their transportation.' The Rev. G. W. M'Elroy, of Kentucky, writes to the Rev. Dr. Proudfit, of New York, that at least seventy-five, or perhaps a hundred emigrants, might be found ready to embark for Africa, from that State, by the last of April.—Christian States PRINTED BY JOHN D. TOY, CORNER OF MARKET AND ST. PAUL STREETS — BALTIMORE. |