"An Ounce of Preventive" Letter to the Southern Watchman

Subject

Religion

Description

An 1857 letter written to the Southern Watchman and signed "An Ounce of Preventive" discusses the controversy of enslaved people using a Baptist church for religious services. The author argues that "if any disturbance is made by this people, it will proceed from this church," concluding that "the preaching there should be confined to white persons."

Creator

Southern Watchman

Publisher

Southern Watchman

Format

.jpg

Language

English

Type

Newspaper

Coverage

1857

Text

For the Southern Watchman,
MR. EDITOR: -My mind being considerably "exercised" of late by ... proceedings of the colored Baptist ... this place, at their house of worship ... had thought to get you to lay ... reflections before our community. ... sir, without boring either you or ... with further preliminary, I would ... observe, especially in justice ... self, that no allusion or expression ... in contained is designed as a ... upon or intended in anywise as ... in question the polity or tenets of ... denomination of which this house ... worshippers compose a part.
Occasion requiring it, I have frequently in passing that place, on account of certain peculiarities exhibited, ... for a short time to more particular note these things and interpret ... in this latter, however, I must confess to utter failure.
Scriptural though it may be, yet ... is the testimony of those having ... do with this class, that those of the believing they cannot sin after submitting to certain regulations, make the most mischievous, rascally servants ... be found. And this is a result, ..., arising more from the ... manner in which these things are ... than from any other consideration. Every one is aware, and our State ... corporate governments have ... that negro preachers (?) and preaching have a very evil tendency; and ... various restrictions and regulations thrown around them. These are ... observed at the place mentioned. ... is excellent in skillful hands, ... most dangerous when tampered with ... ignoramuses. And so with reference to tenets-an enlightened white man ... to preach them with great benefit, but ... has ever heard of light sufficient in the mind of a descendant of Ham to ... one upon any subject-especially taught from the pulpit. And there the great danger. If faith ... fanaticism, it is certainly of the ... therefore, how necessary this ... should be properly indoctrinated?
Lawfully indulged in, no one is ... they from the wish to disturb this ... than the writer; but convinced that such is not true, he earnestly and honestly calls upon masters to keep an eye upon this house and the proceedings carried on it; for so sure as we live. ... any disturbance is made by this people, it will proceed from this Church. Why, friends, how is it that even these long evenings squads of negroes are found just "going to church" as late as eight o'clock; and also, that service commences but little earlier? At the Mission House for colored persons under the control of the Methodists, such is not the case-there, under the teaching of a competent and most excellent white man, order is observed, and opportunity afforded to learn something.-And a fact worthy of great consideration is this: the best negroes in Athens attend there-and we have no question there are "sincere worshippers" amongst them-those who worship "in spirit and in truth." And though this congregation is respectably large; yet, at the house first named, the most ordinary negro in town has the most overflowing congregation; in truth, the worse "gumbo" the bigger crowd. Whether this be so when worthy white ministers preach there, "come and see." Blacks go where there is most parade, and where there is the largest liberty; hence, the most eloquent white divine in the land may occupy the pulpit for their benefit, while the most illiterate may chant the funeral of a cat and draw the crowd! I know whereof I affirm, when I take it upon myself to warn the country to uncommon circumspection over these black clouds which gather largest where there is the least sunshine-the least restraint by the presence of the whites. Thunderbolts are in them just as in the clouds above our heads; and unless closely watched they will be hurled at us.
Just one word more. Our town officers surely must not take this as the remotest reflection upon them-nor must any order loving man. I do not ask this congregation to be broken up, but I do insist that the preaching there should be confined to white persons.
"AN OUNCE OF PREVENTIVE."

Original Format

Newspaper Article

Collection

Newspaper Abstracts

Citation

Southern Watchman, “"An Ounce of Preventive" Letter to the Southern Watchman,” African American Experience in Athens, accessed September 25, 2023, https://digihum.libs.uga.edu/items/show/25.

Embed

Copy the code below into your web page

IIIF Manifest