and free home, and when settled, of being their advisers in the Colony, and representatives in their legislature. It cannot be expected that any one now, however intelligent, can take his whole people from bondage as Moses did-but there are a great many individuals who can collect around them a hundred or more to form a township or colony in Liberia ; and if they neglect to do so, when such inducements are presented as the present, they must consent to remain under the charges heaped upon them of imbecility and want of enterprise.

It cannot be doubted that when the spirit of emigration, and consequent improvement of condition, shall have taken the free colored people to their new home, increased exertions will be made, and additional inducements be presented, for freeing and removing those in bondage. One principal objection now urged against the emancipation of slaves, and which has great weight, even with those opposed to slavery is, that if set free to remain in our country, they are, from the nature of circumstances, in no better condition than the slaves. But when those who are free, by their example and exertions, shall have rendered emigration to Africa desirable and beneficial, this objection to emancipation will no longer exist. Some may be disposed to think the result too far off. But such have only to look at what fifteen years has done for the western country. The first white' child born in the "Far West," Genessee county, New York, is now a person in the prime of life, and at this time there is a vast population beyond the Mississippi. With these facts before them, it is hoped every philanthropist, white or colored, will use his exertions in disseminating the information necessary to induce emigration; and if the spirit and success now indicated be followed up, in three years the present colored population, instead of being the despised, debased and ignorant victims of the licentious and vicious whites, with whom they are necessarily in contact, may be the founders and participants of the benefits of laws, religion, and all those institutions which make men wiser, better and happier.

Individuals, families, or societies of any number, can always obtain information as to emigration, and can be attached to colonies or societies already formed, and emigrate with them, by applying by letter to the Colonization Society. Letters must be directed to Judge WILKESON, Colonization Rooms, Washington city, D. C.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF SLAVES IN GEORGIA.

A DEVOTED and distinguished friend of Colonization sent us, last year, “The Fifth Annual Report of the Association for the religious instruction of the negroes in Liberty county, Georgia," which we read with much interest and gratification. The wisely concerted measures adopted, the zeal with which they were prosecuted, and the happy results of these efforts, (affecting as they do the best interests, the eternal welfare, of a portion of our race,) furnish an important example to all who are placed in like responsible relations to the negroes.

Having the subject again brought to our mind, by a notice of the sixth Annual Report of the Association, we are induced to present an analysis of both to our readers.

From the Fifth Annual Report, it appears that this Association was formed in the spring of 1831. During a greater part of the time, from its formation to the date of this report, it was favored with the services of a most devoted and excellent missionary, who co-operated with the settled pastors in preaching to the negroes on the Sabbath, and with other members of the Association, in the establishment and instruction of Sabbath Schools. In connexion with these means of instruction and religious influence, we regard no efforts of the missionary as of more importance than plantation meetings.

The Report says: "Above thirty plantations have been visited during the week, some more than once,, for the purpose of preaching, solemnizing marriages, and performing funeral services.

These visits have, without exception, been in the evening, with the permission and hearty concurrence of owners. The customary effect of plantation meetings is to encourage and strengthen professing Christians; to arrest them in spiritual declension, and to stimulate them to a more faithful attendance at their own house of prayer; to arouse the careless; to assist the awakened, and to draw the old and the young out to the Sabbath School, and to the house of God. This last effect is usually observed after a faithful visitation of plantations in the neighborhood of the stations.

"The evening meetings have been held exclusively for the negroes residing on the plantations visited, and none from abroad permitted to be present except on the invitation or by the permission of the owners. Our preference always has been, and it is one most conducive to good impression and to good order, that the meetings should be confined strictly to the residents on the plantations. Of course, every planter judges in his own case, of the propriety or impropriety of allowing those who are near neighbors to his people the privilege of assembling with them on such occasions."

SABBATH SCHOOLS.

We copy from the Report the following account of the formation and condition of the Sabbath Schools in the county.

"The first Sabbath School for the instruction of negroes was formed at Fraser's Station, August 18, 1833, with about fifty children. The average attendance for nearly a year, until that station was relinquished, was between fifty and sixty.-Journal.

The second, at Pleasant Grove, January 12, 1834, by Mr. BARRINGTON KING and two ladies; with twenty scholars.-Journal.

The third, at Midway, May 11, 1834, with twenty-five scholars.Journal.

The fourth, at Jonesville, summer of 1834, by the families residing there, under the superintendence of Mr. JOHN B. MALLARD.

The fifth and sixth, at Walthourville and Sanbury, summer of 1834, by members of the churches residing at these retreats.

The seventh, at Newport, March 23, 1835, in connexion with Rev. SAMUEL S. LAW, with forty scholars.-Journal.

The eighth, at Gravel Hill, summer of 1835, by members of the church residing there.

Seven are in existence still, and are as useful as they have ever been, taking them all together.

The Schools under the immediate care of the Association have been attended to in the afternoon of the Sabbath. They have finished the Doctrinal Catechism and have commenced the Historical; although they review the former from time to time.

We gather from the reports received, that the lowest average of scholars, children and youth, in the four Schools, is one hundred and ninetyfive; and the highest average two hundred and ninety. Adding these returns to the other three Schools, we have the lowest average attendance of negro children and youth, for the seven Schools in the county, four hundred and fifty-five; and the highest, seven hundred and fifty.

The utility of these Schools cannot be a matter of doubt with any who have formed an intimate acquaintance with them. They promote cleanliness, neatness, order and good behavior. Sobriety, honesty, good feeling, and subordination in the relations of life; respect towards the public worship of God; reverence for the Sabbath day; for the word and ministry of God. They bring Divine truth early in contact with the human understanding and heart. The one is enlightened, and the perverse inclinations of the other laid under serious and lasting restraints, if the good work proceeds no further. But that which crowns the blessing of these Schools is, that Divine truth communicated in them, has been, as we sincerely hope, accompanied by the spirit of God and made effectual in many instances to the salvation of the soul. It is an interesting fact that the inquirers are almost universally found in the Schools. If not attached before their serious impressions, they become so afterwards, whatever their ages may be.

No one can attend a meeting of either of our Sunday Schools, without being struck with the general neatness, cheerfulness, and order, and remarkably healthy appearance of the scholars. I have frequently and attentively surveyed an assembly of from three to five hundred negroes in church on the Sabbath day, and have found it difficult to discover a sickly or inferior looking person among them all."

Services on the Sabbath were well attended, and the style of preaching was happily adapted to the capacity of the hearers. Systematic instruction was given in the form of a simple exposition of the Gospels, historical and biographical discourses were preached, embracing some of the most remarkable periods and characters of the old Testament, and occasionally a series of doctrinal sermons, while every opportunity was improved in presenting such practical duties as the nature of the subject, the circumstances of individuals, or the state of the whole congregation, suggested.

These means were not without their effect, which after some time began to be apparent and encouraging. By conversing with the negroes on the subject of the discourse, it was ascertained that many things were understood and well remembered. At length a few inquirers presented themselves, and members of the church became more concerned for the impenitent, and more inclined to make religion the subject of their conversation. "Some gave decided evidence that under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, they had been walking with God for years. At one of the stations there was a prayer-meeting conducted by the church-members before the services commenced." In the autumn of 1838 an unusal attention to the subject

of religion commenced at one of the stations, which continued with more or less interest, and spread over nearly the whole district. Numbers were from time to time added to the church, while others were inquiring after the way of salvation. In some places these revivals among the negroes were promoted by conversions among the planters, while the latter were, no doubt, in some instances, impressed with the importance of Gospel religion, by witnessing its effects upon their slaves.

The Report says: "Religion has proved a blessing to the negroes individually and socially, and a great promoter of their honesty and subordination in respect to their owners; and if the true doctrines of the Cross can be faithfully and constantly preached to them, and their religion be defended from fanaticism, (to which there is a perpetual tendency in ignorant minds,) the improvement of the people, under Divine blessing, must be more and more manifest every year. It is the opinion of some close observers who have been consulted on the subject, that there has been, taking the whole population together, a gradual improvement in their moral and physical condition. The two are inseparably connected.

"The success accompanying the efforts of the Association within their prescribed field, has been equal to reasonable expectation. The good influence diffused by it in our Southern country, has exceeded our anticipations; for all which, gratitude is due to Him, from whom all good desires and purposes proceed."

We copy the following analysis of the Sixth Annual Report of this Association from one of our exchange papers:

The Association is a known and regular organization, contemplating no temporary and occasional effort, but permanent progress. Its officers are a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Executive Committee. The missionary employed is Rev. CHARLES C. JONES, who was called away from this benevolent service to the office of Professor in the Theological Seminary of Columbia, South Carolina; but after a few years, turning his back upon the ease, the honors, and the emoluments of his office, he returned to the humble and self-denying labors of "preaching the Gospel to the poor, and binding up the broken hearted." A more beautiful example of philanthropy our country has not afforded; moving in the higher circle of society, connected with the wealth and the aristocracy of the South, with refinement of taste in letters, and its proffered gratification in books, and study, and intercourse, he leaves religious halls, and polished society, and honored idleness, for companionship with the negro in his toils under the burning sun, and in his log cabin; and instead of the applause his eloquence might command in congregations of the intelligent, the fashionable, and the rich, he seeks to gather around him those afflicted and forsaken ones, the tear from whose penitent eye, the expression of gratitude from whose broken heart, is a higher reward than cultivation and affluence could give. We commend the foreign missionary; but here is a more devoted example of the morally sublime.

Preaching on the Sabbath is maintained in three regular stations, Midway, Newport, and Pleasant Grove; and meetings are held from planta

tion to plantation during the week; the attendance in both cases is numerous, and the negroes are attentive and interested in the service.

Systematic instruction is given in the form of expository lectures and doctrinal sermons. A large number of converts having been admitted into the church at Midway, a class of more than fifty was formed to receive instruction in the doctrines and duties of religion by familiar lectures accompanied with questions and answers. All the other members of the church were allowed the privilege of uniting with this class. This is something in advance of most of our own churches, and suggests an important hint to pastors in relation to their duty to young converts. Sermons also have been prepared with care and preached at the different stations for the benefit of this portion of the churches.

The practice has been introduced of giving the right hand of fellowship at the admission of the converted negroes to the church; when occasion was taken to explain the nature and obligations of the christian profession, and enforce the duties growing out of it, both upon masters and slaves. Such a ceremony cannot but exert a happy influence upon both classes; for a moment at least, the master must see the footing of equality on which the Gospel places him with his colored bondman-a brother now in the sight of the church and in the sight of God, however wronged and depres sed; and the slave himself forgets the master in that recognition which reduces him to the same level. "Some of these seasons have been solemn and impressive to the persons immediately concerned, and have enlightened the minds of the members of the church, and quickened them in duty."

Watchmen and their meetings.-From the most intelligent and devoted colored members of the church, a number is selected, who are called watchmen; whose duty is to co-operate with the elders of the church, in counselling and guiding their colored brethren, and maintaining discipline in cases which could not conveniently be brought before the session. "The object of the meeting of the watchmen is-1. To receive reports of the state of religion on the different plantations, from their respective watchmen. 2. To receive reports of cases for discipline. 3. To consult about the best means for the support and prosperity of religion. 4. To instruct, awaken, and encourage the watchmen themselves in their duty; to remove such as may prove unworthy or incompetent, and to appoint new ones whenever required. 5. To report cases of old and sickly members, who may need assistance from the church. 6. To engage in prayer to God for a blessing upon the church and congregation." A truly excellent device, worthy of introduction into every northern church.

The following advantages have resulted from "watchmen's meetings." "1. The state and condition of the members of the church are passed in review, and understood at every meeting. 2. The watchmen themselves are instructed in the nature of their duties, and assisted and encouraged in the faithful discharge of the same; their interest in religion is increased, and themselves brought under supervision. 3. Cases of discipline are more surely noted and reported, and more easily disposed of." "Our [watchmen] meetings are generally well attended, and conducted with interest and spirit, and with very good results. When all are present our number is respectable; for in Midway there is one regularly appointed [colored] preacher, to whom the church gives a salary, and one assistant; there are four, whom they call selectmen, and between twentyfive and thirty watchmen."

Sabbath Schools-Not only were efforts made to secure spiritual benefits to the slaves by preaching the Gospel on the Sabbath, by holding re