American Union

A SIGHT WORTH SEEING

During the sitting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, in the city of Richmond last June, there were two persons who went uninvited to an old and rather uninviting looking building on the Sabbath morning. They were met by a well-dressed man as they entered the door, who kindly conducted them to seats,—in a position that overlooked the whole house. Before them was a company of nearly four hundred children; most of them were from seven to fourteen years of age, they were dressed with remarkable neatness,—some of them perhaps a little too showy. Their countenances were beaming with pleasure; their eyes sparkled with intelligence; and a better behaved, more orderly, and attentive congregation of young people, or one more eagerly engaged in the business before them, need hardly be desired. A man who, though his head was white with years, seemed still to be in the full vigor of his strength was standing before them; and by simple words was teaching them a lesson in the science of salvation. He read a hymn and the chorister led the youthful voices as they filled the large house with echoes of praise. Another, and another hymn was sung,—then further instruction given, then other hymns; and a stranger who was present was called on to preach a sermon five minutes long. More singing and another little sermon. And thus the hours passed until the time for the meeting of the church, when the children went out after some good advice, from the aforesaid white haired man: and their place was occupied by about twelve hundred grown people, who crowded into the building, leaving perhaps some three hundred more outside, about the windows and the doors, who could not enter. This great congregation listened most attentively to the sermon, and the choir in the gallery sung most delightfully, and somewhat artistically several hymns and anthems with their notebooks in their hands. It is said to be equal to any choir in the city.

These four hundred children are servants; these twelve hundred adults are colored people. He had seen the Sunday school and the congregation of the First African Baptist Church,—a church that numbers three thousand and eighty members. The white-haired man is brother Ryland the honored President of Richmond College, one of the best scholars and most successful teachers in the land. I believe that people put D. D. at the end of his name when they write it. But for myself I want to say, that however much I have admired Dr. Ryland, the scholar and the President of one of the noblest institutions for the education of young gentlemen in the arts and sciences, I love brother Ryland, the superintendent of the colored Sunday school. Brother Ryland the pastor of the colored church; nay I respect, I admire him more—vastly more in this capacity than the other. I could not resist the impulse I felt to go and take him by the hand, and thank him for the noble lesson that he is teaching the ministers of the gospel all over the South by his example, for the evidence he has given of the fact that colored people may be not only converted to God, but made intelligent Christians, with a full understanding of the scheme of salvation. Oh how I wish that those men who feel themselves above the work of preaching and teaching Christ's gospel to the blacks could have been with us that day. May the good Lord help all his people to feel more and labor more for the salvation of their servants.

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