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To present to the Association in one sentence, the convictions of my own mind in relation to the labours of the past year, I sincerely say, that our success has equalled our expectations. No man engaged in preaching the Gospel to ignorant and degraded minds, under many peculiar and great disadvantages, could have been more encouraged, in the main, than has been your Missionary. I make this declaration with diffidence; and I should wish, with gratitude, and would not have done so, if it was not deemed necessary, in some measure, for your encouragement.
SUGGESTIONS.
Without detaining you longer, I would respectfully lay before the Association a few suggestions on the religious instruction of the negroes.
1. And in the first place, I would suggest the building of two or three houses for the accommodation of the negroes on the Sabbath.
Your Missionary attempted in the beginning of the last winter, to preach in the open air, and at the stands in the woods, but with lesscomfort to himself and benefit to the people, than when they were collected in the white Churches, which we have been permitted to use. But the negroes do not feel perfectly at home in the white Churches, and especially when there may be fifteen or twenty white persons present. A separate place of worship, exclusively their own, would place them more at their ease, and enable the Missionary to conduct his exercises as he please.
In the construction of these houses, you may combine simplicity and economy. A large shed, with the ends enclosed, and with the posts set in sills, will be sufficient. The size may vary according to the number of attendants, 40 feet by 20, 50 by 30, or 60 by 40. The seats, I am inclined to think, may be furnished by the people themselves. A committee from the Association, might arrange this business with despatch, both as to the method of proceeding in erecting the houses, and the proper sites for them.
2, I would suggest also to the Association, the propriety of having on your own plantations, either a small house erected for plantation meetings, or a room prepared, that may be conveniently used for that purpose.
To take the people into the dwelling-house of the white family is not pleasant; to take them into a cotton-house is not safe, nor always convenient, while there are but few of their own houses that can accommodate any number of persons.
