s where he alternately
officiated.--_Gillies' Historical Collections, Vol. I, p. 334; Appendix
to the Historical Collections, p. 29, 37, 40, 42._
The labours of the Rev. Robert Henry seem to have been blessed much to
the negroes in Virginia. The centre of his operations was Cub-Creek, in
Charlotte county.
Mr. Henry was succeeded by Rev. Drury Lacy of precious memory. We have
seen a letter dated July 14th, 1834, which says, "During Mr. Lacy's
ministrations at Cub-Creek, there were about 200 black members added,
and there were 60 belonging to Mrs. Coles alone. Several black elders
were appointed and set apart to superintend those black members."
Mr. Lacy was succeeded by Rev. John H. Rice, D.D. He, says the same
letter, "did but little in that cause, as it began to decline as soon as
Mr. Lacy ceased his labours in Charlotte." Yet the old records of the
General Assembly, and of the General Assembly's Board of Missions show
that his labour was not in vain in the Lord. In 1807 Hanover Presbytery
addressed a circular to the churches under their care, solemnly
exhorting them not to neglect their duty to their servants.[1]
[1] Virginia Magazine, Vol. III. p. 159.
About the time of the labours of Mr. Henry at Cub-Creek, the Rev. Henry
Patillo, pastor of Grassy Creek and Nutbush churches in Granville
county, North Carolina was labouring successfully among the same class
of people. But we are unable to give particulars. Of one thing however
we are well certified, and that is that the good effects of his labours
have not ceased to be felt extensively to this day.
Dr. Semple's history of the Baptists in Virginia, contains many
evidences that from the earliest beginnings of that branch of Christ's
church in the South, the salvation of the negroes has not been forgotten
or slighted in their ministrations. Indeed the vast numbers connected
with their churches show that they have laboured much among them.
Very soon after the Methodists began to preach in the United States, the
negroes claimed much of their attention. As early as the year 1804, the
Methodists had in the United States 23,531 coloured members, of whom
most were slaves. Since that time their numbers have been almost
incredibly increased. For besides their regular system of itineracy,
they have for some years had very flourishing Plantation Missions,
especially in South Carolina and Georgia. The testimony in favour of
their labours is not to be found merel
|