Religion in Texas

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 28, 1871

Religion in Texas.

An Episcopalian clergyman in Texas writes to the Independent, giving a rather dark picture of religious affairs in that State. With the exception of the four cities of Galveston, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, he says that State may be considered vacant. Not that there are not plenty of preachers and no lack of churches, but the apathy that prevails is fearful. As a member of the M. E. church, South, said: “We went our whole religious strength on the Confederate side, and failed; and our religion failed too.” Society was unsettled by the war, and it is difficult to get the people settled and united in anything. Our friend speaks in strong terms of the deplorable condition of the freed people—ignorant, superstitious, and unstable, without fixed principles of morality, and following preachers as ignorant as themselves. Almost every tenth man is a preacher; and their performances are indescribably ludicrous, of which some specimens are given, which we do not care to print. Mr. J. C. Campbell, a Baptist elder (colored), of Galveston, is highly spoken of for his fidelity and usefulness, and he “ought to be helped from the North.” “Unless there are active steps taken to educate these people, they will certainly fall into the hands of the Roman Catholics.” It is only for Protestants to continue doing nothing a few years, and it will be seen. The writer says that “freedom has only enlarged the bounds of their vision for signs and wonders, and renders them an easy prey to whatever wind blows next.” We hope time will prove that our friend is too much alarmed by things immediately around him, and that deliverance may arise for Texas from some quarter.—N. Y. Independent.