Only a few missionaries were exclusively devoted to work among them.

In fact, after the reactionary period no propaganda of any southern church included anything which could be designated as systematic instruction of the Negroes.[1] Even owners, who took care to feed, clothe, and lodge their slaves well and treated them humanely, often neglected to do anything to enlighten their understanding as to their responsibility to God.

[Footnote 1: Madison's Works, vol.in., p.

314; Olmsted, _Back Country_, p.

107; Birney, _The American Churches_, etc., p.