COLORED CHURCHES.

My Dear Friend and brother from the hands of American Slavery:ーI congratulate you in the philanthropic enterprise in which you are engaged. I hail you as a fellow laborer in the cause of freedom for three millions of our fellow-men, who are still toiling under the slave-driver’s lash, on the American soil, without wages. But while we are battling against chattel slavery in this hated land of professed liberty, I think we owe it to "ourselves and to our posterity" to do all we can to break down the ungodly prejudice and sectarianism which prevail to an alarming extent, and which would, if it were possible, shut the people of color out of Heaven itself.

I am happy to see that you have taken up the institution of colored churches, which, I presume, will be a very unwelcome doctrine among the pro-slavery white churches of the day, as well as among a large class of the colored. But I think we must have charity, and make some allowance, for the latter needs to be pitied rather thank rebuked. To break down these churches would stop a large number of them from preaching what they call the gospel. But I shall not now attempt to infringe upon the subject by giving my own views with regard to it; for you have most philosophically spoken my mind, and perhaps more fully than I could have done myself, and I only write this by way of giving response to your sentiments.

I consider this to be one of the most vital questions connected with our future destiny. It stands directly in the way of our moral, religious and intellectual improvement, and as such we are bound to expose it. We should contend for the natural equality of the human family, without regard to color or sect.

I see no more use in having a colored church exclusively, than having a colored heaven and a colored God. I regard prejudice to be just as wicked in a colored person as in a white one. Where is the difference?ーand who are they that stand holding up the complexionary and sectarian lines? It is the proud, aristocratic clergymen among the pro-slavery whites. They are generally pleased to encourage colored schools and colored churches.

And, on the other hand, we find among ourselves fanatical, superstitious, and ignorant leaders, preaching up the same doctrine.ーFrom such quarters we may expect to meet the strongest opposition to this important branch of reform. But I have no fears of not succeeding, sooner or later, believing that "God will speed the right."

Sir, I am with you on this question. You are pulling on the right strings; pull away, and I will help you. Let us make "a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether."ーLet us pull until we pull down ignorance, prejudice, sectarianism, superstition, colored schools, colored churches, and American slavery, the mother of all these abominations.ーThen we shall have justice, humanity and liberty.

Ever true to the cause of suffering humanity,

HENRY BIBB.

Boston, March 25, 1848.