Complaints from men of this type led to systematic efforts to enlighten the blacks.  The first successful scheme for this purpose came from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.  It was organized by the members of the Established Church in London in 1701[1] to do missionary work among Indians and Negroes.  To convert the heathen they sent out not only ministers but schoolmasters.  They were required to instruct the children, to teach them to read the Scriptures and other poems and useful books, to ground them thoroughly in the Church catechism, and to repeat “morning and evening prayers and graces composed for their use at home."[2]

[Footnote 1:  Pascoe, Classified Digest of the Records of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, p. 24.]

[Footnote 2:  Dalcho, An Historical Account of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South Carolina, p. 39; Special Rep.  U.S.  Com. of Ed., 1871, p. 362.]

The first active schoolmaster of this class was Rev. Samuel Thomas of Goose Creek Parish in South Carolina.  He took up this work there in 1695, and in 1705 could count among his communicants twenty Negroes, who with several others “well understanding the English tongue” could read and write.[1] Rev. Mr. Thomas said:  “I have here presumed to give an account of one thousand slaves so far as they know of it and are desirous of Christian knowledge and seem willing to prepare themselves for it, in learning to read, for which they redeem the time from their labor.  Many of them can read the Bible distinctly, and great numbers of them were learning when I left the province."[2] But not only had this worker enlightened many Negroes in his parish, but had enlisted in the work several ladies, among whom was Mrs. Haig Edwards.  The Rev. Mr. Taylor, already interested in the cause, hoped that other masters and mistresses would follow the example of Mrs. Edwards.[3]

[Footnote 1:  Meriwether, Education in South Carolina, p. 123].

[Footnote 2:  Special Rep.  U.S.  Com. of Ed., 1871, p. 362.]

[Footnote 3:  An Account of the Endeavors Used by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, pp. 13-14.]

Through the efforts of the same society another school was opened in New York City in 1704 under Elias Neau.[1] This benefactor is commonly known as the first to begin such an institution for the education of Negroes; but the school in Goose Creek Parish, South Carolina, was in operation at least nine years earlier.  At first Neau called the Negroes together after their daily toil was over and taught them at his house.  By 1708 he was instructing thus as many as two hundred.  Neau’s school owes its importance to the fact that not long after its beginning certain Negroes who organized themselves to kill off their masters were accredited as students of this institution.  For this reason it was immediately closed.[2] When