National Republican., 1874-06-02

proper service TO te held in the {" ~ Peopfe as
The services at negro charehef = mn, Sn,nn ~ far
them; as good as circus was sun -
;shmepts for the .iSrea neoplS s va. the
hatred Of the presenc" ~ Ja ~ poPr pncPro n tbeir
churches: Twas a CO. tesieat W and smart m.tsOd
vito cbSSrcSes 6sgrceable element 10 the
partitioued-of CO. .ner in The white mans church,
IS mnsrS ns was not wanted, and went to the hut
nna ioSiy p .ne-ooard meeting. house, there to
nsn anu Instinct might lead him, and that great
SOa, "h notes even tho tall Of sparrow, remem-
oeIeG 'dm. What was permitted by the Church
ana avery es a harmless amusement, BY which
me bayes might pass away the idle hours Of the
reIgiOus edacstion that has been Of incsicuiabie
oenefit act only TO the former slave, but bioss-
ing to the whole country. The work that His
slave in the Church, He himself did in tie hut
| and cabins and If to-day the colored man shows a
Ereater suseeptiotlity to religious teachings and
faith In the doctrines of Christ-it is because God
saw ms ioWly condition In mind and body in tho
| the evils OF his own fury. As have stated these
ce0rehes proved o great blessing to the colored
Pp people; Iney were not only places Of worship,
and mentally educated to q limited extent, but
| also place where, collected together. their
kind for deiiverance from oppressive bondage. In
i these churches none other than sentiments OF
Christian love and respect for superior authority
It was here that the BibfS was vas rst m permitted to
be read BY the slave. Few had the hardihood to
carry the slave law, forbidding the slave to be
taught to read, so far as to deny this privilege.
The colcred people themselves soon discovered
who among them were best suited to lead, and to-
day, perhaps, we would not have that eloquent
leader, and truly great man. Frederick Douglass,
and many others, but for the opportunities these
churches afforded them to train and fl themselves
| for their preat work The elOuuence and caDacitV
Of the colOred man in this new field showed itself
to such degree that the attention OF his white
Christian brother was drawn TO his work and his
manner Of doing it; and here, let me say, that
| there were many brave and true Christian spirits
all opposition, { E. even death itself 10 be true to
their Christian profession. God alone knows OF
| their many private acts OF Christian love to the
wards.
Now, my friends, of these humble beginnings of
| Christian churches amongst the colored people
here, dear old Israel church stands most promI-
nent. shall not attempt to give you her history,
but do know none deserve better ut your hands.
| Through many years Of trials and tribulatons
and at great sacrifices, her organization has been
kept up until to-day. Sho has done great and
sSSd T0rk @ ~ In the past may graond hearts heart nov
in the present and future.
There arc many sound reasons why we should
s0 SSys s9as the s a on a
church edihce, but none in my opinion is more
potent than the fact that here, literally under
steadily yet quietly fought the battle OF freedom
and served as the connecting link between civfli-
cation and the negro. To every argument of the
she has replied in earnest and eloquent prayer
that God in His infinite justice, would open the
every sentiment Of Justice that was uttered in be-
half Of the poor slave she promptly in the fuIness
Of gratitude responded amen. Many good men in
Congress, in days past, were inspired and encour-
aged to continue to fight valiantly the battle of
freedom bya visit to "0ld Israel church Just
been the reference to the ''coiored church down
the hilIn as evidence of VIRTUE refinement and
education existing among the colored people ct
the capital Of the nation"
The local and peculiar reasons why the old |
church organization should be kept up and q new |
church built are too numerous for me to mention |
Newton, Cornish, Dunlop, Teuney, Nichols, and |
q host Of good men now departed, is around and |
about US to urge US to accomplish this good work.
They did not work In vain, for old Israel church
has lived to see new doctrines and principles |
adopted at the Capitol and Senators confess a |
creed and practice o justice that puts even the |
sin, prejudice, which should have found natural |
leaders in the Church; II seems has Its champions
in the Senate Of the United States. Says very
distinguished Senator, in discussing that crewn-
ing measure Of civil and religious liberty and 7
equality the eiyii rights Pill II believe what our
edifice taught, that all men are created equal 1
believe in still older teaching-that God is no
respecter Of persons, and that he made Of one
blood all nations of men to dwell on the face Of
the earth; and further, that he maketh his sun to
rise the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on
instituted for all, and like the sun, the rain and
the dew, should shed its blessing upon all alike.
believe that the colored race in this country dill
fer in nothing but their color and lineage from the
white race except in so far as their natures have
been dwarfcd by slavery. That they have the
same bodily and mental and moral faculties, the
same wants and appetites the same capacity for
labor and enjoyment, the same senslbility to
wrong and insult, no one can deny.
al ask what argument do we fnd arrayed against
this claim to equality under the law, founded, as
have endeaTored to show, upon the fundamental
law Of the land? 1regret to say that the argu-
as it is unjust; a prejudice that
e!itRSISs' + TIT ssaSs Alas. I q. knd% noS
reason S and ID rSeeEiSS only Sss eorfsct them. But
hopeless as is the task Of fess6al6g rnsm eway,
let me remind the Senate that Nature has not
ulatIons. On the contrary, BE has ali the bodily
faculties In the 9llss. perfection, the Same eaPd
city 70 saeape nature and supply his wants, the
Spiritual nature; the same thirst for knowledge;
the same hopes and fears; the Same sensibIlitles
70 wrong and insult, and the same desire TO In
Of his skin, the difference between him and you
would disappear. And then, again, does he not
yOn and DOT I, he not Sainsd d by the same
sun, does bs not breathe the same air, and draw
his subsistence from the same bountlfal earth;
her and bring forth her fruits. than that
does he not speak the same lang asz s. worship the
same God, owe the same sllegiaIss, and obcy the
same laWsf
"Sir, when remember the wrongs that have
been inflicted upon the colored race through so
many generations Of slavery; when recall how !
through all the long years Of cruel bondage; how
they have contributed to the wealth and pros
to % its Tescu T6en se DObe
seemed about dashlng upon rocks and perishing,
and how they offered their lives to save Govern
my heart warns with unspeaka6ls arntItude,
When the opportunity Tor wreaklng rengeanee
to avenge by fire and sword, and rapine his &C
wrongsf No, sir; to his lasting honor,
let 1t be remembered Of him and stir our Warmest
sentiments Of gratItute IN the memory, that he
watched like q faithful sentinel over the women
and children. and tenderly cared for them, while
his rebel master was seeking upon fields Of battle
to hx him and his posterity in still more hope
less condition Of slavery. Even then be put aside
the supreme temptation, and listened only to the
voice Of religion, Vengeance is mine; will re-
Eloquent Senator and Christian gentleman, the
colored people bless and thank you for these
noble words.
An influential journal, reviewing the action CT
the Senate on this subject, says: "Nothtng more
remains to he done in this direction. The negro
who q few years ago vas a chattel slave, hogged
at his masters plesRare and sold on the auction
block TO pay his masters debts, is now a citizen
and q voter: the schools are open TO his children;
and honors; he is q landholder and planter and
politician; he sits in the jury box and pleads at
the bar; he is legislator and Representative in
Congress and Governor OF q Commonwealth"
Yes. my friends, there remains yet one impor-
tant thing to be done It is the work Of the Chris
tan ministry, the work Of all true Mssons and of
every American citizen. Christianity, Masonry
and the Constitution OF our country forbids 'caste
distinctionso Let us, then, in the future, Danish
it from Onr hearts-banisi [! from the iaGd. II
My friepds, must close. S0Ee here to-day
mky consider that Am fash and speak TOO plainly
on q subject that might have allowed to sleep.
True, might have spoken in praise of the Church
and Of Masonry for the principles upon which
both are founded are alike-noble. Just and true;
but the great question Of the hour, to my mind,
is, how can we rid the Church and Masonry OF
this great sin-preiudice against q man on &C
count of the color OF his SKIN. Just and true men
who fear God and love their country and telloy
man are making great effort 10 Danish It froin
the State. Is It not right, then, to cry aloud
against this great evil, which has In the past and
IS now doing such fearful injury to tho cause Of
religion aud soci ETY..
AhI who Of US can measure the evil conre-
quences Of the presence Of this monster in tho
Church; II has driven thousands from her doors
into cou BIT and int1delity.
Another able writer on this great question Of
human rights and equality says: Its distinguished
sha Lac