Huntsville gazette., 1886-09-04
Stumbling Blocks to the
Race.

Tuesday nightat the 2nd G p Church
on stumbling Blocks TO the race >
The lecturer held attention Of his
audience throughout his Discourse
of about two hours length, ais vii
pathos and hnmor exciting them t.
mirth, sadness or laughter.
After some excellent music by the
choir, and prayer by Ed CASTOR,
Rsv } F Humphrey introduced Mr.
Benjamin. Without attempting a
report of the lecture which our linn
tied space fOrbids, we may briefly
summarize some of his leading points
as follows;
He was glad TO meet so large an
audience OF Huntsville people, which
Was another evidence of the progress
OF the race, showing their increasing
appreciation of literary spoi~cs 5
in the lecture field had been from
Canada to nearly all states Of the
Union. where he mad met audiences
of all siz 8.
Passing over long list of sul,j cts
of great Importance which be might
have chosen as his topics he had Sc
lected something of immediate inter
est to all and which all could under
stand rs nmbling blocks to the
R,ce."
These the Speaker pointed ont as
follows:
1st The Ne5-pes' lack OF ra. g
pride, leading him to wish to be
called colored or some other
name than than Negro and often
to want to he some body else than
whom God created him 1t was u
mistaken notion tina. the Negro was
first brougt to this conntry as slave
The first Negroes who were brought
to jamestown, Va in 1920 were
brought here as curiosity, an
every since the race has n NAMED
here as a curionsity indeed.
The ancient history Of the race,
the black mans, fai hfullaess to or
Savior when forsakcn by all 9th
ers were dwclt upon at length, as
showing the capacity an.l achieve
ments of the race.
Toussalnt l. Ouv. riute was elo-
gized as The ercaits Negro who .v,r
.ived aud the greatest E na' ci,'atorI
Negroes should cslt.brate the an
ni"rsa'y' f E'uancipniim in the U.
y.
The speaker reviewed his txpe
ience AS n lswyer or teacher il var
iOas STATES of the Union. from iii of
which he had concluded that the
Negro was the greatest stumbling
block To himself.
Instanc.d their divisions Ia church "a
the petty jenlousies among the more
educated. the neglect of patroniziny
aud encouraging each other il bus
mess We need to learn to unite
ourselves and band together in un-
tied efforts for our Common good
and advancement.
Passing over humorously many
characteristics Of home life among
the Negroes. and appealing for cul-
tivated homes and clean homes, the
lecturer though ht two great stumbling
blocks in the path Of progress were
l. We eat too much
2. Talk too much.
The German or Jew grows rich hy
economy while the Negro works
harder and goes to his grave in rags.
K Rsascn-the colOred Brother must
spend:his scanty earnings f,r big
dining every Sunday, inviting Rev
B Sister K and all their relations,
who eat their earnings and go away
to gossip about them Mon
day they hardly have left bar Of
soap. The reason there are no col
ored tramps they tramp d. i.o .ne
around the wife who supports lhe
family
Then there were church going OLD
people; who believed in educating
the children and old fogies who were
in favor Of letting "the chill iren come
up as did fortune
telling and conjuration-great stun,b
ling blocks. Dudes, young ladies
who were forever going to the Post
Office. or on the streets, were daily
noticed We have as tlne, virtuous
and intelligent women as any race,
but there are Il know too manyimis-
cradle ones who are making it hard
the good ones" A line should be
drawn and maintained.
Speaking &: colored doctors, law
yers. teachers &c. the only class who
have influence among theypeople a, 9
Ministers, and Of these We have too
many. Thsre are too m.ny folio W.
who went to a certain Bishop with
the story Ut what he had seen in
dream. u vision g.. He had seen the
letters G. P. &. which he interpret
ell "Go preach Christ and was
therefore seeking license. The
Bishsp told him he had misiuter-
preted the l7tt-rs which meant. 60
plow cron. Let the people who are
l.. i