The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-07
NEGRO SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
MR.. N. 3. JoHNsToNs VERY INTER.
EsTING VIEWS.
A Paper Read at the Recent Sunday
School Convention at Kerrviile--The
Duty OF the Whites to Teach the Cos
pei to the Blacks.

vile last Tuesday, Mr.. N. b. Johnston, an
attorney Of Memphis, read paper OF unu-
sual interest and significance. his subject
being "0ur Duty and Our Opportunity to
Work Among the Colored People OF Our
County" THE APPEAL gives Il herewith
in full, believing that it will be OF great in
terest to all OF its readers:
Mr Chairman Ladies aud Gentlemen:
Whether the Committee OF Arrange
ments has done n wise thing, as toward
you, in placing upon the program OF the
exercises for this evening the name OF one
who never before made an address OF any
kind before an audience composed OF
strangers, the sequel must show, and il
1t does show that neither wisdom or kind
ness controlled its action, then you must
visit upon that committee whatever pun
ishment you deem proper, and not upon
me, for claim TO be only the instrument.
This selection was made for me TO intro
duco this subject, feel confident in say
ing, solely for the reason that for mum
Der OF years past have acted as Superin-
tendent OF what, | believe, is the only
sabbath school for colored people, taught
by white people, in our county, though in
this may be in error, and shall be glad
10 learn that am. | refer 10 the school
for colored people which for long time,
both before and since the war, has been
conducted in the lccturc-room, and under
the auspices OF the First Presbyterian
Church OF Memphis That ] feel conf.
dent in saying, Is why was selected, and
the reason why accepted the position ~
speaker on this occasion Is. ] assure you,
solely the prompting which comes from a
strong sense OF duty. Not that
would compare myself TO any OF the
actors in those great scenes, but very
often there comes up before me n recollec.
ton OF Mordecai's words 10 Esther "Who
knowcth whether thou art come 10 the
kingdom for such n time IA thisp' And
rs do not stand here through any motion
OF my own, but ut the call Of Others, trust
that God may now make use OF me, a. a
feeble instrument In working n deliver
nncc. or rather IN opening tho way for the
working OF dcliyemnte from spiritual
death OF some Of those around Us, even as
He did from temporal death those Jews ns
the result OF Esthors courage, and ask
Him for help To 30 present before YOU
subjcc, 10 which | give great deal OF
thought and great many prayers, that
4
without prejudice before you.
"Our duty and our opportunity 10 work
among the colorcd people OF our cOunty'
is the subject selected Tor me.
There seem 10 be here two distinct sub.
jecis--"our duty" aud 'our opportunity"
And II | wcro asked 10 pass an opinion,
briefly, upon the two rs here combined, |
should say, without hesitation, that the
ssaa tutt..Vufttsn uVI flta a..a..l 49,.
abundant
Our duty to the African race In our
midst In the matter OF clcyaiing them
above the condition in which freedom
found them, has come 10 bc considered
politically almost u duty To ourselves. aud
rs to how well this duty is being Dor.
formed let the thousands Of schoolhousrs
erected for them throughout the land aud
the millions OF money spent Ia the cause
OF education attest. but we are not here
this evening 10 consider politics, or our
duty "a politicians, or even as citizens, but
~ Christians What We want 10 know
now IL as near as we can ascertain IL Just
what the mind Of Christ is about this mat
ter. Have we any duty or not toward
these People rs Christians Is IL any more
our duty 10 look after these people because
we are members OF the Methodist, Baptist
and other churches than Il Is that ol the
Sheriff Of the county 10 SEQ that they are
protected In their civil rights2 II they have
souls TO save, deem that our duty is far
higher Than that Of the Sheriff Of the
county. lot us compare our authority.
The Sheriff gets his by virtue OF a commits
zion from the Governor OF the State. We
get ours 10y virtue Of the command of Jesus
Christ himscli go. into all the world
and preach my gospel TO every creature"
IL Il not worth while for mc TO stop 10
answer a question which might be- put ~
20 whether they did not, In their many
churches We soc around ", already have
the gospel preached 10 them. Without
any intention whatever 10 say an unkind
or an unacceptable word about them, |
will only point you 10 ono OF their services.
let any one attend one of their revival
services and zoe II lac can come away with
out a feeling Of sadness and COMMUNICATION
for our humanity, that members Of ID,
whose ancestors, for more than a century.
have had the benefits Of Christian civilizn.
ton, still think that such worship can be
acceptable 10 the most high God. need
not consume time IA pointing out To the
audience before me the spiriiualand moral
necds Of these people. You know them
perhaps. better than | do. aud while
could cite you 10 many things In their sur
rounding and lives showing a woiul lacl
ol all right thought In this matter, II seem,
barely necessary here. Their condition Il
too well known. Then, h ihcrc any longel
amy question oi our duly 10 preach ID /,
them, II We remember Christ'a command
aud Il We intend obcying ii7
You remember that when John, n
prison, broken hearted aud discouraged
waiting Tor the fulfilling Of his own proph
ccy, sent 10 Jesus TO know whether hc VA
The one That should comc or whether W,
SHOULD look lot another, Christ pointed hii
messenger TO his works an attcsling his a.
Nlnity, and then, 10 crown them al. said
Go tell John that the poor have the Gus
pei preached 30 them" Growing eyi
doncc Of bis divinity. "Tho poor havoth,
Gospcl preached 10 thom." Where vii
you 40, outside Of hcaihcndom, 20 nnd ,
spiritually poorer people than thcseY llav,
they the gospel preached 10 themp II no
then u Christ hrrc2 Was not his a Gosno
for the pooH Then, u what We have oi /
D. not suitable TOT thrso people. i /
Christie Gospel And u We do not know
now TO preach 10 them ought We not 10 b
looking ior Gospel which i suited TO IN,
poor, iorChrlst' steachins WIS pre- eminent
~ OF that kindi Take up one of the man,
books We sec published on education an
turn 10 that part where II shows the com
paraliye educational advancement of differ
ent sections Of our country. You will fin,
there a large map OF thc Union. ana th,
difference between different srrtions IN
l. III -. L..