The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-07

HOW can you Ret tnc nelp vi tne iioiy
Spirt?"
Answer-"God has told us that we mus
pray to Him for the Holy Spirit"
Will any man add to that answer?
Put all these agencies in operation and
Gods blessing will surely come, or His
word will be broken.
IL this something we can call upon any
ono else TO do? Then who is il?
| am urging this upon upon you because
you have light and knowledge and the y
have not. am asking you 10 do some
thing OF which Christ imperatively COM
handed, that the strong should help the
weak. Will any one say that ] would
disturb or overthrow existing social rela-
tions2 TO him | would say that when
Christ gave the command to preach
his gospel to every creature, did not the
command carry with it the adjustment
and settlement OF all the contingencies at
tending its execution? Shall we be afraid
to obey Christs commands for fear OF
some injury TO ourselyes2 Ii so we are
not his disciples. But TO attest my asser-
ton that no ill, and not only no i'll, but
that nothing but actual good comes to
those who engage in this work, will ask
some of those who see before me, who
have been assisting in it for years, TO say
what harm ever came 10 them from this
sort OF contact with these people2 When
we are doing Christs work, we can go
anywhere and keep.any sort Of company.
Now hero is one OF those mountains
which Christ told US we could remove if
we only had faith. We cannot see that it
would advance Christs cause to remove
one OF the spurs OF the Rocky Mountains,
but il we could remove the mountain OF
difficulties which seems TO rise up before
us when this negro question is mentioned,
then would not the promise be fuflled2
Let US take Christ at his word and ask
Him for strength with which to undertake
and carry through this work.
But God never Mt any time promised to
do anything for man without mans CO.
operation. "Work out your own saliva.
ton; II is God that workelh in you" We
cannot sit and say: "Be ye clothed and
fed" We cannot say TO these people:
'See the li1ht all around you; see the
great civil IN in which you are partici-
pating and icarn something for tho saliva
ton OF your soul" We cannot saw 10
them that they should look to tho exam
pie OF those around them and learn from
them lessons OF Christ, for ii we did we
would ask them 10 initiate something
which too often will lead them away from
Christ But this we can do: We can get
a few OF them together and show them an
ok IN DO worth imitating-the example OF
CHRIST, the only example in all history OF
4 perfect mantle example OF him who
,pako as never man spake.
No, my friends, do not lot us leave these
people, many OF whom seem anxious for
light DO not let us leave them TO the
alsely so-called civilizing influence OF the
Nineteenth century, but let US fulfill
Jhrisrs command and preach His gospel
% them, and II felt like exciting your
pride might stimulate your interest by
here before you picture OF a
whole people giving themselves 10 the
work OF elcvating aud enabling q weaker
md more ignorant people, and showing
hem the way OF light and salvation. For
what? For gain2 For the qualification o!
'omc selfish desire? No. no; only for
Jhrisrs sake. Only because llc com
nandod IL.
Did you ever think Of the exceeding
'mallncss of the service and the greatness
II the reward Of those who serve Christ
ust tor Ills sake, and that only?
What Is IL we are told will secure the
OF Christ OF some humble ones
II the last day. Simply that they be given
, cup Of cold water In the name OF Christ.
Talk about Christianity requiring too
muchl Why. there is work which the
humblcsi aud weakest OF uB can 10, Just
be- handing around cups Of cold water in
Chtsts name.
Then what OF these who hand around
Ills blessed word2 Thrice blessed.
There Is a statue In one OF our cities rep
rcsenting emancipation, and there is the
slave having his shacklcs knocked oil, and
those who took part in that work congrat-
ulato themselves upon IL, aud |, for one,
am willing to thank them for II, although,
~ n bcardlcss lad, for two years fought
to prevent ~ but here is an opportunity
for a grandcr and noblcr work-tho assist.
ing In striking Oh from their minds and
hearts the shacklcs oiignoranco aud sin;
aud. as | said, were | exciting worldly
ambition or pride or gain, when our peo,
pie all engage heartily In this work, there
would be n scene for the artist To depict
which would throw in the shade all former
pictures Of freedom. Have We not Christ,
guarantee for it7
Their intellectual aud political oduua
ton isoi insignificant Importance compared
with this. Sock first the kingdom OF Goo
aud Ills righteousness, and all other thing
shall be added unto you" Make Chris
tians OF them, and you can then trust pol
tiles In their hands. | will not say that /
you make politicians OF them you can ihol
trust Christianity In their hands 10 safely
Hero Is a question tho solution Of whicl
worried the minds Of such men as Webster
aud Calhoun In the early DAYS OF on
country-that u, what was 10 be dom
with the negro In the event OF his ben,
made irco2 And now that hc has boon no
only made free, but made a citizen, ",
iind the solution OF the problem In Chris
tianity alone. Shall We apply 10 Ii 10
mains Tor you Christians 10 say.
Through your indulgence, sir, I hay
been permitted 10 exceed the limit OF tim,
allowed me. and have finished what
had 10 say Of a special character as apply
ing 10 the work OF the Sabbath schools
but will ask your indulgence and that o
my patient audience while | refer 10 an
other matter in this connection Of a NOR
general bearing.
Il have sren u stated that there was
door opened 70 Christian workers anon.
the Chinese Of the Pacific States, owing /
tho tact that these heather disccrncd dil
ference In their general treatment OF then
between that OF the Christian aud the non
Christian elements Of tho white popula
ton. Now something Of this sort mu.
obtain u tho Christian community woul,
make an impression upon the minds anl
hearts OF our coloud ncighbors. The,
must sec difference between tho treat
mont bestowed upon them by Christian
aud by non-Chrisliuns In other word.