The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-11

'O"NiJ ScInOu, UuI u COmtDpHSenSp
sermon l am going TO take for my
text this morning the following words:
'bloSSeo is the nation whose God is the
Lord Tho African nation is u separate
and Il distinct ma ion, being markt d by
the hand of God with a black skin rs
distinctly as tho white race is marked
with white skin.
IF | WAS 4 colored man | would be
proud of my marks. He has marked
you in color, in features, and in hair,
anu l would be proud of it il | wero
you, and not forever and ever be wish
ing myself different from what was
GOD Almighty is leading these nations,
and believe He has been amongst
you colored people here in America
DO yun believe you are here in this
country to-day by accident? We'll, if
you DO, you arc mistaken. For you are
mere by tho will Of God, who, in His di-
vine wisdom. saw fit to lead you here,
even as lie saw fit to lead the children
of Israel in the days of old
Trust in the Lord, and He will take
care OF you. Some Of you people say,
IT l was only white, l would have so
much better chance TO do what is right.
and could be better No, you would
not You arc mistaken. 1t is charac.
ter, not color, which marks you. Some
of you say, but Mr.. Stuart, we have
been i'll slavery, and l say it was the
pest thing that ever happened to you.
Listen to me Your parents and
forefaJhcrs were born and raised partly
in the wilds and deserts of Africa, and
when you were brought to this country
by the will of God, God saw fit in His
divine wisdom to put you in bondage,
that you might learn the language of
the country and how to make your liv-
md
think it best for you to be turned loose
here and allowed to roam Off by YOUR
selves and form q kind Of colony some
where and live as you did in Africa,
without God, without religion and with
out civilization.
He brought you hero and put you
under the charge of The best people in
this country, that they might instruct
you TO read, write, cultivate the soil,
and last, but not least. 10 be Christians.
God knows this To be fact that your ma. +,
ters were the best people in this coun-
try, both in regard to education and
from religious standpoint.
"a price Of 81 900 was placed on YOUR
heads, for God knew that your masters
would not StaTve or work you to death
when you cost them something. After
you had been in bondage some years
and learned To stand alone God, as in the
case OF the children of Israel, lifted Won
out of bondage. And, brethren, are,'s
You more immoral now than you were
then? Don't you swear moro now than
you did then? am afraid you DO
II believe many OF you were happier
in the days of slavery when you had
plenty TO eat and plenty 20 wear, kind
masters and mistresses to look after YOU
and teach you and take care of YOU
;n1,
you arc to-day, q free people. | firmly
believe that your color and your bond
age has been providence to you. Yet,
while in bondage you grumblcd and
complained of it, not trying to do right
and trusting in the Lord to succor YOU.
Now don't you expect the children
OF israel grumbled and com planned also
while in slavery. but they trusted in
God and he sent them Moses, who led
them forth from bondage into land
flowing with milk and honey. God
never leaves or forsakos q race until
they leave him. Some people ask what
Will become OF the colored people of
this country? and many theories are
advanced. Some say they will return
to Africa Others that they will have n
separate part of this country set aside
for the m, while others yet say they will
go on living as they do now
What will become of them know
not. But this do know, IL YOU don't
stick by God lie will leave you. while
if you stick by him !Ie will lead YOU
through all your troubles and Difficult
ties and over the Red sea.
But you people won't let him lead
you. You will go right out of here and
hiro yourself TO the devil. believe YOU
are the children OF God, and lIe will |
help you if you will put your trust in
him. God has endowed your race with
rare gifts which you should not waste
nor allow to remain idle. tie has given !
you the gift OF music and the power of
oratory. believe you are more reli.
gious than we are, but not as pious. |
How | wish God would get his hand on
you people.
Now, there is one point more / want
TO make and then l will close. God
can't do much for you until you COM
mence TO do something for yourselves.
God can't do anything for you until YOU
commence to do something for your
children. Tho trouble with YOU people
is you don't have any homes or any
home life. What you want is to get
Jesus Christ in your hearts and in your
homes. If treat you right, then you
treat me right and there will be no more
race question.
AS soon as Mr.. Stuart finished his re-
marks, Mr.. Jones stepped to the front
of the platform and in his characters.
tic manner said: g told you he was
good one, didn't ! ~ Mr. Jones The n
spoke as follows:
Well, now, had you rather would
just talk some plain. good. old COMMON
sense and religion to you, or preach
good, shouting sermon? Which do
you want? Some plain, good, Gospel
talk ?