Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-05-17
OUR ORGANIZATIONS.
Frederick Douglass Paper, Rochester, ". J.,
March 4, 1852

|
Frederick Douglass Paper, Rochester, ". J.,
| March 4, 1859.
1t has been matter for reflection that
most of our organizations, except
religious ones, have fallen through.
Our state and national conventions, our
| literary societies, and all our various
meetings end in reports and resolutions;
mutual bene fit societies, which. in our
| transition state are an absolute
| necessity, have had some permanence.
| Providing against absolute want in this
world, and against certain prospective
torments in the world to come, are the
only ideas of sufficient Importance in
our opinion to merit permanent
organizations.
One reason for the failure of our
colored organizations may be found in
the fact that they do not embrace what
they ought; they are too narrow in
their scope; they do not embrace the
whuie man: they concern either his
soul only to the exclusion of his body,
or his body only to the exclusion of
spiritual nature. The church is too
high. the benefit society too low. We
are beings made up of body and mind,
matter and spirit, and, in order that we
shall be welded together, there should
be unions or organizations which shall
harmoniously develope our compound
nature.
In Great Britain, the young are
bound together not only in the indoor,
mental life of school-going, but in the
outdoor, physical life of running,
wrestling, rowing, boxing and a
hundred athletic sports. In Germany,
the Turner-verein. and gymnastic
schools fulfill like purpose. In these
United States, there is no union SO sure
as our fire companies, and next our
military companies. The most glorious
sight, in an American city, is, to see
during an alarm of fire, well manned
engine dragged along the streets by
her noble, daring, stalwart boys"
We can stand nowhere with such
expansive delight, as in gazing at
such sight. 1t outshines the glory of
the Olympian games, and is gra nder
than the Nemean ode of Pindar-
because the soul at full stretch, urges
the body along on its grand, benevolent
errand.
Organizations thus constituted have
a vitality which outlives the hour: the
men thus trained together are knit by
ties indissoluble: they can rely Oh each
other ever after. Hence we were glad
to see, sometime since, the account of
banquet held by some fire companies
in North Carolina, in which the fore
man made a speech, and dwelt upon
fhn rriui laraS of the n wi hn lilo
himself were slaves; we hope to hear Of
more such companies; we hope they
will organize them all through the
South. 1t is a grand idea: let the
masters take their rest, let them lie
quietly in their beds, let their slaves
rise at sound of bell, and gather, and
rush and shout as tiremen do: it is
better for the master, and, bye and
bye, will be better for the slave
But to return to our brethren who
are free-and especially the young
men. Would it not be well for them to
look INTO this matter? Form military
companies where it is practicable, but,
at all events form unions of which
gymnastic exercises shall comprise a
part. If You meet only once a week,
then have a run together once week
and shout or two while you run: learn
how to move in concert, under a leader
with complete command DO this, a nd
more. IT you come across an old dull
sergeant compel him to teach you his
art, or an old book on military tacticsi
study it. The signs in the heavens
belle themselves if within the next ten
years such knowledge to black men
will not be of higher value than solid
gold