The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-15
CHURCH AND SLAVERY
REV. ID. I'll. FUTILE PREACHED
SERMON ON THE SUBJECT
SUNDAY NIGHT.
ENDORSES DR.. cY. THOMPSON

ENUukSES Uk. VI. IhUMFoUN
He Says The Organized Church From
PatriarchiaI Days TO the Present
Has Either Encouraged or Failed TO
Enter its Protest Against Human
SIavery--The Slavery of Greed and
Wealth Now F0stered by the Church
and Rich Men Kept in, Regardless of
Their Actions.
Rev. D. Fl. futile, pastor of Central
Methodist Church, created little less than
sensation in Raleigh by sermon he
preached to large congregation at his
church on Sunday evening. 1t had be n
announced that bis subject Sunday night
would be The Church and Its Relation
to Slavery" 1t was known, too, that
Mr.. futile had freely expressed him
self rs in a measure coinciding
with DR.. Cyrus Thompson in his now ia
nous utterance, 1.-The church stands now
where it has always stood, on the side of
human slavery" and large crowd as
sembled with the expectation Of hearing
something real racy They were not
disappointed. Mr.. futile is bold
thinker and a bolder talker. He pulled
off his gloves Sunday night, took up his
sledge hammer and dealt blow after
blow, frt at the organized church,
then at the different denominations.
then at what he termed the rich worldly
members and finally at the preachers.
He began by declaring that he belonged
to no political party. He was no Demo-
crat, no Republican, no Populist and no
Prohibitionist. He belonged to God and
would vote only for such measures as
would in his opinion advance the cause
of Christ in the world.
He read as his text:
Matt 23;4 "For they bind heavy bur-
dens and grieVous to be borne. and lay
them on mems shoulders; but they them
selves will not move them with one of
their fingers"
Gal. 8; IS: "There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye
are all one in Christ Jesus
'sThe first text contains the words of
Jesus. and shows us thespirit of the Jew
ish church in his day. TIE second text ia
Paul's statement of the spirit of life in
Christ Jesus. This Scripture proves
that there may be differences between
the spirit of Christ and the church
Referring to DR.. Thompson's remark, he
said: ssWhen charge is made against
the church it is best to meet it with
simple truth. remembering that Christ is
perfect while the church by human frail-
ties may be imperfect.
Abraham had servants "born in his
house" and bought with money" in
Patriarchal times. The position was hon
orable See Gen. 15:2 and 24:1 6.
Slavery in Mosaic dispensation was
not established, but only recognized.
Gods word teaches submission to the
powers that be. This slavery was oc-
casioned. "a By poverty; (2) By theft,
and % BY paternal authority. as where
a father sold daughter to be a maid
servant, with the stipulation that she
was to become wife.
Greek and Roman Slavery. Under the
preaching of the gospel when persons OF
this class were converted, they were in
structed to be obedient to their masters.
See Eph. 65 TO 8. If they had run away
from their masters TO return to them.
See Paul's letter to Philemon.
Negro slavery began with the Cartha
ginians more than 300 years ago Spain
and Portugal engaged in slave trade in
the 14th century. The discovery Of
America gave new impetus TO it Las
Casas and ether priests OF the Romish
Church encouraged it. The Established
Church of England for centuries uttered
no condemnation of the slave trade For
forty four years of this 10Th century no
church in America uttered condemning
voice, and within the last thirty five
years it has been preached all over our
Southern land as scriptural
The Method st and Presbyterian
churches were divided by it in 1874 and
1867.
'"Christ himself was the crucifed vic
tim of the Jewish Church of His day,
because he would not bow to its bondage.
Jewish Church money paid for His be-
trayal. Read Matthew, 23d chapter. Go
ask the meaning Of the Spanish inquisi
ton; of st Bartholomew's day. of Eng
lands and Scotland's fagot fires of the
martyrdom of Huss, Sayonaroa and
Others Of the reformation as led by La
Their; and all history rolls back the an
swer that it was the bondage that the
Church of Rome undertook to put upon
the minds and souls of men"
The greatest curse Of our day is creed
slavery, baptized deyilment, slavery
that separates followers Of Christ iato
rival factions. who in their desire to out
strip each other In numbers and social
influence fail to enforce discipline lest
they drive their offending members to
other churches. This creed slavery
Ea