The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-28
LYNCHING BLACK MEN.
Rev. j. c. C. Owens breaches on
the Subject.
NOT THE DEATH, BUT THE METHOD

That He Depiorcs-YounG COIOred
Men AdsmonIshed to be Respectful
to All Women, " hite or Black.
Rev. j. C. C. Owens preached start
ling sermon last evening at the A. NJ. E.
church, corner of Seventh street and
Topeka avenue.
His theme was "Moral Courage" Elder
Owens delivered a plea for the abate-
ment of lynching and a trial by the law.
Said Elder Owens: "Moral courage is
the foundation of good government.
Ever since the foundation of govern
ments it has required moral courage 10
conduct them rightly.
Moses was courageous and abided by
the laws Els house fell for want OF
moral courage to enforce the laws. No
government is secure unle7s the men in
control enforce the good laws and abolish
the bad laws. If family government we're
more severe children would be better
"Oiiver Cromwell had moral courage
to sign d paper TO put king to death. II
some such measures he'd been dealt out
to jefferson Davis by the leaders of the
union the country would have been be.
ter OIL But they took Christian view
of it and jeff Davis died without repent
ance or taking the oath of allegiance.
say this was lack OF moral courage.
"In executing just laws some men
! have said they were cruel, but it was for
the best. General Washington was great
and his works live after him. and we
revere his memory. Yet he should have
had the moral courage to have said, Il
will not be president of d country that
floats flag over a slave How much
dearer would his memory have been to
the cclored man.
"John Browns last work was one of
N lral courage, while Charles Sumner
said with his last breath '.ake care of the
civil rights bill
"This country has now reached point
where none but tried and true mon are
wanted. There are two classes Of
men but they are not master and slave
! Aud yet the treatment of one by the
/ other is terrible and wretched.
"Rev. Mr.. Thomas, in recent Chicago
sermon, recommended his hearers to use
the torch in revenge for the lynching of
colored men. This is all wrong.
I'VE want to use torch, but not that
| kind We want the torch of Christianity
hurled from the pulpit. l appeal to
white and colored ministers TO preach
against lynch law.
of we have the moral courage to
make these laws we should have the
same courage to use them.
IL ask none to uphold an outrage COM
mitted by a negro, but in heavens name
let the law take the right course. It's
not a question whether man should
| die, lis the method. Give the law a
CHARGE, and let the law take its course
My language used to apply TO the south
ern states. but it is creeping above the
| Mason line now.
Nv hat we want is the torchlight of
prayer in every pulpit to put down the
lynch law. 1t takes moral courage.
II admired the bravery of Grover
Cleveland in putting down the strike in
Chicago 1t was an unpopular move and
! required moral courage. l heard Gov
ernor Waite give him fits for it. If men
WON'T obey the laws make them. Pray
against mob law, torch ana anarchy.
| Prayer ard moral courage freed the col
ored men once, and it will do it again.
Nowhere, in no country, will you find
such bar barous methods employed as in
America. The Christians talk one way
and do another. God don't understand
how Christians can skin men alive and
cut off finger, an arm and punch out an
eve and then pray God 20 save the hea.
then. The Lord save us from such meth
DDS Why send missionaries TO Africa
| when such state of affairs exists in our
midst.
This is country of consummate COW
ards-a mob of 300 to take one man and
tear him to pieces bit by bit-that takes
moral courage. don't il?
There are methods used in this coun-
try that would put to shame the work OF
the Mohammedan. There they cut a
mans head off and that ends it. They
don't cut of a finger at time, and then
skin him alive
"And now my young men you must
quit your evil ways and get right with
God. There are two men in Jail here in To-
! peka charged with the otfense we have
been talking about. Avoid this by being
respectful to all ladies-both white and