The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-28
IT IS MADE LUDICROUS.
"Col." JeItz Permitted to Write Set
of Resolutions
CONCERNING REV. HR. OLDEE

Because He spOke Plainly to His
CONGREGATION on Assaults on White
Women and on E.yncIings in the
South.
There has been considerable excite
mens and contention among the colored
church people of Topeka this week over
remarks made by Rev. J. C. c. Owens,
of the African NJ. E. church, last Sun
day night, condemning the sermon
preached the previous week by Rev. G.
D. Olden, of the First African Baptist
church. This is the one on "The Lynch
ing and Burning of Negroes a Blot on
the Nation" extracts from which were
published in the STATE JOURNAL the
next day. and which were republished in
last Sundays Chattanooga Times.
Rumors have been rife on the street
that Rev. Mr.. Olden had been served
with resolutions by committee OF
forcible ejectment," giving him stated
time to get out of town. Nothing OF the
kind has been done, however, although
bitter resolutions have been adopted by
a committee of five appointed at the
meeting last Sunday night. Col. Fred
Jeltz, of State Ledger fame. was chair
man of the committee, and wrote the
resolutions
They are as follows:
Resolved-That we as a body, no poll
tic, do hereby dsnounce and disapprove
of the sentiments and sermons being
preached by G. D. OIden, of the First
African Baptist church, of which
he is pastor, and especially
16, in which he styles our race as devoid
of morals and other socials pertaining to
good citizens. We, therefore, condemn
and denounce each and every sentiment
expressed as false and look te the good
people of this community, if there be
any, to support US il our petition, as the
sentiments expressed by Rev Olden in
our and many others opinions are abso-
lutely false.
Resolved, That his ex-slaveship, in
which he says he was for 20 years and
owes no i'll will to his owners we deem it
as falsehoOds and of not the remotest
consideration and devoid of any and all
truths.
We also denounce Mr. Olden for bitter
ly denoucing the colored man AMI pa
rading him as an assailant to white wo-
men. We earnestly invoke the senti-
ment SO often expressed that colored
men are forcibly dealt with without prob
able cause.
~ LA SAO AOBAOOS SOnoLd1Cg III VI
fee we claim he, as an American citizen
has right and the course Rev. Olden
takes against him in his recent sermon
proves him. to be a coward and one who
is attempting to gain favor with some
political gang by the expressions of this
sermon of the sixteenth, and we also
deem it fair for a colored man to seek
Office, as an American citizen, Whenever
it is rendered in or within his grasp.
We also condemn the statement made
by Mr.. Olden when he says, "When shall
the white people cease to lynch colored
men because colored men are charged as
the women's assailants. We deem this
untrue and also affirm without fear of
contradiction that southern negroes are
too servile to make such ferocious
attacks on white women as is often head
lined in the Kansas newspapers.
Resolved, That We are in favor of a
more perfect union, also of no more such
stuff as recently fell from the pulpit of
Mr. Olden, and do hereby consider him
sufficient subject for any and all pur-
poses, namely, to create strife between
she races, or to take the stump for the
Democrats of the south or the state of
Misery (MissouTil
[Signed.l REV. J. c. c. OWENS,
Pastor.
R. A. CARSON,
T. N. WEDDINGroN,
REV. j. I. LEONARD.
Secretary.
FRED L. GELTz,
Chairman.
Rev Mr.. Owens was a slave for twenty
years and five months, five months longer
shan Rev. Mr.. Olden. It was reported
chat he styled Rev. Mr.. Oldsn's state
lnent, that he owed no i'll will to his for
Iner masters, "a monstrous lie" in his SER
mon Sunday night.
Nv hat did say was that if l should
nay such a thing it would be a rank false
hood" said Rev. Mr. Owens today. 81
do feel hard against those who used to
own me, and l blame them for nv ignor-
ance, and the ignorance of my people
81 condemned such expressions as fool
niggers,' used By Rev. Mr.. Olden in his
gsrmon. That shows his lukewarmness
for the race by using such expressions
when others could better be employed to
mean the same thing. Take for instance
his statement, that white men, rich and
poor, are lynched just as quickly for the
same crimes as negroes, He knows that
is not SO.
"Everthing was amicable and in the
way of friendly criticism at our church
last night There were no resolutions to
order Rev. Mr.. Olden to leave town, but
a resolution was adopted to have a COM
mittee draw up articles of condemna-
ton. One thing was done that l did not
expect, and that was after / had finished
my references to Mr.. Olden's sermon it
was moved and seconded to endorse my
remarks, and this was done.
Eyes, there has been considerable talk