The Afro-American., 1895-08-10

\ Discip es was consumed IN turning
over iE T. cir minds who of their mum
ber sht gN2 be the greatest. the most
\ important and the most honorable
among them. More than once did the
Blessed Lord rebuke the spirit which
/ prompted such an iuordinate desire
/ OF pre- e1ninence. The test OF true
greatness, as laid down by Him IS as
applicable today, in all departments
/ Of activity, as il was then. He who
in any given line, in the spirit Of true
humble-mindedness, gives the largest
amount Of loving service for the good
OF the Brotherhood is beyond all
doubt the greatest. The world does
not always estimate worth and great
ness according to this standard. Yet
I Christ Is right and the world is wrong.
As " race we have this same difficul
ty among us. More anxious are we tobe
acknowledgement than we are to
fulfill the ends of trne greatness.
Much valuable time is absolutely
thrown away in unnecessary and
fruitless discussions as to who is the
greatest Afro American leader Of
the race. Every little newspaper
which comes into being, before its
actual existence has been aseertained
beyond its place of publication, at
once persuades itself that it is the
leading and the greatest publish
ed. Every man IL Ward politics who
happens to be a clever talker, can
read and write little, enjoys the
the personal acquaintance of few
men of prominence, imagines himself
the real leader of the race and EMIT
led to veneratlon and great esteem
OH the part of all the other inferior
members of his ward. And SO the
matter runs almost without end in
all the varied departments OF Afro
American life
Y true leader is indeed a:great man.
Not, howe ever, along the lines as reck-
oned by the world. Moses, Joshua
ara Paul shine forth in wonderful
brlllianey illustrating the true reqnis
ties of real leadership. Moses did not
want to lead He was conscious OF
his many deficiencies, and also per
ceived the tremendous responsibility
inseparab bly, connected with lead
ership. St. Paul accepted the posi-
ton not from deliberate choice, but
was constrained into it through the
Providential operations of the AL
mighty who had selected him for
such an honorable position. The
greatness Of the leadership of all
these men is conspicuously note
worthy and attractive, by reason OF
the things they suffered and not ON
account of the emoluments and earth
Iv honors attached to the office.
If ever conditions seem to demand
true leadership, the iutricacies ana
difficultness of the so called Negro
Problem, most SURELY AVlte the quaL
4
Many qualities, to be sure, must OBJ
tain in the character of the one to be
leader in such a great undertaking. AS
Eure as we are living no man can sue
ceed in such task who is.not a lover
of humanity, and who Us not ready
to endure hardness as a good soldier,
thinking not so much Of the glory of !
leading as of the nobleness If self
sacrifice whereby the Brotherhood |
IS elevated, made prosperous and
sanctified.
The greatest stimulus lies within
the distant future, betokening won
derfuI possibilities and growth as nee
essary outcome Of that leadership
which endureth all things for the
elect sake. Downright honesty and
gentle simplicity, which invite the con
fidence and love of the masses are not
the least essential qualities for the
man who like Abraham Lincoln,
would aspire to be just, merciful and
sind to bis enemies as well as merit
he grateful .Jove Of those whom he
you'd serve and lead into the enjoy
nent of their glorious heritage. He
Who can not and does not discipline
lis own self can never successfully
cad ard discipline others. For ex-
RENE selfishness is the sure cancer !
Thich must inevitably destroy the
lements Of true leader ship. t
The man who is content without b
fuss or noise, in the sim
licity of his soul to consecrate his :
nergies in an unselfish and truly pa ]
'iotic endeavor to benefit, elevate, 9
nd serve the people, will by the cur a
mt Of forces in the hands of Provi- !
ence be carried from one degree of :
nlnence to another until by spon- 1
neous acclaim of a grateful peonle +.