Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1896-02-28
COMMON SENSE in RELIGION.
Extract from a recent sermon by bishop Arnett

called the "Negro Problem. On
Of the mistakes made by thos
who prescribe is they forget to as]
the patient his symptoms, ,and hav
him explain his condition instead 0
the condition of his nurse. The
south claims to be the nurse anC
the north the physician and the
Negro the patient. In order te
give a true diagnosis of the case
the physician ought to feel the
moral, social and political pulse o.
the patient; to examine the tongue
and then to take the temperature
by inquiring of the nurse and local
community. There must be be-
ginning by changing the sentiment
in favor Of the Negro at the fire
side, for the home training is the
one which lasts the longest and has
the greatest effect upon the life Of
individuals. If the mothers and
fathers will take the right stand in
relation to this problem, and in
struct their children to respect the
Negro children; if they will cease
to tell their children when they are
disobedient that the black man
will get them, and thus make the
Negro the "scare crow" the softer
feeling thus created will continue
throughout life.
If the Christian mothers will
cease forbidding their children
playing with the Negro children,
that will help US and help solve
the mysterious problem. If the
fathers in giving their Instructions.
religious and moral, will include
all races of men, when he says
"Our Father, who art in Heaven"
if he will let his children know
that he means the Indian, the
Mongolian, the Negro, the May
layan and the Anglo-Saxon as the
children Of God, he will do much
toward the solution and laying the
basis Of all family, civil and poll
tical government by teaching the
fatherhood of God and the broth
erhood of man. If the 1866, 939
teachers in our 1913, 173 Sunday
schools were to do their duty to
the 9,61s,432 pupils, within less
than ten years the sentiment
against the Negro would change
and pass before our lives like the
cloud before the rising sun.
While instructing in the truths
Of the bible they should teach one
Abraham, who became the father
of all the faithful, of all races,
through all time. One heavenly
choir, one natal song, peace on
earth to all men; not white men,
not red men. not black men, but
to all men.
If the 111,000 preachers would
proclaim from their pulpits that
God hath made of one blood all
nations of men to dwell upon the
face of the earth and hath deter
mined the times before appointed
and the bounds of their habitation,
then the 20,OO0,000 men, women
and children who follow in their
footsteps would change their senti-
ments with reference to the Negro, I
and look upon him as a brother.
1t is the duty of the American pull
pit to teach the unity OF God and
the unity of men; to cleverly pre-
sent the distinction of the iron
rule. the silver rule and the golden
rule, in human conduct and life.
They ought to7show that salvation
is universal; that right is no re-
spector Of persons or color, that
Justice is blind and love is color
blind.
If we could get the christian
ministers of America, the Protest
ant ministers, to Join with the
Catholics, in teaching the equality
of man before the law, we would
Snot need any Legislation to secure
our rights and privileges, but love;
christian love would bind man TO
man, nation to nation, and all
would be bound to the cross OF
the crucifed one, and move for
ward and upward and heaven
ward, and the problem would be
colvad bnnnath tho shadow of thn