The Afro-American., 1896-02-22
BUSINESS MEMS BANQUET
Address cf Rev. ]. T. COllett at the
Business Mems Banquet, 1inocln's
Birthday, Feb. IL.

Mr.. ToasC-master, Business and
Professional Men of Baltimore City:
Gentlemen:
a., this annual celebration OF the
birthday Of Americas greatast states
man emancipation and champion OF
human rights-It affords me great
Measure 10 address you upon 9 sup
iect SO closely connected with our
'notarial progress in this country,
TIRE Relation of the Clergy to our
Rnsinass Men, Our peculiar sitCa-
tion and condit on consequent upon
tha nosition in w ich we were placed
hv the manner and method OF our
emancipation, makes the relationship
1Vhich should exist between our clergy
and business men extremely close,
The clergy, before and since Mf'
Tinc0lp's emancipation proclamatloh
have been the acknowledged ana ac-
cantpd leaders of our people, not only
in religious matters, but ~ all thaC
anpertalns to their temporal welfare
whether their inteI ests extended INTO
the Political, Educational or Busi-
Less enterprises.
Our people are accustomed TO look
IN the clergy for counsel ana guld-
ance Bv this we see that the clergy
h.,vn treat and grave responsibility es
rasting on them. Not only the splf-
| itnal and moral guidance OF this peo-
nla dey0lves upon them, but the sue
cess Of men in business, Whether la
tha profession of law, medl"lne, An6r-
chantile pursuits or in the acquire
1nont of recognition from pollClcal
s+endnoint. il fact the whole spirit
nal moral and material success OF
tbis neople takes shape ana Is lhIlu-
enced by our clergy.
IF thev will by united effort inter
est themselves and urge upon thos6
brought unQer their influence the
pteiGi83tftSgltFGGr IS iGi83tftSgltGr = success there has been
among our business men can be di-
rectly traced to the interest and ac-
tivity the clergy have exercised in
their behalf. Hence, il is equally
true, whatever failures aud lack Of
success attained in the same line is
equally attributable to lack on the
part of the clergy to properly urge
the Importance Of our people actively
supporting our business men and
business enterprises.
In turn-it ought to, in order that
this relationship between the clergy
and business men be brought to
stage Of effective activity it is nee
essary for business men to 0e actively
engaged in promoting and advancing
| the interests of the clergy in being
| engaged in church work, filling posi-
tions in the church when they will
be &C instantly brought in the pres"
ence and touch with the people by
whom they expect to be sustained.
If some method could be introduc-
ed bv which the clergy and business
men could be brought frequently IN
to reunions like the one we are now
engaged in, and the Important inter
est of people considered, l think the
relationship which we deem so help-
full and necessary would be strength
ened and made more effective. We'
as a people are a failure, without
successful clergy and hurch, ana we
are equally failure without success
full business men and business enter
prises. 1t will take both Of these
agencies, working hand in hand, to
life us to that height f American
citizenship which shall bring TO us
the respect of the people among
whom we live.
Let orr clergy and our business
men each have al eye to the others
interest and in this community there
will be no cause for failures. But as
a united people in all our interests we
shall reach that point of moral spirit
ual and financial success which Will
make us useful and respected citizens
Of the great Sta of Maryland "My
Mary land"