The Washington bee., 1898-08-13
AN ELOQUENT NEGRO.

The BEE mentioned last week that
the Rev. K. c. G. BENJAMIN of ley
ington KY, lawyer, author, Journalist
poet and orator, would be in the CITY
and would deliver the anniversarv
sermon to the different masonic lodges
of the District and Alexandria. 3C.
cording to announcement the gentle.
man came and delivered one of the
most instructive and elaborate mason
ic discourSes it has ever been our
pleasure to listen.
The speaker spoke not only Of ma
Sonry, but took up the race question
he spoke of the different between
christianity and masony as carried out
by the white man toward the negro
and convinced the large audience that
of the two, white masonry exceed
ed the white christianity. He exco-
rated Talmadge, Moody, Sam Jones
and his ilk and showed both the white
democratic and republican politicians
action in dealing with the negro in a
| very bad light. Ii was a grand effort
Mr.. Benz njamin is undoubtedly credit
20 the race and one must hear him to
appreciate him. He preached at the
Second Baptist church. of which Rev.
Bishop Johnson is pastor. The church
going people of Washington will never
forget the sermon. He completely
captured the congregation. Rev.
Benjamin took as his subject, "The
Death of our Saviour" and MS de-
Scription of the persecution and death
OF the Saviour, was eloquent and pa
thetlC. 1t was simply grand That
our readers may have an idea of Rev.
Benjamin S eloquenCe and word paint
ing we give specimen of it. In speak
ing of the proceedings against the
Lord before Plate and lust before his
condemnation, Rev Benjamin said:
The mOCkery of legal proceeding
is now over. The cross is erected.
He is led as a lamb to the slaughter
and like a sheep dumb before his
shearer he opened not his mouth. He
goes up the hill and is nailed to the
cross; stretched on the mount of cru
citixion, see bleeding hands extend
ed wide, his sacred limbs exposed and
bare. See his pale face, his livid brow
his sinking eyes, quivering lips. No
human face ever bore deeper marks
of sorrow. see the blood exuding
from his larCerated temples, it runs
also from his side and like a mighty
Niagara is pouring into the canals Of
redemption moistening the silvery
cascades of Immortality. AS the last
groan escaped from his lips, the
galvaniC current of Gods musical
labatory struck up the anthem of
heaven, the angel Gabriel swept
through the Immortality of space on
the wings of the morning; Michael
SOUNDED the loud trimbrel; Raphael
blasted the paradiStiCal chorus on a
harp of thousand strings. The drums
of heaven sound the last revelee,
arch angel bursts the banIsterS
glory, Cherubims trampled upon the
unStratified rocks of Bulah Land, all
heaven is Illuminated as the seraphins
touched with their golden sCeptres
borealistiC gasses of Gods redeemlng
love. Not only in heaven, but
on earth there is commotion, nuture
is astoniShed and of her elements join
ed in the universal CONSERVATION. The
sun refused to shine, darkness cover
ed the earth, angels shared the dark
ness while weeping-winged demons
ran and hauled. The pickering statis-
tics became lost in the atmosphere
darkness, the thunder smitten rocks of
time shivered at the shocking
scene. Mount Sinai rock and beloved
the lightning flash, the thunder roar
ed, the Cedars of Lebanon cracked;
mountains moved as the waters of
the mighty deep rushed forth in vol
canic eruption.
Shadows and predictions gazed on
calvary in the utter bewilderment
mingled with joy any while in cruel
pitileSsnesS the music of proud Moriah
in Temple poured the trumpet melo-
dies over the surrounding hills and
dies away in echoes amid the tombs
of the prophet,