The times., 1899-07-24

dressed large congregation last night on
the subject of the race problem, which he
said he considered TO be one of the most
pertinent questions to be solved by the peo-
pie of this country. DR.. Johnson said:
That there is in this country a race
problem is painfully apparent. 1t is cons
fined TO no particular locality, taking upon
itself one form in the South, another in
the North; the formation of sterling char
acter, the acquisition of wealth, the edu-
cauonal and religious contact with the
whites OF all sections only seem to aggra-
vate our condition and make the problem
more complicated. By some unwritten law
white men of all sections Of this country
have decided to permit the negro to ad-
vance just so far, and then by unjust leg
islation and intimidation; by openly and
ruthlessly depriving him OF every guar
anteed political as well as civil right; by
murder and outlawry calculated to make
demons quake with fear lest Christian men
cheat them out of their demoniac records;
by wicked and senseless prejudice that
is transmitted from sire to son and thus
kept always alive; by an oppression worse
than that from which we.swere lately de-
livered, they fetter and burden and wither
our manhood and womanhood, blind 10
all we have contributed toward the wealth
and power of the American people, in every
war they have ever waged. / say, when in
the midst of this country there are two
civilizations, the one weak and left at the
mercy of the cold indifference and mean
ingratitude of its stronger ally, there is
problem, and one which will never be
solved until both races are Influenced and
swayed by the teachings of him who came
Ito proclaim deliverance to the captive
and to set at liberty them that are bruis-
ed"
Frederick Douglass. in recognition of
the deplorable conditions. of this prob
lem, in an eloquent outburst in 1883, said:
1t is the negros lot to live in land
where every presumption is against him,
unless we except the presumption OF
worthlessness and inferiority. II his course
is downward he meets very little resis-
tance, but if upward, his way is disputed
at every turn of the road. If he comes
in rags and wretchedness, he answers
every demand for negro and provokes no
anger, but if he presumes to be gentle
man and a scholar, he is entirely out OF
his place. II he offers himself to a build
er as a mechanic, to client as a lawyer,
to a patient as a physician, to university
as a professor, or to a department as a
clerk, no matter what may his abb ity
or his attainments, there is a presumption
based on his color or his previous condi-
tion, of incompetency, and If he succeeds
at all, he has to do so against these dis
eouraging Odds
Now how far can the Church affect these
conditions? how far-reaching shall be her
doctrinesi
THE most effective human agency she
must use is a God-called and God-fearins
ministry. If the gentlemen of the cloth,
that occupy the pulpits of the white
churches, would preach less of science and
more of the religion OF Christ-the religion
that teaches the Fatherhood of God and
the brotherhood OF man; if they would
throw off fear OF the people and preach
a pure, unadulterated gospel, denouncins
sin and wickedness and urging the people
to observe the golden rule If they would
rise above race prejudice themselves and
like true men Of God, tell the people the
truth the church would be mighty factor
in solving the problem.
I'VE have heard of only one white gospel
minister that is brave enough TO denounce
mob law and murder, and he (God bless
HIM is DR.. Hawthorne, OF Georgia. Now,
if the pulpit were not muzzled and gagged,
it would cry aloud against the sin OF mur-
der especially in the South. The church
is dying for the need OF a strong, brave,
conscientious ministry. = A ministry that
will lift up its voice like a trumpet
John the Baptist crying, % generation of
yipers,' or Paul before Agrippa.
oh! for a modern John Knox, who
would point cut to the American people,
in the flush Of national glory, the nation
al sin of race hatred, race murder, race op-
preston
The clergy Of the other race can never
make me feel that they are friends OF the
negro, until they thunder against lynch
law, against the inhumanity, the barbar-
ism of roasting Gods handiwork alive.
1t was a sad commentary on the Anglo
Saxon's Christianity. when, during the
Wilmington riots, the ministry left the
sacred place and bedragged their robes in
the filth and dirt and blood of politics.
a sad picture for the Church TO present
to the world, Christian ministers aiding
and abotting murder to gain political and
racial power. The pulpit must teach high
cr, and nobler, and better things, If
/ Christ's kingdom is TO come and his will
/ be done How shall they ever preach
! from the text, Thou shalt not kill"
! Christianity and the Church comprehends
| the utter destruction of this spirit of re-
taliation and revenge; its mission is to
make men Christlike. Christ instituted
the ministry that they might be his ambas-
3 edIbI6t SUING lbI pence anu lBNts the vel y
gospel they should preach, is opposed to
bloodshed and murder If the doctrines
Of Christ are honestly and faithfully taught
/ every problem which is the result of the
depTavity of the human heart Will find a
/ happy solution. No other force can SO
! quickly and effectually accomplish this
/ like the pure gospel.
Nor is the white Church alone TO con-
| tribute 20 the solution of this problem
/ SC ffl H.
negro ministry. We must insist upon II
that there be a reform in the morality Of
our people. That Christianity and i'm
morality are enemies; that he best honors
! Christ who reproduces him in his whole
| life. We must attempt to reach that C as.
of our people, who are moral lepers
| spreading their deadly disease far and wide
| and offering an excuse for much of the
injustice that is heaped upon us. The
Christian Church is upon record. The eye!
of the civilized world are upon it. The
skeptic, infidel, scofIers ask, Is the Chris
tianty of the Church equal to the task
Unborn generations will see US as we are
black and white alike They will marve
that the Church did not rise above its pre-
judice. and will make our sins impedi
ments in their way TO God and heaven
we must not lose faith in God and tn,
Church. II the prayers of our mothers
and fathers emancipated the enshackle,
hosts in the dark, dark days of human
bondage, the enlighted faith of a might.
army of God-fearing people today will We
find their way out of this wilderness of sll
and DEATH
eyes. Madam, We Have IT."
Is what your grocer will tell you if you asl
him whether or not he has Havenner'
"Domestic'' Bread. Try it once and YOU!