The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-26

faithful oversight and discipline Of com
muncants. But the problem demands
not only that We shall have this power
but that we shall use II. Thus FAR We
have not done this OF course in many
instances We have, but as a church we
have not.
RECONSTRUCTION DAYS.
1t is said that each generation drops
from rs life something which a succeed
ing one restores When we recall the
fierce struggle of our fathers and the
awful days OF The period of reconstruc-
tion IL is not strange that the genera
ton Of men now passing away should
have omitted this duty. II is greatly
10 their credit tfat they did not go 10
terrible excuses and turn and rend this
alien people which was the occasion OF
their suferings. But now IL Is TOR the
generation that is coming upon the stage
TO restore what the preceding one has
lost. and unitediy and earnestly labor
for the good of the negro race
the first thue we encounter is the
natural prejudice of cur hearts arising
from the three conditions: First. thar
the negro is am alien race. second, that
he is a tool i'm the hands of our political
opponents and third. that the bugapoo
of social equality is constantly kept be-
fore u.s. As 90 the first of these, lt
seems natural 10 an men. and we ought
% pray 90 lie delivered from il. A. %
the second. we sho.ld remember that
the negro is not 90 be blamed for this
He would have been something more
than human had he not desired free
dom and accepted u when offered him
lie has fet himself under obligations
20 the North and has looked 10 that
quarter for his friends and helpers. iie
has followed their lead and unwittnsly
has played into their hands against the
Southern people. Let us not blame him
FOR being mised but rather let Us show
ourselves his truest and best friends by
uonm os oq 9oAI9s sVl mlV SulI3puoI
needs.
SOCIAL RELATIONS.
As 90 the question of danger IN our
social relations. do not believe there
is a particle Of real danger. We can help
him without encouraging equality in social
life Social intercourse is a matter OF
mutual pleasant relation. 1t takes the
consent OF both parties. even among
the white people, 10 constitute the social
relation. We hold this matter IN our own
hands 80 parties. either black or white.
can force themselves into social inter-
course with those who choose ito refuse
them such a privilege.
Then there is the discoura cement which
comes 10 us by reason Of the small re-
suits obtained. The lack of success I'm
this work is real But sum Il all up. Make
the case as strong as you possibly can.
and then the argument is not that we
should do less for the negro. No, not
that We should give him over TO the
terrible results which would follow our
entire abandonment of him. but the argu-
ment is Of tremendous force that We
should do more
This work has not succeeded, because
all the churches have been content TO do
the work at second hand: whereas it.
Ike all other mission work. requires con-
slant care and superintendent and faith
ful following up Of the work Our work
must be Of a higher order. It must be
personal. IL must be patient. 1t must be
loving and sympathetic II must have
the qualities Of the Great Master.
BENEFICENT RESULTS.
The benehcent reults Of this work are
Of an important kind. I put. first of all.
the glory OF God in the Church. Gods
greatest glory is his mercy and grace
In redemption The Church most glorhos
Him when she walks I'm His ways Of
grace and mercy. Also. II would do much
70 establish the claims Of the Church as
b1iiI llnin 1Ol. ana "A CONSEQUENT lNtltdot
Of her influence on the world.
Then the work for the negro would
be a successful work. outwardly and OK
tensiyely. we would see the fruits of our
labors. But especially inwardly and in
iensively would this work be helped. This
Is tho most needful. II we look closely
al the religious life Of the colored people
We see the outward form OF the Christian
Church. but form which Is FOR the most
part lacking In spiritual life The gravest
charges are not TOO severe. Church mem
bership and participation of the sacra-
ments means so little. There Is a lack
OF spirituality which IS awful and APP
pallin2. II makes the heart sick. We
inquire why this condition is found The
answer Is. | think. that the colored race
has been left 10 itself in religious matters
and has set up its own standards which
are false. instead OF using the religious
Ideals and standards OF the white race.
We must correct this. We must come
nto close enough contact with him 10
substitute our truer conceptions OF Chris
tianity for his false and mistaken ones.
WIN HIS CONFIDENCE
Another benefit OF this higher class OF
work for him would be that We would
win his confidence more fully than in
any other way. Race conflicts would be
lessened. These conflicts come about be-
cause the negro has little confidence 80
the white people and the white people
have little regard Tor the negro The
Church has cast him of: therefore, the
multitude feels at liberty to abuse him.
The terrible happenings OF the last year
I'm some sections of the South are aos-
sible. because the Church has not re-
garded the negro as an object OF loving
pity and proclaimed far and wide TIA
Christian duty of all men TO minister 20
his needs rather than 10 magnify his
mistakes The antidote for lynchlng Is
not legislation. nor forensic. A declama.
tory pulpit with bitter denunciaton has
not one 1.-THE the power 10 restrain men
from excuses. which may be exercised
by that same ministry. II they lovingly
lead the people In work OF kindness and
gentle ministry TO the negro.
This poor people has been made free
with an artificial freedom. But they are
not free II Is our work with the Truth
"a make them free. indeed
A SPECIAL TASK.
T, Is for tho South TO do this God has
given Il TO us as our special work In
doing so He offers US an opportunity To
make a most valuable contribution to
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