New-York tribune., 1903-06-29
breaches RIOT SERMON.
SAYS DEATH TO WHITES.
Negro Pastor Tells Wilmington
Blacks to be Their Ozcn Lac.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

Wilmington, Del. June 2S-fn sermon vivid
ly recalling the passion and fury Of the words
of the Rev. Robert A. Ellwood last Sunday, out
of which the lynching spirit is generally believed
to have sprung, the Rev Montrose W. Thorn
ton pastor of a local coIored church. tonight
stirred his negro congregation and furnished
the dscordant element in the quiet and
peacefulness of the present situation. To the
hundreds of negroes the preacher said:
There is but one part left for the prosecuted
negro when charged with crime and when In
nocent. Be a law unto yourself You are taught
by this lesson of outrage to save yourself from
torture at the hands Of the blood seeking pub
lie. Save your race from insult and shame. BE
your own sheriff. court and jury as was the
outlaw Tracy. Die In your tracks. perhaps
drinking the blood of your pursuers Booker
T. Washington's charity. humanity. advice of
forgiveness love for industry and so on, will
never be reciprocated by white men.
The white man. in face of his boasted civlliZa-
tion, stands before my eyes tonight the demon
OF the worlds races. a monster incarnate; and,
in so far as the negro race is concerned seems
to give quarter. The white man is heather,
a fend, a monstrosity before God: and IS equal
to any act III the category or crime. WouIo
sooner trust myself in the den Of hyena than
in his arms With court, law and officers OF
law in his hands the despised negro can expect
no mercy, justice protection The negro Is
unsafe anywhere in this country. He is the
open prey at all times of barbarians who know
no restraint and will not be restrained.
While the colored. parson was thus inf1aming
his hearers, the congregation of the Rev Rob
ert A Ellwood was equally busy indorsing him.
The severe criticism showered on the clergyman
by the press and public opinion of the country,
and particularly by Bishop Leighton Coleman,
called forth the following:
We the officers and members of the Olivet
Presbyterian Church, Wilmington. Del, realfz-
ing the unjust criticism being made upon our
beloved pastor the Rev Robert A. ElWOod, by
a large proportion of the public press, do place
ourselves on record in the following resolutions:
tors honesty. integrity and Christian character;
our appreciation of his ministerial labors in our
congregation, and admiration of his manly.
Christian courage as expressed by his pulpit
messages and his life in our midst.
Second-We record our belief that his message
of last Sunday evening was both timely and true.
sensible and scriptural. and in no wise can the
actions Of the citizens on Monday night be
chargeable to that sermon.
Third-We order a copy of these resolutions
placed upon the seasonal records read in the
church services of the coming Lords Day. and
given to the press for publication
These resolutions fairly embody the public
sentiment of Wilmington. For the lynching
there is little or no serious criticism, while there
is wholesale expression OF approval. Even the
negroes have almost unanimously voiced their
approval of the act. For the lynching Whining
ton feels no shame. For the disorders that fol-
lowed there is a deepseated regret, and no little
criticism of the authorities for not controlling
the situation earlier. AS far as Apprehension OF
further disorder is concerned there is little
none Last night was the critical time and the
police described it accurately when they report
ed that it was quieter than the usual Sat
urday night. Precautions are still being taken,
but the incident is universally believed to be
closed.
How serious the situation really was Is gradu-
ally dawning on the people of the city as they
learn more accurately the extent TO Whlch the
negroes had armed themselves.
Had the negroes attempted any further re-
prisal for the way in which they had been
trea ted" said of the best known men 10
the city to-day, there would have been the
bloodiest riot of years and the negroes would
have been literally wiped out. That they them
selves. anticipated this 1 know. Moreover, Cen
eraI Wilson is perfectly accurate in ascriolng
the matter fundamentally to that decay of pub
lie spirit and decency that has follo"ed the
many years of the Addcks INVASION.
All last after a week of apprehension dP-
preaching in several instances TO genuine - Vel
ror this city has settled back INTO us FORMER ~
calm only the rush of thousands or men,
women and children from the local district from
the nearby rural communities ana even loi on.
nIacas as far distant Philadelphia, 10 view
the scene of the lynchtng ana gather up tIe lev lev
fragmentary evidences or me "0rh 1l 'lle ~ ~,
5isturhad the Sa bbath serenity. 1roIley cars on
the line to Rrandywine Park. which pass frlce
Co-ner and the workhouse, were laden with !, ilie
asrar thousands The ploughed field in wnich
80 oo+,a1 1vnchiug took place has been troddeil
down to a hard pavement. ana the ousnes anu anu
trees robbed of all their foliage III the easefheSo t
or tbe visitors to secure some memento or the
occasion. But the sole sign OF the mob Is a rev
cobblestones, ON one or "Iich d i"o"' ''i' " -
historic spots has written; 80 x,ys,.,
Here is ali that remains OF "Hite t,.
,rt ,jgaritv and sensation seeking spirit
me Nu9 i,.are was almost Incredible The
"a p, sn ho,t the scene of the assault on the
Bishop girl been e nnte Mearng
many ~ 20, eba bad visited the scene OF the
tragedy.
L,re,nsntz one-Piece Collar Button gets dam lam,