Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-11
THE NEGRO paosLsm
Bishop o. P. Fitzgerald In st. Louis
Christian Advocate.)

With some persons the negro prob
lem in the South In. how to use tne
negro vote in politics; with others
ls how to eliminate that vote; with
others still the negro problem is now
to sell the negro bad whiskey ana
pocket his money.
This negro problem Ia grave one.
II is problem that must be met
Mourning over past blunders and In
diligence In examinations and recrim-
nations will not suffice. There is no
use in crying over spilled milk" says
homely adage. pick your Hint and
| try again" says another which was
current before the modern rifles that
shoot so fast and 80 far and hit so
hard came into use. In dealing with
this negro problem we can not anord
to be diIatory nor cowardly, nor stu
| pid. nor coid-hearted, nor babyish. We
can not afford to be partisans OF the
type that makes artful dodgers tnat
evade responsibility. nor reckless
tblunderers that aggravate the difficult
ties that are unavoidable and Great
difficulties where none ought to ex
list. In word, this negro problem Is
10 be solved by the Christian people
Of this land. and more especially BY
those of the South. where the negroes
mostly live and where so mucn de-
pends upon its right handling and
wise adjustment. And it goes with.
out saving that upon the Church of
Christ-using the word Church" in
it's widest meaning, including all who
hold to its Head--tbis grave respon-
sibility is devolved. BY the Church
this work is to be done. II is also a
selfevident proposition that the oh.
, legation and privilege OF every branch
of the one Church with regard to this
work must be measured by It's numer.
. ical strength and according TO its
, ability Judged by this standard. the
Methodist Episcopal church. South
must do n large part of this work and
, share large part Of the blessing
that will surely follow. 1t is one OF
the largest. If not the very largest, oil
I all the religious bodies In the South
? Between 1t and the Baptist church /,
has been close and friendly race for
L.
e has abundantly blessed both of these
Z churches here In the South. Their
= difference Is small; with regard to all
the great things of the gospel they
agree. In their work for the negroes
e both have had large success. The
e songs fthe Methodist negroes have
/ rolled in mighty volume over all this
lar IA Do
to the Rio Grande from the Atlantic
I sea to the swift-rolling Ohio, Tho
l. Baptist negroes have been heard from
5 on the banks of every creek and pont
and river in all this territory, making
Jordan rolf as they looked back
!. ward, and looking forward with the
d hope in their hearts that they woult
J. swell the notes of the new song OF
the banks OF that river of life tina
makes glad the city Of God. Thes,
g Methodist and Baptist negroes ar,
l. still singing their songs they still
|. cherish their hopes. Among them ar,
!. some who are discouraged. as was
Baptist negro woman In Nashville. o
whom her mother said: "She is no
r much OF shouter. but she do mourn
:. beautiful" At this point this wish
+ rises In my heart: Let us have, al
:. over the land we love. a revival o
the old-time religion that will turn tn,
mourning into JOY and give to thes,
$ millions of souls the garment o
e praise for the spirit OF heaviness. Ii
Il word, let the Joys OF the great sal
t walton come to us in great reviva
of the religion OF our Lord Jesu,
Christ. which Is the true and onl,
s remedy for the evils that bring sor
p row to the souls OF men and disaste
II to nations everywhere on the eartn
8 May the blessing OF God rest upor
all our churches In this work! Tha
the Methodists may zee and do thei
4 duty In this our day is a desire tha
voices itself in this prayer In wnicl
y | trust many who read these word,
8 of mine W join. All at 1t, and al
together. each according to his severa
ability-this is the word. and this /,
e the will of the Master.
J. AT the beginning OF the war, in 1So
|. call it what you will. the war be
A tween the states, the war for the un
. ion. the war for state rigbts-we hac
In the Methodist Episcopal church
South, 207,76 negro members These
were actual communicants, ministered
n unto mostly by our white preachers
men OF God who loved this work and
, were blessed of God In doing It. Such
men as Bishops Capers. Andrew, Ear
ly and Haygood. and noble company
of the strongest and best men In AL
o,t' Southern Methodist conference
took part In II. Their names would
, make shining register could they
he printed here, but they are too nu
merons for such a record. They are
written in that book of God which
viii be opened Sin that day These
men are nearly all gone. they res,
rom their labors and their works do
follow them. This later generation
after the tragic interruption and alb.
! rupt changes made by the war are
called of God 10 take hold of this work
and to go on with it, building upon
the foundation laid by our gIorined
fathers.