Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-27
Shall We Go To Africa?

Go. -
Why did Providence permit us to
De brought here?
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders 20 perform.
He plants his footsteps in the sea.
And rides upon the storm
Deep in uufathomable mines
or never failing skin.
He treasures mp mis- bright designs.
And works his sovereign Will"
The above lines from Cowper's
beautiful hymn answers the question
in nutshell. But 20 answer a rid
die 10y a riddle gives little satisfac-
ton TO one seeking for Information.
However. study the Sm and 9th
verses of the 55th chapter OF Isaiah
as follows. For my thoughts are
not your thoughts. neither are YOUR
ways my ways. saith the Lord. For
as the Heavens are higher than the
earth, SO are my WAYS nichcr taan
/ your ways, and my thoughts higher
than your thoughts"
That the Negro race in primitive
ages had enjoyed a high degree OF
civilization and culture shall prove
further ON. The question. thon a.
rises. what was the cause OF his fall
from his nigh estate and his subse-
qucnt dcgradaUon2 nc was sin
idoiatry -iorgetfulness OF God. or
an sin, icolatry seems TO bo the
most abominable in the sight of God
And indeed, 90 is the most inoycus-
able-being foolish, unreasonable
and without any sensible inducement.
mink OF people In their senses.
knowing the true and living God
lne creator OF all things (for creation
ls am open book. telling OF the God
or Heaven and OF his loving care for
man and an his other crcatures)
leaving the worship and service Of
this gracious and intelligent being
Tor the service aud worship of stocks
ana stones-creatures Of their own
hands, which can neither see. near
nor deliver them in time OF trouble.
These people, these idolaters. eat
Jne bread and drink the water pro-
Vlded Tor them by the living God Of
Heaven and then go OF and serve ana
worship animals and inanimate sub
stances. il is horrible TO think of
Yet this is the crime, the sin Of
which the Negro race in its degrade
ton stands convicted before God and
all the world. Nevertheless God in
his graciousness has promised to re-
member them in mercy in his own
appointed time. See Psalms 6S:3I
also First Epistle OF John. 2:I and .
For ages efforts have been made
by Christian missionaries to chris
uanize the Negro race in Africa but
with meager results. These efforts.
OF course, were made only among
those tribes accessible 10 the mis-
sionaries and they were those adj
Jacent to the coasts; the interior
tribes having never been reached.
God, therefore, in His allwfse and
inscrutible providence, has provided
Tor the evangelization of this race
In Africa a beacon light which will
when He gets ready, go forth and
reach the uttermost parts OF the dark
continent of Africa.
Both Its progress and its influence
Tor good will be irresistible. God
suffered our fathers to be brought
10 this country for a three-foid pur-
pose. First that they might be civ.
ihzed and christianized themselves
and then return and bear this great
ana lnestimable blessing to their be.
nlgnted brethren who have beer
Watlng To- these three hundred years
And finally to rear an empire upoy
the continent OF Africa which shal
insure for all time the recogpItjor
and worship OF the Lord Jehovah
creator of Heaven and earth apf
Iatner or our Lord Jesus Christ
The following lines from a noer
; read at an Emancipation Celebratfoy
In 1893 seem most appropriate here
Almighty God! VINO in thy wisdom
brought
Our fathers from their free an,
sunny cline,
And here intrenched them that the,
might be taught
Ut Tnee and mans redemption 81
sublime .
Hear us. their children, when WITH
1nee we plead.
And pray that what Thou hast fo,
us begun,
Thou wouidst complete ana make ~,
free indeed, @'
In honor of our Lord. the Holy One
The school has been a hard and