The Washington bee., 1908-08-22
Rev, CoTTOtheTS Sermon
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
NEGRO IN THE SOLUTION
OF THE RACE PROB
LEM,

his WaLCnmcn are DlinQj they are
all ignorant, they are all dumb
dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping,
lying down, loving slumber.
TI-Yea, they are greedy dogs which
can never have enough, and they
are shepherds that cannot under
stand: they have all turned to their
own way, each one to his gaia,
from every quarter. Come ye, say
they, l will fetch wne and we will
fill ourselves with strong drink;
and tomorrow shall be as this day,
a day great beyond measure.
I. 49, According to the spirit and
the teaching of the word of God,
there is no phase of human respon-
sibility to which the ministry IS ex-
empted; but, to the contrary, the
minister more than any other indiyid-
ual member of socety, is held re-
sponsible for the deeds of the peo-
pie. The prophet informs US that if
the people are taken away in their
sins and we have not forewarned
them. their blood will be required at
our hands
In view of this fearful response
bility, it is better tht every minister
in our land stand up and speak the
things that under God he believes
to be right, regardless of the favors
or frowns of the people.
It must be remembered that it is
not only our duty to preach to the
people of the snjoyments of the world
to come, but we must preach upsn
the qualifications necessary to make
them desirable citizens of this life.
2. - It is our duty to impress up
or the colored man first of all that
individual character and devotion to
the laws of honesty, Industry and
obedience to God depends their stand
ing in this world and the world to
come.
There is a law inherent in creation
that we get out of society just about
what we contribute. AS with an in
dividual, SO with nation from moth
ing. nothing comes. There is abso-
lutely nothing in the names of the
various denominations, neither in
various political parties. Ne must
turn ourselves to the study of the
principles involved and the character
of the men who advocate them.
3. - Is there anyone who holds
that the minister should not preach
upon the sacredncss of the I0rne as
the foundation of society?
No: I doubt whaher you can find
a man so ignorant ae to critici5e he
minister FOR preaching upon the i'm
portar.ce of God-fCaring fathers and
,anctihed motherhood as being the
foundation not only of the State, but
Of the Church of God itself; and
this race will never take its place
side by side with the other races
that make up this cosmopolitan civ
ilization until the Negro rs brought
to realize that a well-ordered, virtu-
ous home is the foundation of Chris
tan civilization.
4. - Is there anyone who holds
that the minister should not preach
upon the Importance of moral. intel
lectual and industrial training on the
part of our people?
A minister that takes no interest
in the moral, intellectual and indus
tHial uplift of his people is a curse
to that people and disgrace to the
holy calling. The great majority of
our people are directly or indirectly
under the influence of the ministry,
and until this race can rid itself of
those ministers who preach about
uothing but long white robes and
golden slippers there is but little
hope; bat when from every Negro
pulpit the blessings of home, indus
try, intelligence and freedom shall
by precept and by example be held
constantly before our people, We
may expect to see this race reach
the goal.
s. - Is there anyone who holds
that the minister should not advise
his people with reference to their
political interest?
IF so, would like to ask if the
Negro's citizenship is not matter of
politics7 Was it political parties