The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-03-24

Ace and service from the cGoukeE
aud moro favored n for the eeae-
AZ of the weaker. g" have" saA@
Paul. showed you az tn.nss. how
.hst so laboring ye ought TO sup
..ort the weak and TO remember the
lords OF the Lord Jesus how he said.
/. is more blessed 10 give n TO
receive"
Ieas that We overlook TO n large
tent the actual life and example,
~ our Lord Jesus xhen We perform
he grace OF giving. The Bible does
not show thai he possessed any
property ut ali to bes,ow upon OH
ers. although he was Lord OF all ana
lefr the infinite riches OF hea'en FOR
cur sakes. In fact. when he de ired
To settle a question as to the iaiT-
ness OF the payment OF taxes TO Cas
sar. the record says he borrowed a
penny from the bystanders. Christ
pronounced n blessing upon giving
aims. bnt He himself gave that
richer gift. the entire service OF lbs
mind, ear and body.
No one appreciated more than
Paul the blessedness OF giving No
one EXALTED more thar He the grace
OF giving. Yet. in all His writings,
ne ndh@ III bhoA0
than that found In the 18th chapter
OF the EpIstle 10 the Romans: Il Do
seech you. therefore. brethren, by
the mercies OF God. that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, bok
and acceptable unto God. which Is
your reasonable service" That H.,
| that We should present our bodily
powers, our personal service, osr-
selves. to the work OF the gospel.
That suggests how our indebtedness,
our religious obligations. To the ne
groes should be paid. IL Is not In The
bestowment OF gifts. In fact, h ne
gro, generally, needs that as httle
| as any one In the world; for his ma
tural mode OF life is to exist In a
| manner that would give utter
Indebtedness to a white person. Ia
his poverty, he is happy n con
| tented, and his wants are easily sat
isied. He has no trouble to earn the
means OF u livelihood; and he
always earn more than he will. We
owe the negro the better gift OF per
sonal interest, manifested especially
In his training in religious know
ledge. Why knows but that God In
HIS providence placed SO many OF
| the negro race amongus that they
may be under the influence OF the
! example and instruction OF US, who
have such a goodly heritage OF faith
and knowledge Of Him.
Now, why do the negroes ne q TO
be taught by us?
1t Is because they are naturally
emotional and shallow in spirit and
arc apt to have little regard 10. The
solid meat Of the Word.
! II Is because they are really de-
pendent upon US, and, having large
ly the disposition of children. there
Is a natural obligation resting upon
US to instruct them; and. as children,
they will respond TO our kindly 40
vanceS.
1t is because our sober judgment
tells us that there ought TO be a
better bond OF sympathy between the
races. SO that the negroes will serve
us with more cheerfulness and ae-
Cept our oversight of them with era
titude and kindness. Can we not re-
call the gentle old family ervants
Of by-gone laws to illustrate this?
II is because we should give all
diligence to keep the unity Of the
spirit in the bond OF peace" 9
u IS because it Is a stern, self
evident fact that the negro race,
with, OF course. many notable cx-
ceptions. are %incaDable OF caring for
themselves. and. therefore. others
have TO care for them.
1t is because the future welfare of
our country demands that We keep
on the very best terms possible with
the negroes. consistent with good
judgment. De we realize what a pow
er for DISRUPTION and confusion they
are capable Of becoming.
And, finally, il is because we can-
not, as Christians. AFFORD TO be un-
mindful Of any of whom Christ died
to save as much as he died TO save
Us. He said. "Whosoever shall bs
ashamed Of Me and OF My words. OF
him also shall the Son OF Man be
ashamed when He cometh in the
| glory Of His Father. with the holy
angels"
Will there be danger of breaking
through the lines of propriety in the
intercourse between the races which
time and wisdom has set? | believe
not; for Can the Ethiopian change
his skin. II the leopard his spots7"
| The negro will still be a negro. but
We can feel more kindly toward him.
because he is a negro. God rules the
world, and He would have things
done decently and in order, and the
relations OF things I'm the world ad-
just themselves through the wisdom
Of His providence.
A practical suggestion is that we
ought to teach the coIored people IN
Sunday schools, and. in other ways
as far as We can wisely do SO, have
, a care over their religious welfare.
Let Us think seriously Of this sub
1ect, approaching 1T In the spirit
which prompted the Apostle Paul 10
say. According to my earnest en-
pectation and my hope that in moth
Ing shall / be ashamed, but that,
with all holiness. as always, so now
also. Christ shall be magnined IN