The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1909-05-15
REV. j. 9. EEiD.
On the Afro-American AMI His Re-
iiqion.


caused a two hour discussion. The
paper was in part as follows:
Before the light Of secular intelli !
gence burnt forth within the Ameri- ,
can Negroes mind, his religion was
admitted to be genuine by those who
held him in bondage. The pscyche
mystery that seem to link the unin.
telliecnt Negro mind witt. God was
a puzzle to the intelligent Anglo Say
on, and perplexing to his understand
ing, yet this religion established an
affinity between master and slave.
which none other seem to have &C
complished. In many instances mas
ter and slave would die for each other
because of the existing love that
bound them together.
Grant that the motive which inspir
ed each to an understanding of peace
full and happy relationship. was sell
fish in the extreme, the results at.
tanned was q marvellous achievement
CT brotherhood affinity, because hey
understood each other.
Since emancipation the foundation
of now relationship had to be es-
tablished to reach just conclusion
without destruction of the fundamen-
tai principles of the once happy ad-
justment, have been and are the labor
Gus work Of the Christian men and
women Of both races. The Negro has
made wonderful strides toward Christ
ianiZing his own, and acquiring church
property, as the following figures will
attest:
Afro-American Churches.
The NEST recent statistics and re-
ports relating to the AfrO-American
churches. their number, membership
and value of church property, give the
following by denominations
The Episcopal church numbers 1900
members; Congregational, 6135 mem
bers; Presbyterian, 224 churches, val
UatiOn $193,S26, members 81 500
Roman Catholics, members, 100000;
Congregational Methodist, 8 churches,
valuation, $3.50. members, 319; G.. M.
e., 1,759 churches, Valuation, $1,713,
$3.50, members, 129,3S3; A. NJ. E. Zion
churches number 1,704, valuation. ST.
71412S members, 349,7S8; A. M. E.
2.lS1 churches, valuation, sG,56o, 2S0,
members $4,000, and the Baptist
l2,5C5 churches, valuation, S9,0S2,587,
members, 1,352,5G4. This gives
grand total of nearly 100000 Nesoes
identified with the churches. Many
of these denomination support schools
and colleges and some publication
house.
His Adjustment to the White Mans
Religion.
But the Negro is not satisfied with
the present influence Of his religion
upon the white brother He misun-
l.,
religion of the white race, with in
diVidUal exceptions. For reason, that
he has been taught to believe that all
true religion is the same, and his
greatest happiness lies in his whole
soulness, but where repulsed, doubt,
at once, arises in his mind, as to the
geutincss Of his own, or the sincerity
of the white brothers religion be-
cause the proffused passion for Christ
love seemingly fail to remove the bar
rierS which prevents universal broth
erhCod. % years ago the warmth
that existed between black and white
Christians was undeniable. Today
that fcrvent Christian spirit has al
most disappeared. The Negroes SUI
preme desire is to adjust his religion
to The white mans.
And sinners, allowing the superior
personality to dominate any unwhOlo-
some influence, reflected by the i'll
ferOr. To Withdraw from those who
should be raised to a higher level is
a striking omission OF toe tangible
secret of Christian brotherhood. The
forccasted results OF termingling
by those who are opposed to it, will
lessen 100 per cent When intelligent
men and women are made to feel that
Christian religion is sufficient to re-
fine the nature above that Of any So
cial cncroachments incompatible with
harmonious Judgment. Tie right of
a man to think and act TO- himself is
diyin cas- long as he retrailis from
violation of our penal cude, moral
lare, and unchangable coIHnands Of
God. as he might interpret it. iIman-
cipaticn of the mind, of which Christ
is the greatest apostle, Cannot be
unless those in equanimitv and recOg-
milton Of it's great purpose. and &C
acknowledgements of the SUPERIOR caste
whenever found. There are those
who are disposed to doubt by their
actions that there is a realm Of
thought which raises men far above
racial antagonism.
What Our Religious Learers
Think.
The solution Of this grea: problem
of religious adjustment, is within the
grasp Of Christian man and woman
today. If DOssessOrs OF the Christ re
ligiCn is not practical in their dailj
application, sufficient 10 ove' cone the
low impulse Of racial antagt nism. the
teachings of the loWly NaZerene has
failed to serve its purpose Charity
covers multitude of faults. bnt there
right Relationship that w and the mel
right relationship of the races. il
place CT the mind that insist upor
dwelling within the realm profound
ed Christian thought.
The Christian who knows wha
ought to be done, to alleviate the ten
sion eff misdirected views, agHinet thu
high idealism of the brotherhood o
man. for fear of public censure, ha
failed to do his Christianlike duty
He has transferred his work to pos
terity. for which he must answer t
God. a
Moral courage to speak and act tn!
whole truth is the heritage of ever,
man. Negligence in performing thi
high function invites many mino
difficulties destructive to religious ad
iuStment