Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-09-22
WHAT the NECRO HAS The
RIGHT TO EXPECT OF
CHRISTIANITY
REV. r. A. GRANT IN SOUTHERN
LIFE MAGAZINE.

REV. r. A. GRANT IN SOUTHERN
LIFE MAGAZINE.
BY Christianity we mean that form
of religion which Is based on Jesus
Christ. the Incarnate God, brought out
most beautifully in the beloved Apos-
ties words: For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten
son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlast-
ing life" Nay, not a form only, but
a system OF life, feeding upon the prin'
ciples given us by Jesus Christ. For
there is one God and one mediator
between God and men. the man Christ
Jesus"
With this definition in view, what
has the negro right to expect of
Christianity, first, as a man? There
is a spark of individuality in every hui
man being that If properly famed
blazes into the fire that brings out
the realization that he is man.
A great awakening is on like unto
the awakening of 1885 when were seen
the effects of the preaching of the gos-
pei upon the people of the colonies.
A greater upheaval is being felt by
the world today than when the deeps
of the European world were broken
up by the restlessness of the people
making demands for their rights, be-
cause this mixture Of dirt and water
driven on by the soul, is responding
to the demands of the world coming
into. the man. .2r#
China, under Christian influence, 10
being cleaned up and men are being
saved. Africa, under English rule, is
in better shape than she would have
been without it, for the spirit Of Chris
tianity now broods over her like the
hen over her chicks, and facts show
that she too is rising and answering
the call of Christianity.
The negro here has already come in
to the limelight of Christianity, then,
why should there not be refluent
wave?
Take a man and rob him of that
his life is deprived of all that ought
to make him the being intended for
him to become; and because the negro
has been robbed of those privileges
which otherwise might be his, some
have grown discouraged and despond-
ent, but the optimistic among us ex-
pect Christianity to lift his clouded
sky, broaden his narrow vision, break
down the hedges growing about him,
The idea OF handing lump of sugar
to horse works equally well In the
case of man; and although he does
not look for sugar by the barrel full
emptied at his door, he does expect
to be permitted to reach out his hand
with the rest of men and grasp a lump
| unintimidated.
Sometimes it has been said that the
measure of the standard of q man, to
which the world has it's high ideal
formed, cannot be attained by the ne.
gro, but blind indeed must be the per.
son who cannot see the facts being
brought each day, showing that the
sleeps are being climbed and the sum
mits reached.
| For I am sure you are conversant
| with the facts of the Forward Move.
ment," the Y. M. c. A. Rally, and when
ly new movements among us. the
great measure in which he Is respond.
| ing to these demands and responsible
bilities can be better appreciated. In
Chicago it was announced that two
philanthropists offered $4,000, to be
given, if they could among themselves
raise $4,000 When the lists came in
they had $4,000, In Philadelphia fig,
ures show that negroes subscribed
$4,000, and In Atlanta not long ago
two negro men gave $1,000 each, and
one $500 for the Young Mems Chris,
tian Association work. You may say
have cited you only an instance, and
If you do I shall tell you that If one
negro goes wrong, you make more OF
that than I have made Of this In.
stance. H% E
Theories Of evolution have been re.
lied upon to prove that the negro
evolved from a lower animal, but it
has not been satisfactorily shown so
to be. Even to this there will be no
objection if. as Coburn says, man was
evolved from a lower order.
l heard a gentleman say that we
are all made out of one mud, and an.
other httingly replied, yes and saved
by one blood. -
We expect the truth Of Paups state
ments to be made evident In the life
of the world through Christianity.
(Gal. 1929 There is neither Jew
nor Greek, neither bond nor free,
there is neither made nor female. for
ye are all one in Christ Jesas." (Acts
1925 And hath made Of one blood
all nations Of men for to dwell on all
the face of the earth"
l read In The Evening Metropolis
Of February Is, this year, a, plea Of a
lawyer for a white boy fourteen years
old, convicted Of burglary, and after
he had told Of the disadvantages
through which the boy had come. he
said: But we ought not to con.
denim boy offhand. like that. when
we know that rose can't bloom in
the dark, nor diamond sparkle un'
til 1t is dug out Of the ground, cut
and polished, and boy has to have q
chance, too You have heard my
story; II any man wishes to give this
boy chance, communicate with me-
Thus, II this is a plea from stand
noint NJ Chrtstianity and I believe II