The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-10-17
ALL READY FOR
THE EXPOSITION
High Purpose Of tho Religious
Congress Feature.
RACE STRUGGLES COMPARED

kAGt SIkU66lESGUMPAktU
Fiftieth Anniversary Festival Of Free.
. dom Furnishes Material For q Retro
/ speetivs View Of Similarity Between
Conflict Through Which Jews and
colored Americans Have Passed.
New York.-It has often been OBJ
served that the colored people bear a
close resemblance to the Jews. not
only in the common struggle that these
races have had and still have to make
against the forces Of blind prejudice
and oppression, but as we'll In the
life giving principles Of the internal Or
ganizations and institutions which
have made these two wonderful peo-
pies survive and grow more and more
at and vigorous despite the tremen-
dous disadvantages and opposition
they have had to overcome every
where. In no respect is the similarity
between the Jews and the Negroes
more apparent than in the influence
and power of their religious Organiza-
lions.
Among the Israelites Of old it was
their religion. their church. that gave
cohesion and unity Of purpose to their
effort to preserve themselves as a peO-
pie. Whether in Egypt, under the
domination Of Rome, suffering the per-
secutions of medieval Spain or living
In that anachronism in modern civ
ilization. the empire Of the czars, the
Jewish people have held aloft the
ideals of fidelity to their nation and
their God, for to them I'm their cease
.less wanderings in alien lands as well
~ In their own long lost Canaan the
church and the state have always been
one
And in America, where the generally
tolerant attitude of the masses makes
some of the Jews forget that occasion
ally laws have to be passed to guar
antee their right to purchase food and
lodging In q free country, their annual
religious festivals draw them together
once more and give them new pride In
their past and added hope In their fu-
ture The Negroes. like the Jews. have
been scattered broadcast over tho
earth. They have been held captive
TO Q stronger people.
Throughout all the dark night OF
slavery the deep religious instinct Of
the African people kept alive the faint
" nickering torch that was to burn
some day with the bright light OF
freedom. The transition from the GER
emonial externals Of religion as prac-
tiesd In the African forests to the su-
perHcialities of American Christianity
was an easy one. God, the moral law.
the sense of righteousness. the faith in
the ultimate goodness Of man, Is the
same every where and under any name.
Religion, as the arbiter of ethical con
duct toward ones neighbor. is also the
Judge Of righteousness to oneself.
So. while the African was perfectly
ready and willing to accept the dogma
and ceremonial Of Christianity. he did
not accept the selfish and perverted
views Of the Christians as to his duty
toward them. Before I'll be slave"
cried the voice Of conscience. manhood
and self respect. .I'll be buried In my
grave and 20 home to my Lord and
be free" And many brave heart
was buried in a black mans grave.
while the spirit returned to the COM
mon Lord and Father Of all men in
order to save race OF men from deg.
radiation and Disgrace. Since the fet.
tiers of physical bondage were shaken
from the limbs Of the bondsmen the
religious nature Of the African has as
serted Itself with renewed vfgor In all
good work.
To the American freedman as to the
wandering Israelite the church has
been the state. The church is the
great educational factor among the col.
ored people. the center Of social bet
terment and civil Righteousness. 1t has
entered. as 1t rightly should. the do
"
since Lincoln gave permission to Negro
soldiers to be buried in their graves in
order to make themselves and this ma
ton free the Negro church has shown
its influence in everything that has
brought to the freedman the respect
of his fellow men and given him conf
dence in himself. More than this. the
church has gone to the motherland and
has given new hope to discouraged
people by interpreting Christianity to
mean africa for the Africans" and
not alone for the Europeans.
The religious congress Of the forth
coming Emancipation exposition Is
going to be a general stock taking of
the colored people. with special refer.
ence to the debit account. In Its ses-
sions from Oct % to 28. inclusive. this