The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-06-13
Negro Musicians ShOudPdy at the Commencement or Close pLCOn gh

W ~ M ~ " ~
acts upon the case and they should
seek to Judge Righteously," accord
ing to their understanding, then if the
applicants efforts proved of men"
they would pass away, but if of God,
they would stand.
CHURCH UNITY.
If eloquence and the power of
speech could make a Church mighty
for good, then our Churches would be
the most advanced in the world. The
Negro's native genius would allow
this. But such is not the case. Love,
Harmony and Understanding these
are the elements that worketh good.
The Negro preacher in his own Pc
culiar way has no superior in oratory.
Elucidation of text and apt illustra-
ton. This is locally true. Whether
| 1t be a highly temperamental Keal-
ing or a deep resourceful Bacote.
Whether it be a concise and a per-
feet illustrating Thomas or a power
full and soaring Bowren. The stabll-
ity of the Church by no means lies
solely in the direction of any type
of orator or preacher but in an in
| telligent laity and as he we have al
ready said: Love, harmony and un-
derstanding. One of the last COM
mands the Master left His Disciples
was Love ye one another" He knew
the Importance of this in promoting
Gods noblest idea. In music, har-
mony is the perfect blending of
sounds. One discord disturbs is per-
fection. So in Church unity one bad
element has contrary effect and
breaks the religious and social har-
mony of it's life, However, we should
learn by understanding to link the
broken chains of our Church system
with Truths indissoluble welding.
We have shown how the preacher has
advanced in the elucidation of his
text. We might add that the Church
has made wonderful and solid strides
in sacred music, but in Church Unity
the one thing that best expresses
love, our showing has been poor. I'm
derstanding is the quality to recog-
nize the ever presence of Divine love,
could every Christian realize this
Truth and act accordingly. In har-
mony, discord, and all disturbing ele-
ments would be banished, there would
be no desire to practice ''unChristian
comment" talk about ones neighbors
and doing evil. The consciousness of
God excludes all but harmony.
SOME DOCTRINAL HINTS.
If we may even appear to criticize
Church doctrine it would be along the
, line of accepted customs. First, we
are not practical enough in our re.
ligion, the writer believes in enthu-
siasm but that enthusiasm should be
in doing good and not in mere sing
ing and shouting. Talk to the aver.
age church member about being good
| demonstrating it, and he will tell
you Il don't care how good you are
If you haven't got faith you amt moth
ing" We ask when was there ever q
good thought or good act that Goo
NAN nv ihopAAV IL DpCdhluS vi maj
it is said: lin Job "the inspiration ot
the Almighty giveth him understand
ing" 1t seems here that it is good
that inspires faith. This much. Good
Whether we have faith or not does
not alter this truth. To seek to dem
onstrate good is the duty of man
The very fact that evil Goods sup
positional opposite" is so apparent
teaches us that we are not in danger
of being too good. AS an excuse fol
not being moral many say: I'VE are
saved by faith, as an apology for no
being intelligent and knowing some
thing about their God they say Hi
ways are unsearchsble." Ignoring tn,
fact that God is all" "and whom t.
know Alright is life eternal"