The Denver star., 1915-12-25

Moses and Washington were ardent
lovers of liberty and were willing to
suffer and sacrifice for its attain
ment. 1t is said Moses spent 40 years
of his life in devoted leadership of his
people. 1t was in October, 1876, or
just 40 years ago to be exact that DR..
Washington entered upon his first
work as teacher in the little town
of Maiden, Virginia. That time may
indeed be recorded the genesis of his
leadership. But here the analogy be-
tween the two great leaders must end.
Looking back through the vista Of
years we see Moses on the mountain
summit pleading and yearning that he
may go over Jordan and set his feet
upon hallowed ground. We see him
dying in the agony Of bitter disap-
pointments with the cherished objects
of his life unattained, within sight and
almost within his grasp, but sternly
denied him. We, see him in the
anguish of despair in the crushing of
his hearts desires and the shattering
of all his hopes. On the other hand,
DR.. Washington lived to see the splen-
dour Of his achievements and the glor-
flied consumation of his life's strug-
giles. He lived to know the blessings
of freedom and the pleasures of vic
tory. He was essentially builder
and he not only lived to see the com
pletion of building after building at
Tuskegee, but he also saw the better
upbuilding of splendid young men and
women fitted for life's battles. He
enjoyed honors and flowers in this
life. He worked for the respect of
all classes of people and succeeded in
gaining it, He lived to see the sun
light of happiness brought into many
Negro homes through betterment of
conditions brought about by his in
fluence and teachings. He lived to
see himself within the halo of popu-
lar esteem. He found himself honored
by colleges, by statesmen and high
executives. When death came to him
he also was upon lofty mount ain.
But it was not the mountain of de-
spair. of bitter disappointment and
shattered hopes. Rather he stood upon
the high mountain of superior Amer
icanism, of gretness in achievement
and powerful in triumph. Just as he
shared the hardships and burdens OF
his race in early life, so was he per-
mitted to enjoy their prosperity and
happiness in the improved conditions
of today. 1t would be presumptious
beyond the point of prudence to say
here that his work is finished. The
highest state of perfection has not
been reached. But he has left splen-
did foundation and other hands must
now take up the work and be guideI
by his genius and service. There
must be no less faith. no less enthusi-
asm and willingness to sacrifice if he
who takes up DR.. Wshington's fallen
mantle. would succeed. He must be
imbued with the spirit and sustained
by the knowledge that the world it
self is not finished. that the truth is
not all in and that God has not spoken
His last word.
There can be neither halt nor com
promise
Between the way all life has trod.
'Tis downward with the beast that
dies
Or upward with the Sons of God"
The immortal Goethe once said. III
| work necessarily till my death, ma
ture is bound to give me another ex-
istence when the present can no long
er sustain my spirit" What is the les
son we learn here today? Just this.
that DR.. Washington forever dwelt In
the kingdom of light, and the king
dom of light like the kingdom OF
heaven is within you. 1t is that beau
tiful realm of which a quaint old poet
once sang these quaint old lines:
My mind to me a kingdom is such
perfect joy therein l find Hef was
for the most part an extreme optimist.
He saw success in every endeayor and
triumph in every trial. He saw beams
here and rays yonder, growing bright
er and brighter through every degree,
expanding into new beauty at each
sight, attracting him still more and
more. and luring him on ami onward.
showing worlds Of light he never
dreamed of by day. He has left a
warriors have ever won. The world
of good, the untold benefits Which his
life has brought to all people, white
and black, will endure long after the
buried gems of Gray's elegy win have
faded out in blank obscurity , His
memory should serve as living
fount to inspire lis with courage and
cheer and to furnish us with hints
and visions. The just deeds of man are
alone immortal. Babyon's high towers
have fallen and her ruins clog the
stream beside which the exied He
brews sang of Zion the palaces and
temples of Pharaoh and Pharaoh's
priests have crumbled by the holy
tide, but Moses is living in vigorous
life today. To like extent may we
not fondly predict that the golden
grain that has been sown by the 1oy-
ing hand of DR.. Washington, reared
and nurtured by his sympathetic heart
will continue to grow, flourish and
bear fruit of like nature until the
lapsing waves of time blend with the
shoreless ocean of eternity. take
1t as timely and fitting to suggest