The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-02-23
Separation Sometimes Es-
Sential
By R. B. Porter.

by II. ID. IUIleT.
Mr.. Editor and readers of the most |
powerful publication among Negro |
Baptist west of the Mississippi, and
the greatest publication among Ne
gro Baptist of Arkansas:
1t is my privilege and pleasure to
present in this article few thoughts
that represent my views upon this
great subject. | confess as | set with
pen in hand that to attempt to prove
that my subject heading is essential,
it is like attempting to stem the tide
of a stream when it is rising, because
it is a negative subject, and as such,
data for argument and proof for pro-
position laid down are not as eccessi-
BILE as that Of the affirmative subject.
But as one of old, we have launched
out in the known in order to find the
unknown. AS this great subject
broods upon my mind l recall to mind
two very distinguished Bible charac
tiers, that because they had the abil-
ity to discover that separation would
be essential to their after-life and
bridged a very wide and deep chasm
| that had been made by a very I'M
pleasant spirit and fellowship that
grew out of a controversy between
their servants. Imagine if you please
what would have been the awful re-
rated, what would the world have
done without the moral lessons taught
because of their separation? The old
Bible to my way of thinking would
have been incomplete without the les
sons of faith and family love and ten
acity that is brought to us because OF
their separation. The great lesson
that comes to us and that teaches us
our social relation to strangers is but
the results of their separation. The
lesson we learned that God means
that we should obey him not in part
but in all comes to us as a result OF
their separation. We know that il
union there is strength but thai
, strength and union is predicated up
on a congenial relation and good fel
lowship, having love for its bases o
operation. In the absence of thu
7 above named qualities, attempting tt
+ stay together means destruction
y Therefore, when conditions of any
, thing, or persons grow so acute unit
the object for which they stand will
: ultimately be destroyed of the Pre-
. gress along their given lines Of worl
: will be thwarted, it 81 then that sep
aration is ESSENTIAL for the salvation o
, all concerned.
, For further proof of the assertion
we have in mind two Of the creates
:, missionaries that ever walked upol
:, virgin soil. For instance, Paul an
y Barnabas, they saw and God knew
, Notwithstanding their missionary Ell
9 ,deavors had met with astounding SUI
cess, they had preached the gospel l.
different provinces and cities and ha
made their report to the apostles a
> Jerusalem, which reports met thei
q unqualified approval.
a But the development of the kingdoI
9 of our Master later on suggested thu
n a separation of these two character
II would be essential, and more essentis
!. if you please to the work of the kin,
:, dom.
4 Who would deny that separation {
a the colonies, even though blood an
" tears from the monarchial govern
&c ment, and thus forming an indepen,
10 ent government was not essential
v the growth and well-being and ha
n pines Of this great commonwealth
r Whenever and wherever the swee
& ness of fellowship and kind-hearte
10 ness that should exist in the life of
IL person or persons, and the r0pe
"a that each should have for the other
10 right are not exhibited or maintaine
% there is not any unity in the sen!
~ that the Bible teaches, and therefore
- separation ofttimes saves an utt
\ destruction of life, character and hi
J tory that would serve as guard;
Z star for children even unborn.
) Why should we dread to separa
Z as Baptists, any man or set Of mi
{ from that which will be destroyed
J their connection will continue to
( the ruling of dominant powers VIII
; we see very clearly that every st
( that they make scarrying swiftly
{ destruction that which we all low
, There is no doubt as to whether t
Y Baptists of Arkansas are really ar