The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-10-16
ADDRESS OF H H. BLEASE
BEFORE COLORED CITIZENS

Master OF Ceremonies, and Fellow
citizens: was pleased to notice N
c.r tapers that the leading colored
reopIe wee going to have a bshQuet
ZOE the purpose of giving to members
O. yodr race evidence OF your apprecia-
:.on OF the fact that they were to be-
toAe part Of the great army now
De 3 ganized by our National Gov
ernment, and when I received an in
v.tation to speak to you on this occa-
sion, 1 was very much gratified. [
trust that the result of this meeting
may be for the interest of our State
and Nation.
l have watched, with great deal OF
interest, the course of the negro race
since have been old enough to oD-
serve that which soe~ to uplift ano
,anest the races of the human famll'
I have observed, with gread deal OF
pleasure, the improvement in educa-
ton and morals made by your race.
T have had the opportunity, Whlcn
opportunity I was glad to have, ID
speak to organizations composed or
the women Of your race. 1t has oeen
source of great qualification, that
one of the fundamentals of these Or
ganizations IS that the members there
Of must live pure and clean lives
morally. l want to say to you that no
race can rise above the virtue OF its
women. and when realize and under-
stand that the leaders, men and Wo-
men. of your race have become imbued
with this great principle, I am con-
yinced that in Gods own time your
race is going to work out the great oD-
iect that He had in bringing the two
races together in this the greatest
purest and best section OF our great
nation.
These men who are now a part and
parcel of the great army, being sent
forth by this, the purest and best ma
ton on the earth, are going out 20
battle for the right, the right of the
masses, the right of the common
man: they are going out to fight for the
grea: principle which has been incul-
Gated in the breasts of all men, in all
sges of the world, namely, the prlncl-
pie of freedom and liberty; they are
going forth to fight for these princl-
ples which cannot exist and cannot
be maintained unless they, themselves
live up to the great truths taught oy
the Scriptures, namely, that they
must be pure, for you people know
that no one but the pure in heart can
see God. 1 am persuaded that IN or
der to fight valiantly, and I believe
these men will so fight, they must
love God with all their heart, and
their neighbor as themselves; they
must fight for principles, and they
will fight for a principle, but there
must be no hatred in their heart, anu
believe as they shall go forth feel
ing that their friends and loved ones
are standing shoulder to shoulder be-
hind them. doing all they can to ao-
vance and protect their interests tha'
thew will do everything to brlns
neace, and permanent peace, with JUS
as little harshness. with just as ll''is
nain. with just as small sacrifice OF
human life and property, as can ps
done.
say, therefore, to you men, IN oe-
half of this assemblage, representing
vour race and mine, that you go tortn
representing a great nation WHICH
professes to be servant OF the true
and living God, and in so going 90
that which is right and acceptable III
the sight of Him, do that which IS
right in obedience to the laws OF your
State and Nation and when you nave
50 fought, I sincerely trust that !oa'
and each of you, may return to tnoSe
vou love best, but if it shall be tne
will of the Father that you shall pass
over the river and never see your
home Or native country again. you
will have the blessed assurance OIL
having filled the mission for WINCH
He brought you into being, and II you
fill this mission, as you will, IN ac-
cordance with His will, it is lmmater-
;o1 when or how He shall take you 1rom
this life: for, we know that when He
shall take us. and We have kept tne