Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-01-05
DIR. R. c. JUDK||VS'
REMARKS

DR.. r. C. Judkins, the apostle Of
peace among Colorcd Baptists, has
said something worthy of the con.
sdcration Of every soul affected by
the present conditions in National
Baptist circles. In his article pub.
l'shed In the Christian Review, issue
dated November 20, 1917, Is to be
found this statement: "'rhe men who
stand for hatred, abuse and division
are false leaders. and the sooner the
denomination wakes up to that fact.
the better 1t will be for the great
cause"
used to wonder how white minis.
ters of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
could stand behind the sacred desks
and give their approval to SO wicked
an institution as slavery, but l dc.
clare. since the great misfortune that
overlook colored Baptists in Chicago,
the slarder and wckedncss from pull.
pit and press have demonstrated very
clearly to me. at least, that in the
great conflict Of right against wrong.
there are times when the enemy Of
Righteousness captures Il great per
centagc Of the preachers and editors.
or pulpit and presses and uses them
to good effect in destroying the or
ganic union and the organized CHI
deavor of the Christian forces.
How many righteous men have
heen put out of their pulpits. and how
many organized units Of Gods forces
divided, and to do what? 1t verify
seems to abuse each other, consti.
tutes too large percentage OF the
purpose.
Let mo here congratulate Or. w. II.
Moses. for he is beginning to sound
the note OF constructive good work.
4. He tells us, through the columns of
the Union. Review nl plain~-A narioan
the Importance Of healing the breach
and preserving the union. Awhile
ago, colorcd Baptists were paying the
highest tribute to themselves, highest
glory to King Emanuel and provok-
Ing the administration Of all Christen.
dom in preserving q National Baptist
Convention. All other great demon
nations had broken their national
unity and alone stood the colored
Baptists rs gigantic monument,
shimmering in the sunlight Of Christ,
righteousness. dcfying the Prince and
Power OF darkness: but alas! my
brethren. shall we sacrifice this great
glory and power to the gods Of selfish
ness? God forbid that we should
ever he guilty Of sLch. Our sons and
daughters would be sadly affected,
and our great men would die under
a cloud. This is an age Of universal
reimbursement. Wake up, brethren,
wake up my brethren, the affairs
among Negro Bartists need to be re-
adjusted; let's get busy.
Well, you ask. how shall we pro.
coed? Let some brother who has no
interest at stake or purpose to serve
save that of our Lord and Master.
open a polling station; send out an
appeal through a number of leading
papers; let every cOlorcd Baptist who
favors uniting the two factions send
IN his name and address; seek to get
churches and other Baptist organiza-
tons committed to the cause, as well
as individual Baptists, and when the
enrolment Of Baptists is made.
should it. be found that the churches
are really in favor of uniting. and l
believe If it were left to the churches
as 1t should be, they would unite in
day; let us call for action on the
part of the committee from both d.
visions, or call for a delegation of
one or two men from each state to
meet in a place most convenient to
the majority, and draft plans for
great get-together session, naming
date and place Of meeting.
You ask what about tao publishing
house, 1t is not the publishing
house we seek to unite, but the Bap-
lists. The division OF the Baptists
creates the publishing house problem.
The moment the Baptsts are united,
that IN itself practically settles the
publishing house problem.
Some one asks again, what about
the charter? l would answer, it Is
not the charter, it is the Baptists we
seek to unite, and if the Baptists in
body say they desire to form them
selves into a great National Corpora
ton, then, let the will of the Bap.
lists be done; if the Baptists say
away with the charter, under tho
force of such decree, the charter
becomes impotent and must die.
Some one may also ask, what about
this man or that man? Brethren,
men must die, but the cause must
live.
Let lis have one Lord, one faith,
ono baptism, and one mighty Ma
tional Baptist Convention Of baptized
believers in these eternal doctrines,
tramping in unison and laboring in
love. II. ]. KING.