The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-07-31
SAYS RACE FACES
CRITICAL PERIOD
NEGRO MINISTER GIVES AD-
VICE TO CONGREGATION-IG-
NORANCE is ENEMY

VICE TO CONGREGATION-IG-
NORANCE is ENEMY
"This is the most dangerous time
in which the negro race has lived. We
are at a most crucial period in our
racial life, and one overt act on the
part of some ignorate, unthlnking
negro, will imperil safety of our
whole race in this city. We all know
what has been taking place in Wash
ington in recent days. Similar race
riots are possible in Columbia" said
! the Rev. T. H. Wiseman, pastor OF
the Bethel Methodist church, Sunday
in the course of sermon preached
to a large negro congregation
Shadows lie about US. Darkness
! is ahead of US and our race is NOV
ing amid gloom. Only the kindly light
of Gods love can lead US. / hope for
better attitude between the two
races, but | feel the shadows close
and oppressive about me and am
fearing lest / may not be able to
give the message / have in my
heart, he said in the course of his
introduction. There was in the mes
sage of the minister a note of pro-
found earnestness and seriousness,
and once or twice there was note
of hopelessness and apprehension
that did not fail to have their effect
on the congregation.
The subject of the discourse was
"The Curse of Ignorance" and was
based on passage from Hosea
In these troublous times, when
the world is aflame with unrest and
discomfort, I wish to speak as to Ger.
tain of our customs and to talk OF
some steps that if taken will tend to
better our racial life and raise US as
a people to a higher moral plane. We
have condemned the white man Tor
his attitude toward us. Let US see II
the question has not two sides to It.
"The greatest enemy that our race
has is ignorance. Ignorance is lack
of knowledge and a lack of knoWl-
edge is a lack of power" he said. He
then spoke of the elements in the ne
gro race who are content to remain
in darkness and ignorance and OF
that element which is striving to rise.
He stressed the point that the entire
race is likely to suffer for the wrong
doing of a few, and pointed out the
des;rability of restraining the care
| less and unthinking from committing
deeds for which the innocent Will
suffer. He spoke of the danger OF
elevating to places of influence and
leadership men who are incompetent
and who have not the good OF the
race at heart. Incompetent leaders,
| he said, were liable to bring the race
into dangerous paths.
"Lack of knowledge on the part OF
the white man for the negro, he sald'
also contributed to rouse antagonism!
White men may understand one class
of negroes, but are ignorant OF 9TH
ers and make the mistake of judging
ali by the few whom they may know,
Trouble, he thought, could be avoided
if the best white people and the pest
class of negroes would get together
and advise with one another.
eve must depend on our own re-
sources. We must awake to the dan
gers that lie around US. The negro
who is content to remain in lgnor-
ance. who is idle and thoughtless,
NAV commit some crime that will
bring about a race riot. for one DO
not feel like dying on account OF the
foolishness of some ignorant negro.
Our greatest hope of safety lies In
the religion of the Christ, which has
the power to change the hearts OF
America is riding to fall. Some
where all injustices are paid Tor.
There is no separate line OF right
for the white man and for the negro.
r. the white or the black man gets
awav from the line Of justice, he
must pay for it. What a man sows
he reaps. .ho
preacher spoke of street cars and ad-
vised his congregation goveIning
seating. He also spoke OF the pictures
which overseas men have prougnt
back with them from France. de
urged that they be destroyed.
a higher ideal of morality was
mentioned. The speaker said that
negro men should stay on their side
of the fence and that white men
should do the same. He referred
BRIEFLY to a speech made in Edgefield
recently in whcih it was stated that
the negro race was doomed unless 1t
learned to stay in its place and COM
mented upon it.
"Time and again the minister urg-
ed his people to take every precau-
tion to avoid troubles and he also en-
phasized the necessity for a deeper
religious life. Much advice was given
and members of the congregation
more than once signifed their ap-
proval of the speakers utterances-
| Col,,D1hia State