The broad ax., 1923-12-08
OUR WEEK DAY sERMoNETrE
BY DR.. H. T. S. johnson
Interracial Secretary for Oklahoma
THE WAY TO INTERRACIAL
COOPERATION

Then Peter began to speak, Il
clearly see" said he, shat God makes
no distinction between one man and
another; but that in every nation,
those who fear Him and live good
lives are acceptable to Him" Acts:
l0:34-35.
Peter was strict Jew and shared
fully the opinion of his race that God
made them out of better clay than He
used when making the Gentiles. In
fact, though he with the other apos-
ties had been commissioned to ego
the whole world over and proclaim
the good news to all mankind" he
still believed that good news was for
the Jews only. Not until the house
top vision did he give thought about
the GentiIes' claim on salvation. Not
until he heard Cornelius himself tell
Of the heavenly messenger to him did
he get big enough to say, Il clearly
see that God makes no distinction be-
tween one man and another"
You will please note that:
!. These men of different races
were brought TO fraternal relations
because both were men Of prayer.
Cornelius was praying when the
heavenly messenger stood in front Of
him and gave him the knowledge that
his prayer was heard, together with
the instruction that he send for Peter.
Peter was on the housetop in prayer
when he saw the vision which relieved
him Of race prejudice, an emancipa-
ton without which no man can live
his largest and best.
2. These men of different races
were both open-minded as to divine
guidance The angel told Cornelius
to send for Peter and he did it forth
with. He did not stop to reflect on
the naughty attitude Of the Jews
towards the Gentle world and con-
clude that it was no use to send for
a proud Israelite. Neither did Peter
refuse to respond to the request of
Cornelius, on the ground that It would
be a condescension damaging to his
social standing and religious consist
ency God ordered him to 60 and
that was enough. Social relations
that could be damaged and religious
consistency that could be hurt BY
doing Gods viii are not worth pro-
tecting.
Relations between white men and
black men in the United States will
not reach the point of brotherhood
until, like Cornelius and Peter, the
leaders on both sides become:
l. Men and women Or prayer.
People who do not pray should not
be entrusted with the responsibility
Of leadership. A leader must have the
poise which prayer alone can give
Especially is this true as regards the
Negro leader. There Is 50 much
against him, So much to provoke to-
anger so much to discourage, SO much
TO make him desperate that it is abso-
lutely necessary for him to keep his
head on top. The only guarantee Of a
level head under trying circumstances
is the prayer habit. The Negro must
pray the prayer Of faith or sometimes
the door Of hope win close.
The white man needs TO pray for
humility, especially when he thinks Of
himself il relation 10 the Negro. He
IS 50 prone to disregard the Scripture
which says. = warn every individual
among you not TO value himself un-
duly." Humility Is the mark Of the
man who prays. white or black. It
not only marks the man who prays,
but Il is an outstanding Characteristic
q the man who thinks correctly and
who IS Of dependable piety. These
are all requisites Of true leadership