The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-25
BY JESSE S. BONDS
Ala. nlr10

would spend that time trying to
Christianize and Americanize this, my
native land, by teaching and living the
principles taught by Christ and the
as was handed down to us by
the makers and writer's of the consti-
tuition of the United States of America.
/ would expect to encounter quite
lot of opposition on the two great ques-
lions. would begin my efforts to Chris
tianize this nation in the largest
churches in the land and come on down
to the smallest. l would try to get the
people to understand that Christ died
for we sinners and that He came to
save and not prosecute and punish us.
| would try to make the people un-,
derstand that Christ was a savior for
all people of whatsoever nationality
or color and regardless of whether they
were born in America or Italy. l
would try to get the people to remem-
Der that He lived and taught a life
of love and forgiveness, and was never
known to refuse to grant a pardon, nor
was never known to put q man or wom-
an to death, even though 1t was with
in his power to have done so and would
not have violated the law of the land.
l would try to get the laws of our land
and the people of our land to follow in
detail the instructions given by Christ
in his sermon on the mountain. l
would try to get the preachers of this
nation to picture God and Christ, to
the people as they were and are (saints)
and not big policemen with a club in
their hand knocking men down every
time they happen to do wrong. /
would try to get the preachers of hits
love, and to wipe out all UNCONVENTIONAL
lines and thereby do away with all their
hatred and desire to Guido and out
preach the other fellow. Would try to
get the preachers to see that it is not
necessary for them to preach to suit
the people for the reason that they
would not pay them their monthly sal
airy. / would show them if they would
preach as God wanted them to, God
would look after that part of their
calling" and they would not have to
give it any thought.
would start school of American
ism in that organization that claims
to have a monopoly on Americanism,
and has been retailing it out to the peo-
pie at $40 per head. would try to
show these misled people that American
ism is free. and is not a thing that can
be bought with gold. 1 would try to
get the people to cast off selfishness
and remember that this great nation
was founded as a refuge for the poor
and oppressed people of the world and
that we 100 per cent Americans are not
the ones that made this nation what 1t
is today, that is was the same class of
people that some of us are condemning
today that made it.. 1t was they who
established the right to worship God, as
we saw fit. 1t was they who estab-
Iished the doctrine of 'justice to all
special privilege to none" regardless of
the country in which they were born or
the church in which they worship their
God. 1t was they who declared that no
title of nobility should ever be granted
In this nation and wrote it into the con-
stitution of our country. 1t was they
who made it one of the fundamental
laws of the land 'the people shall al
ways be secure in their person and
and shall never be deprived
Of their liberty or property except by
due process of law"
/ would expect to be turned out of
the church and to have many of my
Masonic brothers think me unworthy.
But after ! had spent 1856 days teach
ing these principles would feel sure
as to what my reward would be in the
life to come.
BY RALPH ALMON WILLIFORD
2O14 Fifth Ave, N, Birmingham, Ala.
If had but one year to live would
90 around helping sick, poor and needy.
[ would do my best to please God and
obey His commandments. would tell
all my friends and relatives goodby. l
would cheer the sick and give them
flowers.