The broad ax., 1926-07-17
Mordecai w. Johnson-University
President.

he sun IS SHINING ON howard niil-
TOD. and its radiant rays reflect the
memories of ardent Negro Baptists
who well remember DIR. c. T. Walk
er. who preached the gospel of Christ
from Atlanta, Ga, to West 53rd street,
New York City. Ardent, religious
white people, in similar vein, will re-
member DR.. Arthur Cushman McGif-
fert. who is probably the greatest the
ology student who ever lectured in
the halls Of Union Theological Sem
mary. The reflections of these two
Christian gentlemen are embodied in
DR.. Mordecai w. Johnson, Of Charles
ton, West Virginia, to whom has been
given the leadership of the races
greatest educational institution, How
ard University, Washington, d. G.
The stalwart Johnson, youth in
years but veteran in the experiences
of men and of things, and counter
part of the goodness and greatness of
Christian religion and education, is, to
our humble mind, the greatest asset
as a President, white or black, that
Howard University could have hoped
to have. Johnson is believer in re
spect for personality. Johnson says,
When you insult the personality of
any person you are insulting the per-
sonality Of Jesus Christ"
Johnson is a believer in the princi-
pies of collective bargaining, excepting
that he does not believe that any col
Iective group should bargain to the
detriment of another group.
This is the spirit of the policy which
will save Howard University to itself.
Subsidization, education, coalition, and
the false Equations as between ra-
cial groups mean nothing if Christian
respect for personalities and unity are
battling with each other as they have
been in the past for recognition.
President Johnson has the vision,
the hope, the ability, and the art to
instill spirit at Howard University
which, despite the institutions ire
mendous past successes, has been
without its gates If Johnson fails II
will not be his fault 1t will be the
fault of those, who, like the critics OF
c. 7. Walker and Arthur Cushman
McGiffert, in later years, Bonded to
their knees to beg pardon for the
moral and spiritual wrongs which they
had perpetrated upon the benefactors
Of education and Of religion Let
Howard learn to respect the presidents
of others and give to DIR. Johnson the
cooperation which he needs in bring
ing new vision to the rejuvenation Of
the educational source of Negro youth
twenty years hence.
The Eucharistic Congress
Every now and then, America is
caused to pause and reflect upon the
more than twenty million Catholic
who abide within its confines. Just a
few days ago the Eucharistic Congress
convened in Chicago and exempiined
10 America the faith and fealty which
the Catholic church has for itself. A
potential one-6fth Of the population
Of the United States still cleaves to
the religion of St. Peter. With peace,
unity. forcefulness and cleavage as to
the cause of Jesus Christ, the Catho-
lie church sets forth program which
does not yield to the commercialism OF
America or to group sel6shness. The
Ku Klux Khan might well take note
Of the Eucharistic Congress, Just ad-
iourned, so that proofs of the strength
of unity and the force of progression
might permeate the thin-skinned
brains Of the Kluxers; but like he who
could but would not see, the Klan VIII
probably continue to bury its head IN
the sands of selfshness. The suffer-
ing Negroes Of America have been
drawn to the Catholic church, which
upon a basis Of Simon-pure Christian
ity, has offered them more than their
ancient contemporaries, the Protest
ants. But commercialism, however, Is
strong purveyor Of influence, and
into the Catholic church it has thrown
its poisoned arrows.
Nevertheless, the Eucharistic Con-
gress has demonstrated that in theory
all men are created equal, and that,
religiously, all men. white or black
are as one. Religious fatalists VIII
still throw darts at the alleged weak
nesses of Catholicism; but SO long as
Catholicism win welcome the Negro to
social equality Of religion, there IS al