The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-19
JUDGE GARY AND A JIM CROW
HEAVEN
by n. D. Cochran

All of Us want to go to heaven when we die,
whether heaven is mansion in the skies or the daily
reward here on earth OF clear conscience.
There various notions about tho mansion in
the skies of the popular is that of heaven
with pearly gates. golden streets. diamond studded
haloes and perfectly lovely harps-o nothing of
beautiful angels dwelling together in everlasting peace.
harmony and unduted love
T. AS we are told there is marriage or giving in
marriage in conventional Christian heaven, there
matrimonial jars to worry about To some OF
US the Mohamrnedan heaven might have its draw
hacks An American Army officer in zamboanga, island
Of Mndanao the Philippines. once told me that the
Mohammedan Moros fierce warriors because their
priests promise them an extra wife in their heaven
for every Christian they kin in battle.
But we won't worry, about the Mohammedan
heaven or whether all Of righteous people go to
the same heaven wen segregate the different faiths
Those Of who expect to go to our own heaven are
naturally curious about what Wen find when we get
there.
Judge Gilbert II. Gary head Of the great steel cor
poration. had birthday the other day. He was 80
years old and stin going strong While his health Is
and his mind clear Judge Gary knows, of COURSE
that In the natural order Of human events he viii not
last forever in the flesh 1t is fair to assume that
Judge Gary viii go to heaven, he is of the
prominent, eminent and successful men in Amer
lea
But what kind of a heaven does he expect to
go to?
On his birthday there were many kind messages
business friends and associates. which, of
pleased him. But there something else. Five
Negro singers from Fisk University serenaded him.
Among other selections they walking IN JeruSa-
lem Just Like John" Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
Gideon" and "Old Black joe"
Judge Gary much touched. He said that each
Of the Negro singers probably a better Christian
than he was. When they were leaving he told them
that he hoped all present would meet in the eternal
life.
Judge Gary is a. good Christian. and thinks that
the five Negro singers age good Christians too, his
hope that all would meet in the eternal life meant
that he hoped all would meet in heaven.
AS there is but one God and hence there be
hut haOvo and hrG fianC hp1in
implicitly in the Fatherhood Of God and Brotherhood
of Man, it would be interesting to know just what
conditions Judge Gary expects to find when he meets
his Negro Christian serenaders in heaven
Clarence Darrow is pessinst4or pretends, to be.
Recently in addressing crowd that packed the audi
forum in Chicago the larger part Of whom were
Negroes, barrow told them that whatever they got
of betterment here earth they'd have to get for
themselves, and that they couldn't expect it to
from the clouds Also that if they did to heaven
they would find it Jim Grow heaven
But Darrow was pessimistic Judge Gary is an
optimist. The heaven he had in mind when he told
the Negro singers that he hoped to meet them
eternal life Jim Grow heaven, because if
the Negro Christians whoset to heaven segregated
set off in dark corner by themselves Judge Gary
probably would not meet them.
1t is fair to conclude that an 'optimist and a
good Christian who expects to go to heaven, Judge
Gary expects all righteous TO leave their earthly
prejudices behind when they the pearly gates
and that all of the happy celestial souls will be of
color in heaven matter how their skin hooked
on earth; and that he won't find any difference be
tween his own soul and that of union labor leaders
despite bitter contention the open shop here
When we think of all Of the prejudices and differ
of opinion that cloud the human mind there is
comfort in the thought that matter how much
hell have earth wen all join the celestial union
when get to heaven. All the same it would be
nice if could have little heaven and little
less hell while working and living together trying
to put off long as possible that final trip to the
skies. NN
NEXT: The Shining of Bin White.