The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-07-14
THE BUSINESS OF
d A Y LIK E THIS
RELIGION IN A
lcontinued from last Meekl


editorial under the heading aIs IN.
Negro TrappedT" The editorial
came out OF the editors thoppht
on the famous and nefarious SCOTS
moro case. II addressed itself 70
me age old American color oues-
tion. The editor seems TO have got
a glimpse OF what the atrocious-
ness OF this crime against all that
Is decent In us. portrays.
The wretchedness OF Alabama
and American justice which has
Kept these innocent youths in Jail
sentencing some 90 be murdered I'm
The electric chair and all 10 have
their spirits die within them
finds ifs beginning at the door Of
white christianity. We have seen
that early In the life of our coun-
Try materalism and extreme indi-
Vidualism sought the sanction OF
religion for the institution of slav-
cry IN the colonies The bishop OF
London who was the voice OF au-
thoriiN In matters religious in the
colonies was asked his sanction.
ne philosophical that Negroes
could be enslaved because they
were heather and when Negroes
accepted the christian religion this
same authority put the purpoted
religion OF Christ behind NIoham-
medism and all Of the great reli-
gions by philosophying that Ne
groes could be continued in slay-
cry because they were different.
II is this wretchced act of or
gained religion that began the un-
der valuation of black men. But II
did not stop there II has warned
the ethical conscienciousness OF
white men through The years OF
our national history II has betray-
ed and mislead Negroes 100. lead
ing them 10 believe thar The SUI
preme value Of their souls can be
sold or bought for the price 81 a
dog So that today throughout The
length. and breadth OF our land we !
exist as parasites AZ the table of
our oppressors There we wait.
like this poor beepar Of ms text.
waited af the gate oi tho ancient
temple az q mat iialistic religion
Can wp riSc' Can Wt he free. al
men arc made iroc by truth. sd
'nue as wa trust In the theology
me lisi rS the premonialsnl
fihe lNppcruey OF people who
iN me consent and the encourages
mcnt OF their religion. has en-
I shaved Disseminated and undef|
valued as through the centuries
Their religion is a religion
death The proof Of Il is in
fact That II must 0e defended.
religion Of Christ needs no
tense Its defense is in its
actcr II is the river Of God
cuts and shall cut rs path 1 49,
the highways OF the world caus-
ing those who dwell on It's banks
to flourish and bring forth fruit
in due season. say II is dead. The
old systems are dead no matter
. that they still carry crowds
=. Crowds are also seen at funerals
~ The religion the white man CAV
~ MS is unethical etc. No. we must &
' back through the dark centurie
to the Cross and find the meanin
~ OF religion In Jesus and those me
- -, who knew It.!
In our text we find a poor a,
e jected soul sitting under the mas
- nificient seventy-five foot CORN
- THAN brass and golden door of
a. temple the gift OF materialisti
:, Rome through it's cats paw. Herod
given for the political patronage
=. and moral soothing Of blindly re-
. ligious and zealot ridden people
!. brought daily. as beggars are
brought 10 the gates of eastern
temples today Seeing Peter and
tJohn about TO go into the temple.
4 he asked aims Of them. This man
. had no thought of the permanence
, and creativcness of moral chaac-
ter which exhibits itself in the
, love OF truth. self respect and self
, reliance So he asked for tempo
rary relief not help. Mind YOU, |
said temporary relief and there is
difference One receives tempo
rary relief as dopcd-soaIIed body
! receives more dope 10 relieve pain
from a gnawinG malady 10 which
its possessor has become resigned.
, Help is given only that one may
have auxiliary aid as is given by
; n mother TO her totering babe for
' the continuation Of life aiding the
l. natural resources until within
r themselves they are fully able to
o arise 10 LIES requirements and
Q thus to fulfill broaden and make
r life abundant in fruitfulness and
: Joy.
@ This poor fellow. like many OF
d us. was blinded by the YAM pro-
= misses Of maierialism. He consti-
+ tutcd the acute instance OF the
I condition OF his people. They had
j. left the beauty and creativeness OF
their desert culture and religion.
True religion had slipped out OF
their lives and was replaced by the
emptiness Of oriental culture with
It's religion OF death and reaction.
In situations like this what has
always been the business OF true
religion? In the social evolution
o of man. even Of the people with
+ whom history identifies this poor
! fellow, when men have found
9 themselves face 10 face with those
e forces which threaten to annihi-
q late them. 10 Illustrate their plans
j. for progress and happiness. they
u hive always turned TO the intangi-
G bic. 10 their God, or their gods.
}. These they have implored to beat
d back the threatening forces OF de-
struction.
+ So the business Of religion for
r the group has ever been 20 awak-
Y on the innate sense of moral good
9 will in society so as TO cause Il to
collect and utilize the achieve
ments OF the mass and so to dis
? tribute it's resources as that none
$ should unduly suffer. This is the
business Of religion as II functions
2 in the world OF material things.