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UNDER the dominance of the commercial spirit that would make a
power-house of Niagara, turn parks into railroads, and churches into
granaries, it is not strange that undue stress should be laid on indu trialism
as a factor in the development of the Negro race. But when
" the hlmult and the shouting dies," and reason and enliment are
among" the thjngs that remain," the emphasis will be placed where
Christ put it two thousand years ago when he said, " Seek ye first the
kingdom of God, . . . and all these thiIlgs hall be added."
With a race, as with a nation, the religious and moral ideals are the
stars that light up the way of civilization. The egro is no exception
to the rule that has governed the development of all other races; his
fundamental need is moral and spiritual in character.
The Negro must be taught the cardinal virtues of Christianity and
the possibility of exemplifying them in his life; hjs already deep religious
nature must be thrown under the sovereignty of the Christian ideal, so
that his failings may not stand in the way of civic and industrial hope.
Bishop ft.. S. WillialDs, D.D.
Bishop R. S. Williams, D.O.
Colored H. E. Church
The greatest need for the development
of the race will be met when the means
for imparting this teaching are fully supplied.
Give us trained and consecrated
preachers, teachers, and Sunday-school
worker in sufficient numbers, and it will
not be long before re ults de"outly
prayed for will be realized.
~
The Preachers. The center of the
egro's religious and social life is the
church. Hi pa lor is hi final au thority
on the interpretation of God's Word,
and the criterion for all ocial and
religious conduct. How necessary, then,
it is that he who undertakes this ministry
., shall be tbe highe t type of man morally,
and the best qualified in tellectualIy. The
prejudices of illiterate preachers must
be o,-ercome, and their illiteracy reduced,
by means of institutes and unions in
charge of competent men; and the future
leadership of the cburch must be insured
by directing large number of promising
young men to the colleges and theological
schools to be trained for the ?\laster's use.
The Teachers_ The importance of a
knowledge of the Scriptures should be
urged upon every school teacher, especially those who work in the
rural districts. Special lectures on methods of Bible study should
be delivered at all teachers' in titutes, so that the teachers may be
prepared to go out and give good eTYice in needy communities. In
that way tbe mas es of youth, untouched directly by our great in titutions
of learning, may be taught the principles of right living.
The Sunday-Sclwol H orkers. I cannot beller indicate the strong
need for unday-school worker than by quoting the followin~ from
Dr. Holland: "The humanizing culture that comes to the youth
through its [Sunday- chool' ] pure and plea ant music; the self-respect
with which it inspire the poor and degrllded, whom it brings into
association with the better bred; the reverence for the Sabbath which it
inculcates; the vital contact into which it brings multitudes of children
with the most earne t and elf-sacrificing spirits in the countr.v, and ,
above all, its instruction of hundreds of thousands in the doctrines and
precepts of the Chri tian religion, who, but for that instruction, would
grow up in almost heathenish ignorllnce, - all these mark it as one of
the most useful and important agencie in our hands for the redemplion
of our country llnd the world to purity llnd goodness."
BISHOP R. S. WILLIAMS, D.D.
of the Negro Race
Residence: Augusta, Ga.
Greatest Needs
BISHOP WILLJ."-''1S pre ides over the conferences
of North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama,
North Alabama, Washington, and
Philadelphia. He was born in Louisiana,
October 27, 1858. His boyhood days were
spent on the farm. He was educated at Wiley
University, Marshall, Tex., and Howard niversity,
Washington, D. C.
Licensed to preach in 1876, he served
churches in several states until his election as
bishop in 1894. He has been secretary of the
College of Bishops during his entire connection
with the episcopacy. He is the author of a
volume of sermons and of several pamphlets
on religious subjects.
Bishop Williams has been honored frequently
by his church and has ably represented
his people on many important occasions. He
was a delegate to the Ecumenical Conferences
of Methodists in 1891 at Washington and 1901
at London, and he was the promoter and leader
of the twentieth century movement which
raised a large thank offering for missions and
education. The bishop has a wife and six
children, and their home is in Augusta, Ga.
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