It is for the Colored American to help smother the remaining shadows of
former prejudices by maintaining the dignity of his race, and by
education, fitting himself to stand beside any race on the earth. He has
done it, is doing it, and the incentives are offered for still doing it.
Remember what Colored Americans are doing; the positions they are
filling by their education and energy; none of them are asleep in the
furrow but are busy harvesting—doing something. If they do nothing else,
they are demonstrating that Colored Americans can do the same things,
fill the same positions as the other races, and that they possess an
equally balanced intelligence, and have the same brain power as others.
They never spend their time quarreling with fate, but overcome fate, and
manufacture opportunity and ride upon destiny as upon a fiery steed,
curbing it with the whip and the lash of education and intelligence,
mingled with energy and persistent determination.
These are the reasons why the Colored American must win if he tries.
THE COLORED AMERICAN IN THE SERVICE OF GOD
The Church as a Career for Colored Americans—Influence of Religion a
Powerful Incentive to Success—Opportunities to Follow an Honorable
Vocation—High Religious Aspirations an Inborn Sentiment of the Race—Men
Who Have Been Pioneers in the Field.
The church offers an opportunity to embrace a high and honorable
calling, a career that is the noblest in the world.
The spirit of religion is an instinct of the race, and the past decade
or two has demonstrated that the spirit has quickened into a most
beneficial activity, and is exerting an influence for good that has made
itself felt.
Before the race lifted itself up on the wings of freedom, there was good
soil to cultivate, and many apostles and evangelists of the Christ
prepared the way for the present splendid hierarchy. The latter are
preparing the way for their successors in the same manner as their
predecessors, but the field is enlarged to enormous dimensions. The
laborers in the vineyard are becoming too few to gather the harvest, so
it is necessary to prepare leaders of advanced thought to keep pace with
the work, and to increase it.
The Colored Americans are the fruitful vineyard, that is constantly
increasing and there must be more laborers. The foundation is laid, the
way is open, and the young Colored American with a vocation has not far
to seek to find an open door.
There is loving memory for Rev. Lemuel Haynes, the revolutionary
soldier, who drew the sword for his country and never laid it down until
the last foreign enemy had left the country. Then, he turned his sword
into the Word of God, and fought the powers of evil as the first
Congregational minister in the United States.
In loving memory is held Bishop Daniel A. Payne, the most remarkable
preacher among his race that has ever been produced. He was responsible
more than anyone else for the Wilberforce Community and University.
For sixty years the celebrated John Jasper, a preacher of highest
virtue, piety and sincerity, labored to bring souls to God, becoming a
national character.
There were Alexander Crummell, the eminent Colored Episcopal minister
and author; Henry Highland Garnett, missionary, army chaplain, and
diplomat; Joseph S. Attwell, missionary and rector, till his death, of
St. Philip’s church, New York City.