The History of the Negro ChurchWoodson, Carter Godwin
Religion
The History of the Negro Church
Woodson, Carter Godwin
African Americans -- Religion
Following in their wake, a certain American "Christian" organization
financed by "philanthropists" recently sent to Africa Thomas J. Jones
who, in behalf of his race, sought to carry out this policy. The effect
of this mission was soon apparent. After having nobly served in Africa
and India, Max Yergan, an International Young Men's Christian
Association Secretary, appointed to serve permanently in Africa,
recently toured the United States for a mission fund which the Negroes
freely contributed that through him some portion of Africa might be
redeemed. This man in Africa having ingratiated himself into the favor
of the capitalistic government there, however, according to Yergan's
statement, influenced the administration to refuse him the permit to
work among his own people. The same meddler, according to a complaint
made by the colored branch of the Young Men's Christian Association, all
but made himself the dictator of the appointments of that department and
other Negro welfare agencies sent abroad during the World War. His
business now seems to be that of furnishing the world with
"hand-picked" Negro leaders to damn even the natives in Africa. The
white church then, has not only failed to preach the social gospel of
Jesus, but is preventing the Negroes from carrying that message to their
own people. In other words, the principles of the humble Nazarene must
be crushed out to make money and perpetuate caste.
This and other handicaps, however, have not prevented the progress of
the church. Probably the most promising aspect is that Negro ministers
of to-day measure up to a higher standard than formerly. They are not
diverted from their course by politics and the like. Here and there, of
course, are some of little promise, who in a poverty-stricken condition
accept almost any bribe offered them by political bosses, but
fortunately this number is known to be rapidly decreasing. During the
last generation there has developed among Negroes the feeling that the
political embroglio is an unclean sphere which the minister should not
enter. The increasing duties of the Negro preachers, moreover, have
recently so multiplied that they have no time for such service.
Experience has shown that even in the case of those who have gone into
politics in self-defense that they have accomplished little good or that
some layman could have handled the matter more successfully.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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