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TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”—John viii:32. CHARLOTTE, N. C, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1936 NO. 51 A CHRISTMAS SERMON THE IMMORTALITY OP GOD By Rev. Edward William Carpenter “Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to an swer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold at my rebuke, I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. “I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackloth their covering. “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wak eneth mine ear to hear as the learned. “The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebel lious, neither turned away back. “I gave my back to the smit ers, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.”—Isaiah 50:2-6. There was no one to take up the divine challenge: no one to answer for guilty man. To the call of God for one who could save, there was no answer, but the echo of his voice. See who it is that comes to rescue man: Jehovah interposes to save; but he appears in a special man ner. The Lord himself draws the portrait. View it with solemn attention. I. Behold the Messiah as God 1. He comes in fullness of power. “Is my hand shortened at all?” 2. His power to save is equal to that with which he destroys. Let Egypt be the instance: “I ttiT ^P the se&?* etc.. 3. His power is that which broadens the phenomena of na ture. “I clothe the heavens with blackness.” 4. This should excite deep gratitude, that he who rebukes the sea was himself rebuked; he who clothes the heavens with blackness was himself in dark ness for our sake. 5. This should excite confi dence for he is evidently Lord of the sea and the sky, the dark and the gloom. II. Behold Him As the Appoint ed Teacher 1. Instructed and endowed: “the Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned.” He knows, and he imparts knowl edge. 2. Condescending to tne needy: “to him that is weary.” 3. Watchful of each case: that I should know how to speak a word in season.” This is a rare gift: many speak, and perhaps speak in season, but have not learned the right man ner. 4. Constantly in communion with God: “he wakeneth morn ing by morning.” “He that hath sent me is with me.” Should we not be heartily at tentive to his teachings? “I will speak.” III. Behold Him As the Ser vant of the Lord 1. Prepared by grace: “he wakeneth mine ear to hear.” He spoke not his own words, but those which he had heard of his Father. 2. Consecrated in due form: “hath opened mine ear,” bor ing it to door-post. This was publicly done in his baptism, when in outward symbol he ful filled all righteousness. 3. Obedient in all things: “I was not rebellious.” In no point did Jesus refuse the Father's will, not even in Gethsemane. 4. Persevering through all trials: “neither turned away back.” He did not relinquish the hard task, but set his face as a flint to carry it through. 5. Courageous in it all: as we see in the verse following our text. What a model for our service! Consider him, and copy him. IV. Behold Him As the Peer less Sufferer 1. His entire submission, his back, his cheeks, his hair, his face. 2. His willing submission: “I gave my back to; the smiters.” “I hid not my face.” 3. His lovely submission, bearing the felon’s scourge, and the utmost of scorn: “Shame and spitting.” ,, 4. His patient submission: Not a word of reproach, or re sentment. Grace had taught him effectually, and he suffered perfectly. It may bring out important truths very vividly if we make combinations of the four sub jects which have come before us. Place the first and the last together: the God and the Suf ferer. What condescension! What ability to save! Place the two middle terms together: the Teacher and the Servant, and see how sweetly he serves by teaching,1 and teaches by serving. Put all together, and let the blended characters ensure ar dent affection, obedient rever ence, and devout delight. A Golden Lecturer’s Word I imagine myself placed in the world at the time when the Christ was expected, commis sioned to announce to it that God was about to send his own son, having endowed him with the “tongue of the learned.” What excitement in all the schools of philosophy! What gatherings of the sages of the earth! What expectations of the discoveries with which I science was about to be enrich ed! “Now,” say they, “shall long-hidden secrets be revealed: how 'shaH we penetrate the lab oratories of nature, and observe all those processes of which at present we see only the re sults. For what purpose can the tongue of the learned have been given to a Divine Person, if not that he may expound mysteries to the world, that he may tell us what the wise have been unable to detect, and the studious labored in vain to un fold? But this Divine person shall speak for himself to the as sembled throng of philosophers and sages: “Yes, the Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned; and I have de scended that I might speak with that tongue to every na tion of the earth. But he hath not given me the tongue that I might tell how stars and planets roll, or settle the dis putes of the wise. He hath not given me the tongue that I should know how to speak a word to you, ye disputers of this world; but simply that I should know how to speak in season to him that is weary.” Oh, how fallen are the ex pectant countenances of phil osoDhers and sages ! “Is this all?” they exclaim. “Was it only for this that the tongue of the learned was bestowed? Does this require, or can this employ, the tongue of the learned?” Nay, men of science, turn not angrily away! With all your wisdom, you have never been able to do this. The weary have sought you in vain. They have found no “word in sea son;” no word of comfort and sustainment; and why, then, should you be indignant at the province here assigned to “the tongue of the learned?” What tongue but “the tongue of the learned” could speak “a word in season” to a world op pressed with this universal weariness? The tongue must be one which could disclose the mysteries of the Godhead, prove the immortality of the soul, and be charged with , in telligence as to the pardoning of sin, and the mode of reconcilia tion between man and his Mak er: things into which angels had in vain striven to look. My friends, let us as we study the birth of Christ at this sea son of the year, not forget our subject, “The Immortality of God,” which we wish to express the unchangeable God. As we conclude our thoughts, may our hearts be filled to the very full with the joy and grace of God. ; Christ said to his Father, I “Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24. At that mysterious date, not of time, but of ever-s lasting love, God “chose us in Him.” Before the world began, God, that can not lie, gave the promise of eternal life to Him for us, and made with Him for us “a covenant ordered in all things and sure.” Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:2; II Samuel 23:5. The leading provisions of that covenant were, a Lamb foi* our atonement and a King fot our government—a dying and a living Saviour. This God, the Father, did for us, and His own divine interest is strongly in dicated in the typical word, “God will provide Himself a Lamb,“ and “I have provided me a King.” Gen. 22:8; I Sam. 16:1.: So the source of the Kingship of Christ is God Him self, in the eternal counsels of His love. It is one of the grand “thoughts of God.” As we ap proach another New Year, let us pray in the following thought or some other that may be pleasing to God: *’■ “Reign in me, Lord Jesus! Oh, make my heart Thy throne! It shall be Thine forever, It shall be Thine alone!” 400 W. 150th St., New York, New York. THE REV. THOMAS H. LACK-i LAND PASSES TO HIS REWARD By Rev. D. A. Henry The Rev. Thomas H. Lackr land, retired minister of thf Presbyterian ChOrch; "" passed away December 4, 1936, at his home in Amelia County, Va., after an illness of only a few days. The Rev. Mr. Lackland was born in Buckingham County, Va., August, 1859. He attended Hampton Institute and later en tered Lincoln University where he graduated from the College and Theological Departments. His first pastorate after grad uation from the Seminary was at Southampton, N. Y., among the Shinnecock Indians, where he served for three years as preacher and teacher. He was next appointed by the Presbytery of Southern Virgin ia to Allen Memorial and Mt. Zion churches, Amelia County, where 4ie rendered effective service for five years. His next charge was at Charlie Hope, Va., serving the Ogden and Great Creek church es. Here he labored very suc cessfully for eleven years in church and school. His last field of labor was Al bright church, Amelia County. After having served for five years, he retired on account of failing health. He continued a faithful . worshipper at this church until his death. He was married to Miss Nena M. Harris, November, 1898. To this union eight children were born. His widow and six chil dren survive him. Funeral services for Rev. Lackland were conducted from Albright Presbyterian church, Amelia County, Va., December 8, at two o’clock, and well at tended by many of his fellow Presbyters and friends, despite the inclement Weather. Those participating in the ceremony were Rev. T. A. Robinson, of Petersburg; Rev. W. H. Stitt, Nottoway; Rev. W. H. Shep person, Jetersville; Dr. H. W. McNair, Principal of Ingleside Fee Institute, Burkeville; Rev, C. M. Dusenbury, Drakes Branch; Rev. R. L. Hyde, Amel ia C. H. and Rev. D. A. Henry, who presided and delivered the principal eulogy. (Continued on Page 3) RACE RELATIONS DISCUSSED AT FEDERAL COUNCIL MEETING Asbury Park, N. J., Dec. 9.—The challenge to Church leaders to change racial atti tudes by engaging more deeply in the struggle for equality of rights and opportunities of mi nority racial-groups, especially the Negro group, was the key note of the 15th Annual Meet ing and Interracial Dinner of the Department of Race Rela tions at the Biennial Meeting of the Federal Council of Church es of Christ in America, held in the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel here tonight. Dr. Allan Knight Chalmers, minister of the Broadway Tab ernacle church of New York, made his first public statement regarding the year’s accom plishments of the Scottsboro Defense Committee of which he is chairman. At the invitation of the Federal Council of Churches he reported tonight for the information and inspira tionof Church leaders assem bled. Bishop Reverdy C. Ransom, of the African Methodist Epis copal Church, in a brief address said he . hailed the power of Je sus Christ through the Federal Council of Churches which had opened doors and set new stand ards of fellowship by its wel coming Negro churches on terms of equality and cham pioning the cause of race rela tions on a Christian basis through its Department of Race Relations. Mrs. George T. Scott, chair man, New Jersey Interracial Committee! of Church Women, described the program carried out in that State to help white and Negro women break down barriers and become real friends and to help local communities in sections of New Jersey break down the bars against better age relations a.pd to lead in di rect action in such work as ‘Se curing opportunity in public hospitals for nurse training for Negro girls. Bishop C. H. Phillips, of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, expressed the value of personal contact in changing racial attitudes. Bishop L. W. Kyles, of the A. M. E. Zion Church, review ed the history of interracial or ganizations and efforts in Amer ica during the past twenty-five years, and concluded from his historical study that “more far reaching in its influence in changing racial attitudes than any other force is the power of religion acting through the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America. . . . Working as a motor force in the church es to influence and help them apply the principles of Jesus Christ in a definite, active and practical way, to the social, po litical and economic life of ev ery community, it has perform ed some definite tasks in race relations in every section of the country.” Dr. W. H. Jernagin, chairman of the Department of Race Re lations, who presided, with Dr. George E. Haynes, Executive Secretary, and Miss Katherine Gardner, Associate Secretary, gave summaries of the closing of the 15th year of work in the field of better race relations. Among , other matters they pointed out that the Depart ment had called attention to discriminations against minori ty groups; had carried out the program of securing justice in industry and agriculture, with special action to improve con ditions among tenants and share-croppers in the South. They described the aggressive campaign by churches and aux iliary groups to secure adequate federal and State anti-lynching legislation. They stressed the work to open opportunities for training and employment of Negroes in tax-supported insti tutions and educational work in consumers cooperatives as a technique for interracial under standing and cooperation. Introduced by Dr. Edward T. Devine, an officer of the De partment, Dr. Chalmers gave a vivid description of changing racial attitudes through exper ience in working for the free dom of the Scottsboro boys. He said, “There has been a marked change in public opinion due to the social injustice to the pris oners in the long prosecution of the Scottsboro case. While the case is hopeful because of pres ent accomplishments, I urge representatives of the churches that strong efforts still are re quired before the next trial be gins in less than a month. “We move so slowly,” Dr. Chalmers warned the assembled churchmen, “and it is possible that with the opportunity of victory in our hands we may even yet lose, because churches so often do not seem to know how to act, and are often so in effectual in carrying out the implications of the gospel we profess. (When the Kingdom of God really comes on earth, a black man and a white man will walk down the street side by side and neither one will be conscious of the color of the other’s skin.) “One of the most important factors toward bringing justice in the Scottsboro Case,” said Dr. Chalmers, “has been the formation of the Alabama Scottsboro Committee. This committee was originally com posed of seventeen white and colored leaders concerned about the case, and now numbers forty-nine of Alabama’s fore most citizens, including influ ential -editors and publishers, lawyers, educators, Christian and Jewish ministers, labor leaders and other men and wo men of prominence in many fields. At present these boys are in dangagcof breaking .in mind and body under the long strain. They have lost hope. They are kept in practical isolation in their cells at the top of the jail which surmounts the Jefferson County Court House. That is, they are segregated from other prisoners, in four groups of three and two and one. They are allowed out of their cells, only for their daily food, which is given to them in an adjoin ing, solitary, locked corridor, and out of their cell-block only once a week to bathe. They are in utter despair. The long fight to establish their inno cence is proving too much for them. Justice must come soon or for some of them it may be too late. One of the aims of both the Northern and South ern committees, in which an in formed and aroused public opin ion can do great service, is to bring about a change of venue for the next trial, which will begin the first week in Jan uary.” The dinner was attended by | nearly 200 white and Negro! Church leaders from all sections I of the United States. It was opened by prayer by Dr. Albert W. Beaven, past president of the Federal Council; and the closing benediction was pro nounced by Rev. John Knox, formerly chaplain at Fisk Uni versity, Nashville. Tenn. BIRMINGHAM PROTESTS WPA WOMEN AS STREET LOBORERS Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 11.— ] Protest to the WPA officials in Washington has been lodged by the Birmingham Branch of the N. A. A. C. P. against the work ing of colored women in overalls as street laborers on WPA pro jects. \ In a speec^i before the Negro Baptist ministers’ conference, Dr. Charles A. J. McPherson, Secretary of the N. A. A. C. P. here, pleaded not only for a pro test to Washington from the ministers, but for an aroused public sentiment in Birming ham to secure other employ ment for the women. Dr. Me FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE (Dr. George P. Bragg, in The Church Advocate, Baltimore) Of course, we are humbly grateful to our God for the mark of favor shown us. We were brought into being for the service of our fellow man. It is through such service that we vindicate and prove our love to God. Surely, it is a mark of God’s favor when one is privileged to round a half century of service for God, and, during all that time, have the love, presence and help of one woman, and the comfort and consolation, still alive, of the whole number of children which blessed and sanctified the unioin of two hearts. And the ground for humble gratitude is increased from the consideration that during the entire period the salary given has been inade quate for the demands imposed by such diversified service. Again, the favor of Heaven is made manifest in that it is not a common occurrence for one to be permitted to yield so long a service. The service of the rec tor of St. James, for 45 years in one parish, in the entire his tory of the country is exceeded only by one individual, rector of a colored parish. That indi vidual, when a babe, was bap tized in St. James church. A few years ago, when the Rev. Dr. Hutchens C. Bishop retired from the rectorship of St. Phil ip’s church, New York, he had been in the service of that par ish 47 years. Ours has not been the simple service of a parish, but it has been, at one and the same time, a service to the Community, the Diocese and the • National Church. And, by the help of God, we have never looked over our shoulders to see whether there were anyone to agree with us, when God made it inwardly plain what course should be pursued. And the continued of fering up of our life of service has'*' brought-*- us- that- joy and peace which no man can take I from us. ! In the language of that (Queen among American women, ; Frances Ellen Watkins Har per: “After all, whether they [encourage me or discourage me, I belong to this race, and when it is down I belong to a down race; and when it is up I belong to a risen race.” While we have at all times been loyal to our own group, we have been a firm believer that “the whole is greater than any of its parts. ” It is interesting to recall at this time what the community where we were brought up, thought of us fifty years ago. In January, 1887, the Daily Index-Appeal, of the city of Pe tersburg, in chronicling our or dination, had the following to say: Last Wednesday St. Ste phen’s church was well filled by the members of the congrega tion and the many friends, white and colored, who came to wit ness the ordination of Mr. George F. Bragg, Jr., to the or der of deacons. Mr. Bragg is editor of the Afro-American Churchman, the only religious newspaper published by colored churchmen in America. He possesses rare talent, and is one of whom his people as well as the Church of which he is a minister, should be highly proud. He leaves this city to take charge of the Church of the Holy Innocents, Norfolk, Va., and carries with him the kindest wishes and commenda tion of the community from whose midst he goes.” Pherson charged that the wom en had been subjected to daily insults from passersby and had caused the race to be held in contempt. He blamed WPA officials for the situation, saying that the women could not help it because they were unemploy ed. The women are attired in overalls and jumpers, caps, heavy shoes, and gloves and do regulhr men’s work on the streets.
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Dec. 17, 1936, edition 1
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