,,gideon ,,bands ,,for ,,work ,,within ,,the ,,race ,,and ,,for ,,work ,,without ,,the ,,race ,a ,message to the ,colored ,people of the ,united ,states ,a ,,discourse ,,delivered ,,in ,,the ,,fifteenth ,,street ,,presbyterian ,,church1 ,,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 ,,sunday1 ,,march ,,the #b,,nd1 #aiac1 ,,by ,,the ,,pastor1 ,,rev4 ,,francis ,j4 ,,grimke1 ,d4 ,d4 8,,better ,,not ,,live ,,at ,,all ,,than ,,not ,,be ,,noble40 8,,unless ,,above ,,himself ,,he ,,can ,,erect ,,himself1 ,,how ,,poor ,a ,,thing ,,is ,,man60 8,,for ,,freedom',s ,,battle ,,once ,,begun1 ,,bequeath',d ,,by ,,bleeding ,,sire ,,to ,,son1 ,,though ,,baffled ,,oft ,,is ,,ever ,,won40 8,,every ,,bondman ,,in ,,his ,,own ,,hand ,,bears ,,the ,,power ,,to ,,cancel ,,his ,,captivity40 ,r4 ,l4 ,,pendleton #fji ,f ,,st4 ,n4 ,w41 ,,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,,telephone ,,main #aadh ,,gideon ,,bands ,,for ,,work ,,within ,,the ,,race ,,and ,,for ,,work ,,without ,,it4 ,and ,jehovah said unto ,gideon1 ,the people that are with thee are too many for me to give the ,midianites into their hands1 lest ,israel vaunt themselves against me1 saying1 ,mine own hand hath saved me4 ,now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people1 saying1 ,whosoever is fearful and trembling1 let him return and depart from ,mount ,giliad4 ,and there returned of the people twenty and two thousand2 and there remained ten thousand4 ,and ,jehovah said unto ,gideon1 ,the people are yet too many2 bring them down to the water1 and ,i will try them for thee there2 and it shall be1 that of whom ,i say unto thee1 ,this shall go with thee1 the same shall go with thee2 and of whomsoever ,i shall say unto thee1 ,this shall not go with thee1 the same shall not go4 ,so he brought them down to the water3 and ,jehovah said unto ,gideon1 ,every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue1 as a dog lappeth1 him shalt thou set by himself2 likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink4 ,and the number of them that lapped1 putting their hands to their mouth1 was #cjj2 but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water4 ,and ,jehovah said unto ,gideon1 ,by the three hundred men that lapped will ,i save you1 and deliver the ,midianites into thy hand2 and let all the people go every man to his place4--,,judges #g3a-g4 99 99 99 99 99 ,several years ago this passage formed a part of the annual programme of the ,young ,peoples' ,society of ,christian ,endeavor1 and was discussed under the heading1 8,wanted3 ,men for ,gideon's ,band40 ,and this is the subject that ,i desire to consider this morning4 ,there are several lines of thought suggested by the topic4 ,no one can read the narrative out of which it grows without being profoundly impressed4 ,i4 ,in ringing terms there is the proclamation of a want4 ,wanted6 is the note that rings out clear and distinct4 ,there is a demand1 a pressing need1 a crying necessity4 ,wanted6 ,wanted6 ,wanted6 ,we have all heard that cry before4 ,it is not a new one4 ,it is one with which we are all familiar4 ,along the street we often see the sign in the windows of stores or on the outside1 8,boy wanted40 8,man wanted40 ,every paper we take up1 every magazine we read is full of advertisements of one kind or another1 all of which are expressions of a want of some kind4 ,they are put in and paid for by people who have goods that they want to sell1 houses that they want to rent1 property that they want to dispose of1 money that they want to put out at interest1 or1 they want to find employment of some kind4 ,,ii4 ,another thought that grows naturally out of the topic is1 ,wanted by whom8 ,the context leaves us in no doubt as to the answer4 ,wanted by the ,lord ,god of hosts1 by ,jehovah4 ,the great power that is working here is ,god3--he it is who is directing everything2 he it is with whom ,gideon is in communication and who is planning the whole campaign that is to be projected4 ,it is ,jehovah who is expressing the need1 and who is making the appeal4 ,while primarily the reference is to ,god1 in another sense1 the need expressed here was felt by the whole ,jewish community--the state1 the church1 the family1 society at large4 ,these were all in need1 and in great and pressing need4 ,no one can read the narrative without feeling the burden of this need pressing upon him4 ,,iii4 ,another thought that springs naturally into our minds as we think of the subject is1 ,what is it that is wanted8 ,and the answer is ,men for ,gideon's ,band4 ,men are what is wanted2 men to be welded together in one compact body for a definite and specific purpose4 ,this band1 which ,god is seeking to organize here1 is called ,gideon's ,band4 ,who was ,gideon8 ,he was the son of ,joash1 of the tribe of ,manasseh4 ,he lived in the midst of distressing circumstances4 ,his people were greatly oppressed4 ,there were powerful enemies that harassed them2 that made life miserable for them4 ,the writer of this book of ,judges gives us this insight into their sad condition3 8,and the hand of ,midian prevailed against ,israel4 ,and because of ,midian the children of ,israel made them dens which are in the mountains1 and the caves1 and the strongholds4 ,and so it was1 when ,israel had sown1 that the ,midianites came up1 and the ,amalekites1 and the children of the east2 they came up against them2 and they encamped against them1 and destroyed the increase of the earth1 till they came unto ,gaza1 and left no substance in ,israel1 neither sheep1 nor ox1 nor ass4 ,for they came up with their cattle and their tents2 they came in as locusts for multitude2 both they and their camels were without number3 and they came into the land to destroy it4 ,and ,israel was brought very low40 ,what is said here of ,gideon reveals the same sad condition of things4 8,and the angel of ,jehovah came and sat under the oak which was in ,ophrah1 that pertained unto ,joash the ,abiezrite3 and his son ,gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress1 to hide it from the ,midianites4 ,and the angel of ,jehovah appeared unto him1 and said unto him1 ,jehovah is with thee1 thou mighty man of valor4 ,and ,gideon said unto him1 ,oh1 my ,lord1 if ,jehovah is with us1 why then is all this befallen us8 and where are all his wondrous work which our fathers told us of1 saying1 ,did not ,jehovah bring us up from ,egypt8 but now ,jehovah hath cast us off1 and delivered us into the hand of ,midian40 ,what a wail of distress runs through the whole of this narrative4 ,in order to preserve a little wheat1 enough to keep soul and body together1 it had to be hid away3 and when the time came for threshing it out1 it had to be done in secret1 in obscure1 out-of-the-way places1 as we find ,gideon doing here4 ,they certainly were in a most pitiable condition4 ,it is well for us to remember1 in this connection1 that the evils from which these people were suffering were due to their own misconduct4 ,they had no one to blame but themselves4 ,their condition might have been very different if they had behaved themselves4 ,and this fact is clearly brought out in the narrative3 ,god is very careful to bring to their attention the secret of their misfortunes3-- 8,and it came to pass when the children of ,israel cried unto ,jehovah because of ,midian1 that ,jehovah sent a prophet unto the children of ,israel3 and he said unto them1 ,thus saith ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel1 ,i brought you up from ,egypt1 and brought you forth out of the house of bondage2 and ,i delivered you out of the hand of the ,egyptians1 and out of the hand of all who oppressed you1 and gave you their land2 and ,i said unto you1 ,i am ,jehovah your ,god2 ye shall not fear the gods of the ,amorites1 in whose land ye dwell4 ,but ye have not harkened unto my voice40 ,when evils come upon us1 it is well to ask ourselves the question1 ,how far are we responsible for them8 ,how far are they due to our own misconduct1 or the misconduct of those who have gone before us8 ,it isn't safe to assume that we are not to blame1 that our skirts are clear4 ,in nine case out of ten the opposite will be found to be true1 as we find it here1 in regard to these ,israelites4 ,gideon's ,band was a body of men gotten together1 in view of the distressing circumstances here set forth for the purpose of fighting the enemy1 of shaking off the yoke of the oppressor4 ,let us study these men for a moment4 ,there were three hundred of them in all4 ,so far as the record goes not one of their names has been preserved to us1 save that of the leader only4 ,the names are all omitted1 but the qualities that characterized them are preserved4 ,we are not told who they were1 but we are told what kind of men they were3 and it is to this point particularly that ,i desire to direct attention just here4 ,a careful study of what is written here in regard to these men will reveal the following facts about them3 7#a74 ,they were fully conscious of the evils from which they were suffering1 and earnestly desired to be rid of them4 ,it matters not how these evils originated1 the point to which ,i am directing attention here is1 that these men recognized them as evil4 ,they were not satisfied with conditions as they were4 ,they wanted a change4 ,they were tired of the oppression of the ,midianites4 ,they realized that they were being oppressed1 and that it was not good for them to continue in the condition in which they were4 ,and it is only where such a mental attitude exists that there can be any successful warfare against oppressive conditions4 ,unless the evil to be remedied is felt1 and keenly felt1 it is not likely that there will be any effort put forth to remedy it1 or any prospect of securing the cooperation of those who are suffering in an effort to do so4 7#b74 ,they were men of courage1 of splendid daring4 ,they came in response to a call from ,gideon4 ,gideon had thrown down the altar of ,baal which his father had erected2 and because his father refused to turn him over to be put to death by the ,midianites1 the adherents of ,baal1 a large force was collected to enforce the decree of death against him4 ,it was under such circumstances that ,gideon issued his call4 ,we are told1 8,the ,spirit of the ,lord came upon ,gideon1 and he blew a trumpet2 and ,abiezar was gathered together after him4 ,and he sent messengers throughout all ,manasseh2 and they were also gathered together after him3 and he sent messengers unto ,asher1 and unto ,zebulun1 and unto ,naphtali2 and they came up to meet them40 ,as the result of this call some thirty-two thousand men came to his relief4 ,twenty-two thousand of these1 however1 came simply because they felt that they must come1 but their hearts were not in it4 ,they recognized the fact that there was danger in the step they were taking1 that they might lose their lives in the conflict which was sure to ensue between them and the enemy4 ,as soon therefore as the opportunity presented itself they went back to their homes4 ,of the ten thousand who remained however1 who1 with the full consciousness of what the outcome might be1 kept their places1 the three hundred of whom we are speaking were a part4 ,the men who went back1 who availed themselves of the permission granted by the proclamation 8,whosoever is fearful and trembling1 let him return from ,mount ,gilead10 would have been glad to have the oppressors' yoke broken1 to have been relieved of the evils from which they were suffering2 but they were not willing to risk anything1 to expose themselves to any danger4 ,they were timid2 they were afraid of making things worse2 of bringing upon themselves still greater evils4 ,not so however with these men4 ,they were willing to endure hardship2 to encounter danger2 to lay down their lives1 if necessary4 ,the enemies were all about them1 and about them in vast numbers4 ,the record is1 8,and the ,midianites and the ,amalekites and all the children of the east lay along the valley like locusts for multitude2 and their camels were without number1 as the sand which is upon the seashore for multitude40 ,but there is no fear discoverable in these three hundred men4 7#c74 ,they were men of faith4 ,they believed in ,god4 ,they were willing to trust ,god2 to rest upon his promises4 ,they knew perfectly well that1 in and of themselves1 they were no match for those who were opposed to them and with whom they were to measure arms2 but they knew that ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,abraham1 of ,isaac1 and of ,jacob--the ,god who had brought their forefathers out of ,egypt and who had sustained them for forty years in the wilderness1 was more than a match for them2 and that it was under his direction that they were to fight4 ,it was this element of faith in ,god that enabled them on that night1 when the assault was made1 to go forth as they did a bare handful and to take their places as indicated to them by ,gideon4 ,that their hope of victory was not in their own strength is clear from the manner in which they were armed4 ,there was not a deadly weapon among them4 ,there was not a single weapon of warfare1 either offensive or defensive1 among them4 ,they were armed with what8 ,the record is3 8,and he divided the three hundred men into three companies1 and put into the hands of all of them trumpets and empty pitchers1 with torches within the pitchers40 ,this was a strange way to equip men to do battle with powerful and deadly enemies2 and yet this was the way they were armed4 ,the smallness of their number1 as well as the manner in which they were equipped for battle1 show1 in a very striking manner1 their faith in an arm that was mightier than theirs4 ,if it had not been that ,god was back of them1 and that they were conscious of that fact1 they never would have budged a step4 ,gideon might have issued his order1 but it would have met with no response4 ,he would have called1 and called in vain for help4 ,faith in ,jehovah--in the ,lord ,god ,almighty--becomes important as an element of character3 7#a7 ,because of the subjective effect upon the individual exercising it4 ,it is a real source of strength to him4 ,and 7#b7 because ,god can help1 and does help those who put their trust in him4 8,all things are possible to them that believe10 we are told in the inspired record4 ,and ,jesus said to his disciples3 8,if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed1 ye shall say unto this mountain1 ,remove hence to yonder place2 and it shall remove2 and nothing shall be impossible unto you40 ,in saying that these were men of faith means a great deal therefore4 ,it is a great thing to be linked with ,god2 to be consciously in league with the ,almighty4 7#d74 ,these men were reliable4 ,they could be depended upon4 ,what they were directed to do2 what they undertook to do1 they did faithfully4 ,the order which they received from their leader was3 8,behold when ,i come to the outermost part of the camp1 it shall be that as ,i do so shall ye do4 ,when ,i blow the trumpet1 ,i and all that are with me1 then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp1 and say1 ,for ,jehovah and for ,gideon40 ,this was the order which they received2 and here is the record as to how they carried it out3 8,so ,gideon and the three hundred men that were with him1 came to the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch1 when they had but newly set the watch3 and brake in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands4 ,and the three companies blew the trumpets0--that is what they were directed to do2 and brake in pieces the pitchers--that is what they were directed to do2 and held the torches in their left hand and the trumpets in their right hand--that is what they were directed to do2 and cried the sword of the ,lord and of ,gideon--that is what they were directed to do4 ,what they were directed to do1 they did4 ,not a man failed4 ,the record is1 8,and there stood every man in his place round about the camp40 ,they did not skulk away2 they were at the post of duty to which they had been assigned4 ,each one answered the call of duty2 each one proved faithful4 7#e74 ,there is still another thing about these men that should be noted4 ,it comes out in connection with the manner in which they drank water4 ,the record is1 8,and ,jehovah said unto ,gideon1 ,the people are yet too many2 bring them down unto the water1 and ,i will try them for thee there2 and it shall be that of whom ,i say unto thee1 ,this shall go with thee1 the same shall go with thee2 and of whomsoever ,i say unto thee1 ,this shall not go with thee1 the same shall not go4 ,so he brought down the people unto the water3 and ,jehovah said unto ,gideon1 ,every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue1 as a dog lappeth1 him shalt thou set by himself2 likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink40 ,the three hundred men1 of whom we are speaking1 lapped the water and because of that fact were selected by ,jehovah for the special work which he had in view4 ,it is not quite clear1 perhaps1 exactly what the quality is which this is intended to indicate4 ,the fact that they did not get down upon their knees to drink might indicate that they were younger1 more vigorous1 more active than the rest2 or it might indicate that they were more alert1 more vigilant1 more watchful4 ,they were surrounded by enemies1 and were liable at any time to be assailed4 ,their not getting down upon their knees would seem to indicate that they realized the danger to which they were exposed1 and kept themselves in an attitude that would enable them instantly to defend themselves1 to meet the enemy4 ,the test to which they were subjected1 if we take this view of the matter1 shows that they were men of force1 that they were active1 wide awake4 ,they fully appreciated the circumstances in which they were placed and the necessity on their part of being active1 wide awake1 on the alert4 ,such was the character of the men of whom we are speaking4 ,they were men of conviction--they felt1 and felt keenly the evils from which they were suffering1 and their minds were fully made up to endure them no longer1 if by any effort of theirs they could escape them4 ,they were men of genuine courage--they were not afraid to meet the enemy4 ,they were men of faith--faith in ,god4 ,they were men who were thoroughly reliable--who could be depended upon1 to whom any duty could be assigned in the confident assurance that it would be faithfully attended to4 ,and they were men who were active1 vigorous--men of physical and mental stamina4 ,the getting together of such a company as this was a great achievement4 ,it wasn't easily done4 ,thirty-two thousand men had to be sifted before they could be found2 but they were found4 ,when the time comes ,god is always able to find the men he wants to use4 ,when the great ,civil ,war broke out in this country1 it was a singular fact1 that there were three such men as ,grant1 ,sherman1 and ,sheridan ready to lead the ,union forces on to victory4 ,and the same was true when the war between ,russia and ,japan occurred3 ,god had already in waiting a ,togo to send to the bottom of the sea of ,japan the combined fleet of the enemy2 and on the land an ,ozama and a ,kuroki to overwhelm in a succession of unprecedented victories the army of the enemy4 ,and here ,god found three hundred men to do the work which he wanted done1 and placed at their head a man who was worthy to lead them4 ,,gideon',s ,,band was organized for the purpose of fighting the ,midianites--the enemies that were oppressing the ,jews at that time4 ,it is not of the ,jews1 however1 that ,i desire to speak at this time1 but of ourselves as a race4 ,we too have enemies--present1 ever-active1 and powerful4 ,these enemies may be divided into two general classes--those that are affecting injuriously our moral and economic condition1 and those that are affecting injuriously our civil and political status4 7#a74 ,those that are affecting injuriously our moral and economic condition4 ,under this head are to be classed the evil tendencies within our own hearts1 and1 which are not different from the evil tendencies in other races2 for1 after all1 human nature is everywhere the same4 ,the same radical tendencies are discoverable in all men4 ,human nature is not different in the black man from what we find it in the white man1 or in the men of any other race4 ,everywhere1 in the human heart are evil tendencies that lead inevitably downward1 that gravitate towards lower levels4 ,we1 as a race1 have these tendencies just as other races4 ,under this head may be classed also such organized forces of evil as strong drink1 the saloon1 the whole liquor business2 impurity1 all gambling institutions1 the dance hall1 the many agencies that encourage idleness1 and frivolity4 ,everywhere among us these forces are at work4 ,and just as the ,jews1 in the time of ,gideon1 suffered from the inroads of the ,midianites1 so are we suffering from the ravages of these foes4 ,what inroads the saloon is making among us4 ,how we are being ruined by it morally6 ,how our physical strength is being depleted by it6 ,how we are being impoverished by it6 ,think of what impurity is doing6 ,how it is dragging down hundreds and thousands of our young men--down1 down into that deepest hell of moral degradation2 for there is nothing that sinks a man so low in the scale of being as impurity1 as a lustful1 lascivious life4 ,think of what the dance hall and the spirit of frivolity which it encourages1 are doing to demoralize our young people4 ,these and many other forces are at work among us1 and are steadily1 persistently1 day and night1 operating to destroy us1 soul and body4 ,the evil tendencies within us1 and the evil influences without us are conspiring to destroy us--to destroy us physically1 morally1 economically4 ,it is well for us as a race to know what these evil influences are and how we are being affected by them4 7#b74 ,as a race1 in addition to those forces that affect injuriously our moral and spiritual1 our physical and economic interests1 we are also beset by enemies that are laboring earnestly to deprive us of our civil and political rights as ,american citizens4 ,these enemies are most persistent in their efforts1 and everywhere are endeavoring to create a sentiment against us4 ,every blunder that any member of the race makes1 every misstep that any member of the race takes is by them magnified1 and by them paraded through the press1 and charged to the race as a whole4 ,these are the enemies that are clamoring for ,jim-,crow cars1 for segregation in our cities1 for laws against the inter-marriage of the races2 and who are endeavoring in every possible way to humiliate us and to make life just as hard as possible for us4 ,the marvel is1 as a race1 that we are doing as well as we are1 in view of the many and deadly forces that are arrayed against us4 ,the verdict seemingly is1 ,if we are allowed to live at all we must be content to be menials1 to occupy only the lowest places2 and there is a disposition to crowd us out of even such places4 ,the feeling is1 not only that this is a white man's government1 but that everything in this country is for the white man4 ,the right of the colored man to life1 liberty and the pursuit of happiness1 to even the most ordinary courtesies of life1 seems to be questioned4 ,he is1 nominally1 in a ,christian land2 but when it comes to the treatment which it accords to him1 there is no thought of ,christianity1 no effort or endeavor in any way to be governed by the simplest principle of the religion of ,jesus ,christ4 ,in the treatment that is accorded to him every principle of ,christianity is ignored4 ,there is not the slightest disposition to recognize him as a brother1 to treat him as a man4 ,the atmosphere in which he lives is a hostile atmosphere4 ,the emigrant from ,europe1 with all his ignorance and degradation is welcomed with outstretched hands2 but no such spirit greets the ,negro4 ,this is as much his home1 and he has just as much right to be here as any other class of citizens2 and yet he is treated1 is made to feel as if he were an alien4 ,during the ,christmas holidays ,i received a ,christmas card upon which was represented a very forlorn looking little colored boy1 and under it was written3 8,no one loves me40 ,whether it was intended by the artist1 who was colored1 to represent the condition of the race in this country or not1 ,i do not know2 but1 in a sense1 and to a measure1 it certainly does represent our condition among this white population in the midst of which we are living4 ,this is not true1 of course1 of all of the white people4 ,there are some who are1 in a sense1 friendly to us1 and who1 up to a certain point1 are willing to stand by us2 but there are comparatively few even among these who1 in their heart of hearts1 recognize us as brothers in the sense in which they recognize white men1 or who feel that we are entitled to precisely the same treatment as white men are entitled to4 ,they think we are entitled to some consideration1 but not to all that white men are entitled to4 ,the broad ,christian principle of the brotherhood of man1 not of white men1 but of all men1 is a principle that1 in spite of our professed ,christianity1 and our professed passion for democratic institutions as a nation1 has never been recognized in this country except so far as white men are concerned4 ,and this is why the struggle of the colored man here for civil and political equality has encountered such wide-spread opposition on the part of the enemies of the race1 and such half-hearted support on the part of even his professed friends4 ,it is because1 at bottom1 on the part of both friends and foes1 there is this denial1 consciously or unconsciously1 of brotherhood1 this feeling that they are dealing with a different order of beings from themselves4 ,loyalty to ,christianity and to democratic principles requires1 however1 that this barrier be broken down4 ,and1 sooner or later1 ,i believe it will be broken down4 ,the ,negro cannot permanently be denied equality of rights and opportunities and ,christianity and true democracy be maintained4 ,one or the other will be sure to succumb4 ,christianity and true democracy cannot exist anywhere and inequality of rights and opportunities continue to exist4 ,the whole tendency of both of these forces is to break down walls of separation and to bring about a state of universal brotherhood4 ,and these are the great forces of the future--the forces that will more and more1 control the destiny of humanity4 ,what now is our duty1 in view of present conditions--in view of the forces that are arrayed against us--the forces that mean1 if victorious1 physical1 intellectual1 moral1 economic1 social1 and political degradation8 ,how are these evils to be met8 ,god's method of meeting the enemy1 as set forth in the passage we are considering1 is the one that must be followed4 ,how was the yoke of the ,midianites thrown off8 ,it was through a band of faithful men1 whom he had gotten together1 and who worked in dependence upon him4 ,and this is all that is needed to-day to bring victory1 to overthrow the forces of evil1 to drive out the enemy4 7#a74 ,we need the right kind of men and women--men and women who see the evil and deplore it--men and women of moral convictions--men and women whose sympathies are with the right1 whose whole nature rises up in protest against the evil4 ,one reason why it is so difficult to get anything done along moral lines is because there are so few who have any convictions1 so few who feel1 as the apostle felt when he said1 8,necessity is laid upon me1 yea1 woe is me if ,i preach not the gospel40 ,so profoundly had the truth taken hold of him1 such were his convictions in regard to the needs of humanity and the adaptation of the gospel to meet those needs that he simply could not keep still4 ,we need also men and women of courage--men and women who are not afraid to attack the evil1 to speak out in condemnation of the things about them that are demoralizing in their tendency4 ,another reason why it is so difficult to make any headway in moral reforms is because there are so many cowards in society1 so many who are timid1 who are afraid to speak out1 to lift up their voices for fear of hurting themselves or of offending somebody4 ,cowardice has silenced many a lip1 has paralyzed many an arm that might have wrought mightily for ,god and truth4 ,we need also reliable men and women--men and women who can be depended upon2 men and women who1 when the crisis comes1 when the conflict begins1 will not desert1 but will stand by their colors4 ,there are so many who blow hot and cold on moral issues1 who are with you to-day and with the enemy to-morrow4 ,we need also earnest men and women--men and women who are zealous in the cause of right--heartily in favor of what is pure1 lovely1 and of good report--who are not disposed to make any compromises with evil1 who are out and out in their opposition to the forces of evil about them4 ,and here is another reason why it is difficult to do very much--there are so many who are lukewarm1 indifferent1 who don't seem to care whether moral reforms go on or not4 ,if they do anything at all it is in an indifferent1 half-hearted1 non-committal way4 ,we need also ,god-fearing men and women--men and women of faith--men and women who build on ,god1 who stand on the promises of ,god4 ,one thing we may be assured of--nothing can be effectively done for the moral uplift of the race1 for the overthrow of the forces of evil that are at work in our midst1 unless we have in every community men and women such as ,i have been describing1 through whom to operate as the first great requisite4 7#b74 ,these men and women ought to be brought together in some form of organization4 ,the three hundred men who formed ,gideon's ,band were welded together4 ,they understood each other2 they saw alike2 they felt alike--all had the same object in view2 all worked according to the same plan2 all were under the direction of one leader4 ,an individual working alone may accomplish something2 but the most effective way of working1 especially where there is much to be done1 is in combination1 is by uniting our forces under intelligent leadership4 ,three hundred men working together can always do more than one man working by himself1 however effectively he may work4 ,the good people in every community1 the people who feel the need of doing something1 must come together and pull together--must join hands in waging war against the forces of evil1 by directly opposing them1 and by setting up counter influences4 ,in other words1 they must stand together if they are to make their influence felt1 if they are to do the most effective work4 ,and here is another reason why we do so little4 ,the people who ought to stand together do not always stand together4 ,the people who ought to say1 ,amen when a blow is struck for the right1 when evils are assailed1 are the very ones often who criticise the man or the woman who has the courage to speak out4 ,and so the little that is done is often neutralized4 7#c74 ,we need still another thing4 ,after we get the right kind of men and women2 and get them organized we need help from ,god4 ,the real secret of the success which came to these three hundred men was that ,god was with them4 ,in other words1 what ,i mean is1 that we have got to carry on this fight against the forces that are arrayed against us1 moral or otherwise1 if we hope for success1 in dependence upon ,god2 we have got to feel as ,luther did3-- 8,did we in our own strength confide1 ,our striving would be losing2 ,were not the right man on our side-- ,the man of ,god's own choosing3 ,dost ask who that man may be8 ,christ ,jesus1 it is ,he2 ,lord ,sabaoth ,his ,name1 ,from age to age the same1 ,and ,he must win the battle40 ,unless we fight in the consciousness that we are not fighting alone2 unless ,god actually comes to our aid1 our efforts are vain4 ,god has promised to help2 and he will help4 ,and this we should remember and avail ourselves of4 ,with these conditions fulfilled--with the right kind of men and women among us1 animated by the same spirit1 working towards the same end1 and linked with ,god all things in the way of moral uplift1 and in the way of counteracting the influence of the forces of evil about us are possible4 ,the gates of hell will not be able to withstand the united1 aggressive1 persistent effort of men and women of this stamp--men and women who are themselves thoroughly alive to the importance of keeping the standard high1 and of waging unceasing warfare against the forces of evil4 8,one10 we are told1 8shall chase a thousand1 and two shall put ten thousand to flight40 ,and where the conditions are fulfilled the rule never fails to work--victory always follows4 ,we are weak1 because we haven't faith2 we are weak1 because we are not united2 we are weak1 because we are not in earnest4 ,such bands of men and women as ,i have been describing1 are everywhere needed to-day--in the home1 in the church1 in the ,sabbath school1 in the ,young ,peoples' ,society of ,christian ,endeavor1 in all our secret organizations--among the ,masons and ,odd ,fellows2 in all our benevolent societies1 in our schools1 colleges1 universities1 in all business corporations1 banking and other establishments--everywhere such bands are needed--bands of clean men and women1 pure men and women1 men and women who stand up for what is right1 who are willing to fight for what is right1 who can always be depended upon in every moral crisis--who fight1 and who fight always on the side of right1 of honor1 of decency--whose influence is always thrown in the interest of the things that are true1 and just1 and pure1 and lovely1 and of good report4 ,all that ,i have said in reference to meeting the moral evils that assail us1 is also true as to meeting those enemies who are assailing our civil and political rights1 as ,american citizens4 ,they are to be met in the same way4 7#a74 ,in every community we have got to have men and women who put a proper estimate upon our civil and political rights--men and women who know what rights we are entitled to as ,american citizens1 who value those rights2 and who are deeply conscious therefore of the wrong which the enemies of the race are seeking to perpetrate upon us by depriving us of those rights4 ,there are some members of our race1 unfortunately1 who1 for one reason or another1 have attempted to minify the importance of civil and political rights1 or who1 at least1 pretend that they see no great evil in the deprivation of these rights4 ,i say pretend1 for1 at heart1 ,i do not believe they think anything of the kind4 ,they cannot believe as they say they do1 if they have any self respect1 or any appreciation of what citizenship means4 ,such people are of no value to us in the fight which we are making for our rights under the ,constitution3 they are rather a hindrance to us1 because they are used by the enemy in justification of the course which they are pursuing4 ,the fact that there are colored people1 and some so-called leaders1 who don't attach much importance to these rights1 makes the white assailant feel that1 after all1 no great injury is done to the ,negro4 ,the colored people themselves1 they say1 in effect1 don't regard it as such1 and why should we1 why should we attach any more importance to the matter than they do4 ,in every community therefore1 as a foil to this pernicious doctrine1 there must be men and women to whom these rights mean something2 there must be men and women who hold them in high estimation1 who have a deep and abiding sense of their value1 of their importance4 ,everywhere1 throughout the race1 very little patience ought to be shown1 or respect either1 to ,negroes1 whether big or little1 who undervalue1 and who are seeking to instill into the race a spirit of indifference to civil and political rights4 ,to do so is to encourage the race to commit political suicide2 and the race that is willing to commit political suicide is the race that will be driven to the wall1 that will be the football of every other race within the ,republic4 ,strange1 that some of us are so stupid or so blinded by selfishness that we don't see this6 ,personally ,i have absolutely no patience with the ,negro1 big or little1 who is content to live in a country1 under laws which are made for his government without his consent and about which he1 not only has nothing to say1 but is purposely excluded from participation in the functions of government4 ,the ,american colonies resisted the imposition of a tax by the ,british ,parliament1 because they were taxed without representation2 and they were right in the resistance which they offered4 ,the position in which our enemies are seeking to place us is a humiliating one1 and ,i pity the race or individual who doesn't see it1 and who doesn't feel the humiliation of being compelled to submit to laws without having a voice in the making of them1 while others are accorded that right1 and for no reason except the color of their skin4 ,it is humiliating to be thus discriminated against2 and the more deeply this sense of humiliation is felt by the average ,negro1 the more difficult it will be to permanently deprive him of that right4 7#b74 ,the men and women of our race1 in every community1 who value civil and political rights1 who are not content to be legislated for without having a voice in saying who the legislators shall be1 should work together1 should come together in some form of organization1 for the purpose3 7a74 ,of asserting in a kindly1 but positive manner1 whenever it shall be necessary1 our claims as ,american citizens under the constitution4 ,we have rights under the constitutions2 we are ,american citizens1 and we are not to forget this ourselves1 nor are we to let others lose sight of it4 ,the manly assertion of our rights is a duty which we owe to ourselves2 and which at the proper time1 we should never hesitate to perform4 7b74 ,we should come together for the purpose of resisting1 in every lawful way1 all attempts to abridge our rights1 to curtail our privileges as citizens4 ,whatever other citizens enjoy we have a right to enjoy2 and we ought not to submit quietly to discriminations which violate this principle4 ,if we can't do anything else1 at least1 protest2 cry aloud4 ,let those who are responsible know that we know that we are unjustly discriminated against4 7c74 ,we ought also1 as far as possible1 to carry on a campaign of education1 the design of which should be to strengthen our hold on the friends that we have among the whites1 and to so present the facts touching the race1 as to make a favorable impression upon1 and1 win over1 if possible1 our enemies1 or1 at least1 to get them thinking along right lines4 ,in this connection the ,crisis1 a magazine that is published under the auspices of ,the ,national ,association for the ,advancement of ,colored ,people1 ought to appeal to our people in every community1 and ought1 through their support1 to be given the widest circulation4 ,it presents1 as no other organ does1 the bare naked facts as to our race along all lines2 and1 after all1 the facts are the things that tell1 that win their way1 and that produce conviction4 ,the more widely we can get this magazine distributed among the whites1 the more hopeful will be the outlook for us4 7d74 ,in every community also1 through our churches1 through our schools--,sunday and day schools1 and through every other agency by which they may be reached1 we should endeavor to impress upon our people the importance of being respectable1 of behaving themselves1 especially in their public deportment1 when they are before the eyes of those who are prejudiced against them1 and who will be sure to view them with a much more critical eye than they would their own race4 ,we should impress upon them also1 in every possible way1 whenever the opportunity presents itself1 the importance of being trustworthy1 reliable1 of qualifying themselves to do well whatever they undertake to do1 so that as they come in contact with the whites1 as they may find employment among the whites1 the fact of their respectability1 their efficiency1 their reliability1 their trustworthiness will stand out conspicuously4 ,in this way much can be done to create a sentiment favorable to us1 to set us in a better light1 to give us a better standing with those who have been indifferent or hostile to us4 ,we need1 as a race1 every one of us1 to understand and to lay to heart1 and to get our children to understand and lay to heart1 that in the environment in which we find ourselves1 we can do very much through our personal conduct1 through the manner in which we bear ourselves1 the manner in which we acquit ourselves1 through what we make of ourselves and of our children1 to intensify or to diminish this opposition to us4 ,this won't accomplish everything1 of course1 but it will aid mightily in removing some of the obstacles out of the way4 ,the better we behave ourselves1 the more we make of ourselves1 the more1 ,i know1 we are hated by some1 but that doesn't destroy the force of the general principle we are here laying down4 7#c74 ,there is still another force that we can utilize in the great struggle that we are making against our enemies1 and that is the force that lies in effectual1 fervent prayer1 the force that links us with ,god1 with the ,mighty ,god4 ,we have the reputation of being a religious people4 ,i don't know whether we are really religious or not4 ,we have1 ,i know1 a great many professors of religion among us2 but as to whether there is a great deal real true religion1 which consists in loving ,god and in keeping his commandments1 among us1 may be a question4 ,one thing ,i know1 however1 in the days of slavery1 when the iron heel of physical oppression was upon our necks1 there were many1 many of the fathers and mothers of the race who believed in ,god and in the power of prayer1 and who by day and by night1 in the cotton fields and in the rice swamps1 sent up their petitions to heaven4 ,and while ,i know that ,garrison and ,philips and the noble band of anti-slavery worker labored earnestly and faithfully to quicken the national conscience2 and that the armies of the ,north1 under ,grant1 and ,sherman1 and ,sheridan and others1 marched in the ,south and grappled in a death struggle with the forces of rebellion2 and that ,lincoln issued his ,emancipation ,proclamation1 nevertheless1 ,i believe that among the mightiest forces that wrought for the slave were the prayers which they themselves sent up to ,almighty ,god4 ,prayer became a power in their hands mightier than armies and proclamations4 ,and that power we can wield to-day and ought to be wielding it4 ,god can do wonders for us if we will rely upon him1 if we will put our trust in him4 ,he can soften the hard hearts of our enemies2 he can raise up friends for us2 he can open ways for us that we know not of4 ,i have just been reading over the ,book of ,esther1 known as the book of ,god's ,providential ,care4 ,how wonderfully did he interpose in behalf of the ,jews2 but it came as the result of days of fasting and prayer4 ,when ,esther suggested three days of fasting and prayer1 everything seemed to be against them4 ,their arch enemy was highest in the favor of the king2 and he had not only obtained permission to destroy the ,jews throughout the empire1 but the decree had already been issued and the day fixed for its execution4 ,it was at this juncture that earnest1 incessant prayer was made to ,jehovah1 and the result was the man that sought their ruin was hurled from power1 and hurled into eternity to answer at a higher than earthly tribunal for his infamous conduct4 ,we1 as a people1 would do well to ponder carefully the words of ,esther to ,mordicai in our struggle against the enemies in this country that are bent on our destruction just as truly as ,haman was bent on the destruction of the ,jews1 and for the same reason1 because we are not disposed to bow and cringe and debase ourselves before them4 ,the statement is 8,when ,haman saw that ,mordicai bowed not1 nor did him reverence1 then was ,haman full of wrath40 ,it was then that he formed the determination to destroy1 not only ,mordicai1 but the whole race with which he was identified4 ,and at the bottom it is the same spirit against which we have to struggle in this country4 ,if we were willing to efface ourselves1 to accept the position assigned us by our enemies there would be no trouble4 ,the thing that offends1 that excites the ire of the whites is the assertion or exhibition of manhood on the part of the ,negro2 it is because he has the temerity to claim for himself what they claim for themselves1 and precisely on the same ground4 ,the thought of the ,negro as a slave has so taken possession of them as to entirely obliterate from their minds the thought of him as a man and citizen4 ,and these are the people who are in the seat of power2 these are the people who have the ears of the country1 the people who control1 largely1 the press and pulpit1 the business and labor organizations1 and who command1 in virtue of their wealth1 the best legal talents of the country4 ,we seem to be hopelessly in their power1 as hopelessly as the ,jews seemed to be in the power of ,haman4 ,but ,haman did not succeed in carrying out his diabolical purpose2 and the power that checked him1 and that overthrew him1 was the power of prayer4 ,we1 as a race1 must use this power more than we have been in the habit of doing4 ,those among us1 in every community1 who believe in ,god1 and who are trying earnestly to serve him in sincerity1 for unless we are our prayers will avail nothing1 should make it a business to take our race troubles to him as well as our individual and family troubles4 ,god has promised to help1 and to help right early if we call upon him4 ,and this is what we must do2 and do more largely than we have been in the habit of doing4 ,the exhortation of the apostle is1 8,be careful for nothing2 but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto ,god40--,phil4 #d3f4 ,a praying race or people has nothing to fear from enemies1 however numerous or powerful4 ,and the sooner we learn this the better it will be for us4 ,and now with the thought of ,gideon's ,band before us1 the thought of the kind of men they were1 and what they accomplished under the divine direction1 and in reliance upon ,god1 in view of the adverse influences against which we have to contend1 we may well ask ourselves the question3 7#a74 ,are we seeking1 as members of this race1 to possess the noble qualities of the men of ,gideon's ,band8 ,they were men of character2 men of courage2 men dominated by a great purpose2 men who fully realized the seriousness of the business in which they were engaged3 they were not of the giddy1 frivolous1 pleasure-seeking1 namby pamby type that is so often met with to-day1 especially among our young people1 and1 often1 it is no better among the older ones4 7#b74 ,are we binding ourselves together in ,gideon ,bands in every community1 to help uplift the race2 to help battle against the evils which tend to drag us down1 to undermine our health1 our character1 our good name8 ,are we coming to realize1 more and more1 the importance of cooperation1 of working together for the general good8 7#c74 ,are we1 in our personal character and conduct1 in all our bearings and relations so clearly1 so distinctly of ,gideon's ,band--so unquestionably on the side of what is best and noblest1 as to be a steady uplifting influence for good among ourselves3 and in our contact and relation with the whites1 as to lead them to think more highly of the race because of what they see and know of us8 ,gideon ,bands we need everywhere--men and women of the highest character1 whose clean pure lives will be not only an incentive to the race to live nobly1 but also an unanswerable argument against the traducers of the race4 ,we cannot1 as a race1 present in any considerable numbers1 men and women conspicuous for moral and spiritual worth without producing a favorable impression for the race4 ,gideon ,bands everywhere are needed1 for work within the race1 and for work without the race1 upon those who need to be mollified1 changed1 converted4 ,such bands should not only be organized1 but we should see to it1 that we are members of them4 7#d74 ,are we keeping alive within our own breasts1 as individuals1 and within the consciousness of the race the value of citizenship and of citizenship rights8 ,it is our duty to cherish these rights ourselves1 and to instill into our children a like appreciation of them4 ,and it is our duty also1 and the duty of our children to stand up manfully for them4 ,it may not be a popular thing to do1 but it must be done nevertheless4 ,we may not be able to hold the pass of ,thermopyl1 but it should never be surrendered4 ,it may be taken1 but it should be only when there is no one left to hold it4 ,it is always more glorious to perish in a righteous cause than to survive with dishonor4 ,and ,i believe as long as there is a spark of manhood left in the race the struggle for our rights1 as ,american citizens1 will go on4 ,i do not believe that the time will ever come1 when the ,negro will be quiescent on his rights until those rights are fully accorded to him4 ,the call that ,i am making to this race to-day is for the self-respecting men and women of it1 in every community1 to band themselves together for the building up of character2 for the setting up of lofty ideals2 for the maintenance of a high standard of morals among men as well as women2 for waging uncompromising warfare against all the forces of corruption--against the saloon1 the gambling den1 the bawdy house and every other demoralizing institution2 for keeping alive in the race an interest in matters civil and political2 and for active1 aggressive work in resisting encroachments upon our rights4 ,it is a call1 ,i trust1 that will be heeded2 that1 all over this land1 there will be a rallying of the better elements of the race in concerted effort for race betterment2 for enlarged opportunities2 and for the full enjoyment of all of our rights as ,american citizens4 ,once in four years1 in connection with a ,presidential ,inauguration1 is a good time to look each other in the face2 to reaffirm our principles2 and to pledge ourselves anew to go fearlessly forward in the good work which we have begun4 ,if we do our part faithfully--if we work2 if we do right2 if we eschew evil2 if we put our trust in ,god and make his word a lamp to our feet and a light to our path1 there is no power anywhere that can defeat us in our purpose to rise to the full measure of a man1 and to the full enjoyment of all the rights that belong to us as ,american citizens4 ,we cannot fail2 we will not fail1 if we are wise1 active1 wide-awake1 persistent1 resistant1 in earnest4 ,our future is largely within our own hands4 8,in the field of destiny1 ,we reap as we have sown10 is what the poet says4 ,and that is true of races as well as individuals4 ,it is important that we realize this1 and that every latent energy within us1 as a race1 be aroused and enlisted in the great work of sowing such seeds as will insure a glorious harvest4 ,if we sow frivolity1 idleness1 improvidence1 intemperance2 if we are lax in morals1 if we put material things above spiritual things1 if we are indifferent to our rights1 as citizens1 if we are content to be like dumb driven cattle1 we will reap accordingly4 ,and vice versa1 if we discourage frivolity1 idleness1 improvidence1 intemperance1 if we insist upon enforcing a high standard of morals1 if we put spiritual things above material things1 if we stand up for our rights as men1 and cultivate a divine unrest1 keeping the eyes of the soul ever turned towards the heights1 we will also reap accordingly4 ,every thing depends upon the sowing1 and therefore let every member of this race1 in the consciousness of his or her responsibility1 say1 as one of old1 8,god do so to me and more also10 if1 in my personal character and life1 in what ,i may do or say1 ,i sow anything that will jeopardize the moral1 economic1 or political future of this race4 ,if we1 in this generation1 will sow in the hearts of our people the right kind of seeds--seeds of morality1 and religion1 of civil and political equality1 the next generation will catch our spirit and go on sowing the same kind of seeds1 and when the harvest time comes we know what the reaping will be4 ,up then every member of this race6 ,let us do our level best to ensure a good harvest--a harvest of good men and women and children1 of ,god-fearing men and women and children1 of men1 women1 and children who know what their rights are and how to maintain them4 ,to this end let every one of us here this morning pledge ourselves1 and go forth with the solemn purpose and determination to inoculate every man1 woman1 and child of the race1 with the same spirit1 with the same purpose1 with the same determination4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,changes to the original publication have been made as follows3 ,page #d enemies that harrassed them changed to enemies that harassed them an delivered us into changed to and delivered us into ,page #h three companies blew the trumpets changed to three companies blew the trumpets0 ,page #i land a ,ozama and changed to land an ,ozama and tendencies that lead inevitablly changed to tendencies that lead inevitably ,page #ab cause of right changed to the cause of right ,page #ad upon our civil and poltical changed to upon our civil and political ,page #ae under laws which are are made changed to under laws which are made reason except except changed to reason except ,page #af to our race along all line changed to to our race along all lines ,page #ah at a higher than earthly tribunals changed to at a higher than earthly tribunal