Grossing XCbe Xhie
A LITTLE LIGHT ON
A DARK SUBJECT
ci==d
Evangelist S. B&lolass fiDcEmffte
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a. )
J?RICE
50 CENTS
Cleveland, Ohio
August 7, 1913
Rev. S. Douglass McDuffie
preface
a*
This little book is a feeble attempt of the author
to express my gratefulness to the race and the
"world to labor in the kingdom of.Jesus Christ for
the elevation of the race in both the spiritual, in¬
tellectual and industrial capacity. With great
wishes for the enlightenment of the race, I bid
thee go, little book, encourage, elevate and inspire
the mind of those who are desirous of playing an
•active part in the uplift of the race.
AUTHOR.
Dedicated to my Mother.
Some people have wondered why I preach as I
do and why thousands flock to hear me, and how
<3an it be that in such short time hundreds confess
a love for God. The answer will come to you by
reading this little book.
THE AUTHOB.
i "
Untrobuctfon
•i*
The author of this little booky Kev. S. Douglass
McDuffie. is one of those voting men who came up
Hi rough hardships and foils, but seemingly real¬
ized that all men who hare reached high achieve¬
ments came up through exile and suffering, he is
now recognized as the greatest and mcrst qualified
Evangelist of the race, a power in the1 spiritual
uplift of man. The youngest sou of Edith Patter¬
son McDuffie and Lawrence McDufSe, who were
slaves in a town of Louisiana, reared in art Ohio>
town, and now taking the stand with honor as be¬
ing equally compared with Wesley, Sankeyr Tal-
inage, Moody and other strong, workers of the
world,.
UVX. It, W. FIOKLAND, D. U,
Bethel A. AT. El. Churchy
TTarrisburg; Pa.
2
A TRIBUTE TO MY HOME STATE, OHIO.
To my many friends and co-workers of the race
in the great old Buckeye State. Since it is made
known that I have decided to go South, and labor
where the greater bulk of my race resides, many
have wondered will I succeed, owing to the many
humiliating environments the colored people of
the South have to contend with. It is true that I
have been raised in different atmosphere, but I
want to say my intention in the South will not be
to fight the white man's plans or display any de¬
sire to reject his rules. I am going to make friends
of them by preaching the Gospel and laboring
among my race. I have read of the thousands of
souls unsaved and the many hundred orphans who
are untrained, and unfit for public service with no
one to assist them to the light of thrift, honesty
and intelligence. Hence it's my great desire to
establish a free Industrial School, upon the fact
so many wants a trade and a learning, but have not
the means to support them. Already some friends
are offering financial aid to promote this effort.
I want to ask that no one give me any such aid
until the desired location is found. The plans as
to how it will be conducted will be given later. The
world shall know of its location as the announce-
3
ment shall appear in all the leading race journals,
and on this date I shall go to labor where there is
greater demand for my services. With many good
wishes to my thousands of white and colored
friends, I now bid thee adieu. God bless you.
Yours for humanity,
Signed, S. DOUGLASS McDUFFIE,
Cleveland, Ohio, Aug. 7tli* 1913.
A TRIBUTE TO THE COLORED SOUTH.
Brethren: We are taught fiom God's word let
the strong bear the infirmities of the weak. Feel¬
ing within my self, that you need help in this great
uplift of the nice, I come to help enlighten the
mind and inspire the soul or nobler things. We
suffer many things at times of our own accord,
merely because the true seed of self-respect, race
pride, honesty and spiritual ambition has not
caught root in our souls, I come to help, I come to
labor and wait, and with this realizing the strength
of fraternity in the Master Masonry and having
been hoisted to the same, I consider my obligations
and with the regimen of a severe discipline work
out our destiny looking to God as our Father,
I am yours for the race,
Sign (id, S DOUGLASS McDUFFIE.
4
A LETTER TO WHITES OF THE SOUTH.
To the White People of the South:
With every good wish and faithful integrity, I
am coming to your land to serve among my people,
remembering that my parents taught me from in¬
fancy to let moderation characterize my utter¬
ances. I have been informed of your splendid de¬
meanor toward my people especially those who
present themselves as honest, faithful citizens. As
I enter the southland with no greater or less in¬
tention than to help elevate my race, so as to fit
them for faithful, honest citizens, which will com¬
mand them to give you better service in every
capacity they may be called to serve. As a Mas¬
ter Mason my lodge teaches me the principle of
obligating and giving my best service to the coun¬
try in which I live, and especially the governing
of passion, the respect of the law. I now ask you
to receive me and consider that I am come to do
and anything that is right at your request. I ask
that my humble service meet your approval.
I am yours humbly,
S. DOUGLASS McDUFFIE.
5
A MEMORIAL LEAF AND TRIBUTE TO THE
GREAT OLD AFRICAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
To the Bishops, Financial Officers, Educators,
Ministers, laymen members and well-wishers of
this great old church, that has done so much for
the true enlightenment, advancement and elevation
of the colored people in America, and the higher
civilization of Ethopia beyond the isles of the-sea,
I now am leaving the great old Buckeye State,
after an unparalleled calling to the spiritual ser¬
vice of the race. I am for the first time enronte
to the great black belt, where just forty-eight
years ago a key-note was sounded by Abolitionists,
sanctioned by the pen of Harriett Beecher Stowe
and assisted by the sword of John Brown, wit¬
nessed and signed by the pen of our great eman¬
cipator, Abraham Lincoln. The smoke has not
yet exactly disappeared or cleared from the
battle-fields before America is hailing such men
as Fred Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Bishops
Allen, Payne, Turner, Lee, Grant, Gains, Wayman.
Tyree, Coppin, Shaffer, Jones, Lampton, John¬
son, Parks, Hnrst, Flipper, Derrick, and others as
captains of this nation's great ship, followed by
6
such strong seamen as Drs. Ross, Saunders, Ran¬
som, Leeher, Davis, Morris, Anderson, Gullins,
Cook, Brooks, Wilson, Gordan, Bundy, Scott,
Bumry, Asken, Bailey, Steptean, Taylor, Downs,
Peck, Hill, Wortham, Martin, Sydes, Gordans,
Gaines, Arnett, King, Jackson, Long,- and hundreds
of others, saying nothing about the business class.
I come forth as a servant of God, asking an op¬
portunity to labor in the spiritual field of the con¬
nection, and while you are only three mile stones
from the celebration of our 100 years of actual ser¬
vice in the uplift of the race and God's kingdom,
I greet thee on the plains of freedom and justice
and when in May, 19M, you meet for this celebra¬
tion, I bid thee march on with a deeper determina¬
tion for greater things in the bounds of another
fifty years. I feel my calling to the spiritual side
of this battle, let no man reject me. I pass this
way only once in ]ife, my greatest ambition is to
render my best services to the race as greater men
before me have done.
I am enroute to the South to labor in the Evan¬
gelistic field, ■ my chief aim and desire is to get
15,000 souls connected to A. M. E. Church before
the General Conference. I see my opportunity un¬
der these conditions. The path of you great men
has not been strewn with flowers, but it has stead-
7
i!y lead, toward tlie liglit and that light has been
one of liberty and success. Let us still press for¬
ward and with the regimen of a severe discipline,
work out a greater destiny. My effort is to prove
my ability as the greatest Evangelist of the race,
so at this General Conference I shall ask for the
position as Connectional Evangelist of A. M. E.
Churches in America.
I a myours very truly for the race.
S. DOUGLASS McDUFFIE.
Aug. 7th, 1913.
One very hot afternoon in the month of August,
seated near a window at my summer cottage, gaz¬
ing across the green meadows, after a heavy thun¬
der storm, which added much to my partly melan¬
choly feeling and spirit, the dark clouds suddenly
passed away. The sun shone brightly upon the
beautiful green meadows with its rain drops
sparkling like the silvery stars of the heavens. My
mind went out for something more' than the or¬
dinary, and while musing upon this thing that you
sometimes term as genius, I thought deeply upon
the world's greatest men, who had reached fame in
every capacity, it now falls my duty to do some-
8
tl ing that can and shall go down in history to re¬
main as a credit to the race, and before I make this
tempt, I shall take in consideration the many
thousands of other men who have attempted many
.great things with a pure and truthful motive to do
r;.r ht, but in and between this motive came a single
Tpistake that instead of being overlooked, was
picked up, nurtured, protected and sanctioned un-
ti1 this individual's objects and aims, were crushed
and misrepresented, hence his material objects and
influence was killed; and the disease acted as a
gi at tendency to weaken his ambitions. These
seemingly are fostered hampered by King—
Jealousy, misrepresentation, malice, envy, etc.
Looking into this matter deeply, I thought how
often could a man pass this road, and if I did not
render n y best services to the world I would never
get this opportunity again. Hence I persistently
pleaded with my notions and reasons, asking my¬
self the question, have I chosen the profession
whereof I can give the best service to the world. I
thought of men who were much higher qualified
than I, even in my profession, yet seems to have
missed his or their calling. Receiving no reply as
to what I would settle upon, I reached over to the
table near me and pulled my mother's old dusty
9
Bible, opening it to read the very first chapter I
saw. I turned to Isaiah, reading thus: '' They that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall run and not get faint, they shall walk
and not weary." suddenly went my mind off on
men and women of the present day, the careless
and immoral lives that is now being lived, and d6
bauchery making its way to the most lordly and
luxurious homes. I began to grieve over the con¬
dition of the race. I thought how preaching a
gospel, against sin, immorality, would cause' a
great decrease in my popularity and how it would
affect my social and political standing, and ma¬
terial progress, yet'the feeling kept on pressing my
conscience so deep, as if I could hear the echo, do
something that will be of more benefit to the world
and race. With a desire to take up the medical
profession, believing I could study and invent a
new scheme to nil in the extension of man's life.
This motive 01 notion of do something, I could still
hear, yet a feeling repeating the verse wait on the
Lord. In considering the continuance in the minis¬
try, I decided if such be I will not preach in my
former way against dancing, drinking, immorality,
pretenso, hynocrisy, etc.
I decided to take as a main theory SIN and upon
10
this thought something pressed my mind: "Are
not bad habits, a sin? Is not the Gospel, truth?"
I then thought of my many friends who were serv-
ing the church both in business and in the profes¬
sional life. I thought how severely criticized I
wonl'1 be in the pulpit if I should cry out against
such a life even though it can and is being lived or
done in the most private ways. I could keenly see
to preach this gospel would cause me to lose out
with some of the schools who consider dancing as
a part connected to the gymnasium, better known
as physical culture. I saw where speaking against
drink would indeed let me down from the high no¬
tion of the business world, who after making a
successful deal for his customer, is called aside in
a bar or to a private dinner where ctrong drink is
served as a part of the repast. If I fight hyporrisy
as I should it will reach the professional man, who
never prayed in public, never attended a prayer
meeting, never took part in a revival, comes to
church once per month and accredits the rest of
his time to this excuse: "My business is to impera¬
tive, '' yet he has time to attend the football, base¬
ball games, bet on the games, attend all the polit¬
ical campaigns, have section meetings, go to the
lodge, go to popular and upper ten balls, where
li
the common elements are not allowed; yet if these
things are spoken of it hits the so-called best peo¬
ple first.
The question then presented itself to me thus:
Why is it that the sinners do not accept God ? The
answer is because the life they now live they be¬
lieve is sinful and wrong, such as dancing, drink¬
ing, immorality, etc. These things they call a sin
and why do they not join the church at present is
because they consider this life at present not the
one to take in the church, yet the superior class
in a private way are doing the very same thing
sinners are doing and daily slander and disgrace¬
ful cases are coming out against the superior and
the inferior denies his confidence, hence he loses
respect for himself and God enough to say to us,
"You are no better than I," yet if the pretended
Christian hear the real truth it is so much in dis¬
cord with his life he fights it. And when a division
comes between two leaders' lives there is very little
room left for the progress of that race.
At this period I felt heavy and sad. Laying
down my Bible I picked up my hymnal, turned to
this hmymn on first opening: "Jesus, and shall it
ever be a mortal man ashamed of thee, ashamed of
Thee whom angels praise, whose glory lasts
through endless days." I thought to myself, it's
12
not a matter of shame, but that I passed through
this world only once and that we form acquaint¬
ances daily, but it takes years to make friends and
how many refined friends I would lose to preach
a gospel of truth. At this period I thought of the
spirit of jealousy and envy which even greater
men in the ministry feel and how certain th'ngs
touching some ministers' lives if spoken of, that
same class of ministers would put their powers or
forces together regardless as to whether God or
man called you, they would crush his influence
forever.
After all these thoughts, my nerves begin to get
weaker, I commence praying, asking God to direct
my notions. I prayed there for a space of fifteen
minutes, feeling exhausted I fell asleep, having a
very peculiar dream. I was more disturbed now
than ever. I saw the great judgment morning,
nations going up to meet God. A train of ordinary
make" was there, people were getting on and some
off. I saw the refined class seemingly disappointed,
confused as to what train to ride in. The one con¬
ductor was commanding and the other patiently
waiting in silence. It appeared through this
great source of congestion some boarded the wrong
train, one train seemingly was bound for some
13
summer resort, where all the fashions were dis¬
played and good time seekers go. I was on this
train myself. At the next stop or station a man
boarded the train, with a shining sword in his
hand, telling me to pass quickly through the train
and tell the people this train is in danger and get
off. I at once became timid over the fact I had
taken a part in the pleasures with my friends. He
gave me a sword, telling me to pass through each
coach and inform the people this was the hell-
bound train and command them to get off. If any
refute your statement, use your sword.
As I commenced preaching it appeared as if
those refined, dignified persons of whom I was in
company, were the first to criticise and reject my
preaching. The people became silenced and began
to be aroused and seek their safety. My friends
went to the conductor claiming I had disturbed the
people in their pleasures and great dissatisfaction
is being undergone cn account of my announcing
this to be the hell-bound train, advising the con¬
ductor to put me off. This was attempted with
great difficulty and at the moment they were about
to succeed, my commander came in and assisted me
in this great battle. He seemed to ha^e slain men
right and left. Finally it was decided I remain on)
14".
the train, providing- I refrain from preaching my
doctrine. While in proportion to the great num¬
ber that were killed and wounded in the battle, the
spirit for pleasure had somewhat died to their no¬
tion. At the next station came a more distin¬
guished class of representatives who boarded the
train, testifying of its actual safety. I heard the
eloquent speech of a Mr. Knowall, a graduate of
Hell University, who said in part, he had been a
continuous passenger on this train for a number
of years and in his mind the engineer was the most
skilled and intelligent man on any railroad, and in
the behalf of the conductor he was a gentleman of
wide experience, highly educated and of known
ability; a social leader, hence, said he, there is no
need of fear on part of danger, the length of ex¬
perience on the part of the officials is sufficient
evidence to guarantee safety. The party who an¬
nounced this as being the hell-bound train natur¬
ally might think so as he had never been a passen¬
ger on this train before. At this period groans
and moaning could be heard from those wounded
in the battle to such a degree that an unpleasant
feeling existed among all to the extent pleasure
could not be enjoyed as before. My captain,
standing behind the door, with his face beaming as
the sun, bid me look to my left. I saw a number
15
of men standing with deadly weapons in their
hands, saying to me open your mouth and we will
slay you. I became frightened and decided to hold
my peace and at the next station I would get off,
but my captain bade me fear not. 1 'I shall tell you
who they are. The first gentleman is Mr. Liar, the
others are Mr. Slander, Mr. Jealousy, Mr. Pre¬
tender, Mr. Hypocrite, Mr. Trapsetter." My cap¬
tain told me, "Don't fear any of those men. Not
one blow they lay upon you can kill you, but there
is one standing a little distance from you. Let all
go but watch him. Don't allow him near you, his
name is Dr. Guilty." So I began to preach, expect¬
ing at the moment of my sermon that the enemy
would attack me. Finally they seemed to get con¬
fused and began reminding each other of incidents
happening in my life. They all made their plot,
which was to be signed by Dr. Guilty. He refused,
when suddenly Mr. Liar gave me an awful blow
on my shoulder and before I could directly gain
my normal nerve, Mr. Trapsetter and Mr. Hypo¬
crite gave the double blow, when I heard my cap¬
tain say "preach on and keep your eyes on Dr.
Guilty.'' As they were beating me those who were
wounded asked to be put off, but the conductor re¬
fused to stop the train. He bade the engineer take
on double speed as it was only two stops more to
16
the City of Good Time, when suddenly a few well
raised passengers became interested to have the
train stopped, that these wounded might get med¬
ical aid at the next town, but the conductor still
refused. Steps were taken that resulted in a
battle, the like of which I never saw before. All
during the battle I could hear my captain saying
"preach on, let others fight, but keep your eyes on
Dr. Guilty." After I witnessed the deaths of
Hypocrite, Liar, Slanderer, Trapsetter and Dr.
Guilty saw his army losing, he made a desperate
effort to get to me. When my captain ran his
sword through him and exclaimed to me to preach
on; we were then only two miles from the next
stop. The conductor and Mr. Pretender came
through. They were seized and disrobed of the
garments to find them with cloven feet, horns be¬
neath their hats and tails of lead and brimstone
fire and smoke coming from their mouths. This
attracted the attention of the entire train, and all
became anxious to get off. My captain pulled the
signal cord and the train stopped, both well and
wounded getting off with the exception of Mr. Con¬
ductor, Pretender, Hypocrite, Liar, Fault-finder,
Trapsetter, Dr. Guilty. My captain left all these
bound hand and foot, got upon the step and pulled
the signal cord and stepped back off the train as
17
it started away. As far as it could be seen was
heard weeping and wailing, and it ran off into
a lake of fire. I turned to my captain, who pointed
me to a city, calling me a true and faithful servant,
to go and rest from my labor. At this I saw all
my friends, who once accompanied me on the train
and who had caused me such unnecessary pain.
They rose up and called me blessed.
I awakened from my dream with a great desire
to live and preach for God. I was still unable to
make the effort when suddenly I thought of the
chapter I had read instructing me wait on the
Lord. I saw immediately what I needed was
strength and faith to attack the world. I bowed on
my knees as the sun was going down and way be¬
fore the break of the day, when the gray clouds of
heaven were dispersing their dusky shades, a shin¬
ing light appeared in the heavens to me. I heard
a voice reverberating, saying: "All power is
trusted in My hand. I can defend and I destroy.
Go preach the Gospel of truth."
Some one has questioned why and how I can
move men. Some have wondered why thousands
flock to hear my gospel. It is this: I waited upon
the Lord for a renewal of strength, in whose doc¬
trine Isaiah said: "They that wait upon the Lord
18
will renew their strength." The news spreads
concerning my ability and great powers; how thou¬
sands fall and tremble at my argument. One day
a great and distinguished clergyman called on me,
enquiring of me from whence my strength came. I
took him upstairs to the northwest room of my
cottage, showed him a hole in the carpet, made
while on my knees and how all night long up until
the break of day I saw a light and heard a voice
from whence came my strength. I am confident
of all that now happens to me it is because I am
on business for the King.
CROSSING THE LINE.
To the world in general of Colored People:
Living in an age when the chance of each man is
apparently small, I am now for the first time pre¬
senting to the world of negroes my first story con¬
cerning the race.
This inspiration comes to me as did the calling
of John the Revelator, who saw one standing on
Mt. Zion, on the Lord's. Day, and was caught up
in the spirit of wisdom, chanced to have viewed a
sea of glass mingled in fire, a holy Trinity magni¬
fying and praising God in the highest, cherubin
19
and Seraphim, casting down golden crowns, twen¬
ty and four elders casting in their lot together
with four beasts, who on the wings of tranquility
lost in amazement, words became inadequate to
express their honor in tones no greater than come
and see; in which all suddenly an interruption
came, and that brought silence in glory for the
space of an half hour, between this John looked,
and lo, a voice came expressing Himself as being
Alpha and Omega, saying "Write blessed are the
dead who died in the Lord," and John, having his
sentiments endorsed by the Holy Trinity, dipped
his pen in the fount of purity, love and pace, wrote
on the pages of spiritual wisdom a story under
whose truths hangs with contentment the threads
of man's eternal salvation. With such a desire I
am preparing this story of which I hope will not
be criticised, but something gleaned, to inspire,
encourage, enlighten Ethiopia, not only in America
but to the isles of the sea.
Some 300 years ago and more our forefathers
were ushered into America under some certain
condition that we, as a race, have never been lead
into the true light. It's a fact that history states
its way of how we were brought into this country.
But that does not mean history can make a mis-
20
take or get the wrong impression; we fine tliis to
oe true under the statutes of the discovery of
America. It is confessed and has gone down in
history that Christophere Columbus discovered
.America, but Americus Vespucius gotten a greater
portion of the honor. Like any race of the world
the negro has served his time honorably and pa¬
tiently as a subservient slave. Freedom gave him
his hands, to work, head to think and heart to love,
he went forth to try his fortunes in a new world.
As a member of the human family naturally hav¬
ing been born, reared and trained in this country,
lie will become acquainted and adapted to its rules
and regulations in preference to any other and
when by the pen of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the an¬
tipathy against slavery was awakened and by the
sword of John Brown the spirit of Abolitionists
was aroused, the oratorical sound of Chas. Sumner
and Frederick Douglass, the desire of a true free¬
dom was kindled, brought on a terrible civil war
of which the negro though untrained, walked to the
front, fought, bled and died like a soldier; until
Abraham Lincoln and beneath whose pen fear¬
lessly yet 1: onorably signed our emancipation
proclamation and came forth to try our fortunes
in a new world. When a slave we expected no
rights other than that obtained by a servant, but
21
as a citizen (tar deportment has been of such his¬
tory nowhero else records. Taking a geographic
study of the world and considering how others have
served in servitude and shame yet have risen to
great prominence, power and ability, we come as a
nation after having filled one domestic position
with personal dignity, self-pride and self-honor,
enquiring if there be any room in the limelight of
justice whereof an honorable Afro-American
citizen might enter into the line of equal rights,
justice and honor in this country. The writer ad¬
mits that there may be some of his race who are
in authority who would and have sold a portion of
the race's rights for personal benefit, but beneath
this let us remember that God said, "One star dif¬
fers from another star, in glory. Then truly all
men are not adapted to the same dispositions,"
The Prophets in the days of old, men who walked
with God and was assured of God's Promises but
when times grew severe, t^.ey faltered. Moses be¬
ing led with a pillar cf fire by night and a cloud by
day, was commanded to keep ten commandments,,
but failed; Joshua only wanted God to show signs
of leading him and after Jehovah demonstrated
His power without the ail of swords, material
animation other than the sound of horses' feet,
or the rattling wheels of chariots, only commanded
.22
Joslma "Oive Me a simple but sincere praise and
upon the sounding of whose instruments the ma¬
terial stone walls of Jericho trembled, and fell at
the sound of truth and justice." There is some
good in all men and all things, each individual of
the world must and will see his own vision and
work out his own destiny. The negro is at the
strength, age and ability where of he is able to
plan for himself and race, as all other nations of
the earth.
The negro is now for the first time almost at a
standstill as to what step or foot must be placed
forward first. We realize we are in a white man's
country, but we understand secondly no nation has
so honestly, ignorantly yet truthfully served the
white man as the negro. We walked in the lime¬
light of justice almost fifty years ago as followers
of the white man; we have always taken his in¬
structions enquiring of him what is expected of
us, that would command social, and equal rights,
governed by a fair play in this country, as other
races have obtained; we were lined out and given
a list of qualifications known as honesty, ability,
genius, integrity, means, moral love for this coun¬
try and intellectual attainments. This we are now
and have presented asking the question as to what
23
what next, from this we received no reply, only to
bee every foreign nation by thousands, dropping
into America and within five years receiving nat¬
uralization papers passing above us even as a
common street laborer unworthy for the poles,
without a distinct tongue of the parts of speech,
the author is now attempting to express the senti¬
ment of thirteen million American negroes, relat¬
ing why our opportunities are retarded, as our
only reason is on account of our NAME AND
COLOR. We have demonstrated signs of co-
hability. As a laborer during the red-hot battles
between Union and Confederates, we expressed
our ability and honesty by remaining in the corn
fields and cotton patches while Massa's at war, for
honesty they protected the homes with good will
and personal honor of their owner, by being obedi¬
ent to their promise. At the end of four years'
civil war the negro walked up and asked for ad¬
mittance to The Line. It was granted under con¬
dition of showing signs of ability backed up by per¬
sonal enthusiasm. Byron in courting opportunity
aucl enthusiasm, said in part:' "Let us recognize
the beauty of true enthusiasm and what ever we
might, do to enlighten our selves and others guard
against checking or chilling an honest single senti¬
ment, for what is the human soul, however en-
24
lightened by acquisition or accused by exercise its
li^ht might illumine, but it cannot inspire, it might
shed a ccld and moonlight radiance upon the path
oj life, but warms no flower into bloom." Dr.
Johnson used to say that an obstinate rationality
prevented him from being an atheist. I say, does
not the same cause prevent hundreds, yea, thou¬
sands of us from unburdening our hearts and
breathing our devotions at the very shrine of na¬
ture?
The picture that's now being displayed, what
next must I attempt, something small or great?
He can see plainly the steps being made to use
every other nation that come into America to some
superior advantage above that of the negro. And
amid all this the gates of opportunity and fortune
still stand ajar and apparently the hand of God
can be seen holding every nation, while the spirit¬
ual, intellectual and moral voice can be heard to
the negro: '' Run; Run; Run.'' This is a day, an
hour and a period where we are called upon to do
something that is worth while; that will stand as
an everlasting standard to the race. And that will
only come when personal hatred, envy, and
jealousy shall cease to be dominant in the race,
when the day comes that one tongue can speak the
sentiment of thirteen million tongues, one head
25
think as thirteen million heads, one heart beat a
raptured feeling as thirteen million hearts, one
voice reverberating the echo for rights of thirteen
million voices, then the actual wheel of fortune
shaJl turn in our favor. The negro has lived on a
promise for more than forty-seven years. Shall
we wait for promise or hold our leaders to their
past promises. At the dawn of freedom the negro
presented his vote for equal rights, the answer
came that as son as your race problem is solved,
you shall be turned into the arena of all the rights
of an American citizen. Since then every attempt
has been made to solve this tantalizing problem.
When in back years the negro was actually almost
incapable he has served as Senators, Congress¬
men and Representatives, he has dealt with poli¬
tics, held honorable positions, or assumed import¬
ant responsibilities; he has accumulated wealth,
manifested honesty and ability, versed himself in
scientific sides of life, yet with all these demonstra¬
tions, the negro like all nations in some instances,
are detectful; as a citizen he is honest, upright and
righteous. As a financier he is conservative and
original; as a business man he is mutual, congenial
and hospitable; as a Christian he is spiritual, in¬
telligent and charitable. As a soldier he is brave,
daring and heroic. These being some of the lead-
26
ing principles under which others came to fame,
naturally he is left as a wanderer, realizing that
such qualifications it takes one centuries to ac¬
quaint himself, he is left to pass his mental judg¬
ment, as to the existing reasons we now are left
only to discuss the color of the nations. Honor¬
able Frederick Douglass once said the negro will
not crawl in the dirt forever, that it was honorable
to do whitewashing. But there was no reason why
this race should do that and nothing else. He said
they day would come in which we would be found
in all pursuits achieving distinctions, and showing
signs of capability which we were supposed never
to possess, realizing he has a part to do in the ele¬
vation of his race, aiming at the highest success
and determine to stand among the best citizens
and most useful members of society. Forty-seven
years and more have passed since the shackles of
slavery were broken. Is the truth of Mr. Douglass'
statement being verified? Look at this people at
that day and time, grossly ignorant, persecuted,
forced to bear much on account of prejudice
against color and former conditions, yet this race
has made progress such a.s history nowhere re¬
cords. He is determined that there shall be no
grander statesman, none better known in the pro¬
fessional life, no higher cultivated women, none
7
more upright and righteous than his own. Look
at that -picture and then at this: facts prove be¬
yond question that the negro is rapidly rising and
will dawn at once upon the most skeptical of mind.
Let us look at this people from another stand¬
point and see what progress they have made.
Within sixteen Southern States, including the Dis¬
trict of Columbia, there is 4,300,000 white chil¬
dren in public schools, 89,000 teachers, in this ter¬
ritory there are 3,710,000 colored pupils with
51,000 colored teachers. Land owned by negroes
at the close of Civil War, not any. Land owned in
1912, 20,000,000 acres, an area larger than .the
Kingdom of Holland and Belgium combined.
Churches, 300,000, valued at $75,000,000; institu¬
tions established and controlled by negroes, 2,700;
books written, 3,000; periodicals, 3,000; farmers,
105,000; the value of a negro in 1812, $600; value
of negro in 1912, no money can buy him; property
owners, 270,000. This, saying nothing about the
Quantity of lawyers, doctors, business men, etc.,
who have served in like professions of other races
to make this country its power today. These words
are not said or written to feed the almost quench¬
less fires of prejudice. I would walk face forward
in the presence of this harrowing and nameless
shame and cover it with the garment of Christian
28
charity, but my only apology for uncovering this
pit of seething, reeking and nauseating corruption
is to show from whence we came and to refute the
statement that slavery was not the halycon days
for pure upright character of the negro. It is even
claimed now that this is not only a white man's
government, but an Anglo-Saxon; thereby robbing
of their merits and glory the noble-minded for¬
eigners, who fought for American independence.
And what shall we say of those who are not for¬
eigners, but who, during four (4) years of ter¬
rible civil war, poured out their life's blood at
Gettysburg, around and about the defenses of
Richmond and Vicksburg; yet, it is my belief that
if all the blood that is not Anglo-Saxon, could be
drawn from the great stream which is supplying
our national life, that which remained would be
conspicuous for the insignificance of its quantity.
We come now to the facts of crossing the line:
CHAPTER II.
A little light on a dark subject : Many nations
have read with deep interest and personal satis¬
faction, the life of the negro, better known as the
Ethiopian. There is no ancient history that has
denied the record of this people playing the roles
of leaders, prophets, priests and kings. Some
29
three hundred (300) years ago tliev were brought
to this country, having served as a domestic
laborer or field hand of the most common type.
He was considered a dog, a brute; his notions,
even among his ministers, were crude. Year after
year he had toiled, groaned, sweated and wept,
day after day, year after year with no hope to
lighten him of his burdens. Bleeding, torn in
body, mind and soul, crushed with the iron hoof of
oppression and repression; freedom given him, his
hands and two great boons, he appears on the
convass of America, having accomplished every
aim and demonstrated every qualification in pro¬
portion to time; within 50 years he has made
intellectual leaps and professional bounds that has
tangleized the vocabulary, the minds, of the
world's greatest scientists. A little light on a
dark subject: We are told that this is the light;
the question comes, has the real truth of the Negro
been held up to the world of nations'? If so,
there is nothing for us to be ashamed of, unless
men make it to appear that our color is the part
that God does not like. This we cannot believe
from the facts that God only made good things.
Can any one prove that God did not make the
Negro? It is claimed, or He acknowledged, that
all that is made He made; the hills, mountains,
30
forests, seas, or great waters, animals, men, etc.
We come to the nations and their dominions^the
Japanese, Chinamen, Eskimos, Kussians, Malays,
Germans, French, Romans, Jews, Greeks, Italians,
Spaniards, Mexicans, and British Indian Islands.
None has served in America as a slave but the
black man. Mostly every race on the globe is now
habitatmg America, monopolizing time and util¬
izing privileges and rights to the enjoyment of
the business and Social world above that of the
Negro. The question that now confronts the
Negro most of all is, am I hated because I am
black! We come to this vital point with deepest
consideration, proving the Negro has honorably
filled every requirement that has been thrust upon
him. The day is now come where we cannot
afford to stand behind the opposite races of the
world any longer, for in proportion to our oppor¬
tunities we can show as many faithful, upright,
law-abiding citizens as any nation who treads
these shores, As educators we have representa¬
tives of the very best character and qualifications;
ministers whose intellectuality, mentality and spir¬
itual ability are unparalleled. As business men
their calibre and integrity is of a high ratio of
justice, added to truthfulness, of which in the
scale of honesty, he weighs as heavy as any
31
nation. As a soldier, liis sympathetic demeanor
volunteering for the sake of his country, and even
tho no West Point or naval academy has blessed
his opportunities, and trained him for the battle¬
field, yet, when he is called, as any other true
lover of his country, he gracefully and bravely
walks forward, facing shot and shell, fighting like
a soldier, and dying like a man for the sake of
his country. And after displaying such qualifi¬
cations, as becomes neecssary to fit him to step
in the line of equal rights and fair play in this
country, only to hear a number of whys and
wherefores. It was claimed first that on account
of the Negro's immortalities he was prevented
from the line. I say it's amusing to listen to
these hue and cries going up about the negro's
immoralities, such as went up recently from the
swamps of the Mississippi. Yet they are blind
to the fact that the same immoralities are con¬
tinually cropping out among all nations and espe¬
cially those who style themselves as our superiors.
The next reason, they claim he is seeking dom-
inition. There is no room in the Negro's mind
for such in a new world. They claim he is
a dangerous element in this civilization, but I say
a thousandfold are we to be trusted when com¬
pared to the thousands who are now flocking in
32
from European countries and are now a standing
menace to our social and political uplift! The dis¬
position the Negro is now laboring under is one
of such, as a baby who was born in the clouds
and reared on the earth, but after he became of
age, when and where he could be of some actual
service to the world as a specimen of true civil¬
ization, he was turned out and denied all privileges
for his and others' advancement- It is, indeed,
very hard to return to the clouds and live sat •
isfactorily. The 'Negro was brought to America
and taught to believe that the greatest oppor¬
tunity ever presented was here, and when, by
freedom, he came forth, patiently filling every
requirement to this thing you call philosophy
which is shutting everywhere in our faces the
doors of public accommodations; this kind of phil¬
osophy that is going to make it to appear that
every advancement of the Negro is a menace to
the interest of the white man. It is this false
philosophy I say that is exhausting all means to
keep alive in America race-antagonism. One
thing must be deeply considered that the path of
the Negro has not been strewn with flowers, but it
has steadily lead toward the light, and that light
was one of liberty and success. But the day and
hour has come when we must depend and lean
33
more upon our own race. For centuries we have
tried, acted and deported ourselves in some way
that would meet the white man's approval, and
because his hair is kinky, feet broad, face black
and nose flat, he has done everything to embarrass
us on account of some of our appearances. Yon
ask me why seme Negroes bleech their faces,
straighten their hair and mix freely with other
races; it is from the fact that he is trying to get
above the other nations' humiliation, by putting
on such superfluities that will bring him as near
the opposite races in features, appearance and
color; hence one can easily see the white man
is much to blame for these actions. Let the white
cease his humiliations on account of our color and
you will notice a number of bleeching cream and
face powder manufacturers will go out of busi¬
ness. This lesson has been taught too long,—the
fact of getting the Negro to hate himself because
he is black. The color subject will be the separa¬
tion of our race; if not, it will act as a strong
tendency to break the chair and spirit of unity
in the race. This world is called a social world,
but the other races realize the Negro's strength,
if he ever becomes thoroughly united, hence he is
doing all in his power to keep up separate. And
here is his plan: he is mutually sociable and
34
friendly to every race above that of the Negro.
Yen ask him why. He says, because you are
black. The octoroon offers to be friendly with the
white man and he pulls away, claiming you are
not white enough. Then octoroon may pull away
from the mulatto; the mulatto pulls away from
brown or yellow, and he pulls from the black.
This brings a peculiar separation in the race that
cannot be easily seen, but is felt; and this spirit
is very open and strong in the South. I have
been informed of seme churches in the South
which have pulled out from the race and organ¬
ized what is known as blue-vein societies, of which
none are made welcome in these churches except
those of light complexions. Now who can guess
the real cause of this ? Let us not forget that:
Fleecy locks and black complexion
Cannot forfeit Nature's claim.
Skin might differ, but affection
Dwells in black and white the same.
I hope that my dear readers will not criticise
when I say the name Negro has done a lot to
affect our progress, especially in these enlight¬
ened days when the Negro can and has done some¬
thing and done it well, but much remains to be
done. We come now to the fact of this name. I
do not wish it conceded or thought for a moment
35
that this story is written on the grounds of mak¬
ing it appear that I am ashamed of the word
black. I cannot be, under these conditions. Iam
told that God made all that is made: the only
conditions under which I could be ashamed is,
when God made the birds had he made all whites
—no browns, or blacks; in making the horses and
cattle of the hills, they were white horses and no
blacks; in painting the flowers of the forest, all
were white; no pink or purple, I would feel out of
place; then, in making man, why not expect the
same variety? I offer a plea against the name
Negro. Indeed, centuries ago we were compelled
to bear such a name, but why should a race which
has made such great advancement, with such a
wonderful and marked personality, why, I say,
should we go on down into and through all eter¬
nity, overlooking prophets, priests and kings, even
forgetting God himself, who said: Princes shall
i ome out of Egypt ; Ethiopia shall stretch forth
lier hands to god. Yet a Caucasian called me
'Negro and sometimes Nigger. Shall we pass on
satisfied? No, we shall not be. No doubt, some¬
one will say, it will affect the race. It will affect
our future. Some weak-kneed, puny-minded
leader will say we have gone too far and that we
can derive as much from this name as any other;
3B
but for the protection of the other side of the
race let us discuss for a moment the word Negro.
The Latin word Negro means a black man. The
Jatin word nigger means black, low and degraded.
Now if the word Negro applies to the black only,
under what name shall our mulattos and brown
be distinguished? Surely, ycu can't term black
v-h'te. Again, let me ask when you go to pur¬
chase merchandise, if you wanted white goods, do
you ask for black! If pink, do you ask for gray ?
If yellow, do you ask for pulple? If you wanted
a piece of goods composed of several colors, sucli
as white, pink, yellow and black, it is considered
by the merchant as colored or mixed goods; can
anyone deny or refute the statement that the
Negro is not the most mixed race of the world?
And does not the name colored apply to the entire
race with a far better meaning than that of Negro?
We come last of all to a few suggestions that will
pull the race to a very high level. I want to
ai)peal to the weaker of men of the race for a
stronger sense of race pride, and to the women
for little stronger sense of self-respect. Remem?
bering God gave woman five strong powers,—vir¬
tue, modesty, disposition, character and religion,—
the devil seemingly has employed man to aid him
in this mighty battle the woman has to contend
37
with! Man works on virtue in which, when vir¬
tue is once spoiled, it weakens her modesty, and
when she ceases to be modest, then her disposi¬
tion gets bad and she resorts to profanity, etc.,
and her own disposition reflects on her character.
iid wlien character; is gone, way on the end
Satan stands at the door of your religion hold¬
ing your character up to the world as being bad,
which causes tlie world to pass you by unnoticed.
Then, without a character, you obtain no influ¬
ence; hence religion that hasn't power enough to
demand respect of the general public is not worth
having. Then the only successful path of the
colored people is to take a stronger interest in
race unity and lean and depend much on Divine
direction for your future successes. Don't let one
opportunity pass to do something for someone in
the race. It only means another step for you.
Then if I had a thousand tongues, and each
tongue a thousand voices and each voice a thou¬
sand echoes that could reach from America to the
uttermost isles of the sea, I would tell every-mem-
ber of the colored family to take up their oppor¬
tunities. I am,
Yours truly, for the race,
S. DOUGLAS McDUFFIE.
38
SERMON
John, 2d Chapter, 39th Verse.
Jesus said: Take ye away the stone.
Sometimes in musing upon genius in its sim¬
plest manifestations, I would that you read this
entire chapter. We come to take iip the study of
various stones that doubtless have retarded or
impeded both the material and spiritual progress
of God's army. We wish to consider the stone of
doubt, fear, persecution, criticism and unbelief.
Some one might ask, i^ it possible that the Chris¬
tian can ot will 'carry these stcnes and be born
of God? Yes, they present themselves as temp¬
tations or hindrances, but each Christian must
have that desire to rid himself or herself of such
stones. And with that never-failing faith wait on
God, for saith Isaiah: They that wait on the
Lord shall renew their strength; they shall walk
and not become tired; they shall run and not
faint; they shall mount on wings like eagle's. We
find as early as Moses carried a stone of doubt,
fear and unbelief. God told Moses to tell Phar-
oah: Let his children go. Pharoah refused. God
further distinguishes himself, in wisdom, quality
and vower, telling Moses: Go, tell Pharoah that
Jehovah's God, saieth, let my children go.
Pharoah refused. Moses returned. God gave
himself a name of power. Go tell him that the
39
God of Creation saith, let my people go. Pharoah
still refused. God gave the third command. Go
tell him that, I am that I am; say, let my people
go. Fharoah still refused. Moses, in the mean¬
time, doubting and fearing God, ran away to Mt.
Sinai. There he became a shepherd, and while
watching his fiock the Lord of Glory appealed in
such power that had sufficient bearing and evi¬
dence to disperse every doubt and fear from
Moses' mind by appearing in a little green bush.
Mcses looked up, in fear, yet desiring to acquaint
himself more with the peculiar happening, drew
near for the fact of a more vivid investigation,
seeing this green bush filled with fire, yet the
leaves thereof did not drose, wither, nor consume.
As he drew near he heard a voice reverbrating
from the bush: Moses, take off your shoes, for
the ground where thou standest is holy ground.
Dear reader, I do not believe God was referring
so much to the material sandal that was upon his
feet, but to take off the shoes of doubt, criticism
and fear. See me as I am, if I am able to fill
this bush with the fire and the leaves thereof does
n t wither, dross or consume, surely I can lead
you if you will follow me. Naaman had a stone
of doubt, fear and unbelief, having that peculiar
disease known as the leprosy, and after exhaust-
4U
ing all means, 110 doubt, from a financial stand¬
point and failing, lie sought refuge among the pro¬
phets of God. As is the type of all sinners, they
re'y upon their own ability for all they want until
the time of immediate danger and trouble, then
Ujtse same parties who criticised and doubted
seek aid among the army of God. Hence it is
important that each follower of Christ today must
and should live that individual, spiritual life, so
as to be prepared to attack evil and protect right¬
eousness. Naaman came all the way from
among the Palestines to Jordan, where the ser¬
vant of God abode, to enquire, aid or seek a pre¬
scription for that excruciating disease known as
the leprosy; only to hear the Prophet of God'
command him: Go, dip in the Jordan seven times.
'Naaman, being astounded and surprised at that
common command, criticised and doubted, asking
what need I dip in the filthy waters of Jordan
when I have servants to cleanse the waters of the
Palestine. No, I shall return from whence I came.
But the servant came between, enquiring, Naajnan,
you have come all the way from Palestine, you
have tried every plan there and failed, why not
dip? But Naaman said no. But the servant kept
on prevailing. Naaman, have you ever dipped
or batlied in the Jordan before! No. Do you
41
really know that there is 110 power in the waters?
No. Well, Naaman, what law, what court, or
judge has ever convicted a man without trial?
Why net dip and find out. At this conclusion
Naaman went down, dipped once, came up crit¬
icising'. You see, it hasn't left yet. But the ser¬
vant kept on prevailing that the disease was not
to have left on the first nor the fifth dipping, but
the seventh. We went down the third, fourth,
fifth and 6th time, then started away, but the ser¬
vant entreated him; Naaman, dip once more.
Naaman enquiring, why are thou so anxious that
I dip the seventh time. The servant informed
him that this God whom the prophet delighteth to
honor that same God I believe, I want you to dip,
so if there be any room to doubt I can doubt him;
also Naaman went down the seventh time and the
leprosy left him. What God wants the Christian
world to do, whether the world has faith in you
or not to keep on dipping and prevailing; dip for
more power; dip for more faith; dip for more
love; then, when trials shall come, there will rest
in your soul a blessed assurance that Jesus is
mine. If there be a sinner suffering from the
42
c3i.sca.se of sin, let him by faith see— '
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Emmanual's veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Loose all their guilty stains.
Now we find Jesus exhausting spiritual means
t ) remove every, doubt and fear from the Jewish
authority. They conceded He was able and was
succeeding in drawing the people to Him, and
prior to this He gave a man his sight, for the
s:ni o man confessed in an open testimony that lie
did not know frcm whence He came or who He
Was, but I do know whereof I was blind and now I
see, and I do not believe God heareth a sinner's
prayer. Immediately they cast him out of the
temple, filling their promise, of any man acknowl¬
edge Him as being the Christ, he muse be cast out.
They also cast stones at Jesus. He, with His
disciples, fled beyond Jordan. God directed an
angel to lay hands cn Lazarus and bring on such
excruciating pains that no medical skill could aid,
Jesus trusting it to the hands of His father to
direct some plan to bring him among the Jews.
Again Lazarus became seriously ill. Mary and
Martha sent him word, but he remained some two
days longer, entreating the disciples that we go
and awake Lazarus. They, thinking in propor-
43
ticn, the taunting pains, that if he sleep he does
well, but Jestis was not referring to the material
sleep, but made it known to them: Lazarus sleep-
etli the sleep of the dead. To what extent we
must go, one reminded him of the Jews' previous
desire to assassinate him. Yet He did not reveal
His powers openly to them more than concerning
the twelve hours to a. day; when we walk by day,
can we stumble? This has a tendency to reflect
on His powers, meaning to say, it does not matter
how wroth the Jews were a few days ago. I must
go call Lazarus and Many shall believe. To the
Christian world we too quickly allow our past
failures to impede our -present progress. Re¬
member to forget the steps already trod and on¬
ward urge our way. Mary and Martha waited for
a number of days. Finally Mary gave up and
refused to look, Bethany being two miles from
Jerusalem, and Lazarus was loved by the Jews,
Many came to mourn and weep with Mary ancl
Martha. At the impulse of. that sad home, Mar¬
tha looked up and saw a figure winding far down
the roads. She went out and discovered it to be
Jesus with his disciles. She met him, exclaiming:
Master, if you just had been here my brother
woukl not have died. Jesus said: Yea, Martha,
but lie shall rise again. I know, said Martha, but
44
that is the resurrection which is the last day.
Jesus, in exchange, said: Martha, understand
and believe, I am the resurrection and the life.
If any man believe on Me, though he be dead, yet
shall lie live again, At the end of this statement
they reached the home where Lazarus once lived.
He inquired as to the whereabouts of Mary.
Martha informed Him she is here, but her opinion
of You is the same as mine. She cannot under¬
stand why you did not come. Tell her I am here.
Mary came out weeping and complaining in such
pathetic terms and tones until Jesus Himself
groaned and wept, Between this He enquired of
Mary where have you laid? She still criticising,
said; It is almost useless to ask me now, for by
this time he stinketh. Bnt show me where you
laid him; and on their way Jesus arrived at the
tomb, with 30,000 Jews looking on and criticising.
Yet between all their doubt and fear of His abil¬
ity, Jesus looked up to Heaven, called on God.
Under these conditions not for Mary's nor Mar¬
tha's sake, but that these Jews might know I am
the Son of God, send Lazarus back. God com¬
manded angels to locate the soul of Lazarus, take
away its immortality and replace its mortal,
commanded Lazarus return and remain a few
years longer, and as liis spirit descended into the
45
the grave no one saw it save Jesus. He remarked :
Take he away the stone. The question why did
Christ command the disciples to take away the
stone? It seems if it is possible that He can
raise the dead He ought to speak to the stone and
bid it be removed. The reason of this was only a
matter of trying the disciples' faith. Under these
conditions all during the prayer of Christ some
of the Jews were openly criticising Him in such
terms that was enough to cause the disciples to
doubt His power and ability, Jesus wishing to
test their faith, knowing that if they still believed
there would be no question or hesitancy in obey¬
ing His command. Thus they rolled away the
stone. Jesus, seeing their faith, commanded Laz¬
arus to rise and come forth. As he rose He said:
Loose the man and let him go. My friend, arise,
come forth in service of cur God and Master;
loose yourselves from all the personal vanities of
the world. Come out and follow until the final
morning, when we shall rise, to sleep no more.
But be at rest forever more.
46
INDEX
A Tribute to My Home State, Ohio
My Letter to The South
A Tribute to White People of the South
Greetings to the A. M. E. Church
My Calling and Why I Preach
A Vision
Crossing the Line
A Little Light on a Dark Subject
A Sermon
. -•• * - •• • •