The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1908, Page 68

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68

The Lutheran Pioneer.

But then, remarks the skeptic, why does the
colored race as a race not advance socially?

We reply: The colored race in the United States
has advdnced and ts advancing. The social ad-
vancement of races proceeds slowly, very slowly
indeed. It does not keep pace with the rapid prog-
ress of a child at school; it requires the time of
generations before a nation’s social elevation can,

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David's Well in Palestine.

in a measure, be accomplished. Examine into early
history and observe the great length of time the
social advancement of each nation required. It did
not proceed perceptibly from year to year; it seems
to have moved by centuries only, so slow was its
progress. Now, in comparison, take a glance at
the record of the colored race in the United States
during the past forty years. Not fifty years since,
it was an oppressed, slave-driven community, whose
conditions in life made social advancement im-
possible. ‘To-day it is a free, independent race,
procuring its own sustenance at such employment

as ability and mind’s tendency dictate. The colored
man is master of his own home and is raising a
greater ease and comfort than ever
Is not this social advancement? Is it not
remarkable social advancement?

Other races required a much longer time to
the social standard which the colored race

generation in
before.

za most

reach
attained in the past forty years.

lt is that the
social elevation of the colored race is
Much, very
much more is desirable and to be ae-

nevertheless true

by far not completed.

quired by proper means and methods
in the progress of time. And it is an
historical fact that those nations of
the world among whom the Word of
God was preached and taught in its
purity advanced most rapidly in their
social conditions. Wherever this Word
circulates there you find the true so-
cial elevation of nations. Its influence
is so great because it strikes at the
root of everything in the soul of man
that hinders true social advancement.
The moment God’s Word is embraced
by, and its passage makes inroads
into, the hearts of-a nation a quicker
advance in their social condition is
assured. They become God-fearing,
industrious, honest, truthful, gentle,
trusting. These are some of the most
important elements of true social ele-
vation.

While there are some truly Chris-
tian homes among our colored popu-
lation where children.are taught to
fear and love their God and Savior,
to lead a righteous life in word
and deed, where daily prayers are ob-
“ served and where each love and honor
their spouse, the majority by far disregard the
marriage vow and ignore chastity, lead an unholy,
sinful life before the eyes of their children, and
totally fail to rear them in the love and fear of
God, but let them grow up to become what they
will as long as they learn to read and write. The
continued true progress of our colored people must
begin at home within the four family walls. -Man
and wife must learn to live together and continue
to live together, bearing the burdens and sharing
the happiness of life one with the other, one help-
ing and aiding the other, never to part.