Source: The Kansas Methodist, March 31, 1881
The
African Problem
What is the best solution that can be given to this
important question at this hour? God in his providence has thrown upon the
church a weight of responsibility she can not well evade. Vast multitudes of
our fellow beings, ignorant, degraded, pauperized, are thrown into our midst
under circumstances that should awaken the deepest interest of every
philanthropist, but more importantly of every lover of Jesus. Nearly all these
multitudes were in a bondage worse than Egyptian, and the world was wondering
when all along down the centuries it would be possible for these groans to
cease, or any permanent help to reach them. Just about then, He, whose
thoughts are not as ours,
Who
moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
Who plants His footsteps on the sea,
And rides upon the storm;
Was pleased
to concentrate in the person of one man a power that enabled him, with a
single stroke of his pen, to break the galling chains from over four millions
of our fellow men. This seemed to be a speedy answer to their piercing cries
and sent a thrill of joy throughout the heart of the nation, and will compare
with any achievement since the advent in Bethlehem. But this great fact rolled
upon the church a duty toward them demanding most intense, yet judicious
action. This vast population are to be citizens among us and indifference to
their interests just at this time may not only be at their peril but may
imperil the entire nation. Their release from bondage left them in deepest
ignorance and degradation, no way qualified to manage and care for themselves,
and directly exposed to all injuries which heartless, imbruted taskmasters
might impose upon them. Cruelties made doubly intense because now the victim
of their abuse had ceased to be their own property. Now in deepest poverty and
ignorance, without any means of escape, they are stretching out their hands
crying for help. He who hears the ravens when they cry has been pleased to
impress them that in Kansas they have a friend; that she is a state never to
go back on her past record. For days and nights, months and years the
resistless tide of emigration of these abused ones has been in this direction,
and it has apparently just begun. They feel that they are escaping for their
life and coming where they may find a refuge. The question is, what is the
duty of the church, and of ministers of Christ’s gospel especially? Can
their final account to the Master be satisfactory if they fail to lend a
ready, helping hand or speak a word of cheer whenever and wherever
opportunities offer themselves? Cruel sharpers and wicked, designing men are
on every hand disposed to take advantage of their ignorance and impose upon
them most grievous injuries. Add to this the deep-seated prejudice existing in
the breasts of many of the white population against color, causes the
multitude to act the part of priest and Levite and pass by on the other side,
giving no response to the cry of distress. In our ministers they must find the
good Samaritan ready to help just as their case demands. Their cry for help is
the cry of the Master himself in the shape of his suffering ones, and if
ministers will but do their whole duty fearlessly, it will be their joy after
a time to hear, “Inasmuch as ye have done unto the least of these, my little
ones, ye have done it unto me, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.”
But my
communication is already too long. In my next I will allude more especially to
the duty of our own church just at this juncture, and some of the difficulties
she has to meet. Yours, J. S.
Griffin.
