The writer does not undertake to point out all the defects of the Negrochurch. He does not lay any claim to omniscience.
The limits of time and the scope of the subject prevent him fromdiscussing even what he knows in part. It is only some of the leadingdefects in the Negro Church which will be presented for discussion. Itmay be necessary to state at the onset that the writer is an optimist inhis studies of questions relating to his race. If at any time he iscompelled to use the surgeon’s knife he will do so with the utmostsympathy and with a view to heal. It may also be necessary to state, inorder to allay the fears of our friends and prevent the recklesscriticism of our detractors, that the defects of the Negro church arefound more or less in churches of other races. They are the same in kindbut differ in degree, on account of difference in environment. They arenot inherent in the race, but are found wherever the environments callfor them. It may be laid down as an axiomatic truth that there has neverbeen and there is not a perfect church. Of the twelve men who formed thenucleus of the Christian church and who had the advantage of thepersonal teaching of the Christ, one was a doubter, another wasworldly-minded, a betrayer, and a son of perdition who sought relieffrom the stings of conscience by self-destruction; a third was adeserter and vacillator, who drew from the great apostle of the Gentilesa stinging rebuke for stultifying his conscience during that excitingcontroversy which was to settle once for all whether Christianity was tobe a racial or a universal religion. But because there never was aperfect church is no reason why we should speak lightly or condone thedefects of the Negro Church. Our ideal of the Negro Church is one whichwill have as few defects as possible. If we expose these defects it isbecause our aim is to correct them so as to[Pg 4] reach as near as possibleour ideal. We hope we shall not be misunderstood if we submit forinvestigation the following defects in the Negro Church.
All life is known by its manifestations. The latter is the outcome, theeffect of the former. The manifestations of life cannot by any means bemore important than the life which makes them possible. Christianity isa religion of inwardness, it finds its root in the heart and soul ofman, then effects the outward life. Whenever the inner or spiritual lifeis renewed, there follows from necessity a renewed exterior. There mustbe first life in the soul. Nor can there be any evolution of the soul orof society without a previous involution in them. The whole nature ofman must be wrapped up in the image of God before any fruits ofGodliness show themselves. The tendency in the Negro Church is to lookfor these manifestations rather than to work for the indwelling spiritwho is the cause of such manifestations. Parallel with this tendency inthe church, is the effort which is being made after expression ofreligious life when it should be directed along the line of impressingit. The church is in need of a deep spiritual life, nevertheless it isimpossible to express what is not previously impressed in the mind.
There is a form of oratory prevalent among us, a mere jingle of sounds,an expression of nothing of much value. Under its spell the man