520020-013

ΤΟ

My Mother

A VOICE FROM THE DARK

FOREWORD

In this day when so much is written about the Negro, so little is said concerning his church. Whatever advancement has been made by him must be laid largely at the door of those who lead his church. This brief sketch is designed to represent one minister highly typical of the great Negro Baptist denomination and to reflect, in a small way, the opinions of Negro Baptist leaders concerning the denomination during the last fifty years.

I express my thanks for the many suggestions and for much of the information herein contained to my many relatives, and to Mrs. L. Davis; Mr. A. Banks; the Rev. Lacey Kirk Williams, D. D.; the Rev. E. W. D. Isaac, D. D.; President John Hope, A. M., LL. D.; the Rev. Charles H. Young; the Rev. Edwin P. Johnson, D. D.; the Rev. Peter James Bryant, D. D.; and the Rev. Sutton E. Griggs, D. D. I also appreciate the helpfulness and encouragement given by the President and members of the faculty of the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago. I am especially grateful to the Rev. Dr. Augustine S.

Carman and the Rev. Dean Shailer Mathews, who respectively critically read my manuscript and kindly advised me in this task of love.

I write, too, from the soul rather than to be heard of men. I write for him who left no trace of his sailing-self, save rippling waves and sheets upon the surface strewn, which I caught up. I write that young men everywhere might court a friendship not in vain, that older seers who conquered pain might glory in the young men's gains, I write. I write from promptings, big and great, for hearts of friends and for mine that aches.

And then, the last song

When the dead man is praised on his journey Bear, bear

him along

With his few faults shut up like dead flowerets! Are balm

seeds not here

To console us? The land has none left such as he on the bier.
Oh would we might keep thee, my brother! '-Browning.

CHICAGO, DECEMBER 25, 1921.

M. M. F.

t