MODERATOR'S

ANNUAL ADDRESS

Rev. E. D. MAPLES, Moderator

Delivered before the

Third Annual Session of the
Ebenezer Association

Convened with the

Corinthian Baptist Church, Dayton, Ohio
July 26, 27, 28 and 29, 1927

Rev. E. D. MAPLES, Pastor

MODERATOR'S ANNUAL ADDRESS

Dear Messengers and Friends Composing the Third Session of the Ebenezer Baptist Associa­tion:

It is indeed a source of pleasure to bring to you, this, my first annual message, under the guidance and direction of the Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth, of another year, with its varied scenes and multiplicity of changes wrought by the re­volving hand of time. We have been blessed to meet in another annual session. Twelve months ago we assembled in Middletown, Ohio. In that meeting you saw fit to elect me Moderator of this Association, one of the great associations of the state. I have resolved, by the help of the Su­preme Ruler of the Universe, and the assistance of the members of this Association, to faithfully discharge my duty to the best of my ability.

Dear Messengers, we realize that during this Association year we haven't had all sunshine, yet we rejoice in the fact that all has not been cloud and rain, Then to you, who are defending the standard of our denominational and educational work in this district, let me bid you take courage and go forward, for the world has turned a listen­ing ear and believes your report. Dear Messengers, in the Name of Our Heavenly Father and the great cause which we represent, I admonish each one of you to do your whole duty while being in this deliberation. We are mindful of the fact that twelve months ago we were invited here by Rev. E. D. Maples, the worthy and efficient pastor and members of this church to share with them their hospitality as we sojourn these few days. My dear friends, I hope you will realize that you are here on business for the King and the King's message requires haste.

Co-operation Needed

Dear Messengers, there is one thing I wish to speak of specifically and particularly—it is the need of sympathy and co-operation among us as preachers, officers and members of this Associa­tion. No cause can succeed without union of its forces. Our cause will win if we unite our forces. Brethren, where there is union there is strength. When the church, the pulpit and the pew unite, and God's people are all of one mind, then the cause of our .Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will flourish, the church will grow daily, and many souls will be brought to Christ. Christianity is like a red-hot ball rolling over the earth and the hosts of death and hell cannot stand before it. I believe that men will then come flocking into the kingdom by hundreds and thousands. But, says Christ, shall all men know that ye are My dis­ciples if you have love for one another.

Semi-Annual Session

This session convened with the Shiloh Baptist Church, Springfield Street, East Dayton ; Rev. Wm. White, pastor ; and was a delightful one. A drive was conducted by the ministers of the dis­trict and was pulled off with great success. Each pastor and officer expressed the thought of the various churches. This effort was only a feeble expression of what we are determined to do as a denomination in this district.

The Semi-Annual Session of the Ebenezer Association, Women's Department

My dear friends, I am indeed glad to say that this great body of Christian workers is doing un­told good in helping to put over a wonderful pro­gram in the Name of our Heavenly Father. They are not leaving one stone unturned. I wish to say that words are inadequate for me to express the appreciation that is due them for the great work they are doing for education and missions in this district. The good women of the district, striving under the leadership of their president, have decided to stand by the Ohio Baptist State Convention until every enemy has been conquered and the victory achieved in the name of our Heavenly Father. The last session of the Conven­tion convened in Metropolitan Baptist Church, of Cincinnati, Ohio, (Rev. Frank J. Walker, pastor), and was a delightful session. The drive was con­ducted by the ministers of the district and was pulled off with great determination. Brethren, let us stand by them, for they are doing a great work and they cannot come down.

The Sunday School Session

Dear Messengers and Friends, language fails us in an attempt to pay tribute to this branch of our work. We owe much praise and commenda­tion. The Rev. N. L. Shaw, the worthy and effi­cient president, has proved himself equal to the task. He has the intellectual throttle in his hands and he is moving this great body of S. S. workers in the right way. I am glad to say that much interest is being manifested in this convention in training our young people in the best methods of carrying out their work in the various Sunday schools of this district. The last session of this Convention, that convened with the new Prospect Baptist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, (Rev. Fearol, pastor), was a school within itself.

Much information was gained and each Mes­senger went to their various Sunday schools better prepared in teaching God's Word. This great convention is doing a great work for the cause of Christ. They are standing hard by the B. Y. P. U.

The B. Y. P. U. Session

Dear Messengers and Friends, language fails us in an attempt to pay tribute to this branch of our work. We owe much praise and commenda­tion to Rev. Fearol, the worthy and efficient pres­ident, who has proved himself equal to the task. He has the intellectual throttle in his hands and he is moving this great body of. B. Y. P. U. work­ers in the way. I am glad to say that much in­terest is being manifested in this convention in training our young people in the best methods of carrying out their work in the various B.Y.P.U.'s of this district. The last session of this conven­tion, that convened at the new Prospect Baptist Church, (Rev. Fearol, pastor), and was a school in itself. Much information was gained and each messenger went to their various Young People's Union better prepared in the teaching of God's Word. This great convention is doing a great work in putting over this program for God. Men of high moral courage is the world's greatest need—God is calling for men of high moral cour­age to stand on higher ground for the race's sake. If God can get you—the Christian men of the age—to stand for the work. He can destroy en­slaving traditions of men, He can loose the cable of man's fear and disperse with the crash of ig­norant person's hypocrisy and hell, and we can cross the dangerous seas unharmed. Just think how much depend's upon you, the men of our race, your intelligent Christian love and your fortitude, your undaunted characters and wills, the bulwark which will guard the purity of, our homes, and sanctity of our church. It is right that they who are the inspiration and guardians of our affec­tion, be with us in our triumph of all nobility. No race ever grew to human greatness without good virtues. Our group has made wonderful strides as individuals and much of this was ac­complished without confident means to trust men. One writer said : "If you will trust men, they will be true to you. Treat them gently and they will be great." It was in 1863 that our people were turned loose without homes or shelter. There were no lawyers, doctors, teachers, preachers or churches, insurance companies, money, banks, or any other mass accomplishments. But today these things are ours. If this has been done with­out confidence, what could we have done if we had confidence one in the other? Confidence is a plant of slow growth, especially in the hearts of our people. We have been taught that all Negroes were dishonest. But if you can trust yourself, then allow the other fellow the same chance. In condemning the group, remember that you are one of us. No one rail can build a fence, neither can one man build a race. So in order to come into our own we must be forced to restore, build up and maintain confidence in ourselves. The fundamental of human society is trust and this is confidence in the integrity of one another. Alexander the Great conquered the world because he thought he could. Hannabal scaled the Alps with the same requisite. Caesar conquered Pom­peii though outnumbered two to one. He also fought for Cleopatra and swam the river with his manuscript in his mouth upon which was written, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Like confidence was displayed when Cyrus W. Fields laid the At­lantic cable, making it possible to stand in New York and talk to Europe. It was July 13th that this message was sent : "Heart content, July 13th, arrived here at nine o'clock this morning. All's well, thank God." It was confidence in God and themselves that' caused Gideon and his army to conquer the enemy, giving Israel the victory.

     This being evident, why can't my people have confidence in themselves? The failure to have confidence has hindered us until this day. To succeed as a people we must learn to concentrate our minds and unite in our efforts, remembering that life is an arrow, therefore, we must know what mark to aim at, how to use the bow, then draw it. Confidence will produce racial unity. Let us unite for in unity there is strength. One writer said that union does everything when it is perfect. It satisfies desires, simplifies needs and wishes and become a constant fortune. But no people can unite without confidence and main­tain it, as it is the safest protection around the future of our race. Too much cannot be said about Negro business everywhere, therefore, let us learn to be satisfied to eat in Negro restau­rants, patronize Negro pharmacis, call Negro doctors, use Negro vehicles for our hauling, read Negro newspapers and other literature, buy some clothes from Negro clothing stores on Western and, other avenues, buy your shoes from a Negro shoe store, use Negro lawyers, take your policy with a Negro insurance company, as we have four or more in this city, put your money in a Negro bank, people's finance corporation, and other similar institutions. If the other group insurance companies pay off first, credit it to this fact, that it is the company who collects the most is able to meet its obligations promptly, therefore, the more money any company collects, the better they are prepared to pay off. The other group writes all of their own people plus two-thirds of ours—why shouldn't they pay off first?—and y at sometimes they pay me and miss you and it is alright because we have so much con­fidence in the comranies of the other group, we fail to see their faults. I plead today for a chance for my race that we might produce the goods and put on the market what we have with the inspi­rational words of this poet, "I know nothing about failure, but I do know something about success. Therefore, in spite of hardships and opposition, I am bound to succeed." The Negro some few years ago was the other folks' servant you know. When he married he married poor. He and his wife had nowhere to go and hardly anywhere to stay. And when he worked all day until night he did not have a decent light. Although in dark­ness we would have to stay, we pushed our way up until this day. And all we ask as we advance, Just let the Negroes have a chance. We'll do our best to win the fight and prove to the world that. we are right. We seek to win our people's nrais-2, that the race might take its rightful place. I plead for confidence in ourselves, in our brothers, an i last, but not least, in our God.