Page:Daniel Minort Baxter - Bishop Richard Allen and His Spirit (1923).pdf/101

Rh righteousness, you become a shining light in a dark place, and a magnet drawing all the good unto yourself. When you speak and act your words and deeds have double power for in them and back of them, is the power of integrity, you enjoy the confidence, love and respect of your fellow-men in this life, and a pledge of an eternal happiness in the life to come.

Again since character is an element of power—power is opportunity. Every spring, hundreds of young people come forth from the different schools and colleges of the lands, but no graduates are so keenly watched as the Negro graduates, for no people furnish so much ripe discussion for the public as the Negro race, pulpit and press, lyceum, platforms, legislative halls, and ambitious politicians and men of peculiar tastes and inborn prejudices are continually telling forth, and foretelling our destiny. But in the midst of all this clamor we are pressing on up the roads of religion, education and wealth. Our enemies are trying to isolate and force us to ourselves more and more each day, therefore we must make a better self preparation to meet the crisis of standing alone. We have long since