(Excerps)
Exodus leads very well into the spirituality of the civil right movement.


Martin Luther King followed in his father's and grandfather's foot steps. His grandfather, the Reverend Adam Daniel Williams,  at Ebenezer Baptist Church was quite an example as the following text indicates.
(to help us with the comprehension of  this very special time in history please find here : excerps from http://chuck.hubpages.com/hub/Martin_Luther_Kings_Grandfather_the_Reverend_Adam_Daniel_Williams )

When the Reverend Williams assumed his duties on March 14, 1894 the congregation had seventeen members officially listed on its membership roll.

Like his grandson, Martin Luther King Jr., after him, Williams was a charismatic speaker whose preaching attracted and inspired people. Utilizing his speaking and other talents, Williams was able to attract sixty-five new people to the congregation during his first year as pastor.
Under his leadership the congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church continued to grow steadily as evidenced by the fact they twice had to build and move into larger churches to accommodate their growing numbers.
The second move was to the present Ebenezer Baptist Church at 407 Auburn Ave. the building of which was completed in 1922. It was at the present church on Auburn Ave. that Reverend Williams' son-in-law, Martin Luther King Sr., joined him as assistant pastor in 1927......Martin Luther King Jr Carried on His Grandfather's Work and Legacy.


Role of Church in the Civil Rights Movement Dates Back to End of Civil War

Throughout its history the Christian Church, like its counter parts in some other religions, has had to deal with people's material as well as spiritual needs.
Many of today's institutions – schools, libraries, hospitals, orphanages, social service organizations like the YMCA, etc. - were started by the Christian Church.
The message of the Church – love of neighbor, equality of all before God, etc. - has also served through the centuries to restrain tyrants and advance the cause of human freedom.


Williams Concerned With Material, as Well as Spiritual Needs of His Flock

When the institution of slavery was abolished following the Civil War, some of the first leaders to emerge among the newly freed slaves were those who had assumed the duties of preachers during the era of slavery.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution (which was added in July 1868) along with various post Civil War Federal Civil Rights laws guaranteed the basic rights to all citizens including blacks.

Passing laws is one thing, actual enforcement is another. If officials elect not to enforce a law, then the law is nothing more than a piece of paper with writing on it.

When government officials, at the Federal, state and local levels, choose not to enforce laws guaranteeing the rights of former black slaves, it was local black churches that stepped forward to help the former slaves.

Black churches became the center around which were built the communities necessary for blacks in the South to survive and prosper within the discriminatory environment in which they found themselves.

In the post Civil War era of segregation and Jim Crow laws in the South, black churches became the center of black community life.

Like other black pastors, the Rev. Adam Daniel Williams worked tirelessly to enhance the material as well as the spiritual lives of both his flock and the black community as a whole.
Reverend Adam Daniel Williams Use Strategies of Both Washington and DuBois

Using the strategies of both Washington and DuBois, Williams encouraged the formation and growth of black businesses as well as urging his congregation and other members of the black community to save and purchase their own homes.

Reverend Williams led the black community in political fights to obtain schools and other public accommodations for blacks.

In 1917 Williams joined other community leaders to form the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP. In his first five months as leader of the local NAACP he increased the chapter's membership by 1,400. As leader, he also launched a major effort to register blacks to vote.
Upon Reverend Williams' death in 1931, Martin Luther King Sr. became the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Twenty-nine years later, in 1960, Reverend King's son, Martin Luther King Jr. joined his father as co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
By this time Martin Luther King Jr. was already known throughout the world as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.
As a result of Martin Luther King Junior's fame and his association with Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church had become world famous as many of King's speeches were delivered from the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Like other great leaders in history, Martin Luther King Jr. did not appear from nowhere.
His father and grandfather were obviously role models. Like his father and grandfather, King was a great orator and used his preaching skills to rally people to his cause.
Also, like his father and grandfather, he organized, encouraged and agitated to keep advancing the cause.
The stage was set, the time was ripe and Martin Luther King Jr. willingly accepted the torch from his predecessors and led the movement forward to victory.)
(Note to the reader : To help me with the details , I have copied some text that contained a lot of what Mr Wallis had mentionned in his talk)


In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. 


He received the B. A.degree in  1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. 
In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. 
King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 
In December, 1955, he accepted the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott . The boycott lasted 382 days, the longuest demonstration in Alabama.
 
On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses,  the Freedom riders, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. They all went to meetings to sessions to be thought to be peacefull. They were arrested as I described in my talk last time and sent to Parchman Farm, Mississipi state penitentiary. Do not want to go there then or even now!
During these days of boycott, King  emerged as a Negro leader as he took a big part in that process. 
In 1957 Martin Luther King was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to bring more organization to  the civil rights movement.  
In 1961 the was a special program on PBS (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/freedomriders/) talking about the music, the background.  I admire those people so much  because they are peacefull and because of their Christianity.
As stated in another PBS program : Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent movement to free India from British colonial rule inspired American civil rights activists who had immersed themselves in Ghandi's teachings and viewed non-violence as an effective way to challenge the tyranny of the Jim Crow South.


Slaves owners 

• did not want their slaves to know how to read, but slaves had supporters that helped them to learn.
  
• did not want them to read the Bible, as if they did, slave owners were affraid they would know that they were not treating them right

Christianity, cohesion, hope, strength .. all that was in their songs 

Song : Keep you eyes on the prize

Paul and Silas bound in jail
Had no money for to go their bail
Keep your eyes on the prize
Hold on, hold on

Paul and Silas thought they was lost 
Dungeon shook and the chains fell off 
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on

Hold on, hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on

The only thing that we did was wrong 
Was staying' in the wilderness too long 
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on

The only thing we did was right 
Was the day we begun to fight 
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on

Hold on, hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on

Freedom's name is mighty sweet 
One day soon we're gonna meet 
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on

Got my hand on the gospel plow 
Won't take nothing for my journey now 
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on

Hold on, hold on 
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on

Only chain that a man can stand 
Is that chain o'hand on hand
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on
 
Alternative verses demonstrate the fact they were using their songs to pass the message :

 We're gonna board that big Greyhound, 
Carryin’ love from town to town.
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on 

We're gonna ride for civil rights, 
We’re gonna ride both black and white.
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on 

We've met jail and violence too, 
But God's love has seen us through.
Keep your eyes on the prize 
Hold on, hold on
( note to the reader:  the lyrics have been copied to demonstrate the point Mr Wallis was making not to detail exactly what he sang)

Now picture this :  somebody goes in a big city for the first time, for business in Chicago. The next thing he knows, he is in a car with strange people. I was that dumb guy. I could never understand why people are the way they are, about black Jewish people. 


I was in Chicago on business to meet people.


I asked people on the street if they new where Muddy Watters was playing. This one person believed in me.

There were Blacks, White into a car. I got into the car. .... innocence in an intelligent face:   this is OK. " This is FAITH"
We headed South, I had  a little apprehension . We got to this appartment, put Muddy Watters record on.... Friendship around his music. He says you are going to play guitar. He loaned me his guitar.


We went to this Club. shabby looking, where Otis Rush  was playing. 

He asked me questions, I replied:  I loved the blues. He asked me enough questions to make sure. He presented me as HUGH WALLIS from CANADA. They were the most gracious people I ever saw, the nicest people. Not drunk, no fights. 
Never heard music and applause like that. People came up from Alabama to see this.

I went back to Chicago in 1963. he would have a party for me. I made a lot of friends. "I can't like you because you are white.... If you knew what the white people did to my family! " It is alright. I understand. It was an epiphany moment for me and hopefully for him. Every time I went to Chicago, I went to see him. 


" FAITH" not stupidity


Song : Wade in the Water

Wade in the water 
Wade in the water, children 
Wade in the water 
God's going to trouble the water.

See that host all dressed in white 
God's going to trouble the water 
The leader looks like the Israelite 
God's going to trouble the water.

See that band all dressed in red 
God's going to trouble the water 
Looks like the band that Moses led 
God's going to trouble the water.

Look over yonder, what do you see? 
God's going to trouble the water 
The Holy Ghost a-coming on me 
God's going to trouble the water.

If you don't believe I've been redeemed 
God's going to trouble the water 
Just follow me down to the Jordan's stream 
God's going to trouble the water.
(note to the reader, I am not sure this is the version Mr Wallis sang, but it is a version to give us an idea of what was in it)

Refers to the Exodus as well. 


A lot of their songs were messages.


The song asks escaping slaves to cross rivers so the Sherrifs dogs would lose their scent. 

( note to the reader: I have added materials from  searches on the Internet to help with the comprehension only, because my notes were not complete since I go caugth listening more than writting... as it was too interesting)

Who held the rope?

From the text of Act 9: 19b-31

cts 9:19-31
New International Version (NIV)
19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.



What bring us to this topic now?


This has been a 14 months season of big events: 

1. Beginning of April 2011- The Royal Wedding
2. This year: the Diamond Jubilee of Reign of Elizabeth II
3. Canada Day- 145th anniversary of Confederation
4. Last Sunday : on how people behind the scene were perhaps the ones who really mattered. The "Fathers of Confederation" yet perhaps it was two wifes that really were behind, making the thing happen?

I am certainly not the first person to study all the dynamics behind an event. I do not claim originality. 

• In Genesis, Cain excused his criminal behavior when he killed his brother : "I am not my brother's keeper"
  
• John Donne :

'No Man is an Island'
No man is an island entire of itself; every man 
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; 
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe 
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as 
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine 
own were; any man's death diminishes me, 
because I am involved in mankind. 
And therefore never send to know for whom 
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. 

• The poem about the missing nail in a horse shoe :

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. 


This theme is ever new because the fact is ever new.....


For an endeavor to succeed, whether a business, an orchestra, a hospital or a church, there must be a network of supporters, visible and invisible.

1. Using the analogy of the stage for a play to be successful, there are dozens of workers behind the curtain. We all have noticed the long list of credits as the end of such movies as "Fiddler on the roof", or the "Harry Potter" series. And the credits do not by any means include everyone : eg. the guy who mixed the cocktail  of materials which made the 1,000 feet of film, the cleaners who tidyed the stage after each rehearsal, etc, etc
2. We have already referred to the Bible's question : " am I my brother's keeper.( Its a question that begs the answer, "Yes" you are.) There are other events on which success depended but they are not listed with the credits.=
   

• The story of St-Paul and the basket :

1. attacked ny Jews of the Synagog. " We can't afford to let this renegate live; he will convert others. Better dead! the dog!
2. Over the wall in a basket. Picture and record clear. But who held the rope? Who made the rope? Who cut the sisal?

• The highly succesful 3 year campaign of Jesus of Nazareth : Jesus of Nazareththe Jew who founded the Christian Church and depended on a whole field of backtage personnels:

-All those disciples, their families ( people we do not know, whose name we do not know)
a) a disciple who always stayed backstage was Peter's brother , Andrew. Andrew played behind the curtain, was a "second fiddle" in the orchestra. He is a shining example for all of us, for sooner or later everyone must play the second fiddle do a backstage job. (escuse my overlapping metaphors)


Andrew  a) never preached a sermon.
              b) never wrote a gospel.
              c) never did a miracle.
              d) is  never mentionned oustside the gospels


Yet it was Andre who 
a) introduced his brother, brought Peter( imagine Christianity without Peter)
b) introduced a Tourist from Ethiopia ( First example of the international characteristic of Christianity
c)at the Outdoor stadium beside the sea, 5,000 people, Andrew brought the boywith the 2 dried fish and the 5 loaves. Everyone followed that example of Sharing. That is what Christians do. 
"Thank you Andrew"


Miracle : everyone will follow a good example "


Ratio
b) Support troops: the seven needed to keep one fightingman at the battle front.Such a ratio is probably similar in any worth while human entreprise, and a second look at the 3 year campaign of Christ uncovers another example of support personnel.  A few are mentionned, most are not.


Matthews 27:55 comes close to the point : 
"Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs." 


Some are named Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. These amongs others unnamed to care for his/their needs.


Support troops, behind the curtain, playing second fiddle, a piece of John Donne's continent.
You are indispensible, destined to live at their time to fulfill the role that is your to play.













 

Sermon By Harley Bye   : Confederation of LOVE!
Networking made Confederation
Canada day 2012 , 145th anniversary
Text Psalm 72 :3-14
Psalm 72:8
King James Version (KJV)
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

Words : Confederation - defines the union of colonies into one federal state, at the same time, keeping certain powers locally. Networking.


In 1864, the independant British colonies of North America were in great danger. The American Civil War had just ended and the victorious North had built a powerful Victorian Army,chafing at the bit for more battles to fight. There was a movement in Washington to have the army march North and force those colonies remianing with Britain,to be part of the U.S.A.. The policy became known as "Manifest Destiny".


"These colonies in question would be easy picking", separated asthey wereby miles and miles. Fom Newfoundland in the East, to British Colombia in the West Yhey would fall faster than dominoes in a playpen!"


It was the political genius of John A. MacDonald that forged at least four of these colonies into one state ( Ontario, Québec, N.B., N.S.) United, they would put up a better defense.


MacDonald's biggest headach was to get agreement of even few, and the worst migrain was liberal leader George Brown of Ontario (Upper Canada).


George Brown was a bachelor, lonely,  cranky, humorless, dour and jealous. He knew full-wellm that if the Confederation deal went through, John A MacDonald would go down in history as Canada's first Prime Minister. George Brown wanted that spot. He fought MacDonald on every point- untill 1864 when something mysterious happened : He changed his mind and became pleasant and cooperative. He jumped on board  the Confederation ship helped to out-vote the remaining "nay sayers", and on July 1st 1867, Canada was born. (Our official name was the "Dominion of Canada" Ps 72 Only four province at first, others came later.(Today, 11 provinces adn 2 territories) But it is July 1st 1867 that we celebrate.


What happened in 1864 that caused a quantum leap in George Brown? A leap to a higher orbit, with no explanation? What broke the log jam? What could possibly take a dour, jealous leader of opposition and make him a teary man?


It was not a religious conversion. He was born Presbyterian, and died Presbyterian. The explanation that best fits is that he fell in love with a women: During a trop to England the story goes. May be  apocryphal? It is on record that John A MacDonald found his second wife on the same trip to London in 1864. (His first wife had died 9 years before) It was certainly a new happiness that made them work to the coalition. A program on CBC radio 2 weeks ago claimed that their new wives and their loving influence made Confederation happen! 
Not in text books but credible indeed.
On the stage of life, it is behind the curtain, off-stage , out-of sight, where the real networking happens which leads to successful endavours.... building a church, or a nation, or one's family, even a solid friendship.


What we don't read in the newspaper or watch on TV is that very often, the real heroes are usually unknown/unknowable. Real heroes are often lost in the network.


Today July 1st 2012, we celebrate Confederation of British Noth America.
We are also honouring our Rockburn church's past with the content of the memory post. Documents going back 100 years, and together with the music stand, we state our belief in the future.


Certainly the church. Today is far different than 100 years back.... No tuning fork, no long prayers or 1hourand a half sermon.....
One of the iron laws in "God's unchanging hand" is the iron law of change. We can hardly imagine the church 50 years from now, butit will be different than we know.


Somethings will be the same= people sharing, networking, communicatations and joining ain a coalition of friends for the greater good of all.


God-creative energy
Jesus of Nazareth- historical prophet who really lived
Salvation by God's love- universal Brotherhood of all persons
Continuous growth of mind and soul