Saturday, February 20, 2010

FEAST OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS - PROPHETIC WITNESS



He was a firm believer in the equality of all people, whether black, female, Native American, or recent immigrant. He was fond of saying, "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong."
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Douglass produced some regular abolitionist newspapers, including The North Star. Its motto was "Right is of no Sex — Truth is of no Color — God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren."

From Satucket.


John 8:30-32

As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’


Readings:

Psalm 85:7-13
Isaiah 32:11-18
Hebrews 2:10-18
John 8:30-32


PRAYER
Almighty God, whose truth makes us free: We bless your Name for the witness of Frederick Douglass, whose impassioned and reasonable speech moved the hearts of a president and a people to a deeper obedience to Christ. Strengthen us also to be outspoken on behalf of those in captivity and tribulation, continuing in the Word of Jesus Christ our Liberator; who with you and the Holy Spirit dwells in glory everlasting. Amen.


Picture from Wiki.

4 comments:

  1. I didn't really know much about Frederick Douglass but have just gone and briefly looked him up on Wikipedia - what an astounding life. He did so much that was so brilliant and right.

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  2. Cathy, I should have put in a bit more biographical information, but I was in a hurry, and I wanted to honor Douglass on his day.

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  3. Frederick Douglass was an amazing man.

    "...But the church of this country is not only indifferent to the wrongs of the slave, it actually takes sides with the oppressors. It has made itself the bulwark of American slavery, and the shield of American slave-hunters. Many of its most eloquent Divines. who stand as the very lights of the church, have shamelessly given the sanction of religion and the Bible to the whole slave system. They have taught that man may, properly, be a slave; that the relation of master and slave is ordained of God; that to send back an escaped bondman to his master is clearly the duty of all the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ; and this horrible blasphemy is palmed off upon the world for Christianity.

    For my part, I would say, welcome infidelity! welcome atheism! welcome anything! in preference to the gospel, as preached by those Divines! They convert the very name of religion into an engine of tyranny, and barbarous cruelty, and serve to confirm more infidels, in this age, than all the infidel writings of Thomas Paine, Voltaire, and Bolingbroke, put together, have done! These ministers make religion a cold and flinty-hearted thing, having neither principles of right action, nor bowels of compassion. They strip the love of God of its beauty, and leave the throne of religion a huge, horrible, repulsive form. It is a religion for oppressors, tyrants, man-stealers, and thugs....

    “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” July 5, 1852


    I would also certainly recommend reading his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

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  4. hiya Mimi, no need for more biographical detail, it's very easy to find ... Thanks for the info tho Erp, and I will put Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass on my list of books to chase down!

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