HEAR HIM SPEAK

I want to thank The Reverend Otis Wilson for going to a great deal of trouble to get me this piece of footage from the 1980s, which captured a portion of the Installation Service for The Late Reverend E.D. Ward, who pastored First Baptist Church in Roanoke.

TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS:

NOTE:  Due to the poor quality of the audio, the remarks are transcribed below:  
"I thank you brother Hill for setting the stage for me to welcome Reverend Ward, as the pastor of First Baptist Church
Indeed, I'm happy -- I'm proud of First Baptist
When our church got burned down, I thought First Baptist was one of the last places we would be...
Our Church got burned down, First Baptist Church
First Baptist told us "Come on In you don't owe me ANYTHING!"
We met on the inside of a building two or three years...
our Church was down...

I'm just happy to be elevated to share this occasion with you today...
I haven't had a chance yet, to meet your pastor, but I have felt the result... Sometimes, it's better to feel things; than to see it.
Indeed on behalf of the City Of Roanoke... A Segregated City!
(Fingers on your hand?)
A PREJUDICED -- BIASED Mayor...
A city that's insensitive to the needs of the poor...
A city that is insensitive to the needs of the black...
A city that closed the swimming pool... To keep black children from swimming...
A city that burned down the theater... (to keep) black people from having recreation...
I don't know Reverend Ward, bless your heart --
This COULD be the time...
Cause I have to believe God know what he's doing --
This COULD be the time...
When all of God's children --- White men, black men, Jews, and Gentiles Catholics and Protestants... Will join hands!
Break Bread from house to house! ...
Blind See! ...
Lame Walk! ...
Leaprosy cleansed! ...
Gospel preached to the poor! ...
Glory of the Lord might be revealed! ...
And all flesh will see it together!