The Work Among the Colored People in Baltimore, Md.
By Gustavus P. Rodgers
Another year of activity and visible advance in the proclamation of the last message of mercy, closed with the determination of each of our members in this large city to do more for the Lord than ever before in their lives, for the past has brought so many blessings that we are sure the future has an abundance of the same. During the summer of 1915 we held a successful tent effort, assisted in the preaching by Elder F. H. Seeney. At the first baptism thirty were buried with their Lord; since then we have baptized twenty-one more, also the result of the tent effort, making fifty-one in all. From last January to the time of the tent effort, twenty had united with the church, making a total for the year of seventy-one additions to the truth. With the other baptisms sixty-eight have obeyed this command. Our church is fast becoming too small for the members, though we have a comfortable gallery seating one hundred. During the month of November a successful school of health was held in the basement of the church, and we believe many well-thinking persons were helped in the way of preparing vegetarian food. One night of the school was devoted to distributing the dishes to at least 250 persons, among whom were prominent physicians and dentists of the city, and teachers of the city schools. The Drs. Sisco and Kress were the principal speakers. We find that we can reach professional men through services of this kind, who would not be likely to attend other meetings. The members of the church are earnest, and are zealously working to cement the work here, that our church may always stand forth as a beacon light. We ask the prayers of the readers of this paper. We wish that we could take space to tell of the many organizations and branches to these organizations that go to make a live, working church. We find that our brethren and sisters are becoming more and more faithful. During the year 1915 the church raised $1,584.86 in tithe, and $632.19 for foreign mission work. In the same time the church debt was reduced $1,900, leaving us at present $3,250 yet to pay. Summing up all receipts, we have as a total about $4,000. We hope this year to double all our past efforts in winning souls and in canceling debt, in tithe paying and in offerings to missions. We ask your prayers.
GUSTAVUS P. RODGERS.