An Excellent Suggestion by J. S. WASHBURN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 30, 1908

An Excellent Suggestion

By J. S. WASHBURN

BROTHER WALTER HARPER, who has been one of our most successful canvassers, writes to me, making the following suggestion: “The kindly donation of one day’s work a year for the Southern Missionary Society, if adopted by all of us, would give this work a lift, and would put it on a strong footing, and bring a feeling of security to the Lord’s workers and burden-bearers.” This certainly is a most practical suggestion, and our people could accept it profitably. I say profitably: first, to the work among the colored people; second, to the individual who donates to this work. There is no work for us more important at the present time than the work for the colored people of the South. We state this on the authority of the Testimonies. For no other work have such pathetic and continued appeals been made as for the work for the colored people.

I have recently had some interesting visits at the great Fiske University, which is, I understand, the highest institution in the world for the education of the colored people. There is a larger attendance now than ever before, and they are having a most encouraging year. Very many of the graduates of this institution have become teachers and principals of schools; others, professors of languages, history, or music. Many have become ministers. Quite a number have become missionaries to their own people in Africa.

We recently had the privilege of attending the morning chapel exercises. It was a very interesting sight to see the immense hall packed full of earnest young men and women, whose capacities for culture and training are equal to those of almost any company of young people that can be found.

Some of the leading men connected with the university expressed a deep interest in our work for the colored people. It had been understood by them that we were about to establish a school and sanitarium for the colored people here in Nashville, and they stand ready to co-operate with us in every way possible. While we have a mighty truth that will be the special feature of our institutions, yet I am certain that we can learn very much from these noble pioneers in the work for the colored people in the South. I feel that this is the great work for our people at the present time.

J. S. WASHBURN.