For the Work in the South by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 27, 1908

For the Work in the South

By I. H. Evans

THERE is one great undertaking that must lie very near the hearts of God's children, and that is giving the gospel to the colored people who are within the borders of the United States. There are approximately eleven millions of these precious souls, scattered in nearly all the States of the Union, with something over eight millions south of the Mason and Dixon line.

These people came to us by no volition of their own. It was no choice of theirs that many generations ago their ancestors were torn from their native country, Africa, chained in fetters, and brought in bondage to a strange land. Under the most unfavorable conditions they have multiplied until they have become a numerous people.

God has told us again and again that we should give the third angel's message to this people; that we should establish churches, schools, and sanitariums in various places where they can come for education and instruction in the laws of health and hygiene. Something has already been done; a start has been made; yet we have done but little compared to the magnitude of the task that lies before us.

It has been our custom for several years to take up a donation the first Sabbath in October for the prosecution of the work of the third angel's message among the colored people, and the money raised is sent to various union conferences for use in the local State conferences in giving the truth to this people. There are special reasons why the donation for 1908 should be larger than usual. The Oakwood School, located near Huntsville, Ala., is the training-school for workers for this people. For several years the Southern Union Conference has been carrying the deficit of this school, until now it is several thousand dollars in debt to the union conference. Increased facilities are needed for this institution. The school is not self-supporting, and probably it will be difficult to make it so. Many of the students who come to this school need financial aid. They also need clothing, books, etc.

Our people are also trying to open a sanitarium near Nashville, Tenn., where colored people can receive treatment and help. Another institution should be opened up in the Southeastern Union Conference in the vicinity of Atlanta, Ga. Probably another will have to be opened up in the Southwestern Union Conference in some central location. Other schools must be started. Ministers should be sent out to preach the gospel to this people. Only recently an earnest appeal came in from Mississippi, saying that they had two tent companies working for the colored people, but that they had no funds with which to finance this work beyond the month of August. They called for special help that these men may not be recalled from preaching the gospel.

The donation received in October is divided on a per-cent basis among the Southern, Southeastern, and Southwestern union conferences, and the State of Virginia. We trust there will be a more liberal donation this year in behalf of this great and needy work than ever before. There will be articles from time

to time in the REVIEW calling attention to this work, and we hope that our people generally will respond with a liberal contribution for our colored brethren.

I. H. EVANS.