The Collection for the Colored People by G. I. Butler

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

The Collection for the Colored People

By G. I. Butler

WE rejoice greatly in the evidences of the great increase in missionary zeal among our people generally. It is a grand and blessed thought to us old laborers who have been acquainted with the days of small things, to be able now to realize how rapidly this message is going to the ends of the world.

But while we rejoice greatly in this general prosperity, it would not be wise for us to forget this important branch of the work at home. We have in the United States to-day some nine or ten millions of the colored race. The great body of them are within the bounds of the three Southern Union Conferences. There are special difficulties to be met in the South in proclaiming the truth even to the whites. The extent of the country is large, the population is scattered, educational privileges are not so plentiful, and greater poverty exists. Earnest efforts have been made of late years to make this work self-supporting, and most encouraging results have been seen; and the ratio of growth among the whites has been equal in many instances to those of the richer and more populous States in the North. In the judgment of the writer it will be impossible for the Southern field to do all that should be done for both races. This fact has been recognized by our General Conference Committee, after the fullest consideration. Hence a general collection for the work for the colored people is appointed for the first Sabbath in October, each year. If there is one cause in the South more than another for which Sister White has earnestly appealed, it is for the colored people. Scores, if not hundreds of appeals, most earnest and touching, have been made in behalf of this unfortunate race, that they may have an opportunity to receive the truth.

The writer is most thankful for the establishment of the Huntsville School, and the progress which has attended it of late, and its growing usefulness. The attendance has been of a good class of young men and women, who desire to make the best of their opportunities to become helpful in spreading abroad the light of truth among their people. This institution must have financial assistance in order to keep it up to the high standard of usefulness so much needed. Here are precious opportunities for improvement. A nurses' department is now in operation, where young people can learn to be acceptable nurses, and thus enter upon lives of usefulness, and support themselves at the same time.

The Southern Missionary Society is doing a noble work, and has been for years in the past. It has been helping to support schools among the colored people, to pay teachers, to build church buildings, and provide suitable reading-matter, and enlarge the work generally. Eternity alone can tell the amount of good already done in this way. In most all cases where these small schools have been established, here and there a church has been brought out, and a church-school building erected.

It is with great regret that we have learned that during the last two years the contributions to this noble cause have been growing less. When the collection was first taken, it was a large one. It ran up to nearly ten thousand dollars the first year. Latterly it has been far less. I appeal to our conscientious brethren and sisters throughout this country to reconsider this matter. These nine or ten millions of unfortunate people who have passed through so much need our help. Ask God to help you to open your hearts to do much for this collection Sabbath, October 3, and make a very liberal offering. G. I. BUTLER.