Work for the Colored People in the South by C. F. McVAGH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1908

Work for the Colored People in the South

By C. F. McVAGH

No more perplexing problem confronts Seventh-day Adventists than that of getting the third angel's message before the eight millions of colored people in the South. Already many favorable opportunities have been allowed to slip away. Notwithstanding the oft-repeated calls, and the instruction of the spirit of prophecy, some of these are gone, never to return. But to those who have the work at heart, and are studying the situation on the ground, it is very evident that now is the most favorable time we shall ever have in which to act; and that whatever is done, must be done quickly.

We can not grapple with this great problem alone. For the money, prayers, and labor of the past, there is a nucleus of faithful colored Sabbath-keepers scattered throughout the broad South; the Huntsville School training hundreds of colored people to go out as teachers, ministers, Bible readers, canvassers, and nurses among their own people; and the Southern Missionary Society, with its established and rapidly growing system of mission schools. These schools are doing good work in the cause of negro education, and also in raising up churches and laborers for the advancement of the message. Just now the calls are many, and we are getting a corps of consecrated workers who are anxious to fill the calls; but it takes means to send laborers, provide facilities, hold institutes, etc. The larger part of the money thus far expended in the South has been for work among the white people, and this work is rapidly becoming self-supporting; but Huntsville is hard pressed for means already voted for absolutely necessary facilities, and the Southern Missionary Society officers are perplexed to know how to meet the growing demands upon their treasury.

Two years ago the mission schools numbered nine, last year there were eighteen, and this fall twenty-five are starting, besides which, under the recommendation of the union conferences, the society is opening treatment-rooms in Nashville, Tenn., and greatly enlarging the work in Atlanta, Ga. Elders G. A. Irwin and C. P. Bollman have been presenting the needs at camp-meetings in the North, and it is earnestly hoped that immediate relief, promptly forwarded, will be sent in answer to these appeals in addition to a more than usually liberal October collection this fall. No money can be expended in the United States that will bring more blessed results than that given to support the work for the colored people, of which the October collection is the main regular support. The offering this year should be more than double that of last year, in order to provide for the growth of the work already planned.

I have just returned from a visit to the camp-meeting for our colored people at Jackson, Miss. The workers are of good courage. Elders Thomas Murphy and S. A. Jordan report a most successful tent effort at Ellisville, Miss.; and encouraging reports come from other points in the Southern and Southeastern union conferences, with souls rejoicing in the truth, and other openings for work.

Brethren and sisters, remember this needy part of the Lord's vineyard on October 3, and pray for the laborers, and those who have the burden of the work, as you make up and forward your donations to the work in the South.

C. F. McVAGH.