The Last Appeal by GEO. A. IRWIN.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 17, 1908

The Last Appeal

By GEO. A. IRWIN.

This will be the last REVIEW that will be received by many of our people before the first Sabbath in October—the day set apart for a general collection for the work among the colored people in the Southern States. While much has already appeared in the REVIEW upon this subject, yet I feel constrained to make this last appeal, feeling confident that if our people in general could be made to see and feel their need as those who live among and work for them see and feel it, the proper assistance in the shape of means with which to carry forward the work would be cheerfully and gladly given.

It will require no argument on my part to convince those who keep abreast of the times, and are well informed concerning current events, that our work among and for this people will close before it will for any other people in the world. The feeling of race prejudice that for years has existed against the colored people, and is becoming intensified in both the North and the South, will at no distant day make it impossible for white people to labor for them except at great risk. This being true, and the way being still open, we should put forth extra efforts now to help Sabbath-keeping colored people to obtain the necessary education and training to become successful workers in carrying the message to their own people. The general situation and need of the hour demand that this October collection be the largest ever yet given to this work. A rich blessing is in store for those whose hearts are touched by the appeals in behalf of this people, and are thereby constrained to give liberally of their means to carry forward the work among them.

The following paragraphs from articles written by Sister White relative to this work are both pertinent and forceful in this connection:—

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I greatly desire to impress your minds with the importance of doing what you can to help forward the work for the colored people in the Southern States. In this field there are thousands and thousands of negroes, many of whom are ignorant and in need of the gospel. Upon the white people of the United States the Lord has laid the burden of uplifting this race. But, as yet, Seventh-day Adventists have done comparatively little to help them.

There are many, many places in the South in which no earnest Christian effort has been made for the colored people. These unentered fields, in their unsightly barrenness, stand before heaven as a witness against the unfaithfulness of those who have had great light. When I think of the way in which this line of work has been treated, there comes over me an intensity of feeling that words can not express. Like the priest and the Levite, men have looked indifferently on a most pitiful picture, and have passed by on the other side. For years this has been the record. Our people have put forth only a hundredth part of the earnest effort that they should have put forth to warn the indifferent, to educate the ignorant, and to minister to the needy souls in this field. . . .

No line of work will be of more telling advantage to the colored people in the Southern field than the establishment of small schools. Hundreds of mission schools must be established; for there is no method of giving the truth to these people so effectual and economical as small schools. This line of work has been specially presented before me. But the work is almost at a standstill for lack of money to provide facilities for training teachers, for building schoolhouses, and for paying the wages of teachers. . . .

Those who for years have been working to help the colored people, know their needs; and they are the best fitted to open schools for them. Colored teachers must work for the colored people under the supervision of well-qualified men who have the spirit of mercy and love. How important it is, then, that we place our training-school at Huntsville on vantage-ground, so that many may be educated to labor as teachers of their own race! . . .

I would call your special attention to the needs of the Huntsville School. This school is on a farm of over three

hundred acres, which was purchased by the General Conference, and given to the work for the colored people of the South. This school farm is to be made a representation of what can be done to help the colored people. . . .

It was in the providence of God that the Huntsville farm was purchased.

The students are to be carefully disciplined. They are to be given a thorough education, an education that will fit them to teach others. As soon as possible they are to be prepared for service. The young men who attend school should be taught how to put up buildings and how to cultivate the soil. At present white teachers can take part in the work of this school, educating and training students. But soon it will be impossible for them to do this. Let us make earnest efforts to help this school to act its part now, while the way is still open. At present there are no outside opposing influences to hinder its progress.

I now ask you to give of your means for the Huntsville School. Facilities are needed there. . . . I present this matter to you, my brethren and sisters, and I ask you to do what you can for the advancement of the work that a few faithful laborers are trying to do for the colored race. This work has been greatly retarded by neglect and because means sufficient to supply its needs have not been provided.

I ask you, my brethren and sisters, to do your best. . . . By willing liberality let us prepare the way for the laborers in the South to do a work of mercy for this people. I urge you in the name of the Lord to do something, and do it now. I pray that God will open your hearts, and help you to do justice to the needs of the work for the colored people.

I trust that church elders and leaders of companies will preserve not only this number of the REVIEW, but the September 10 number, which contains Sister White’s article entitled, “Medical Missionary Work Among the Colored People of the South,” and have both articles read Sabbath, October 3, before the collection for the day is taken. May the Lord put it into all our hearts to be especially liberal on this occasion.

GEO. A. IRWIN.