Book Work in the “Black Belt”
By C. J. BOYD
THE readers of the REVIEW will be interested to know that twenty-four of the students of the Oakwood Manual Training School are in the colporteur work this summer, earning scholarships for next year. Nearly every one is meeting with splendid success. The following extracts are given from student reports:— Herbert Greene, Hamilton, Ga.: “The Lord is daily blessing my feeble efforts. He has allowed me to have a part in this message. I know that all power comes from him. My first week’s record shows $164 worth of orders, and my second week $213, besides helps amounting to $4.25. Once I went on a plantation. The owner was at one of the houses and told me he did not allow his Negroes to buy from any agent, and that he didn’t allow agents on his place. I prayed to the Lord to help me, and he did. I gave the man a canvass, and he said that it was a good book, but that his help didn’t do anything but gamble, drink, and fight. But he gave me permission to canvass them. I took $14 worth of orders. You see God moves in a mysterious way.” Letitia Samuels, Roberta, Ga.: “I am enjoying my work at the present time and expect to do nothing less all summer. In my travels I met two young men who are planning for school next fall. They were thinking of going to Tuskegee, but they inquired about Oakwood. They thought they should like to hear from the school there. I send their names and addresses.” Frank McRae, Carrollton, Ala.: “A man got after me with pick in hand ready to slay me. He harshly ordered me off his place, and threatened to kill me. I went off and said not a word. That day I did nothing except to sell one little help for 35 cents; but my week’s work shows $135 worth of orders. I do not feel at all discouraged. This truth must go. I want to go with it.” Mac Ellis, Durant, Miss.: “I am doing well in my work. I have taken over $100 worth of orders this week.” T. G. Culpepper, Eutaw, Ala.: “I am glad to hear that the Oakwood boys are making good in the field. Friday I walked eighteen miles to my headquarters to get books that I had ordered. I canvassed a man Thursday. He refused, but when passing that way Friday, I called for a drink of water, and took his order. The Lord gave me $127 worth of orders last week.” J. S. Spraggs, Carrollton, Ala.: “The good tidings from the field make me feel more courageous in this great and progressive work. I shall put forth my best efforts this summer to make a success of it. A new confidence is taking hold of me.” W. E. Adams, Thomaston, Ga.: “Satan is trying to stop the work, but God is pushing it forward. I am having some good experiences. The first week I worked two days and took $123 worth of orders. Last week I took $220 worth of orders.” L. E. Cunningham, Thomaston, Ga.: “I had some difficulty in getting started. I am now getting on all right. Last week I took $125 worth of orders for ‘Bible Readings.’ I am encouraged to buckle on the harness anew next week to do more if the Lord wills. I think of the many prayers that go up for the colporteurs.” Anna Gossom, Lexington, Ky.: “I canvassed Thursday and Friday and took $34 worth of orders. I am of good courage, for I know I am in the Lord’s work.” James Martin, Hamilton, Ga.: “I reached Hamilton May 31 and started to work. Last month I worked 176 hours and received 151 orders for ‘Bible Readings,’ valued at $538, and helps, $5.60; total value, $543.60. My first Friday a policeman attempted to arrest me for soliciting orders without a license. After a few minutes of silent prayer, I walked away to get my contract and write a letter to get help if I should be arrested. While on my way to the post office I met the policeman again. He had taken my prospectus to keep until I returned, so he gave it to me, and ordered me out of the town on the next train. I went to my room praying for God’s protection. To keep from being arrested I went to this policeman and made a friend of him, and he has acted all right since. Prejudice is very high, and we have to be careful. These experiences in the colporteur work cannot be bought with money. Pray for us that we may leave ‘Bible Readings’ and other good books in many homes.” C. J. BOYD.