Work for the Colored in Virginia
By C. B. STEPHENSON
By invitation of Elder W. C. Moffett, the president of the Virginia Conference, I spent two weeks with him, visiting the colored churches in that State. The first company we visited was at Wytheville, in the southern part of the State. We spent the Sabbath there, speaking twice to them. There are about twelve believers composing the company. Elder J. B. Mallory had spent two weeks there encouraging the believers and following up an outside interest. It is hoped this company will soon be organized into a church. We spent Sunday, April 4, in Roanoke and Lynchburg, visiting the members in Roanoke and speaking in Lynchburg at night to a well-filled house. There is only one colored Sabbath keeper in Lynchburg, and none in Roanoke. There is a large colored population in both cities, and we hope something will soon be done to reach them with the message of the soon-coming Saviour. From Lynchburg we went to Danville, where we have a small church. We were glad to meet Elder W. H. Armstrong and wife at this place, who have done faithful work for both races, bringing several into the truth during their short stay. At one time there was a strong colored church in this place, but by apostasy and removals the membership has been greatly reduced. They have a good church building, which will be repaired and used in an effort to rebuild the membership. There are some faithful souls there, and with the earnest efforts being put forth, I am sure good results will follow. There are about ten thousand colored persons in Danville. One day was spent with the church at News Ferry, conducting a night meeting and visiting. This church is located in a prosperous farming section. We found the believers of good courage in the message. After one night in Chase City, where we have one Sabbath-keeping family, and where Elder Moffett spoke in the Baptist church on the Eastern Question to a very attentive congregation, we reached Richmond for Sabbath, April 10. We met with the two churches on the Sabbath, and spent the afternoon visiting the sick ones, reading and praying with and for them. May the grace of the Lord sustain his suffering children. We have the sick with us always. May the day of deliverance from sin, with all its consequences, hasten on. Sunday we met with the churches in Newport News, Portsmouth, and Norfolk. We have small churches in the three places, but only one church building, which is at Newport News. In Portsmouth a hall is used, and in Norfolk a room in the home of one of the members. The Lord came near in all the services, and gave us a new vision of the greatness of the work committed to our hands, and inspired in us a new determination to be more active in the spread of the present truth. In these cities are many thousands who must have the privilege of hearing the message. Two church schools are being conducted. We visited them, and noted with interest the progress being made by the children in their studies. No doubt some of these children will be used to proclaim the warning in the closing scenes of this world's history. "A little child shall lead them." Elder Moffett informed me that he was planning to invite Elder Mallory to begin a tent effort in Newport News soon, to be followed by the camp meeting. There are between eight and nine hundred thousand colored persons in Virginia. We have about one hundred and fifty Sabbath keepers, two ordained ministers, one retired minister who does what he can, one Bible worker, and two school-teachers laboring to bring the third angel's message before all these people. While the laborers are few, they are of good courage. The outlook for the work in this conference is encouraging. C. B. STEPHENSON.