The Huntsville School Pledges
By Smith Sharp
AT the Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska camp-meetings last summer, liberal pledges were made for the Huntsville colored training-school. In most cases these pledges were due the first day of January, 1905. Before these pledges became due, we sent a personal letter to each individual, enclosing an envelope addressed to “Southern Conference Association, Graysville, Tenn.” Several responded promptly by sending the amount of their pledges, and some sent more than they had pledged. This enabled the brethren in charge of the work at Huntsville to begin some greatly needed improvements, and thus accommodations were provided for many new students. Judging from our past experience in collecting pledges, we felt free to encourage those in charge of the work at Huntsville to continue the work that seemed so imperatively necessary, expecting that the month of January would certainly see several hundred dollars added to their funds. In looking over the list of unpaid pledges, we find that (including those I took on the Iowa camp-ground last June) they aggregate over eighteen hundred dollars. In all my experience I have never had so small a proportion of pledges paid when due as in this case, and the proportion paid is about the same in one State as in another. It was confidently expected that the November collection authorized by the General Conference Committee would very materially assist us in this worthy enterprise, but in this we have so far been very greatly disappointed, as only seven hundred dollars has reached us; and as this was for the colored work in general, only a small sum for the Huntsville work was left. I now appeal to individuals who have made pledges to the Huntsville school and sincerely hope the presidents and State secretaries in these States will take an interest in this matter, and assist in collecting this much needed money. We shall again immediately notify each individual of the time his pledge is due. We certainly hope no one will take offense if he receives a notice, even though he has paid his pledge; for it is possible the pledge has been paid to your State secretary, and not yet reported to us. Money sent to your State secretary will reach us in due time. Money sent directly to us will be reported to your secretary, so your State will receive credit for it. I believe that if you only realized the deplorable needs of the colored school at Huntsville, you would make an unusual effort to pay your pledge. Please read Eccl. 5:4-6.