The Colored Work in Chesapeake Conference by Gustavus P. Rodgers

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1916

The Colored Work in Chesapeake Conference

By Gustavus P. Rodgers

It has been so long since a report of the colored work in this conference has been sent in, that perhaps the readers of the REVIEW have wondered what was being done in this field. We have been very busy. June 26 we went to Wilmington, Del., to revive the work there with a tent effort. Four weeks were spent in that city. This was not really long enough to do justice to the effort, but we were able to create an excellent

interest to be developed by the local worker. Several signed the covenant to keep the Sabbath, and some additions to the church have been reported.

We next pitched the tent at Cheswold, Del., about forty miles below Wilmington, where we have had a church for at least fifteen years. This church needed to be awakened. The tent was pitched in a beautiful grove, and from the first we had an excellent attendance of interested people. The second Sunday of the meetings the choir from our Baltimore church visited the tent. The people in Cheswold surely enjoyed the singing, and the choir did much to advertise the services. We spent five weeks there, and have baptized five as a result of the tent meetings. There is a splendid interest, and I go to Cheswold as often as I can leave Baltimore. Brother Mosley is doing splendid work in Cheswold in his effort to prepare candidates for baptism.

Baltimore was not neglected while the two efforts were being conducted in Delaware. Every Sabbath I returned to that city, and as a result of my labors and that of Brother Cox, our faithful Bible worker, thirty-three earnest believers in the coming of the Lord were baptized September 17.

Our church in Baltimore is growing fast. The days are too short for us to get in the amount of work necessary to keep up with the progress of the church. For the month of September $97.85, our offerings to missions, was sent to the conference treasurer, besides nearly $200 in tithe. Our offerings for the support of the local work are good, and the Sunday night attendance is fine. The church is too small, the seating capacity of three hundred being taxed to its limit.

We have in the church splendid schoolrooms nicely equipped for teaching the industrial branches, as well as for class studies in grades from one to eight. Next year we hope to add grades 9 and 10 to the regular course of studies. We have several students from neighboring States, and others are writing for admission to the school. The first day forty-four students enrolled, and as soon as the quarantine is lifted prohibiting younger pupils from entering any school, we expect to see at least seventy-five take up studies in the above-mentioned grades. We are more than encouraged with the beginning; and with experienced teachers in charge, we are sure that it will be the aim of this school to turn out creditable workers for the cause.

For information regarding the school address the writer, at 1714 Druid Hill Ave., Baltimore, Md.

GUSTAVUS P. RODGERS.