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An Urgent Need

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 23, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 38.

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An Urgent Need

By W. J. Blake

We who are in the South are very grateful for the help which our brethren and sisters have given the great work committed to our hands. Yet we feel that the message must advance much more rapidly in the near future than it has in the past, and we are hopeful that the urgent need of the millions of colored people in the South will so appeal to our friends that the collection of October 2 will greatly exceed any similar offering of previous years.
The various interests of the message demand that this shall be so. We must not think of slackening our efforts just when great victories are in sight. Years of patient effort have been spent in establishing the work on a solid foundation, and now is the time to make mighty attacks on the strongholds of the enemy. Because of existing conditions, a few dollars now will go much further than in the earlier years.
We can already see many evidences of success; and especially is this apparent in our educational work. For several years Oakwood Manual Training School has been endeavoring to do its part in the training of workers for various important responsible positions in connection with our denominational work for the colored people; but on account of a lack of proper facilities, the results attained have not been as great as they should have been. However, it is very gratifying to know that several consecrated workers have gained their preparation at the school, and are now in the field, earnestly working for the salvation of their people.
In the recent past the school has received some financial help, and as a result the equipment has been materially improved. Still there are other needs which are imperative, if the institution is to be what the Lord has said it should be.
We should be able to care for at least one hundred students, but at present our dining-room accommodations will not permit so large an attendance, to say nothing of the unhealthful location of the basement apartment now being used for this purpose. Plans have been drawn for a new dining-room and kitchen, but the management is not able to move ahead with the enterprise, because of a lack of funds with which to purchase the material. The work on our school buildings is nearly all done by student help, and it is the aim of those in charge to make this work educational to the student, as well as profitable to the institution. By this plan important improvements can be made, if funds with which to buy the material can be secured. We think it would be pleasing to the Lord if we could have our new dining-room this fall; but if such be the case, speedy help must come forward.
A small but neat building has been erected for a sanitarium, yet the work is crippled because the building is unfurnished. Shall we allow it to remain in this condition when we are receiving appeals for help from those who need the blessing of the institution? The expenditure of a small sum would enable the sanitarium to open its doors and bid the sick ones to come for a blessing.
Our first nurses' class of five young women will be graduated the present fall, and be ready to minister to the sick. We are looking for great things from the nurses' training department of our school, but its work must be strengthened by the immediate completion of the sanitarium.
In connection with the institution, faithful teachers are earnestly laboring to build up the work. Their support quite largely depends on the October collection, and we feel sure that they should be encouraged by receiving their small allowance regularly, as do other laborers. In the past this has not been so, but in many instances they have been obliged to wait a long time for their pay.
In view of these important interests, which are so largely dependent on the generosity of our people, we are persuaded that a liberal contribution will be made for the colored work the first Sabbath in October. W. J. BLAKE, Principal Oakwood Manual Training School.