The Support

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Nov 12, 1903

From Macedonia

In the time of the apostles a cry came to them from Macedonia, “Come over . . . and help us.” We also read, “Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.”

There are about eight millions of Ethiopian descendants in the South, and from many, many places the Macedonian cry is coming, “Come over . . . and help us.”

In every place where we have labored, there were people who were crying to God for light. They realized that their churches could not be right with God, and they felt that unless they had help, they would perish.

A work for these people has been undertaken in a few places, but how inadequate this has been! Shall we not quicken our pace and bring the light of God’s truth for our times to the thousands who are hungering for it?

For several years the Southern Missionary Society has been engaged in this work, largely in Mississippi. It has six mission schools in operation in that State. Last year as a result of this work about fifty were brought into the truth, and a vast amount of other good was done in educational and Christian Help work. This is laying the foundation for more important results in the future.

The Support

At the last General Conference a sum amounting to nearly fifty dollars a week was voted to assist this work. From that time donations to the Society practically ceased. But the Society has on its pay-roll ten teachers, and has for years supported three and sometimes four ordained ministers. It can be readily seen that the appropriation of fifty dollars a week must fall far short of meeting the present expenses, to say nothing of the numerous calls from new places. A little help has come from book sales, etc., and we have so far kept free from debt to the laborers, but some permanent, reliable aid must come soon if advance work is undertaken, or even the present work maintained.

A Plan for Aid

About a year ago a little book for children was issued, entitled “The Story of Joseph.” The author, realizing the great need of aid for the colored work, dedicated this book to this work, as “Christ’s Object Lessons” had been dedicated to the school work.

An effort was at once made to introduce the book among our people according to this plan. A few thousand were soon sold, at a time when the treasury of the Society was very low, and this alone enabled the Society to go on with its work.

Two Ways of Helping

Two ways of helping this book plan are now open: first, donations to pay the first cost of printing and binding the books, as has been and is still being done for “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Who will help in this, so that the total receipts from sales can be used in the work? Since the writing of this article was begun, a donation of twenty-five dollars has been made in the office of the Society, to start the list. All donations will be promptly reported from time to time. Second, let our people everywhere, especially the women and children, take up the sale of this book on a purely missionary basis, giving their time and all the proceeds of their sales to the work of bringing light to the colored people.

This Plan

This plan was fully indorsed by the Southern Union Conference Committee, and this indorsement was ratified by the General Conference of last spring, hence none need hesitate in undertaking it.

The book is printed in three colors, and is very attractive to the children. The missionary edition is bound in board covers, and sells at the low price of twenty-five cents. From many localities the word has come that “it is the easiest-selling book ever put upon the market.”

Many of the State tract societies already have a supply of the book, and are handling it on a missionary basis.

Send orders and remittances for books and donations to the book fund to Southern Missionary Society, Nashville, Tenn., Station “K.” If your State tract society has a stock of the books, your order will be forwarded for it to fill.

SOUTHERN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.