Work Among the Colored People by W. T. Knox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 16, 1913

Work Among the Colored People

By W. T. Knox

The time has again come when we are obliged to appeal to the churches in behalf of the work for the colored people in the South. Sabbath, October 25, is the day appointed by the North American Division Conference for our gifts for this needy people.

The work among them for the past year has, according to the reports received, been very satisfactory. Many converts have been obtained as a result of public meetings and Bible work. In fact, none of the meetings that have been conducted by us for any people in any part of America during 1913 have yielded better results. Their schools have been well attended, and the laborers are all of good courage. But a great work yet remains to be done.

Conditions existing among this needy people demand that we put forth our best efforts to carry quickly to them the blessings and relief that can be found only in the third angel's message. So much has been said by the spirit of prophecy concerning the obligations resting upon us to help this people, of their need of education, and of their deplorable condition, that little should be required in the way of appeal to stir our hearts to liberality. While we are enjoying the enlightenment and benefits of the gospel, millions of them are in a condition little, if any, better than slavery, and are cursed with the grossest ignorance. The extent of our obligation to them is set forth very clearly in the following general statements from “Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,” pages 184-186:—

Every one who has been made a steward of the manifold grace of God is called upon to impart to souls in ignorance and darkness, even as, were he in their place, he would desire them to have impart to him. The apostle Paul said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” By all that you have known of the love of God, by all that you have received of the rich gifts of his grace, above the most benighted and degraded soul upon the earth, are you in debt to that soul to impart these gifts unto him. . . .

The standard of the golden rule is the true standard of Christianity; anything short of it, is a deception. A religion that leads men to place a low estimate upon human beings, whom Christ has esteemed of such value as to give himself for them; a religion that would lead us to be careless of human needs, sufferings, or rights, is a spurious religion. In slighting the claims of the poor, the suffering, and the sinful, we are proving ourselves traitors to Christ. It is because men take upon themselves the name of Christ while in life they deny his character that Christianity has so little power in the world. The name of the Lord is blasphemed because of these things. . . .

Search heaven and earth, and there is no truth revealed more powerful than that which is made manifest in works of mercy to those who need our sympathy and aid. This is the truth as it is in Jesus. When those who profess the name of Christ shall practise the principles of the golden rule, the same power will attend the gospel as in apostolic times.

These statements are sufficiently clear and definite to require no comment. They fasten upon every believer an obligation,—a debt to every soul in darkness, degradation, and sin,—a debt that can be discharged only by imparting to that needy soul the benefits that we are enjoying, the neglect of which constitutes us traitors to Christ. Well can we then say with Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” The obligation is of a personal character, and cannot be discharged by proxy. By some means each individual believer must find a way to impart to the needy one those blessings the grace of Christ has brought to him.

Although at the present time race prejudice in some places in the South is running high, and conditions indicate a rapid increase of this feeling, yet in many localities the present seems to be a very opportune time to labor among the colored people. But our facilities are very meager, compared with the many millions to be reached. The evangelical workers are but few in number; the educational and sanitarium facilities provided by the denomination, although greatly appreciated by the workers and believers among this people, are, in contrast with the work to be accomplished and the field to be worked, inadequate. and should be greatly strengthened. The laborers are going forward courageously, making the best of what they have, looking to the denomination only for assistance in the support of that which has already been established. That the Lord is blessing them in their efforts can be readily seen from the large number of converts reported at their meetings.

The work is being economically conducted, and is well supported by the colored believers themselves, but they need our assistance. Shall we not then, on the appointed day for the offering, show our appreciation of God's goodness and mercy to us and our indebtedness to this people by making a very liberal offering for the support of this work?

W. T. KNOX.