Convention of Self-Supporting Workers
By A. W. Spaulding
The seventh annual convention of self-supporting workers in the South was opened at Madison, Tenn., August 29, for a four days’ meeting. There are now about two hundred and fifty of these workers in the Southern States, forming nearly fifty groups, most of which conduct local schools, as well as medical missionary, Christian Help, and agricultural work. While more numerous in the vicinity of the Madison school, which is the parent of the greater number, these companies are found in every State of the Southern and South-eastern Unions as well as in Cuba and Honduras. Their increasing number is evidence of our people’s heeding the call (“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, pages 227, 228): “Let Sabbath-keeping families move to the South, and live out the truth before those who know it not. . . . Let them do Christian Help work, feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. . . . Let these workers go from house to house, helping where help is needed, and as opportunity offers telling the story of the Cross.” A practical outworking of this plan is illustrated in the report of one brother from Alabama, who last year established himself on a table-land a hundred miles long by twenty wide, on which there is no medical help, and up whose steep sides almost no doctor can be hired to climb. This brother had been a nurse and a pharmacist. The first day he found practise in dressing the wounded hand of our Seventh-day Adventist school-teacher near whom he settled. Immediately he was besieged by the people of the vicinity to treat their sick. He told them he was not a physician, but he could not refuse to help them as much as he could. His first case was that of a man with deep ulcers of long standing. These he treated, he prayed with the man, and forbade him to eat pork. The sores began to heal, and the man spread everywhere the fame of the “doctor” who would not let his patients eat pork. This brother always requires those who apply to him to leave off the use of liquor and tobacco, he never fails to pray over them at each treatment, and he always points them to Christ as the real Healer. A number of really marvelous cures have been effected. He has formed on the mountain a health club of seventy-five members, who are pledged to habits of purity, cleanliness, and helpfulness. He has taught a public-school teacher and his school, principles of health; the surroundings of the school have been bettered, the pupils take daily practise in open-air exercises, and are carrying the knowledge of hygiene to their homes. Such work is looking toward the instruction contained in Volume IX, page 172: “Let little companies go forth to do the work to which Christ appointed his disciples. Let them labor as evangelists, scattering our publications, and talking of the truth to those they meet. Let them pray for the sick, ministering to their necessities, not with drugs, but with nature’s remedies, and teaching them how to regain health and avoid disease.” Previous conventions at Madison have had in attendance brethren from sections and phases of the work not directly connected with the lay-missionary movement, and also men of the State and national governments who are in sympathy with much of the work being done by these self-supporting missionaries. But this convention was unique in being composed almost entirely of those directly engaged in the work. A representative of the State department of agriculture gave an hour’s talk one day. A letter was also read from the United States Commissioner of Education (who has visited several of the schools, and is well acquainted with the work), expressing his deep sympathy, and his regret at being unable to attend the convention. Dr. David Paulson, of the Hinsdale Sanitarium, was present nearly the whole time, and his counsels and instruction were deeply appreciated. Professors Sutherland, Magan, and Alden were almost the only other speakers, the time being given more to councils than to addresses. A spirit of earnest seeking for more power to convert and save souls characterized this convention, and the power that came through prayer was marked in all the councils and deliberations. As we were brought face to face, seemingly, with a new crisis and a new era in our work, the spirit of solemnity, unity, and devotion became more marked, and it was the universal testimony that this meeting had been the best of all, because of the earnest seeking of God. The difficulties and discouragements that face the self-supporting worker are peculiar in their nature and force, and a number were present whose courage was revived and strengthened for a future they had felt unable to face. Courage and good cheer were everywhere manifest, as the brethren and sisters prepared to return to their homes. These words in Volume VII, pages 242-244, are ever before us: “To those who are laboring in the South I would say: Be not discouraged by the present feebleness of the work. You have had to struggle against difficulties that have at times threatened to overcome you. But by God’s help you have been enabled to move forward. . . . Remember that prayer is the source of your strength. . . . Never let your courage fail. Never talk unbelief because appearances are against you. As you work for the Master, you will feel pressure for want of means, but the Lord will hear and answer your petitions for help. Let your language be: ‘The Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint; and I know that I shall not be ashamed.’” The convention for next year was set in the month of June, to avoid coming at the time of any of the Southern camp-meetings.