DEAR READERS OF THE REVIEW: I think you will be glad to know something of the work that is being done among the colored people in Greater New York. I must say we are of good courage by the grace of God. As we go along, we see the hand of our Father leading us, and directing our efforts to success. The accompanying picture represents a few of those who decided this summer to obey the Lord in the light of his Word; and the building is the one we are trying to purchase.
COLORED BELIEVERS IN NEW YORK CITY, WITH PARTIAL VIEW OF BUILDING TO BE PURCHASED
The Lord blessed us with seventy-one Sabbath-keepers this summer, fifty-eight of whom were baptized. Surely he has been good to us. New York City is the only large city in the union conference where aggressive work is being carried on among the colored people, and even here much more could be done, but we lack men and means. Let us pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his vineyard; for the harvest truly is great. We need consecrated evangelists and Bible workers to enter these large cities of the East. The results this summer show that there are willing hearts who are waiting for the message.
Personally, I never enjoyed more blessed experiences than those which my labor for souls has brought, and I know the other workers feel the same. We were forced to purchase the building, for we could secure nowhere in the neighborhood a hall large enough to seat a hundred persons, and our ordinary congregation numbered three hundred; thus the outlook was very discouraging. Then we decided to buy this property. It is situated in the very center of the largest colony of colored people in the city; and when you know that within a radius of ten squares there are, by actual count, fifty thousand of these people, you will say, with me, that it was providential that we secured such a home. The colored people are very thankful; for it was hard for them to get a suitable place to rent. Although the rents are exorbitant, and they sacrificed largely to keep a room where they could meet to praise God, there came a time when there was nothing in sight for us but to buy a home where we could feel safe from ejection or the continuous raising of the rent. We have made a good start toward paying for the property, having raised the price equity, but we need help to clear off the mortgage of $5,200; therefore we appeal to kind and generous hearts everywhere.
We shall be able to utilize this building in several ways. We greatly need a missionary Bible school for the colored people in this city; such a school would serve as a recruiting station from which we could draw workers for the whole union. There is a possibility, also, of having treatment-rooms, where the colored people can be helped in times of sickness. As it is now, there is no place where they can go, rest for a few days, and at the same time secure the benefits of the light on healthful living.
I thank God for the outlook, and again ask you to do what you can to help us pay for this building. Send all donations to Greater New York Conference, Treasurer, 32 Union Square, East, New York City, and remember us in your prayers.
J. K. HUMPHREY.
