The North American Negro Department by A. J. Haysmer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 10, 1910

The North American Negro Department

By A. J. Haysmer

At the last General Conference, after much consideration, it was thought advisable to organize a North American Negro Department for the better advancement of the work for the colored people. There has been considerable delay in getting the department into working order.

We did not realize at first the great amount of work before us. But when we consider that nearly one seventh of the population of the United States is colored, and that little has been done for them, we can see that there is much to be accomplished. A few comparisons will help us to see this more clearly.

There are seven and a fraction white people in this country for every colored person; but only one minister for the colored people to thirty-three for the white people, only one training-school for the colored people to twenty-eight for the white people, only one sanitarium for the colored people to fifty for the white people.

The spirit of prophecy speaks the truth when it says that this people have been neglected.

When we consider that forty-four per cent of the colored people are illiterate, and only six per cent of the white people, and that the death-rate among the colored people is much larger than among the white people, we must admit that they especially need schools and sanitariums.

Surely the time has fully come when we should arise, and put forth well-organized and systematic efforts to carry this complete gospel message to the ten millions of colored people in this country.

We are now getting the work of the department more fully organized and plans developed to push forward this work. But we need more workers and more means. I believe our dear people, who have a real desire to see this work finished in this generation, are ready to help us with their prayers and their means to enable this work to be carried to a speedy finish.

The department has taken over all the work formerly carried on by the Southern Missionary Society, and we desire to see the good work begun in a few places, and carried on until the light of the message reaches every place.

The Gospel Herald will be enlarged, and will be made the organ of the department. The price will be increased from ten cents to twenty-five cents a year for single subscriptions; fifteen cents in clubs of ten; and ten cents in clubs of twenty or more.

We are not only desirous that every Seventh-day Adventist family shall take this paper, but that a special effort be made to get it into the homes of those not of our faith. We know that all will be glad to receive reports of the work that they are helping to support. We shall do our best to make this paper what it should be.

We shall be glad to hear from all who are interested in helping forward the work among the colored people.

We have located the office of the department at 61 Lindsley Ave., Nashville, Tenn., where all correspondence to the writer should be addressed.

A. J. HAYSMER, Secretary.