North American Negro Departmental Meeting by W. H. Williams

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 25, 1909

North American Negro Departmental Meeting

By W. H. Williams

At the thirty-seventh session of the General Conference, held in Washington, D. C., May 13 to June 6, 1909, there was organized the North American Negro Department of the General Conference. Elder J. W. Christian, who for years has been president of the South Dakota Conference, was asked to resign his position and accept the secretaryship of the work of the new department.

Pursuant to the counsel and recommendations of the General Conference, a meeting was called to convene at Huntsville, Ala., to further organize and put in operation its general policies. The following-named persons constitute the present membership of the department: J. W. Christian (secretary), C. F. McVagh, W. A. Westworth, Clarence Santee, J. E. White, C. P. Bollman, F. R. Rogers, W. H. Green, D. E. Blake, M. C. Strachan, A. J. Haysmer, R. T. Dowsett, Thomas Murphy, W. H. Sebastian, C. N. Woodward, C. M. Jones, Sydney Scott, and T. H. Branch.

Elder Christian called the council together Tuesday morning, September 28, and made a few earnest remarks concerning the need of divine guidance in this important work. All members of the department present entered heartily into the discussion of plans. Elder A. G. Daniells gave timely counsel in launching the new department. Its working policy is quite fully outlined in the resolutions contained in the report of the College View Council, as given on page 7 of the REVIEW of October 28.

Upon looking over the field and considering its needs, it was found necessary to ask for an appropriation of nearly forty thousand dollars to carry on the established work, and to meet the many urgent calls.

The work of the department bears the same general relation to our cause as does the Medical, Educational, Publishing, and Sabbath-school departments, being fostered and carried forward by the denomination in harmony with the gospel principles which have guided us from the beginning of our work. It has, however, a broader scope of work than the other general department, for it has not only one phase, but all phases of the gospel to carry to the colored people.

The council brought encouragement to the hearts of our colored brethren, and it is hoped that the new-formed plans will greatly extend this branch of the work.

For many years the Lord has been keeping before his people the needs of the work among this race. Although much remains to be done, yet we have cause to rejoice over the good beginning that has been made. Fifteen years ago there were not over twenty colored Seventh-day Adventists south of the Mason and Dixon line; but to-day we

have seven hundred. Twelve years ago there was only one colored Seventh-day Adventist church; to-day there are fifty. Fifteen years ago the tithe was not over fifty dollars; last year, in the United States, it amounted to five thousand dollars.

The message is rapidly gaining strength in the Southland. An excellent class of young, consecrated laborers is being brought into service. God will do a quick and mighty work for his people, if we but put ourselves in right relation to his divine plans.

W. H. WILLIAMS.