p. 16 | The Collection for the Work Among the Colored People

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 30, 1909

The Collection for the Work Among the Colored People

By W. A. Westworth

NEVER before in the history of the third angel’s message was there so great a demand, so great a need, that the annual collection for the work among the colored people meet with a hearty response as now. The action of the late General Conference establishing a special department to care for this work, and the hearty indorsement this action received by the Southeastern and Southern unions, have opened before us possibilities for pressing forward in this work as never before in the history of this people.

Within the past few months those actively engaged in the work in the South have had their attention called to their responsibilities to the Negro race by a number of special Testimonies from the spirit of prophecy, and every one who has heard and studied these calls can not but realize that now is the time for us to put forth every possible effort to advance this department of our work. We have many times wondered why it was that the work in the South for the white people has not progressed as it should, but may it not be that our backwardness in heeding the calls of God for greater

activity among the colored race has delayed the blessing of God upon the work for the white people? At any rate, the avenues for this work for the Negro are fast closing, and the tendency of certain elements in the South is against the prosecution of this endeavor.

The attitude of certain legislative bodies is a witness to the truthfulness of this statement, and the most conservative students are ready to admit that the conditions under which such work is now carried forward are rapidly being narrowed.

We trust, however, that none will think that the question is a one-sided one. The most careful of both races who, from the standpoint of God’s Word, are studying the situation, are ready to admit that the increase of crime and the stirring of racial prejudices are elements which must be considered. The violent prejudices are not confined to one side, but everywhere Satan’s rule is stirring hearts to deeds of violence and opposition to the well-defined demands of law.

With these conditions existing, and they can not be understood in the fulness by those who have not been very closely associated with them, it behooves Seventh-day Adventists to arouse to the great demands that are placed upon them by the great commission and by the special calls from God which have come to us so recently. Soon it will be too late to do the work; soon the calls from the neglected South will be no more; soon we shall not be able to do this work which God for years has been urging us to perform. Since the work must be done ere the Master comes, let us arouse and show our faith in the calls of God, and in this annual collection for the poor, despised, and forsaken Negro make it possible for the newly organized departments of both General and union conferences to accomplish the work committed to them. Already by faith we in the Southeast are reaching out to greater spheres of activity than ever before, confident that in this crisis our brethren will not forsake us.

W. A. WESTWORTH.