p. 17 | Georgia and the Colored Work by George I. Butler

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 4, 1907

Georgia and the Colored Work

By George I. Butler

The population of Georgia by the last United States census was: whites, 1,181,294; colored, 1,034,813. It will be seen that there is comparatively little difference between the population of the two races in that State. The colored race comprises nearly one half of the population. Both South Carolina and Mississippi have each many thousands more colored people than white. In the percentage of colored to the white, Georgia stands next highest to those two of all the Southern States. What has been done in this great Empire State of the South to illuminate with the truth of God this great mass of colored people of over a million souls in number?—Very little, indeed. There is only one very small, weak church of Seventh-day Adventists in this great State—the most populous and the most wealthy of all that field.

Up to last fall there was only one laborer for the colored people of Georgia, a dear white sister in Atlanta. Very few had embraced the Sabbath. With these facts before the writer, he felt that something ought to be done. Elder W. H. Sebastian, an ordained colored minister of ability who had been laboring with excellent success in the State of Mississippi for years, was entreated to give himself to the work for the colored people of Georgia. Of course his heart was in the field where he had labored so long, and it took the most earnest appeals to get him to see the very needy condition of his people in Georgia. After several months of earnest correspondence, he decided to come; and he has been laboring there ever since. But he finds a great many difficulties in the way of success. The little church in Atlanta which he has been laboring so faithfully to encourage and increase in numbers has no church building in which to meet. They are forced to meet in small private rooms where only a few can be accommodated, and where there is scarcely opportunity to permit the presence of those not already Sabbath-keepers. Here is the great city of Atlanta, called by some “the Chicago of the South” because of the enterprising, pushing, rushing, energetic character of its business men, with many scores of thousands of colored people in it, and no place in which to meet these multitudes and present the message to them, except this small private room.

Brother Sebastian has pleaded and pleaded with the writer for help, to get a moderately sized house in which to worship, and in which to call the people together. As land is very high there, it is thought that it would be well to have the meeting hall above, and a lower story with a very high basement for a school. Sister Sebastian is a very good school-teacher. It costs much to rent buildings. While the cause is weak in numbers and financial strength, these educational and spiritual advantages might be of only moderate size. Of course, as the need should increase, other provisions could be made.

The matter of providing for the necessities of the work among the colored people in Georgia and Atlanta have been under consideration for months; but as yet very little has been done. Our people in the Southern States are exerting themselves strongly to raise their portion of the $150,000. This is no small thing to do in this struggling field. The Southern Missionary Society is anxious to help in this worthy object. But owing to the smallness of the collection for the colored people last October, the funds are very low. In this needy field there are so many calls for money to carry on our work that it is most difficult to raise means to buy land and erect a suitable house in the costly city of Atlanta. It will take quite a little sum to purchase land and to put up even a small house. Will not some of our dear brethren and sisters in the North who have an interest in the work for the colored people, help us in this exceedingly needy enterprise?

We do not ask for large sums, or for anything that would in the least degree stand in the way of raising the $150,000 fund now in progress. It would not be necessary to do such a thing in order to assist this very necessary effort for a small church and schoolhouse in Atlanta. But one thing is certain, such a house must be erected, or the cause among the colored people of Atlanta and Georgia will be greatly crippled. In no field, to the knowledge of the writer, is there such a crying need of help, either for the white or the colored. There are certain special conditions which make this so. The heart of the writer is deeply moved to see the cause of God advanced in this great empire State, more so than in any other in this field. Will not the dear friends of the cause throughout the North help us in moderate sums to build a modest chapel in Atlanta? Let all who may choose to give, send their money to the Southern Missionary Society, North Station, Nashville, Tenn., stating plainly that it is for the church building for the colored people in Atlanta, Ga.

GEO. I. BUTLER, President Southern Union Conference.