The Collection on Sabbath, October 6
By George I. Butler
THE time for this important collection for the work among the colored people of the South is very near, and the writer, as well perhaps as any one, knows its importance, because of official responsibility as president of the Southern Union Conference, where perhaps three fourths of all the colored people in the United States of America live. A great and important work among this race has begun in the Southern Union Conference. Great advancement has been made; yet it has by no means reached that degree of success that should be attained. During the present year nearly every State composing the Southern Union Conference has had one or more colored ministers to labor for his people. Nearly all have churches of colored people, and some have schools for the colored children. The Mississippi Conference, where the operations of the Southern Missionary Society have been most active, has had nearly half a dozen church-schools of this race. In fact, the conference itself has quite a large proportion of colored members, and they pay fully one third of the tithes of the conference. Here was where the “Morning Star” began its work. The efforts made to supply colored ministers has been quite successful. The colored schools are the greatest factors in building up the work. Wherever they are established and fostered, in nearly every case a church is the result. Then meeting-houses must be built, and so the work goes on. But means are required to carry out this program, and we know not where to look for such help but to our October collection. There is a great dearth of teachers for our colored church-schools, also of Bible workers and of laborers in every department of the work. Where are we going to find them? They do not grow up to these qualifications and positions by some natural process. They must be developed by education and instruction. Hence the great need of our training-school for the colored. We must seek out pupils of bright minds, and those who desire to become useful, and bring them to this institution to be trained for the vacant places needing their help. Hence our school must receive help, and it must be made what it ought to be. This requires means. Over and over the Testimonies have pleaded with our people in behalf of this branch of the work, and yet we have not attained to what the Lord desires we should accomplish. But I am happy in saying we are slowly approximating it. God has precious jewels to be gathered from this unfortunate people. The day of God is hastening on apace. This truth is going to the ends of the world. We must plan for its faithful proclamation among this people. What was given last year for this purpose was a wonderful help, a blessed boon. We know not what we could have done without it. The work was strengthened, encouraged, built up, and established by the means contributed. We can not bear the thought that a lack of means this year should come like a killing frost, disheartening, discouraging, and disintegrating the efforts already put forth. We can not believe such a catastrophe will occur. Dear brethren and sisters, let us rally on Sabbath, October 6, and give liberally for the collection for the work among the colored people. Then we can rejoice at the increase of interest and the steady progress of this noble work.