An Encouraging Outlook by Charles P. Bollman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Oct 4, 1906

An Encouraging Outlook

By Charles P. Bollman

C. P. BOLLMAN

We are glad to be able to tell our people, just upon the eve of the October collection for the work among the colored people in the South, that the work is in a prosperous condition, and the outlook very encouraging. Notwithstanding the difficulties encountered, and the lack of funds, a good work is being done.

The Lord is going out before his people and preparing the way for the workers, whether they are canvassers, colporteurs, teachers, or ministers.

The mission schools established by the Southern Missionary Society are all again in successful operation. One school that was started last January with only six pupils, closed the first of June and with eighteen pupils. It opened a few days ago at the beginning of the present school year with eighteen pupils, and now reports an enrolment of twenty-three.

There are numerous openings for the establishment of new schools. Some of these calls will have to wait, but we hope to be able to respond favorably to several.

Memphis is appealing to the Society for aid in erecting a small school building and establishing a mission school in one of the colored quarters of that city. We know of no place where the need is greater, or where access can be had to a larger number of Afro-Americans, than in that important city.

This Society has been advised by the General Conference Committee to confine its operations as far as possible to the establishment and maintenance of mission schools for the colored, and to providing school and church buildings whenever demanded by the interest of the cause. This we are trying to do, but have recently yielded to the force of circumstances and have undertaken the partial support of a colored minister in Atlanta. This brother will work under the direction of the Georgia Conference, but will be paid in part out of the funds of the Southern Missionary Society. This for the reason that Georgia is unable to support, wholly, another worker, and there is crying need for a colored laborer in that State, especially in the important city of Atlanta, which has a large colored population.

Those who have charge of this branch of the work intend to push it forward just as rapidly as possible. We are dependent, however, upon the liberalities of our people, and can go only as fast and as far as means are provided for carrying forward the work.

The Society has suffered the loss of four of its ablest teachers this fall. They have been called to labor as ministers in three of the local conferences. We have been able to supply the places made vacant by the withdrawal of these experienced teachers. We are sorry to lose them from our school work, but glad indeed to see them enter what promises to be larger fields of usefulness.

These are only a few of the interesting facts that might be given in regard to the work we are trying to do for the colored people. We believe that the past neglect of this field has been due very largely to the fact that but few of our people have understood the needs and opportunities presented. There is no branch of this cause that enlists the sympathies of Seventh-day Adventists more than the work for the colored people. We confidently believe that a liberal offering to this branch of the work will be given on the sixth of October. Remember that the Lord loves a cheerful giver, and that he holds every service rendered to his cause, even if it be the most humble part of it, as rendered to himself.

Nashville, Tenn.