A TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTHERN FIELD.
By S. N. H.
During the last few weeks it has been our privilege to be in every Conference and mission field in the South. As we passed through the South, and became acquainted with the workers, as we did especially at Graysville, Tenn., where were workers representing the entire Southern field, we were deeply impressed with the thought that God has wrought in a marked manner for them, and that there is yet a great work to be done in this part of his vineyard. The Southern field includes nine States; namely, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The western half of Tennessee and Kentucky is formed into the Tennessee River Conference; and Florida is also an organized Conference. Neither of these Conferences is very strong, but both are self-supporting. The remaining territory is under the supervision of, and supported by, the General Conference. The Spirit of Prophecy has spoken several times during the last few years very pointedly concerning this field. It has been presented as the most difficult of any field in the world; yet it is also stated that “there is no more fruitful field than the South. It is the prejudice of the white against the black race that makes this field hard, very hard.” It is such fields that the heart of Christ is drawn out for. Our needs and hopeless condition were what brought him from the courts of heaven to this earth; and those who partake of this spirit most largely are those who are brought into closest fellowship with Christ. A detailed statistical report of the work in the South would be both interesting and profitable to study; but only a general summary of the work accomplished can be given at this time. For nearly twenty-five years the General Conference has been working in various portions of the South. During the last five years an average annual expenditure of over thirty thousand dollars for the mission fields in the South has been made by the General Conference. This may seem to our brethren to be a large sum to spend each year for the Southern field; but when we consider that the territory of the South is about one eighth of the entire country, and that it is a mission field lying within our own borders; and when we compare it with the labor and advance of our Northern Conferences, we are certain that none would conclude that the expense is great in proportion to the importance of the field. We can not see why this field should be passed by as unimportant compared with even foreign fields. The tithe received from the South by the General Conference last year amounted to $9,515.72. The tithe in the two State Conferences was about four thousand dollars. At the close of 1899, in the entire Southern field there were eighteen hundred Sabbath-keepers; fifty-nine churches; thirty-five companies; eighty-two paid laborers; about forty self-supporting workers; thirty-five church schools; and twenty-six church buildings. Of the membership, there are about three hundred and fifteen colored Sabbath-keepers: seven organized colored churches. The average tithe for each member, for the entire Southern district, notwithstanding their poverty, is greater than that of any other district except Australasia and the Pacific Coast; while the tithe per capita of the Cumberland Mission Field exceeds that of any Conference in America. The schools in the South, although working with fewer facilities than those in the North, are free from debt. In proportion to the membership, the South leads the rest of America in its number of church schools. In each State there are from one to five church buildings, free from debt, with scarcely an exception. It is thus seen that the work has gained a permanent foothold in every Southern State. Plans were laid at the district meeting held at Graysville, Tenn., at which over one hundred workers were present, to carry forward the work in the South still more vigorously. May the Lord abundantly bless the work and the workers in the South. Not the least interesting part of our trip through the South was our visit to the mission work being carried on by Elder J. E. White and his co-laborers in the western portion of Mississippi. After the meetings in Graysville, Tenn., and Huntsville, Ala., we came to Yazoo City, Miss., and took up our lodging on the steamer “Morning Star.” Here we were in the immediate field of Elder White. His “parish” extends about one hundred miles on both sides of the Yazoo River from above Yazoo City to the Mississippi River; and along the Mississippi River to Fort Gibson, thirty miles below Vicksburg. An interest has been created in various places along the route of the boat, and companies are situated at four or five places. Schools are established in Lintonia, Wilsonia, and Vicksburg. The work is soon to be placed on a still more permanent basis in this section of Mississippi, by the erection of several plain but commodious structures for the day-schools now established, and for meeting-houses. Our company on the steamer consisted of Elder J. E. White, captain of the boat, with his crew and workers, including Elder F. W. Halladay and his wife; and Elders G. A. Irwin, S. H. Lane, and N. W. Allee, Mrs. Haskell, and myself. We had a quiet, peaceful time. Brother White has secured some land by the riverside, where he cuts and stores his wood for the boat. While en route to Vicksburg, we stopped there to take on wood, and this gave each of the party exercise in carrying the large pieces down the steep bank to the boat. It was an enjoyable trip, and we felt loath to part, as duty made it necessary for us to do, when we reached Vicksburg. S. N. H.