AN APPEAL FOR THE SOUTHERN FIELD.
By Leroy Dean
Christ’s injunction to us is: “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” In the Review of August 27, in an article entitled the “Southern Work,” written by Mrs. E. G. White, taken from Diary of 1899, is the following: “There should be a thousand workers where there is now but one.” That means that there is one thousand times more whitened fields already to harvest than the workers now in the field are able to reap. Will not much of the harvest be wasted if allowed to stand? For years God has been pleading with His people to whom He has given great light, to enter this neglected portion of the Lord’s vineyard; but many of us have been using the same argument as did the ten spies, saying there are great giants in the land, and we can never possess it. Brethren, can we afford to act the part of the ten spies in this most dangerous time? Shall we not say, with faithful Caleb and Joshua, “In thy strength, O Lord, we are able to take the land”? “All scripture is given,” “for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” Thus the sin of Israel in not going forward and possessing the Canaan land as God directed them, is a warning to us in our relation to the needy Southern field. One day the Israelites might have entered; and the Lord would have gone with them, and fought their battles, and given them the land. The next day, because of their murmurings, the Lord told them not to go; but then they thought they were strong enough to take the land, so they presumptuously prepared for battle, and marched into the land, but were greatly defeated, because the Lord could not then go with them. The opportune time with them had passed, and they were bidden by the Lord to turn back into the wilderness, there to learn lessons of faith. Here is a lesson for us. Over two years ago we were told by the prophet of the Lord that what was done in the South for the colored people would have to be done quickly, and where are we now?—Two years this side of that time. Does not this fact lead us to search our hearts; are we not compelled to ask ourselves the question, Has God been calling me to this needy field of labor? God has been calling for whole families to move into different portions of this Southern field; then, by precept and example, and a well-ordered industrial life, to teach the people not merely in the letter of the word, but to teach them how to build humble dwellings, and make a livelihood for themselves. The Southern field would be much blessed, and many hearts made to rejoice in the truth for this time, should all act intelligently in this matter now. Men of capital should move South, and start industries. Some are to enter the field as canvassers, ministers, teachers, nurses, and doctors. All these may find a part to act in this portion of the Lord’s vineyard. Truly, the Southern field is a hard field, as compared with many other portions of the Lord’s vineyard. But there is nothing to be done at the command of God that may not be accomplished in His strength. My short acquaintance with the Southern people has been a happy surprise to me. I have found them a much better class of people than I had in mind when I left Michigan a short time ago. As a rule, they are hospitable. Many who have spent much time laboring in the South have testified to that effect. What we need most is more of the faith of Caleb and Joshua. The work in the South is to be taken up in a quiet, humble way. All should acquaint themselves with the Testimonies relating especially to the Southern field before undertaking the work. God grant that many more may consecrate their lives to the work in the Southern field.