A Great Mission Field by J. S. Washburn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 27, 1906

A Great Mission Field

By J. S. Washburn

We do not need to cross the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans to find a needy field for missionary effort. Right here in the United States is a large population whose necessities should appeal to us as strongly as those of any people in the world—a race brought to this country against their will, and for many years kept in slavery. Eleven and six tenths per cent of the population of the United States is made up of the descendants of the African race.

There were in this country in 1900, according to the United States census for that year, 8,833,994 negroes. The white population according to the same census, was 66,809,896. There were two States in the Union in which the colored population exceeded the white population. There were in Mississippi 907,630 colored persons, constituting 58.5 per cent of the population. In South Carolina 58.4 per cent are colored. Georgia has a population of 1,034,813 colored people, constituting 46.7 per cent of the population. Alabama has 827,307.

Fifty-five and two tenths per cent of the colored population live in the six States, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia, and Louisiana. Where the largest amount of property per capita is held, there is the smallest number of colored people. Three fourths of the people of the United States, including those best able financially to help, know but very little of the real condition and needs of the colored people of this section. Those who are living outside of the South can scarcely realize what a missionary field there is in this part of the United States.

In the States which have the largest proportion of colored people, there is found the smallest amount of wealth to each inhabitant. These two States are South Carolina and Mississippi. The amount of property, on an average, owned by each individual in South Carolina in 1890, the date of the last complete property census, was only $348; in Mississippi, $352. These are the smallest averages of wealth of any of the United States. In North Carolina the average is $361; in Alabama, $412; in Louisiana, $443; in Georgia, $464; while the wealth per capita of the great State of New York is $1,430; Rhode Island, $1,459; Colorado, $2,780; California, $2,097. The wealth in the South, where nine tenths of the colored population are located, does not average more than $600 per capita. The larger part of the colored population is in deepest poverty. There are but few property owners among them.

When the matter of illiteracy is considered, of ability to read and write, their need is also strongly evident. In the year 1900 there were 2,853,194 who could not read or write, or forty-four per cent of the colored people; while the per cent of illiteracy in the white population of the whole country was but 6.2 per cent. In the South the per cent of illiteracy among negroes is 48 per cent; among whites, 11.7 per cent. It is true that the per cent of illiteracy is steadily decreasing. For instance, in Louisiana in 1890, 72 per cent of the negro population was illiterate; in 1900, 61 per cent. In Alabama in 1890, 69 per cent was illiterate; in 1900, 57 per cent. Other Southern States show among the negro population a similar advance along educational lines. This shows the possibility of helping the negroes. They are advancing. What many have accomplished under difficulties is most encouraging. They greatly appreciate help, and try to improve themselves. Our colored brethren pay tithes, and make liberal gifts to support the work.

Their poverty and need of education should appeal to our brethren and sisters who have been favored with the blessings of comparative comfort and enlightenment, to give liberally in the offering which will be taken for the colored people the first Sabbath in October. No doubt the Pharisee who passed by the poor stricken man on the road to Jericho was a very earnest foreign missionary, but those nearest to his own door were left to die. Let it not be so with the people who believe that this message must go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

We can not believe that God sanctioned slavery, but that he permitted it in order to bring forth some great blessing somewhere, sometime, to some one in darkness and in need. Joseph was sold into Egypt into slavery, and he saved his father's house. God permitted the Ethiopian to be brought to the United States even as a slave. Surely this was that the light of the gospel of the kingdom might come to him, and he might carry it to Africa, his native land, to his brethren who have not had the light of the gospel that has shone upon him. We believe that many from the Southland will be giving the message in Africa before this work closes. Let us give liberally, generously, of our God-given means on the first Sabbath in October for the work among the colored people.

J. S. WASHBURN.