The October Collection for the Work Among the Colored People by E. W. Webster

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

The October Collection for the Work Among the Colored People

By E. W. Webster

E. W. WEBSTER

When our faithful people give to advance the cause of God, they want to know the needs of the particular work to which they give. This is proper, for they feel that if they give to it, the work is then theirs, and they have a right to know about it.

The conditions of the colored work in South Carolina are these: We have one church of sixteen members, and a few scattered believers, making, in all, about thirty Sabbath-keepers. There is one lone colored laborer among the half million people of that race in South Carolina. We had another man chosen to labor, but did not have money enough to set both to work. There are several places calling for their labors, but we must be content with what one can do, until we get returns from the October collection. There is not a steady, regular canvasser among them, but hundreds of books are being sold to this people, and interests are springing up that call for public laborers.

There is not a church building or a school among us in all South Carolina. The believers are not able to build, and we are not able to help them. A lot has been offered them in Spartanburg for a church, and they are trying to raise eight hundred dollars with which to build. This is a grand opportunity for helping that needy branch of God's work in the South.

Our people in the North should understand that owing to certain peculiar conditions and prejudices with which they are unacquainted, we can not work promiscuously in the South as in the North. To try to do so would ruin all our work. We have difficulties in the work for both white and colored that our Northern brethren know nothing about. And to add to these perplexities, we are much cramped for means and men for the work among the colored people. If we had the means to start a school and support a teacher, we could soon train workers to do a great and mighty work among them. Who will have a part in this by giving liberally to the October collection?

Brother Reise, of Pennsylvania, donated a tent to the colored work in South Carolina, but we have no laborer to man it except one inexperienced but earnest, faithful worker. If enough is received from the October offering so that needed assistance can be given this work, we shall no doubt see precious fruit borne as a result.

The conditions existing in this State are the same as in all the South, only a little more apparent here now because this work is newer and weaker in South Carolina. Ask me any questions you wish about the work here, I will answer all I can. But let our people plan at once to help this needy branch of the work.

Cowpens, S. C.