The Work Among the Colored People
By James Edson White
THIS line of work has proved a very important branch of the work for the colored people. We have been told that the best way to reach them is through these mission schools. Experience has proved this statement correct. The Southern Missionary Society has had several of these schools in operation for some time, and reports that every mission school established has resulted in the organization of a church. This has been a cause of great rejoicing to us, and demonstrates the correctness of the statement that this is one of the best ways of reaching the colored people with the third angel's message. Up to the present time, these schools have been operated almost entirely in the State of Mississippi, but we have felt that in the vicinity of the school at Huntsville, Ala., and in the vicinity of the headquarters at Nashville, Tenn., pioneer work should be begun along these lines this season, and efforts are being made to accomplish this result. The expense of these schools is small, and the results seem to be even greater for the amount expended than have been realized in any other way. It is hoped that several new schools may be started this fall, and that this branch of the work will be made more prominent than ever before. Not only are these mission schools our best medium for bringing the message before the people, but they are practically essential in developing young people for attendance at our training-school at Huntsville, Ala. This school was established several years ago by the General Conference. It has never been properly equipped for its work. Our schools in the North know how difficult it is to make any school self-supporting, and but few under the most favorable circumstances have succeeded in meeting expenses. The attendance at the Huntsville school is largely made up of those who find it difficult to raise the means necessary to pay their traveling expenses to the school, hence are obliged to rely upon their labor for their support and expenses while in the school. The day may come when this school will be put on a basis where it is self-supporting, but there are many repairs to be made upon the buildings, and many facilities to be added, which require the liberality of our people for the present, to say the least. The Nashville Colored Sanitarium
The instruction received through the testimonies is very explicit as to the pressing need for sanitarium and medical missionary work in the Southern field. This is especially true as regards the colored people. Nashville was specially pointed out as a place where a colored sanitarium should be located. According to this instruction the Southern Missionary Society, about three years ago, established treatment rooms, which, it was expected, would develop into regular sanitarium work. In connection with the sanitarium work, it was designed to have a training-school where colored medical missionaries could be developed, who could go out among their people, and help them to live cleaner and better lives, and bring help to those who were sick and suffering. It was thought that Nashville was well adapted to this work, as those who were studying to become medical missionaries could have a practical experience in the homes of thousands of colored people right in Nashville. We were fortunate in securing the services of Dr. Isabel, a colored physician who was graduated with high honors from the American Medical Missionary College. Her success has been remarkable, and we can but believe that in some cases the Lord has especially worked in a miraculous manner in connection with the helpful remedies employed by the sanitarium. Her reputation among the physicians of Nashville is good, but the work of Dr. Isabel has been very much hampered because the institution was not able to secure a nurse or some one to give treatment; so she has been obliged to give many of the treatments herself. Now when we remember that this institution is the only hygienic colored19sanitarium in the world, and that it is the only institution of the kind ever undertaken by Seventh-day Adventists, it would seem that this should appeal especially to the liberality of our people, to place the institution on such a basis as will enable it to successfully carry forward the work that its mission demands. We ask our people to consider this special branch of the work, and in their liberality remember that it takes considerable money to establish and equip properly a sanitarium in any locality. The evangelical work for colored people in the South is greatly in need of assistance. For years the Southern Missionary Society has been compelled to support ministers and Bible workers engaged in evangelical work. There are struggling schools in other parts of the South that need help, and the colored work is in need of strong assistance in all its work. Now, brethren and sisters, on November 5 a collection is to be taken up for the benefit of this work, and we appeal to you to consider carefully and prayerfully the needs of this field, and on this day to come with a liberal contribution that will make glad the hearts of those who are laboring earnestly in this field.