A Sabbath Offering for the Colored Work in the South
By Arthur G. Daniells
AT the College View Council of the General Conference Committee just held, the following recommendation was passed by a hearty, unanimous vote:— That the first Sabbath in November be appointed for a collection in all our churches for the colored work throughout the South. This offering is to be taken Sabbath, November 5. As clearly stated in the recommendation, the object of this general offering is to secure means to sustain and develop the work among the colored people in the Southern States. For years we have been raising money by various means for this work, but we realize the need of some plan that will provide a good and regular supply each year. It is believed that a general Sabbath offering from our churches throughout the United States, will meet this requirement better than any other plan that has been adopted. In the REVIEW of September 29, Elder Butler made a clear statement regarding the present pressing needs of the work in behalf of the colored people. The Huntsville school must be put in better shape for the winter's work. The colored sanitarium needs immediate help. The church-schools in various local conferences must be assisted, and new schools must be started. Much might be said regarding the work to be done for this unfortunate race. But our people are already quite familiar with their needs. It is sincerely hoped that a large offering will be made to this work, Sabbath, November 5. It is true that we have just taken an offering for the Haskell Home, and that at the close of December we shall take our regular annual offering in behalf of our mission fields. But we are enjoying unparalleled prosperity. The Lord is giving us high wages, excellent crops, and good prices. Day after day he causes his sun to shine upon us, and gives us rain from heaven. Without cessation he watches over us, preserves our lives, and shields us from sickness and misfortunes. He does not cease to bestow his gifts upon us, and as long as he prospers us and makes it possible for us to return to him a portion of that which he gives us, we should take pleasure in doing so. In this note I wish to speak in behalf of the General Conference Committee regarding the November offering for the Southern field. We are united in this arrangement, and we are very anxious that the offering shall be large, so that our brethren in the South shall not be cramped in their labors. The battle goes hard enough at best. The conditions are forbidding, and they are growing more perilous all the time. It certainly looks as if our time for working as we have been in the past is growing very short. Unless we entirely misjudge the trend of events, what we fail to do now will have to be done, if it is ever done, under the most trying and perilous conditions. Seventh-day Adventists know full well that the third angel's message is the only really substantial hope of the colored people. While many noble men of both races are working in the South for the elevation of the colored race, we as a people know full well what is coming, and we know that the message God has given us is their only hope. And knowing this, how earnestly we ought to labor to give them this message that they may be led to trust in that which will not fail them. The time for working up the November offering is very short. We shall not be able to place this matter as clearly and thoroughly before all our people as we would like; but we appeal to conference and church officers throughout this country to make a special effort to encourage our people to give liberally at this time. We hope those in charge of local conference papers will place this matter clearly before the brethren and sisters, that they may be led to make a liberal offering. We shall await the returns from this Sabbath offering with much interest.