Work for the Colored People of Virginia
By I. E. Kimball
MY wife and I have now been in this State one year, working in the churches of the colored people; and we have reasons for thankfulness and gratitude to God for the help he has given. During this time we have sold about two thousand books, besides many thousand pages of tracts, and hundreds of copies of the Signs of the Times. The literature has been read, and no little interest awakened as the result. The books have also gone into the hands of hundreds of the white population, who have appreciated them even more than the colored people have. I have also preached in most of the churches of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Berkley, Newport News, Richmond, and Petersburg. It cannot be said that there is practically any prejudice against the truth here, for, with few exceptions, the people have never heard of Seventh-day Adventists. But there is a race prejudice, or hatred, which is working more and more, and which is beginning to raise up barriers difficult to surmount. I have, together with practical talks on holy living, given lectures in many of these churches. We have taken about with us a magic lantern, whereby we have been able to throw nearly all the prophetic symbols upon the canvas. These churches are so filled with entertainments, and the members have so little realization of the solemnity of truth, that it is impossible to deliver more than one lecture in a place. I have sought to appoint two,—a prophetic lecture, to be followed the next evening by a health lecture,—but generally two nights cannot be spared me. In these lectures I merely sketch the prophetic pictures, showing the general trend of prophecy, hoping to awaken an interest in the minds of my hearers to read further. I take literature—tracts and books—with me, which I sell at the end of the service. I have found many of the preachers receptive and the most interested listeners in the congregation. Young men have followed me from one lecture to another, purchasing the books and glorying in the truth. In my lectures of the last four weeks, one man, a sensible preacher, who has read very extensively, accepted the whole truth. I have had the privilege of speaking on the prophecies several times before the preachers in their weekly conferences. Twice I spoke to the preachers19of Petersburg, and once before the Baptist conference of Richmond, also before the Y. M. C. A. Those present were not merely impressed, but some of them were deeply touched with the truth to which they listened. By request of the president of this conference, I visited our church in Danville. There were sixty or more of our people together. This church came originally from the Holiness band, and many of them have had little or no instruction in the messages of Rev. 14: 6-14. I never before attended a meeting where the truth was so appreciated, and so sweet to the taste, where ears were so fully unstopped, and hearts so greatly rejoiced in the Saviour. Twelve were baptized at this meeting by Brother Medley. At our last evening service two expressed their desire to go with the company. I hope to return to this church to establish them more fully in the truths applicable to this time. When I came to Norfolk, I found a little church, which, however, was left without an elder or a deacon, without the ordinances, and indeed with no real church standing. They were, moreover, in great trial. Only three faithful souls were left. With this little nucleus, we now have a church of twelve active and efficient members, and several others are keeping the Sabbath, who may join us soon. God's truth has dropped as the rain upon this company, clearing the spiritual atmosphere, until all trial is a thing of the past. Our quarterly meeting was indeed a precious season. We are now preparing to hold a course of meetings in one of the largest colored halls of this city. We shall advertise extensively, and shall soon see what can be done for the colored people in this way. We hope to gather fruit from the seed sown in the past. My wife has labored faithfully, helping me in the lectures, attending almost every service, until her health failed. She has gone to Vermont to rest and recuperate. My address is 1502 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, Va. I. E. KIMBALL.