An Interesting Experience in the Work for the Colored People
By O. M. Hayward
WHILE in conversation with the workers at the Colored Treatment Rooms in Nashville the other day, I said, “Why can’t we have a little health meeting in the parlors?” “We would be delighted to have one,” was the reply, “and we believe there are some good people who would be glad to attend.” A time was appointed for the meeting, and the workers gave personal invitations. At the hour appointed I went to the place, and was a little disappointed to find but three or four strangers present. But the colored people have a custom of holding late meetings. Their church services usually begin late, and often continue far into the night. So we waited awhile, and the parlors filled gradually with a very intelligent, well-dressed, and cultured audience. There were three doctors and other professional and business men present, also educated women and school-teachers. All listened, not simply with respect, but with keen interest to the lecture, which presented the health and temperance question from the moral side, making free use of the Holy Scriptures, and showing our relation to physical law, and our moral obligations to obey it. Yielding to the fleshly lusts and carnal appetites, which lead men into practices that are destructive of health — harmony and purity in the body — was shown to be a grievous sin. As long as we are in harmony with the law of sin and death, we reap sin and death. When we turn away from that law, and shape our practices in harmony with the law of the Spirit of life, that blessed law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes us free from the law of sin and of death. Rom. 8:2. The Lord blessed in the unfolding of his truth, and the light was so bright that works of darkness, such as indulgence in alcoholics, tobacco, and other evil things, received condemnation from the audience; and after talking for an hour and a half, I was called back to answer questions about vegetarianism. At the request of the audience these meetings will be continued every Thursday night, by Brother Hansen, Elder White, and others who reside in Nashville. The patronage of this institution is small, and brings but a meager income. There are two nurses connected with the work; and Brother and Sister Fred Young, of Illinois, in the capacity of steward and matron, are doing a self-sacrificing and creditable work. They and the nurses have many discouraging things to meet, but there are bright experiences which show that God has a good work for this institution to do. There are difficulties to contend with which but few can know except those who are connected with the work. The Nashville institution is to be used for the beginning of medical missionary education among the colored people in the South. One competent young lady has already been taken in as a student. It will be some time before this work can be self-supporting. When it shall have won the confidence of the well-to-do colored people, we hope for liberal help from them. Their church and society prejudices are strong, and, under the leadership of their pastors, they are very conservative about matters of this kind. This work, then, depends for its proper development, upon the charities of God’s people. Those who have heard the appeals that have been made from time to time by the servant of the Lord, and are planning to aid the colored sanitarium work, may send donations to the treasurer, L. A. Hansen, 717 Church St., Nashville, Tenn., or to the treasurer of the Southern Union Conference, 1025 Jefferson St., Nashville, stating plainly what the gift is for. O. M. HAYWARD,
Chairman of Medical Missionary Department of Southern Union Conference.