NO ROOM FOR PUPILS by L. A. Van Erin

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 30, 1901

NO ROOM FOR PUPILS.

By L. A. Van Erin

ONE of our self-supporting workers—the founder of Peace Haven Industrial School for Colored Youth, at Blackville, S. C., writes to a sister in Battle Creek, as follows:—

“Your letter just at hand. I wrote telling you of the death of my boy, but I presume you had not received my letter. I will try to answer your questions regarding our school. Last term we had seventy-five pupils enrolled. This fall we should have about two hundred and fifty if we had the teachers.

“Our present building is 20 x 30 ft. We already have the framing lumber, a part of the weather boarding, and shingles to erect another building, 28 x 40 ft. To finish this so we can use it will take about two hundred dollars. We have no brick for flues, no doors, windows, ceiling, or money to pay carpenters.

“We hope to begin school the first of September. The people are very anxious for you to come. Make haste to come; but I cannot raise the railroad fare yet. I am owing the doctor’s and undertaker’s bills, which must be paid as soon as I possibly can. Our building must be ready, with the dear Lord’s help, in time for school. You don’t know how busy it keeps me to keep things moving. It is write, write, until I am brain weary. We must build and enlarge and continue doing so until we can successfully carry on the work God has given into our hands. Last Sunday I spoke to about seven hundred at the Baptist association, on school work; and already many from a distance are coming to enter their children. Could you not get some to promise a certain amount each month toward running expenses? Push the matter all you can, raise every dollar you can, and get the school and its needs before our people. I do hope you will soon be on the ground. The need is great. Yours in the hope of the coming King.

“J. H. POMEROY.”

Our brother, J. H. Pomeroy, was in this city during the late General Conference.

The writer is glad to say to all who are interested in the work for the South, that she has succeeded in securing the services of two consecrated self-supporting helpers. It is needless to add any words of mine to this urgent and pathetic appeal from Brother Pomeroy—other than to quote the following extract, clipped from a periodical while I was working in southern California five or six years ago, which kindled a “fire in my bones,” and started me to the needy fields of the South:—

“God makes no distinction between the North and the South. He requires far more of His people than they have given Him in missionary work among the people of the South of all classes, and especially among the colored race. Are we not under even greater obligation to labor for the colored people than for those who have been highly favored? . . . After so great a wrong has been done them, should not an earnest effort be made to lift them up?

“The truth must be carried to them. They have souls to be saved as well as we. Sin rests upon us as a Church because we have not made greater efforts for the salvation of souls among the colored people. Every effort should be made to wipe out the terrible wrong, which has been done them. Let us do what we can to send to this class laborers who will work in Christ’s name, who will not fail nor be discouraged. . . . We should recognize talent where it exists among that people, and those who have ability should be placed where they may receive an education. . . . We must do more unselfish missionary work than we have done in the Southern States.”

I can only pray that the spirit of Him who gave all there was to give, to rescue a race of fallen rebels, may move upon your heart, dear reader, to respond now to this call and send help to build a shelter for our pupils and the workers, so we may confidently say Come, to such as wish to come. The place must be prepared for the souls who are moved upon by the Spirit of the loud cry. This is a part of our great message for to-day. What will you do now? Please send all donations to J. H. Pomeroy, Blackville, S. C.

L. A. VAN ERIN.