AN APPEAL FOR THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE SOUTHERN FIELD.
By W. H. Armstrong
I came South to labor for the colored people, last December. The Lord has blessed my work to quite an extent. At Winston Salem, N. C., is a small company of Sabbath-keepers. The work in the South is far different from the work in the North. A large per cent of the people have no knowledge of reading, and are educated to believe whatever the minister says, regardless of what the Bible teaches. Yet it is indeed wonderful how the Lord has led many of them. I have seen those who could not read a word in the Bible, and who had never heard of a Sabbath-keeper, and yet they were keeping the Sabbath the best they knew how. I have known several persons who, although unable to read, have a knowledge of many of the doctrines which we teach as present truth. When asked how they got this knowledge, they say, “The Spirit taught me.” I will mention one case especially: A sister in Virginia who was seeking truth heard of a people keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. She sought them, learned the truth, and accepted it. After a few weeks of faithful service for her beloved Master, she fell asleep in the hope of a soon-coming Saviour. The Lord has for a long time spoken of this field. As I labor here, I often think of other parts of the vineyard in the North, East, and West, which the Master has blessed. Our Father has many servants in these fields. So far as I know, I am the only one in this State laboring in this work. It has been decided by the General Conference that I am to labor in the States of Virginia and North Carolina. There is much to do. Will not the Lord of the harvest lay the burden on one of the Conferences to send a laborer to this field? or will not one of our churches, or even a man or woman, blessed of the Lord with money, send a laborer here? The Lord laid this burden on me; and he is as able to lay it on others. But I would not advise any one to come; except those on whom the Lord has placed the burden. I verily believe that the Lord gives every man his work, and that no one is fitted for this work unless the Lord calls him. I pray that the dear Lord will send those whom he has called. We are in great need of tracts to distribute among the people. Will not some of our brethren and sisters help us by giving of their money or by sending tracts and papers? A large amount of the tracts used here will have to be given away. All contributions of money for this work should be sent to the Review and Herald Pub. Co., Atlanta, Ga. If this appeal meets the mind of one, or of many, I ask them to confer with the leading brethren, whom the Lord has placed in charge of the work. 622 N. Main St., Winston Salem, N. C.