An Important Step for the Colored Work in the South
By George I. Butler
At the recent council of the General Conference Committee at College View, Neb., September 15-25, an important action was taken. A unanimous vote of all the members of the committee present was passed, setting apart the first Sabbath in November each year for the taking up of a collection for the benefit of the colored work in the South. The importance of this step can hardly be overestimated. This unfortunate race is quite poor. Many are without homes of their own. Large numbers are dependent upon small wages for a living. Comparatively few have much education. Having a generation or two ago come from the condition of slavery, it would be unreasonable to expect as much from them as from the white race, who have for many ages been free and living in the enjoyment of all the blessings of civilization. It is positively certain that it is possible for many of the negro race to become intelligent, useful citizens. With a fair chance, many of them have become respectable physicians, eloquent speakers, successful business men, and useful members of society. Multitudes more of them might succeed in the affairs of life had they the proper instruction. When we consider the religious aspect of this race question, a vastly greater responsibility rests upon us. No sane, honest man can deny the moral accountability of the negro race. There are too many facts attesting the ability of various members of this race to deny their moral sense. Instances of great heroism, faithfulness, mechanical skill, religious fervor, and integrity abound among individuals of this race. The evidence is plain that this people need the blessed truths of the Bible for these last days. Large numbers are already receiving them, and profiting thereby. A great duty rests upon our people to give to this despised, unfortunate race the glorious, precious truths of God's Word for this time. We have been making some efforts in this direction; but these efforts ought to be increased a hundredfold. And if the Lord is coming in this generation, there is no time for delay. There are upward of nine millions of the colored race in the United States of America. Probably three fourths of these are within the bounds of the Southern Union Conference. The Southern States must confront this problem; and they must do it immediately. There has been a great lack of means with which to carry on this branch of the work. The problem has been a very serious one. Many perplexities have had to be met. The support of the cause among the white population in the South has been one of much difficulty. The constituency among the whites has been small and comparatively poor. It has been demonstrated beyond question that the white population in the South can not carry on their own work and that of the colored people, with any such vigor as the importance of the work demands. Under these circumstances, the union conference committee drew up a petition addressed to the General Conference Committee, earnestly pleading with that committee to appoint a day once each year when all our people, in the North and in the South, should be urged to donate of their means liberally for the support of the work among the colored people. This petition came up for consideration at the recent meeting in College View, Neb. The committee unanimously endorsed the petition, and appointed the first Sabbath in November each year for this purpose. The object of this article is to notify our people generally of this action of the committee. The time is comparatively short this year in which to put forth a proper appeal, and get the matter before all our people. We request that all our papers and periodicals give notice of the appointment of this day for the purpose mentioned. We greatly need this year a large donation of many thousands of dollars for the Southern Colored Training School at Huntsville, Ala., and the colored sanitarium, and the support of various colored schools in different States and conferences. The money raised on this appointed day will be apportioned to various institutions and objects connected with the colored work, by a large committee appointed by the General Conference Committee, so that each object shall have proper consideration. Let our brethren and sisters everywhere take this matter into careful consideration, and prepare to deal liberally with this very needy cause. Much more will be said on this subject in the future in our various periodicals. GEO. I. BUTLER,
Pres. of Southern Union Conf.