The South as a Field of Labor.
By George I. Butler
The providence of God seems to be opening up fields of labor in various parts of our own country and of the world for the spread of the present truth in a wonderful manner. Indeed, these openings become almost a matter of embarrassment in view of the scarcity of laborers to fill them. But this state of things is much more encouraging than the reverse would be. Were there no places where labor bestowed promised any good results, and nobody desired to hear us, then we might be justified in feeling despondent. But when there are many openings for labor, and precious souls are ready to rejoice in the truth, we ought to be encouraged to make most energetic efforts. I have been laboring this season nearly as far south as this truth has ever been preached, and have been surrounded by southern people. Though I am of northern birth and education, and am thus exposed to the prejudices arising from that cause which are usually supposed to exist among the southern people, I have never found warmer friends than I have in many of them. If I can judge correctly, there are thousands of true hearts ready to receive the truth all through these Southern States among those whom we northern people have thought the truth could never reach. Some of my most interested hearers this season, and some of my warmest friends, were men whose sympathies were with the South during the last war, or who actually served on that side in the southern army. They have hearts that respond to the truth, and they seem to love it as well as any persons I have ever met. The longer we live, and the more we associate with people, the more clearly we shall see that prejudice causes many of the difficulties which exist among them. A person who never moves out of his own little circle forms narrow views of things, and comes to think he can trust none but a few of his own special friends. But the man with broad views and more generous impulses will find kindred souls here and there all through this world of ours. Let us grant that these are few in comparison with the great mass of mankind, and that possibly the proportion may be greater in some places than others; still, wherever they are, the truth of God must reach them. The field is the world. The message is to many “peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” The providence of God seems to be specially preparing the way for the spread of the truth in the South, if I can discern the character of passing events. It would have been difficult, years ago, when the feeling between the two sections was so bitter over the slavery question, to have disseminated our views in the Southern States. The abolition of slavery, and the events of the last ten years, have done much to change this. There has been, to a great extent, a mixing together and a breaking down of the old sectional lines. The last year or two the tendency in this direction has been very marked. And as we approach the great centennial year, 1876, the old patriotic feeling concerning our one great country is kindling from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and all parts of the country are being affected by it. Any one who has read the papers the present season cannot have forgotten the enthusiasm in Boston over the presence of leading southerners at the anniversaries of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Many of them were most earnest enemies of the North during the war, but their presence was most heartily cheered of any. The speeches of leading generals in the rebellion, such as Gen. Forrest’s, breathing a spirit of conciliation, and a desire to forget old differences and accept the situation, are a plain omen in this direction. Even Jefferson Davis, who was so exceedingly unpopular a few years ago that the boys in every village were singing about hanging him on a “sour apple tree,” is now being invited to make public addresses at fairs and other large gatherings at many places in the North. This is a great evidence of the strength of the current in the direction of conciliation. I think it is safe to say that before the close of another year, public sentiment will be such that the former bitterness and acrimony between the two sections will have largely disappeared. The way is now opened for the advance of the truth anywhere in the South. There is not enough of sectional hate to hinder it to any great extent. I feel sure there are many noble spirits there who would receive it if properly presented. The southern people are more cordial and hospitable generally than our northern people. I see no reason, but the scarcity of laborers, to hinder the truth from being successfully propagated in any of the Southern States. I see in all these recent movements in the nation the breaking down of the barriers which have hitherto stood in the way. And I firmly believe that the providence of God is in this, that the way may be prepared for the loud cry of the third angel’s message. Thus God is opening up avenues of access to the people in various parts of our country and the world. May we be ready to fill them to the best of our ability as he prepares the way by his opening providence, till the earth shall be lightened with the glory of the coming dawn. Rolla, Mo., Sept. 16, 1875.