WHAT IS BEING DONE FOR THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH.
By Geo. I. Butler
IN this brief article I can only glance at a few items in the beneficent, sacrificing, and most noble work that has been in progress for an unfortunate race, many of whom were held in slavery in the United States of America. Since the Civil War closed, and the slaves received their freedom by the Emancipation Proclamation of that grand, noble man, Abraham Lincoln, efforts have been made by a large number of benevolent people, both South and North, to elevate, educate, and develop the colored people of the South. And why should not this be done in every way possible? It is but the manifestation of the glorious spirit of Christianity, the religion of the blessed Bible. It is but carrying out and onward the beneficent principles of God's love and goodness, demonstrated in all His dealings with the creatures of His care throughout the universe. It is a true exemplification of the genuine missionary spirit which has ever gone with the real religion of Christ our Lord. He said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive;" "He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." The missionary operations which have characterized the Protestant churches for a century past, planting the Gospel in the dark and benighted regions of the earth, were heaven-inspired movements. The world has been vastly benefited by them. They were blessings to those who gave and those who received. In no part of the world has this blessed missionary spirit been more gloriously illustrated than in benighted Africa. "The Dark Continent" has not only been "dark" in the cuticle of its people, but most awfully so in the mind, the understanding, and moral development of the inhabitants. Yet a great measure of enlightenment has been the result in many localities. God's ways are wonderful and past our comprehension. With all the horrors of the African slave trade; the cruelty of many slave holders; the separation of families; the auctioning of the bodies and souls of human beings; the shedding of human blood; the unpaid toil of millions—yet God has brought even good out of all this wo and agony. Good masters taught their servants religion, and cared kindly for their well-being. Multitudes of slaves learned the Christian religion who would never have known it had they remained in Africa. There can be no doubt but that, on the whole, the Africans brought over to America, and their descendants, are more civilized, better educated, and more morally enlightened than those who remained there. But this fact, in which we are sure all will agree, can never justify those who enslaved them. Their course was awfully wicked in their piratical slave-trade cruelties. But God's mercy and omnipotence enables Him to bring good out of evil. And now, since emancipation, an era has dawned that can be made most beneficial to a large branch of the African race. Their circumstances are more favorable in many respects for improvement than have existed for ages in their native land. If Christians generally had arisen to a sense of their possibilities, wonderful changes for the better might have been seen. But alas, but little, comparatively, has been accomplished. Yet noble souls have given themselves to this work of uplifting a needy, unfortunate race. Among these benefactors, Mr. Armstrong stood prominent in establishing a large school in Hampton, Va., for negroes and Indians, teaching them practically the nobility of labor, a knowledge of all the arts and sciences, and the refining influences of Christianity. He set in motion a train of circumstances whereby millions will be more or less benefited. Manual labor is inculcated, and those under this training come out skilled artisans, well qualified to be helpful and useful citizens. In this school Booker T. Washington received his training. He came to it the poorest of the poor, ignorant, and uncouth. He was earnest and conscientious, faithful and receptive. He came forth a well-trained, thoroughly equipped man, capable of going forth in the "Black Belt" of southern Alabama and establishing another school on the same principles, which has almost, if not quite, exceeded the usefulness of Hampton. Multitudes of the colored race of both sexes every year are receiving their training there, coming forth well-equipped for the battles of life in almost every department. The Alabama Colored Normal School, of Huntsville, under the supervision of Professor Council, is another institution of real merit, working for the same ends. He is a self-made man, who struggled against the greatest of difficulties. But he has become an eloquent orator, a man of great force, and has done a noble work. Nashville, Tenn., has most excellent schools for the colored people. The Fiske University is one of these. Here four or five hundred pupils are taught each year. President Merrill is a noble young man, able and earnest. It has been the writer's privilege to form his acquaintance and attend the school openings, commencements, etc., several times. They were very interesting. The scholars are favored with an excellent training. Many have graduated with honor. Another, a medical institution for the colored race, in the same city, sends forth many colored physicians each year. Those white men and teachers who have gone south and established these institutions, and have given their lives to this work of uplifting this race, are worthy of all honor. In all that's good and grand in human character, the uplifting of the poor and degraded stands highest. Christ came down from heaven to do this kind of work in a world that put Him to death for doing it. Following His example and doing the same kind of work, in the final consummation will demonstrate what is the better choice. There are many, many others working on the same lines in behalf of the colored work, that the limits of this article will not permit us to mention. These all get much financial assistance from the great North. Booker Washington personally solicits some eighty thousand dollars per year to keep his great school running. The Fiske University also gets large sums of money for a similar purpose; so of others. How grateful we are to God for such help. What are we Seventh-day Adventists doing along these same benevolent lines toward the elevation of this unfortunate race. We are certainly doing something. But, I fear, we are far from doing all that we might do and ought to do. Yet there is no people under heaven who ought to do so much proportionately for them as we. We are looking for Christ's soon return. All earthly things must soon pass away. Our business is to rescue souls for Christ. Glorious light and truth have been given us to disseminate everywhere to save the lost and perishing. "Time now is closing." Jesus will soon come. Here are multitudes who need this blessed truth. What are we doing to help those in darkness? Special light has come to us through God's servant. Our duty to this unfortunate people has been clearly pointed out. We have been told we are not doing anything like our whole duty. The writer of this article is in a position to know full well that these instructions are correct. Having been for nearly three years president of the Southern Union Conference of nine great Southern states, where the great bulk of the colored people live (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee), I have the fullest opportunity to know whereof I speak. The colored work is in the greatest possible need of help. But I am most happy to say a plan has recently been formed, which, I believe, will bring great relief. It was the writer's privilege, at the late council of the General Conference Committee, at College View, Neb., to lay before the committee this plan, as follows: That the first Sabbath of November of each year be set apart for a general collection for the benefit of the colored work in the southern states of America. The conference committee unanimously adopted this recommendation, and appointed that day. So every year a general appeal to our people in this country will be made, commencing the first Sabbath of November. The object of writing this article is to call the attention of all our people wherever the circulation of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES may extend, to this important appointment of our General Conference Committee. The writer earnestly requests the editors of the SIGNS, and all of our public ministers and laborers, local elders, etc., to call the attention of our people to this appointment, and impress upon their minds the vast importance of doing all in our power for this poor and unfortunate race. The means that will be raised will be put into the hands of a committee, appointed by the General Conference, to apportion it to such objects connected with our colored work as they deem most needy. GEO. I. BUTLER,
President Southern Union Conference.