Basic HTML Version
Proclaiming the Truth
177
the Government and by the Christian churches immediately after the
emancipation of the slaves. Money should have been used freely to
care for and educate them at the time they were so greatly in need
of help. But the Government, after a little effort, left the Negro to
struggle, unaided, with his burden of difficulties. Some of the strong
Christian churches began a good work, but sadly failed to reach more
than a comparatively few; and the Seventh-day Adventist Church
has failed to act its part. Some persevering efforts have been put
forth by individuals and by societies to uplift the colored people,
and a noble work has been done. But how few have had a part in
this work which should have had the sympathy and help of all!
Noble efforts have been put forth by some Seventh-day Adven-
tists to do the work that needed to be done for the colored people.
Had those who were engaged in this work received the co-operation
of all their ministering brethren, the result of their work would now
be altogether different from what it is. But the great majority of
our ministers did not co-operate, as they should have done, with the
few who were struggling to carry forward a much-needed work in a
difficult field.
As time advances, and opposition strengthens, circumstances
warn us that discretion is the better part of valor. If unwise moves
have been made in the work done for the colored people, it is not
[206]
because warnings have not been given. From Australia, across the
broad waters of the Pacific, cautions were sent that every move-
ment must be guarded, that the workers were to make no political
speeches, and that the mingling of whites and blacks in social equal-
ity was by no means to be encouraged.
In a council meeting held in 1895 at Armadale, a suburb of
Melbourne, Victoria, I spoke of these matters, in answer to the
inquiries of my brethren, and urged the necessity of caution. I said
that perilous times were coming, and that the sentiments that could
then be expressed in regard to what should be done along missionary
lines for the colored people could not be expressed in the future
without imperiling lives. I said plainly that the work done for the
colored people would have to be carried on along lines different
from those followed in some sections of the country in former years.
Let as little as possible be said about the color line, and let the
colored people work chiefly for those of their own race.