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become contemptible. If the Lord is so gracious as to accept sinners
from the white race, and forgive their sins, holding out to them the
assurance of the higher life, the hope of a place in the redeemed family
when he comes in the clouds of heaven, and the righteous dead rise
from their grave to meet Him, will he not accept sinners from the black
race, and will He not forgive their sins? Does He not hold out to them
the same hope that He holds out to the white race? Will He not, if they
believe on Him, receive them as His sons and daughters? Will He not
raise them from ignorance and degradation by the working out of His
plan? Does He not, through the instrumentality of the more favored
white race, who claim to be children of the same Father, wish to uplift
and ennoble them?—
Manuscript 70, 1902
. (Quoted in
Spalding and
Magan Collection, 220, 221
.).
Racial separation is not permanent—Walls of separation have
been built up between the whites and the blacks. These walls of preju-
dice will tumble down of themselves, as did the walls of Jericho, when
Christians obey the Word of God, which enjoins on them supreme
love to their Maker and impartial love to their neighbors.... Let every
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church whose members claim to believe the truth for this time, look at
this neglected, downtrodden race, that as a result of slavery have been
deprived of the privilege of thinking and acting for themselves.—
The
Review and Herald, December 17, 1895
.
We dare not ignore existing racial prejudice—I am burdened,
heavily burdened, for the work among the colored people. The gospel
is to be presented to the downtrodden Negro race. But great caution
will have to be shown in the efforts put forth for the uplifting of
this people. Among the white people in many places there exists a
strong prejudice against the Negro race. We may desire to ignore this
prejudice, but we cannot do it. If we were to act as if this prejudice did
not exist we could not get the light before the white people. We must
meet the situation as it is and deal with it wisely and intelligently.—
Testimonies for the Church 9:204
.
The work must not be hindered through prejudice caused by
national customs—There must be a firm determination on the part
of our laborers to break with the established customs of the people
whenever it is essential to the advancement of the work of God. The
work might be much farther advanced in Europe if some of those who
have embraced the truth were not so wedded to the habits and customs