While men are trying to settle the question
of the color line, time rolls on, and souls go down into the
grave, unwarned and unsaved. Let this condition of things continue
no longer. Let men and women go to work, and let them labor as
the Spirit of God shall impress their minds. We need the talent
of the colored believers, every jot of it, in this work. Let
colored workers labor for their own people, assisted by white
workers as occasion demands. They will often need counsel and
advice. Let the colored believers have their place of worship
and the white believers their place of worship. Let each company
be zealous to do genuine missionary work for its own people and
for the colored people wherever and whenever they can.
When the truth has been presented in a
place, and as many white people as will hear and believe have
accepted the truth, opportunities will sometimes appear for efforts
to be made, in a quiet, unobtrusive manner, by white laborers
for the colored people. Such opportunities should not be overlooked.
But we must not unnecessarily arouse prejudice
that would close the way against the proclamation of the third
angel's message to the white people. They need this
message; for a time of trouble is before us,
such as never was since there was a nation.
Great care must be exercised that nothing
be said or done to inflame the feelings of the colored people
against the whites. Let us not aggravate the difficulties that
already exist. However wisely the workers labor, they will have
opposition to meet, without creating an agitation over the color
line. Let us clear the King's highway. Let God have a chance
to work. Let men keep out of His way. He will plan and manage
better than human beings possibly can. Let us remember that our
first great work is to preach the word of God, to give the warnings
of the Bible.
The Lord calls upon all to take up the
work in humility of mind. The ministers are not all sanctified
through the truth. The Lord calls upon all to lay down
their controversies. Let men beware of doing that which would
cut off our last hope of entering difficult fields where there
is race prejudice and antagonism.
As a means of overcoming prejudice and gaining
access to minds, medical missionary work must be done, not in
one or two places only, but in many places where the truth has
not yet been proclaimed. We are to work as gospel medical missionaries,
to heal the sin-sick souls by giving them the message of salvation.
This work will break down prejudice as nothing else can.