Oakwood University - Acorn Yearbook (Huntsville, AL)

Page 21 text:

ll? -fn 'hi Q -S' ' , ,1',.jf ,. , . . B'f:-'N lg' ' 1.510 Wt ik , 1 :IQ '.a'-L .' , '. . 'ffza' .f. f 1:5 s -. . . compltshed as we broaden the scope of organization for the Negro work And, then he referred back to 1929 to certain events that oc- curred It will be remembered that some years ago our colored brethren gave study to its work and its development as associated with this great movement, and the question of Negro Conferences was introduced You see, that was back in 1929. As 1 mentioned earlier, CM Kinney had raised the issue in 1889. The idea was that these conferences would operate under the guidance of the Union General Conference as do all other local conferences. lt was reasoned by the colored brethren that just as prosperity attended the work when Negro churches were established, with Negro lead- ership tn both the North and South for the furtherance of their own work, and such a development brought added souls and means to the cause of God, such a forward step with greater responsibility by Negro leaders who are versed with their own native psychology and means for the advancement of the cause of God and finishing ot the work This move was not considered wise at that time, so there was then offered what was considered a most desirable substitute plan oforganization by a committee of both black and white. This orga- mzatton framed by the Plans Committeewas adopted and became U J l,' ' i 'N I Q . . K I 'Q A Bal 1 N! ' W1 4' 'J I 1. 4. i ' kim ' A Y . 'fx 'A rf, ff 1 , A N M , K , I-,L I l 99 S6 s' , I vw, . ., tx. up-. sl t 1.1, 1, ..'1i flt-age' lg ifitftzf l fizf- 'fxvfi ',y,fA.G,,1,'l S ,s fl vt' -A-.QM .Il ' f V 't W, , fs - ' -vt, x.- Q Y..- ' . '-K ,. -, 3 - -.Nhat A 'S-if' it a resolution ofthe General Conferences He then relerrcti tions of the Autumn Council of the General tynterez t mittee of 1929 in Columbus, Ohio. which concerned ttse.t organization in the Southern Lnton lcxels, these ,. . mittees, and the appointment ol' a leading Black nnniste: retary or an evangelist and the same relationship in areas with the exception that the man would serxe on 1 1 level as a member of the Exectittxe Committee. and ti: level as a member of the local conference eotnnnttee Elder Peters further stated. Brother Chatrrnan, the fia s l referred to has been carried out in full tn certain L nitti ences, but carried Oul only in part in other L nton territ 1 Union Conferences that are now operating the plan. tha fully carrying out their resolution, l atn sure has e nt-1 l K willfully or from any lack of 111101651 tn the colored ts.-r N times in changing leaders the next leaders. in taking up ti- sibility may not have had an opportunity tt- learn alum.: lutions, its background. and lls merits Our colored brethren hat e waited tor sears tot ti: this plan in total. Workers and Iatty are both asking it s vote ofthe General Conference not been tttlls carried .. one years have passed since the department ts as IH .Qt le tl1eN

Page 20 text:

ng., fill the office of secretary of the department. The reason for this ac- tion was due to the fact that Elder Peters only served one year. A crisis had arisen particularly in the East because one of our great leaders J K Humphrey, had left the mainstream of Adventist and hundreds of black Adventists joined him in the organization of a Black conference Elder Peters resigned from his office in the Gen- ral Conference went to New York. and under the influence of his powerful spirit filled preaching was able to reclaim many of these members At this time Elder F.L. Peterson, who later became a vice president of the General Conference, was elected to succeed Elder Peters Notice that the statement also said that the secretary be located in Washington D C. having his headquarters in the General Con- ference office I stated earlier that when Elder Green was elected in 1918 he should not have his office in the General Conference, and this time the brethren were requesting that the Negro Department head have his office at the General Conference rather than having it in his home There was strong resistance to a black man even in 1929 and 1930 having his office at our headquarters in Washing- ton DC We now come to the Autumn Council of 1941, and at this coun- cil Elder G E Peters, who was again serving as the departmental 18 , . . v Q - , . 9 ., . . secretary, gives his report. I would like to quote from his historic report: Brother Chairman, I believe that we are all convinced that the Negro Department through the years has made wonderful ad- vancement and achievement. Just think, we have grown from 900 believers in 1909 to 14,537 at the close of 1940. In the year 1912, the tithe receipts were 516,323 from the colored constituency, and during the last five years, or from 1936-1940 inclusive, our colored believers paid in tithe 51,112,000 During the same period, mission offerings were S703,000 as compared with 83,000 in the year 1912. Surely when taking all things into consideration, the colored Sev- enth-day Adventist is more of an asset than a liability. Elder Peters continues, Relative to our present organization, it has been proven that in many instances in foreign fields it paid in large dividends when greater responsibility was placed on native workers. That role holds true when it comes to the Negro work in North America. It is obvious that the colored work made decided advancement when greater and larger duties were placed on their own leaders. It is particularly interesting to note the progress of our book work in certain Union territories where responsibility of leadership has been placed upon colored men. I believe that more will be ac-

Page 22 text:

with the employment of a full time general secretary As has been already stated we numbered then only 900 but someone had a vi sion and the vision brought results We now number 15 000 and the advancement merits a full time secretary in each Union Con ference to spend his entire time in the duties outlined by the Au tumn Council of 1929 Elder Peter continued My plea for the perfecting and strength ening of the department I would also suggest that the negro Advi sory Committee be called together in 1942 and every two years thereafter Sufficient time should be given to discuss plans and rec ommendations for the development of the colored work with its own peculiar problems Personally I believe the present organiza tion known as the Negro Department can be made a more ideal system or organization for the Negro work of North America if fully carried out and broadened It is in harmony with the Spirit of Prophecy and in every conference where it is put into full opera tion there will be greater and larger returns to the cause of God As it is we are domg well but we can do better To put this organi zation full force where it is not now operating will of course call for expenditures ofa few more dollars but even from a business view point we must spend money to make money It must not be that 20 ' . r s 5 - ' a ' 7, . 65 . 1 , - . , ' 1 , - , . u s - ' 5 , - , . children of this world are the only generation wiser than the chil- dren of light. In closing, Brother Chairman, I ask for a continued confidence in the consecrated ability of Negro leaders. Give us a fair chance, a greater responsibility with our own people, and I assure you there will be yet greater results in the building up of the work of God as related to the great Advent Movement where all races should stand together, united and true for the completing of the task committed to us by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Let me refer to three significant statements that Elder Peters made in his report: Q11 His appeal for confidence in the consecrated ability of Negro leaders. C25 His appeal for a fair chance of greater responsibility with our own people. C31 There will be greater results in the building up of the work of God as related to the great Ad- vent movement. I wonder what would have been the state of affairs today in our church as related to the development of our work among the blacks in the area of leadership and participation if the actions taken had been implemented. Recommendations are not worth the paper they are printed on unless they are carried out. For example, in 1929, the same appeal Elder Peters made in 1941 was made by our