The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1893-11-22
Fo' the Central Presbyterian.
How Stands it With the
ColQred WorkP

the time approaches when you are
called upon to make your annual
offering TO God for His work amongst
the colored people, its just that you
should know the condition Of the
work and it's financial status. AS
your servant hereby render such
statement as will guide you to in
telligent action.
When the last church year closed,
March 31st, 1898, we had met all
the obligations of the past year,
were entirely free from debt and had
5000 in hand. This cash was soon
expended in the ordinary course of
the work, but the treasury did not
refill. 1t became evident to the
committee that some change would
be necessary. The income did not
equal. the outgo. Acting under the
authority of the General Assembly,
we decided to curtail expenses in
such way as to iniure the work as
little as possible. To such of his
former duties as he could perform
there were added the duties of
experimenting the Institute and of
teaching therein for one year. By
this means 81, 300 was saved. From
his travelling and contingent ex-
penses there will, perhaps, be saved
$500. The committee was fully
aware that the Secretary's oppor-
tunities for advocating the work in
the churches would be greatly re-
duced. But he will now have four
months for this besides the potent
influence of large correspondence
with Presbyterial chairmen and
others. Under this general plan
we have been working for several
months, confident of the favor of
God and His people.
At the recent fall Presbyterial
meetings and Synods it is believed
the work has received a more wide
spread and favorable consideration
than at any time for three years
past. Old committees have shown
new life and new committees have
been appointed in Presbyteries
where they have hitherto existed.
In the field the colored brethren
have generally stood by their guns
manfully. Most of them have had
no salary from the committee since
last April. Some of them have had
little farms, some have taught school,
some have worked with their hands
for a living. Some of them have
been greatly annoyed by debts con-
tracted in reliance on the Church's
doing what it promised promptly.
Some have suffered severely no
doubt The following paper recent
ly sent to the committee gives a
fair statement of their feelings
1--WE, the Central Presbytery of
Alabama, now in session send you
the following statement of facts:
l. We earnestly and truly appreci-
ate your kindness and patience with
us and our work. 2. We have be-
come somewhat discouraged, not
with our work, for IT is the perma-
nent desire of our hearts and pray
ers to continue our work as in the
past, but from a financial stand.
point. 3. We have been taught that
when we have entered into a con
tract it is our duty to fulfill it, 9th
erwise it is sin. 4. Depending on
the Lord, the committee and our
people, we have gone on expecting
a support, and have made debts,
which are pressing upon US. We
are without money TO pay them or
to care for our families, and winter
is at hand. 5. We send these state
ments in good faith and with great
confidence in the Lord, His church
and the committee. Our condition
forces us to speak. ~. We ask
the committee to please pay US the
back salary now due us, so that we
may pay those we owe. ~ Please
let US know at once what we are to
depend on, for we need your advice
and help, and if we cannot get this
we will be compelled to give up
We cannot 90 much further. (3).
We ask your continued prayers and
help for this poor ignorant race of
ours. Remember, brethren, what
you do for us the Lord will reward
you for it.
Yours for Christ and His people,
L j. Washington, Moderator, S. M.
Pickens, T. B. Bailey, S. w. Hudson,
G. w. Covington, temporary Clerk.
1t may be asked why have not
these brethren been paid2 The un-
derlying reason is that we have for
several years been turning out more
preachers from the Institute than
we could adequately support. The
immediate reason is that there has