Highland School Missionaries by M. Bessie De Graw

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 23, 1910

Highland School Missionaries

By M. Bessie De Graw

Those engaged in self-supporting missionary work for the highlanders of the South realize more and more, each time they meet, how great is the importance of the conventions held at the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute, both to them, as self-supporting teachers, and to their work.

These teachers meet all the problems common to the average school; they also do active evangelical work by holding meetings and distributing literature; and, moreover, they earn their living by tilling the soil and doing other things that naturally belong to farm life. Teachers who succeed in these rural self-supporting schools are, therefore, a very sturdy and independent class; and to meet with them in a convention called to study their problems is both interesting and profitable. It is little wonder that those who listen to the words of encouragement and counsel from these practical, fearless teachers find awakened in their hearts a desire to work for those in this long-neglected field. Victories are related in these meetings to encourage fellow workers, and defeats are sometimes told in order that others may avoid similar mistakes. Thus these quarterly conventions become a sort of clearing-house, where useful knowledge is exchanged to the benefit of all interested.

Brother Calvin Kinsman and his wife, former students of the institute, led out on the program at the recent convention, giving a report of their work in Cuba during the past four and one-half years. When they went to Cuba, there were no Seventh-day Adventist schools of any description on the island. Now Cuba has four schools, manned by self-supporting missionary teachers. Fruit is appearing as the result of this school work. In one school six natives have been baptized. The work started hard, but the foundation has been laid, and during the next few years much will be done for Cuba by schools of this type.

Prof. E. A. Sutherland gave an account of his visit to Cuba, and the great need of the establishment of a training-school for workers in that field. Elder C. F. McVagh, president of the Southern Union Conference, and Elder A. O. Burrill, president of the Kentucky Conference, also contributed to the success of the convention.

Ex-governor McMillan, who has done so much to advance the cause of education in Tennessee, attended the convention; and his practical talks on this subject were exceptionally good. He spoke highly of the education in the farm school, the ideal school to his mind. The teachers will not forget his statement, so familiar to us from another source, that children should not be urged to the schoolroom before eight or ten years of age.

Limited space will not permit me to give the subjects studied during the convention, but the workers were greatly benefited, and it was a universal expression that it was the best convention of its kind ever attended.

One real treat to the convention was the presence of Prof. Sidney Brownsberger, the first president of Battle Creek College and of Healdsburg College. Professor Brownsberger and Prof. Arthur Spaulding, with Sister Rambough, are now establishing a school in North Carolina. To listen to the timely instruction of one who was so well acquainted with our educational work when the practical was not exalted to its proper position, was encouraging. Professor Brownsberger is entering heart and soul into the industrial school work.

The Lord's blessing attends the humble efforts of these earnest teachers. We trust many of our people will have opportunity, sooner or later, to become better acquainted with this work.

M. Bessie De Graw.