The Nashville (Tenn.) Agricultural and Normal Institute by E. A. SUTHERLAND

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 12, 1908

The Nashville (Tenn.) Agricultural and Normal Institute

By E. A. SUTHERLAND

WHEN we look around us and see the great work that we came here to do, we are inclined to become impatient by the delays made necessary by the building of our school plant. We long for the time to come when we may give our entire time and strength to the preparation of teachers who will go to the people of the South with a system of education that will lead many to the knowledge of the message.

Last year we enrolled over eighty students in the training departments. Our family numbers over fifty this year. The church-school enrollment is not included in this.

The farm mission schools which have been established by teachers trained in the school at Madison are making progress. Two new ones have recently been started. One of these has been established in Cuba by Brother Guy Holmes, of Milton Junction, Wis., and the other at Fountainhead, Tenn., by Brother Broden Mulford, who has been assisting in building up the Alden farm mission school at Ridgetop, Tenn. Miss Bessie Kinsman, of Austin, Minn., one of our students, has joined, as a teacher, the school we started in Cuba two years ago. Brother John Hohn and wife, of Spokane, Wash., have recently connected with the two teachers who have been conducting the mission school at Paradise Ridge, Tenn. During the last year a number of families from the North have entered the South as self-supporting workers.

I believe that it is quite well known that the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute depends upon the products of its farm to meet its operating expenses. In this we have not been disappointed during the past year, although we have suffered the effects of a very severe drought.

We recently enjoyed a visit from Elders A. G. Daniells and W. C. White, and Prof. Frederick Griggs. A part of the time was spent in carefully looking over the school enterprise, and some plans were made which will be a great help in completing the work.

A full report was given by the school to the Southern Union Conference delegates at Nashville, covering much of the work done during the past three years. It seemed to be the general impression after listening to the report, that a strong effort should be made to enable the school to complete its work of erecting buildings as soon as possible.

It is over three years since we began the establishment of the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute. During this time, we have carried on the regular school work, erected all the buildings with our own hands, solicited the money with which the building material has been purchased, and at the same time have developed and cultivated a worn-out farm, from which we have produced sufficient to meet the operating expenses of the school. This work could be greatly lightened if we were not obliged to take so much of our help to erect the buildings, and if we did not have to enter the field to secure money for building material.

We are praying that God will stir the hearts of all who are interested in this work to assist us to finish our buildings during the year 1908. Then we could devote our time and strength to the training of teachers, and the starting of farm mission schools. This is one of the best methods of reaching a multitude of souls with the message.

The teachers and students of our school have banded together to do their utmost to complete the task of building by Dec. 31, 1908. At the school one often hears the words, spoken earnestly and in faith, “Let us finish by Dec. 31, 1908.”

We believe there are many who will co-operate with us in this movement, and help us to accomplish this work during the present year.

E. A. SUTHERLAND.