Mission Schools for the Colored People by James Edson White

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1908

Mission Schools for the Colored People

By James Edson White

For nearly thirteen years a quiet mission-school work has been going forward among the colored people of the South. Considerable liberality and sacrifice have been shown by our people in maintaining this work, and it is proper that they should know something definite as to the net results of these efforts.

This year the Southern Missionary Society is planning to maintain thirty mission schools, scattered among nine of the Southern States. The enrolment of these schools will reach fully one thousand pupils. The cost of this tremendous work for this year may be estimated at from six thousand dollars to eight thousand dollars.

By way of comparison, it would tax the facilities of fully three of the large colleges for colored students at Nashville to accommodate as many students as will be taught this year in the chain of mission schools of the Southern Missionary Society. It would require a donation of from twenty-five thousand dollars to fifty thousand dollars to support three such colleges with any degree of success. From a comparison of the relative

expense of maintenance may be estimated the intrinsic value and economy of the mission school.

More than this, the enrolment of the mission schools does not cover the numbers benefited by them. The good work of the school is carried into the homes by the children, and fathers and mothers become interested. The teacher visits the homes, and gradually through these influences, the standard of the home is uplifted, and the whole neighborhood is benefited. Through the night-school, and by personal work in the home, the older members of the family,—the workers,—learn to read, and begin to live more human lives. It is safe to say that while the school enrolment may reach one thousand, the real benefits will reach four or perhaps even five thousand persons. It is a grand work, and it pays. Eternity alone will reveal the full fruits of this line of work, carried on by teachers and workers with such skill and at such sacrifice as none outside the field can realize or appreciate. One feature should be of interest. Every mission school established results in building up a church organization. It is the strongest medium for bringing the third angel’s message to the knowledge of these people.

As substantial evidence of the success of our past effort, we call attention to the group of buildings shown in connection with this article. The leaders in this work do not come empty-handed to the readers of the REVIEW. We rejoice that so much of a substantial showing can be presented. A brief description of what these buildings represent may be of interest.

Vicksburg, Miss.

Thirteen years ago next January the “Morning Star” cast anchor before this city, and its crew began active work. A church company was soon brought out, and a building twenty by forty feet, costing one hundred fifty dollars was erected on leased ground. Three years later the present site was purchased, and buildings were erected as shown in the picture. The church floor is a little above the grade of the street, and as the lot slopes sharply to the rear, a fine basement, all above ground, gives an excellent school-room. The mission Home, in two flats, affords a home for the teachers and workers. The little four-room cottage, designated as “Bath Room” is also occupied as the home of the janitor. Total cost of entire plant, about five thousand dollars. A few months ago this property could have been sold for ten thousand dollars. The school enrolment is one hundred twenty-five, with four teachers. This is an intermediate school, as well as a mission school.

Yazoo City

This was the second place entered by the Southern Missionary Society. Work was conducted for two years in private buildings. A movable chapel was then erected on the site of the present building. In December, 1907, the new building was erected, and the material from the movable chapel was used in building the teacher’s home. At this place is the strongest church organization of colored people in the field. The school attendance last year was sixty-five, with three teachers. Natchez and Yazoo City buildings are duplicates.

Columbus, Miss.

This was the third school building erected. It is plain, simple, but commodious. The school enrolment is about twenty-five. Great opposition from churches and other schools has been encountered, but a good work is still being done. The building needs some repairs and painting.

Jackson, Miss.

The church here was brought out through the efforts of Elder M. C. Strachan and his colaborers, and the building was erected in 1903. The school enrolment is forty-five, with two teachers. This is an important center for the work in Mississippi. A cottage for workers is much needed.

Nashville, Tenn.

Our church building here was erected in 1903, and is practically a duplicate of the building at Jackson, Miss. There was quite a church company here years before the building of the church. In 1905 the basement was finished for school purposes. The school attendance is fifty-five, with two teachers. Elder Barry recently began work for the upbuilding of the church interests. A series of night meetings will begin next week.

Greenville, Miss.

A four-room cottage was erected here in 1906. Two of the rooms were used for school and church purposes, and the other two as a home for the teachers. We have a small but growing church-membership at this place. The school attendance is twenty-two, with two teachers. A small church and a school building are needed.

Natchez, Miss.

This is one of the new places, only two years old, and has a school enrolment of ninety, with two teachers and a strong church company. The building was erected the first part of this year.

The foregoing represents the seven schools where the Southern Missionary Society owns the buildings occupied for this purpose. The remaining twenty-three are held in leased buildings or in private houses. In several places we have offers of land for schools. These should be accepted, and several inexpensive buildings be erected at an early date.

Huntsville, Ala.

The Oakwood School at this place is owned and operated at the present time by the Southern Union Conference. This important training-school should not be forgotten. It is the only school of the kind for the colored people in the denomination. Its large farm and several important buildings have been so well described, that attention will be called only to the fine new school building shown in the center of the picture. It is built of cement blocks, and is to this extent fireproof. It takes the place of the building destroyed by fire over a year ago, and is a credit to the whole school equipment. A small sanitarium is being erected this season.

Nashville Sanitarium for Colored People

The grounds and buildings for this enterprise have been so well described in a recent number of the REVIEW that we will only add that the work of fitting up has begun, and it will soon be ready to open.

Our work for the colored people has been, is, and always will be, a missionary work, continually appealing to the liberality of those who are better situated, and hence able to assist with their means. The constituency formed through the work for this people brings no financial aid, as they are a people without money. By faith a line of work has been outlined for the coming year, requiring greater outlays than ever before. Right upon us is the time for the annual October offering for this work. Let us respond as never before, so that the great advance movement for this important work in the South shall not be hindered.

J. E. WHITE.