The Oakwood Manual-Training School, and the October Collection
By W. J. Blake
NURSES’ CLASS OF OAKWOOD MANUAL TRAINING-SCHOOL
As the date (October 3) for a general collection among our people for the colored work is rapidly approaching; and inasmuch as the Oakwood Manual Training-school is to be one of the beneficiaries of this donation, a few facts pertaining to this school may be interesting.
Our people are generally acquainted with the fact that we have only one training-school for the colored people in America, and that is located at Huntsville, Ala., on a farm of three hundred fifty-eight acres, well suited for the work. This school has a very broad field of usefulness before it, and one conversant with the conditions now existing in the South must conclude that its work must be done quickly.
Soon the white teachers now conducting the work of the school will be obliged to abandon the field because of race prejudice, and laws which will make their work impossible. The Testimonies inform us that such a time will come, and even now there are indications that such conditions will soon confront us. How important, then, in view of the present situation, that this training-school be thoroughly equipped to do a speedy work. We are counseled by the spirit of prophecy thus: “The Huntsville School must be finished, and students from that place fitted to take hold of the work of educating their own people.”
We are encouraged with the degree of success which has attended the school the past two years. Two new buildings have been erected; the literary work has been strengthened by the addition of new courses; a nurses’ training department has been added (see illustration for 1909 class); many other smaller improvements have been made; and, best of all, a number of intelligent, consecrated workers have gone from the school into the field. But even this progress seems very inadequate in view of the great work before us. Nearly nine million colored people in the South must hear of the soon coming Saviour, and only a beginning has been made in this great work.
One of the best ways to give the message to this people is to establish small schools in many places. These schools must be conducted by colored teachers, and thus a great demand for competent workers is at once created. We can at present scarcely find teachers suitably qualified to carry on the schools now in operation, and yet many more should be immediately opened.
Our eyes are turned toward our training-school for these workers. Then, clearly, if this school meets its demands in training these teachers, besides many more ministers, canvassers, and Bible workers, it must have the united support of our people.
The sanitarium, already begun, must be immediately finished; a new dining-room and kitchen should be erected; for, to meet the mind of the Lord, we must have accommodations for at least one hundred students; the water system should be perfected; and a substantial fund should be raised with which to pay the faithful teachers now giving their lives to this work.
Just now seems to be the opportune time to renew our diligence in this work, and to push it with greater determination than ever before. The Lord is holding in check many evil influences and wicked agencies. A mighty temperance wave is sweeping over the South. Questions of great import are now engaging the minds of Southern statesmen. ‘Now, just now, is our time to proclaim the third angel’s message to the millions living in the Southern States, who know not that the Saviour’s coming is near at hand.’
We can not afford to miss the golden opportunity now presented to us. May we not expect that the October collection will mark the beginning of a great revival in our Southern work? To this end we believe that our brethren and sisters will contribute liberally, that the work may go forward in God’s way.
