The Gift of the Huntsville School
By J. S. Washburn
PAUL writes thus in the eighth chapter of Second Corinthians of the liberality of the churches in Macedonia, “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” This same spirit is to-day being manifested by our brethren and sisters in the South in the matter of raising money to complete the Washington building fund before or during the time of the General Conference, May 11-30. Our brethren and sisters know that our training-school in Huntsville, Ala., is in great need of financial help; yet this does not deter them from showing their liberality in building up the great work at the headquarters of our denomination in Washington, D. C. Note the following letter:— “HUNTSVILLE, ALA., April 24, 1905. “DEAR BROTHER: I have noted with deep interest the appeals to our people urging that every possible effort be put forth to finish the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund before the General Conference. While we are not in a position to do much in dollars and cents, we wish to show our interest in this work by lifting all we can. So our faculty and students were called together in the chapel at 7:15 P. M. This matter was presented, and prayers for the Lord to show us our duty in this matter ascended. We felt the Lord’s presence. An opportunity was then given for all to say what they would do. We passed little slips of paper; these slips were gathered, and in ten minutes we had taken over forty-three dollars. Others were given an opportunity to give between that time and nine o’clock the next morning. As a result of this we have a total of $87.55 to send to the General Conference by our delegate. Our prayers go with this, that our mite may help to complete this work. We are happy in the work of the Lord. “F. R. ROGERS, Principal.” We also extract the following from a letter written by O. R. Staines, business manager of the school:— “In this connection I beg leave to say that we have just considered the work at Washington with all the people on our place,—students, faculty, and employees,—and have secured $87.55. This, I believe, is by far the largest donation ever made by the school. . . . I personally received much blessing in assisting in securing this, and believe that all feel it a privilege to assist in this way.” Surely this generous gift from those who are themselves in such deep financial need will stir the hearts of many of our people in more favorable financial situation to unite in a determined, mighty effort to close this work at once. This spirit of giving what costs a great sacrifice is the spirit of Christ. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” In this immediate connection I would also call the attention of all our people to the pathetic and eloquent appeal which comes to us in the fact that our brethren and sisters in Hildebran, N. C., where the sanitarium was recently burned, and who are also in distressing need of financial assistance, have taken up a donation regularly each month, beginning with August, 1904, for the Washington work, and assure us they will continue to do this until the whole fund is raised. If all who are blessed with means will immediately give proportionately as is done by our brethren in Huntsville and in Hildebran, no further appeal for means to complete the Washington building fund will be issued, for we shall have more than enough, as in the days of the building of the tabernacle.