School Work in the South
By GEO. CRAWFORD.
I DESIRE to write a few lines to the readers of the REVIEW about the work in western North Carolina, and especially to those who are thinking of moving where they can do good work for the Master. I came to this place in September, 1902, by request of a conference officer, to open up a mission school among the mountaineers, in a locality where very few children ever saw the inside of a schoolhouse, and many had never heard preaching, or even a prayer. Space forbids telling of my experiences in getting the house built and the school started. However, with some donations, solicited principally from a few Wisconsin churches, I was able to finish a respectable building eighteen by twenty-four feet, with a seating capacity of forty; this was accomplished with an outlay of about seventy-five dollars in cash. Here I was privileged to open school Jan. 4, 1903, with fifteen pupils, all beginners. The average attendance has gradually increased until the present time, when the enrolment stands at forty. Nearly all the children of school age within reasonable distance of the school are attending. None of the parents of these children are of our faith, as the few who accepted the truth here have moved away. About twelve are from the families who opposed us the most when I first came here, and have left the public school to attend mine. I use our denominational books for readers, and they are liked. I teach from 8:30 A. M. to 1 P. M. In connection with the school, my wife and I have been conducting a Sunday-school regularly for eighteen months, with good success. After the Sunday-school I give a short discourse. Two local Baptist preachers attend regularly with their families and will help in the school, and also send their children to day-school. Up to the present time I have supported myself and taught the school, except three months last fall when I hired a teacher. The way has been hard at times, and we have been close pressed, but God has always provided. The property here belongs to the conference. I was sick with typhoid fever last summer, and lost part of the little crop I was trying to raise. This left me in such a financial strait that I was forced to close the school during November and December, but I am thankful that the way has been opened to continue the good work. Many calls are coming for preaching, and several for schools. O, for workers to fill these places! One substantial worker came from Wisconsin last winter, and is now located in a county farther west, and is doing a good work among the people. He is pleading for help to put the printed page into every home in the county. His health is very poor, but he is selling many books. If one lay member can do that, why not others? Where are the canvassers and teachers? A short distance from here resides a man in his one hundred and tenth year, who invited me to preach at his house every time I could. I held three meetings, with fair interest. We are now needing money to erect a small, comfortable dwelling at this place for the future teachers to live in. It is absolutely necessary. This can be done now for less than half what it will cost six months later. Any one desiring to help, may write me at Cove Creek, N. C. References given if required.