p. 20 | An Encouraging Experience by Frederick Griggs

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 19, 1916

An Encouraging Experience

By Frederick Griggs

The struggles which many of our people pass through in their endeavors to educate their children in the Christian faith, are not simply interesting, they are very touching. The following report from one of our schools in North Carolina will be read with interest, and can but awaken a sympathetic chord in the heart of the readers. This report is taken from a letter written by the teacher, Miss Myrtle Maxwell:—

“About thirty-four years ago a few families accepted the truth here at Banners Elk, N. C. They built a little church in which they worshiped until about three years ago. At that time they built a nice new church and added a schoolroom. There was an older church organization, but the first Seventh-day Adventist church building in North Carolina was here.

“For years the little church has struggled along. Sixty-five young people have grown up from the families who first comprised the little church. Of the sixty-five, two have entered the work,—Elder Stewart Kime and his sister, Mrs. U. D. Pickard. As for the others, most of them married outside of the church and are in the world. It is a sad story, but it is true. But some one asks the reason. Listen, I will give you one reason. Only two years ago the first school was started.

“When the school opened, the schoolroom was not completed, so the teacher taught about three months, or half the school term, in the church, without a desk or a blackboard. The children, when they wrote, sat on the floor, or kneeled, rather, and rested their paper on benches. At the end of five months the school funds gave out. The school was in an unsettled condition, and had it stopped then it is doubtful whether it would ever have revived. The teacher was getting a salary and her board. She ‘boarded around.’ Her sister was with her, and she paid $5 a month for her sister’s board. Rather than see the school stop, the teacher offered to teach the other month for her own and her sister’s board. At the end of the month things had taken on a different aspect, so that there were prospects for a school another year.

“The educational secretary made a visit to the school and gave some wise advice. Plans were made for the next year’s work. The secretary thought it would be a good plan for the teacher to secure a house, and board some children of believers who lived too far to walk to school. The teacher was undecided about staying, but wanted to do what the Lord would have her do.

“There was only one available house in the neighborhood. The owner had twice refused to rent to people of our faith, because of prejudice. The teacher told the Lord if he wanted her to stay, to make it known by giving her the house. She went to see about the house, but had not made known her mission when the owner asked, ‘Are you going to teach the school next year?’ She replied, ‘I don’t know; I want to keep house, and it all depends upon whether I can get a house.’ The owner replied, ‘Why, you may have our vacant house.’ She not only had the house, but had the owner’s little boy in school, and the next year, two cousins of his besides.

“Last school year the teacher boarded five pupils, besides one of the older resident students who helped with the work. It was a strenuous life for the teacher, with work from five o’clock in the morning till eleven o’clock at night many times. Of course, the children helped all they could, but the oldest of the five was only twelve years old. The children made rapid progress. It was indeed refreshing to hear each child offer a prayer at worship. They did not neglect their secret prayers, and learned to love to say them. Some of these children had never said a prayer before coming to the school. Two of the little girls went home and taught the younger children of the family to pray. One little girl, in writing back to the teacher after school closed, opened her letter thus: ‘I didn’t forget to say my prayers.’

“There were eighteen in school the first year, and twenty-six was the average attendance the second year.

“As the people in this section raise no crop for which they receive cash, it is difficult for them to secure much money. Nearly every family has its own little home, and raises practically all it needs for food. The teacher allowed the parents to pay the children’s board in provisions, since she would have had to buy them anyway.

“There were five rooms in the house, but one was not in condition to be used, so they had only four. One room served as kitchen and dining-room, another room was used as a sitting-room, and there was one bedroom downstairs. The two boys slept downstairs, and the four girls and the teacher slept in the one room upstairs. They passed through the winter with only twelve small panes in the windows, the broken windows being nailed up.

“Eight miles away is another church, but the families live so far apart it would be impossible to have a church school there. Two children from this church attended our school last year. These were the two boys who boarded with the teacher. There are many other children in that church who ought to be in school. Five miles in another direction are some Adventist families who cannot have church school privileges unless they send their children to our school. There are six children of school age there, and three of them were part of the teacher’s family last year. The little girls went home occasionally to see their parents, generally walking the entire distance home and back.

“What we need is a place where we can have a garden and an orchard; it would be a great help. Last year the teacher charged three dollars and a half a month for board for each child. It is needless to say she did not come out even on that account. The teacher received twenty-five dollars a month, house rent (which amounted to one dollar and twenty-five cents a month), and fuel. Remember, it is only a six months’ school. She hired one of the schoolgirls to help with the work, and boarded her and paid her two dollars a month. If there had been any means of having a garden patch or two and an orchard, she could have made expenses. And if a cow had been donated, it would have been still better. But you say, ‘Why not charge more for board?’—Because the people cannot pay it. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a house where they would have enough room, too? The house they occupied last year was a quarter of a mile from the school.

“There is some property for sale which would meet every present requirement. It lies opposite the church. On the place are two houses, two barns, three orchards, and two or more springs. There are seventy-six acres of land, about sixty of which are cleared. Part of the land is quite steep. It is a grazing farm. It can be bought for three thousand dollars. The location of the place is just what we need. However, we do not need the whole place at present. The brethren think two thirds of it could be obtained, perhaps. If we could in some way raise $1,000 and get one third of the place, it seems as if we might succeed. The church here is going to meet next Sunday to see what can be done. I don’t know how much they can do, as there are no wealthy members. Our need is the most eloquent appeal we can make. If it is God’s will for us to have the place, I pray we may. If it is not his will, I pray we may not get it.

“We want to try to have eight months of school next year. We certainly shall appreciate anything that can be done for us.”

The spirit manifested in the establishment and conduct of this school, if brought into every one of our churches where there are at least six children, would establish many more church schools than we now have. This is the time of year when we must give careful consideration to the establishment of our church schools. Definite plans should be laid so that there shall not be a financial loss. It is well at this time for our people everywhere to unite in earnest prayer for God to specially bless in our school work of all grades.

FREDERICK GRIGGS.