p. 27 | Opening of Oakwood Manual Training-School

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 1, 1906

Opening of Oakwood Manual Training-School

By W. J. Blake

THE Oakwood Manual Training-school opened September 19, in harmony with previous announcement. Though the attendance was small at the beginning, yet a substantial increase in numbers is confidently expected in the immediate future. Some who had been laying plans to be with us were kept away by sickness. Others were prevented by unexpected financial reverses. Several of these will come later.

Seemingly, there is no reason why the institution may not enjoy a prosperous year. We note with interest that many of the young men and women are getting definite aims in life, and are anxious to prepare themselves quickly for various lines of the Lord's work. We shall endeavor to instil into the minds of these the great importance of our present denominational missionary enterprises, as well as the great need of the unentered fields.

There is a great work to be done here in the South among the colored people. The message has gone to only a few comparatively. It seems very difficult to find properly trained persons to fill the many calls for teachers and Bible workers. Realizing this present need of more thoroughly prepared and consecrated colored workers, in the home field as well as in foreign countries, those in charge of the school are determined to arrange for the training of these workers as quickly and in as thorough a manner as possible. The faculty would appreciate any efforts on the part of our brethren and sisters to induce young colored men and women of good character to enter the school. Correspondence is invited.

The school, situated as it is, on a large farm, affords exceptionally good opportunities for industrial training. The management, appreciating this fact, will endeavor to give such attention to this phase of the work as to enable the students to become proficient in agriculture, horticulture, and various common trades.

This is necessarily in harmony with the true missionary idea, for certainly students when leaving school should be prepared to intelligently cultivate the soil, raise various fruits and flowers, as well as to erect neat and substantial buildings. Such training can but increase the usefulness of any missionary, whether in the home or foreign field.

Both teachers and students seem to manifest a desire to see the institution succeed, and are laboring to this end. W. J. BLAKE.