An Industrial School for the West Indies by Geo. F. Enoch

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 9, 1906

An Industrial School for the West Indies

By Geo. F. Enoch

GEO. F. ENOCH

Nearly two decades ago the light of the third angel's message began to shine into the West Indies, through the printed page. Later, the living preacher came; and as the years passed, the work grew, more and more workers followed, and so richly has the Lord blessed the few scattered laborers, that about three thousand loyal believers are now found in the lands whose shores are washed by the waters of the blue Caribbean Sea.

ROAD TO BOG-WALK STATION, NEAR THE PROPOSED SCHOOL SITE

Among the three thousand believers are hundreds of young people and children, growing up rapidly into the men and women of the future; and what are we doing for them? This army of young folk, if neglected, will become a source of weakness and discouragement to the cause in the days to come, but if properly cared for and trained, will be a tower of strength. Which shall it be?

I am glad to report that the brethren and sisters here are feeling the burden of this question upon their souls, and are lifting as much as they can. During my recent trip through Jamaica, the matter was enthusiastically discussed, and over three hundred pounds was raised toward the establishment of a training-school. These pledges will nearly all be paid, as we insisted on pledges within the means of the donors. The handsome sum promised was not due to any large promises by any one individual, but rather to the fact that everybody gave something. When our people consider the poverty prevailing in the West Indies, they will see that Jamaica, at least, is straining every nerve to raise the money required for the school.

We propose that our school shall be an industrial school in the strictest sense of the word. In fact, we could have no other. Very few of our young people will be able to give a cash equivalent for their education. It is absolutely necessary that we give them the opportunity to work their way through school. In order to do this, we must have sufficient land, of good quality, reasonably near good markets, and, further, every useful and remunerative industry possible must be connected with the school. Otherwise, it can not succeed. We propose to take the Avondale School, as outlined in volume one of the Testimonies, for our model.

But right at the start we are hampered for want of means. Any one who knows Jamaica knows that land answering the above description is hard to find. When Columbus was asked by Queen Isabella to describe Jamaica, he took a good-sized sheet of paper, and crumpled it up in his hand, and dropped it on the table before her, saying, “That is Jamaica.” It is almost all up one side and down the other. Some small plains are found on the south side, but they are dry, and irrigation, where possible, is expensive. It is impossible for us to hang our school on the mountainside, and expect our young people to dig an education out of the rocks with a hoe. We could secure plenty of such land, but to us it would seem folly to do so.

But only twenty-two miles from Kingston, just one and one-half miles from Bog-walk railway station we found two adjoining properties for sale, one of sixty-six acres, the other of forty-one. The land rises gently from the main road to a good height, and can all be put under the plow. The elevations offer ideal sites, and the lower portions have good locations, high and dry, for building soil for cultivation. But it requires twenty-seven hundred dollars cash to purchase them. A good house, worth about six hundred dollars, is on one of the properties, so that work could be begun at once. Alas! we have not the money. The island is small, and Elder Beckner and I have searched almost every parish in the island, and we know of no other favorable spot. Shall we be compelled to fold our hands and see this opportunity slip away from us?

When I think of the recent San Francisco disaster, and of how such scenes will soon be general, I can not see how our people can tie up their money in real estate and buildings in the United States. Brethren, we plead for help. Shall we plead in vain?

It will require five thousand dollars more than we can raise in the West Indies to launch this school. Who will help at this time?

Now, remember we are doing all we can, lifting every pound in our power, and yet we fall short. We only ask for help to purchase land and the bare material for the buildings. Give our young people in the West Indies assistance in getting that, and they will ask no more. They are so anxious for an education that they are willing to dig it out, if they can only get hold of the materials and tools.

And what is given to us will relieve the brethren and sisters of other burdens. Very soon we will offer you good, reliable laborers for tropical Africa and for the Southern States; and we will help to support them, too. In fact, we have at the present time a score of native West Indians doing good, acceptable work in this West Indian field, and that without a training-school. Scores more are only waiting for a training. Shall they wait in vain?

Bridgetown, Barbados.