Peace Haven Industrial School for Colored Youth, Blackville, South Carolina
By J. H. POMEROY
As many are asking about the school, its work and needs, we gladly take this opportunity to let them know how wonderfully God has led us. We are now about to begin the third year's work, with every prospect of a good attendance, and with a corps of six teachers, including a dressmaker and a shoemaker, who will teach their respective trades. By the first of the year we hope also to have a blacksmith shop in operation. We began in a small house (20 x 30 ft.), living in one end, and using a wood shed ten feet square for a kitchen and dining room. For six months we ate off a box, and slept upon the floor, sometimes having food, again not. We met a great deal of opposition, but persevered, and learned to lean hard upon God for our strength and wisdom. At the time of the General Conference, Sister White told us that we were just where God wanted us, and we were much encouraged by her words of advice. We felt led to build a larger building, as the needs of the work demanded it; so we began a two-story schoolhouse with two schoolrooms below and four living rooms above. This is now finished, with the exception of painting. We have also driven a well, going three hundred feet in order to get good water. Through the benevolence of a friend we have been able to make a beginning on a much-needed dormitory. This also is two stories in height, with a room for the sewing department, a class room, teachers' rooms, etc., below, and the upper part for the pupils who will board with us. We have it framed, storm sheeted, shingled, and the brick work completed. It will cost at least six hundred dollars to finish it. We are now at a standstill for lack of funds, as we are going on only as means come in to do so. We hope, however, that friends will feel led to send us help, so that we can finish the building at once, in order to use it this fall. We shall be obliged to use every available place in order to have room for the teachers and the students. We are using the “Gospel Primer,” “Best Stories from the Best Book,” and the Bible as readers, and “Patriarchs and Prophets” for morning devotions. We should be very glad if we could have “Christ's Object Lessons” for use as a text-book; and if any one feels led to send us a supply, we shall be very glad also for “Healthful Living,” to use in connection with Kellogg's Physiologies now in use. We need bedding for the use of the children, second-hand shoes and clothing, and also new cloth to make up in the sewing classes. We are praying also for a sewing machine, and for an organ to use in morning devotions. We should be very glad if any of our churches or friends would send us any of the articles mentioned above, kindly seeing that the freight is prepaid, and that the bill of lading is sent to us. Those who can help us on the new dormitory just now will, I am sure, feel amply repaid to know that their means will help give these people an opportunity to hear the message that otherwise they could not have. I believe that this is the only school in the State where the colored people have the third angel's message brought before them. Thus far it has been almost wholly supported by those not of our faith. Is it not time that our own people have some share in the work here? Our whole dependence is upon God, and he will not fail us, even if he has to raise up the Gentiles to come to our help. O that some of our workers would come to this place! We need canvassers, teachers, farmers, men who know they have a message from God for a perishing world. “Behold, I come quickly.” I pray that this work may ever be as a city set upon a hill, a light in a high place, that this people may be led to the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” I shall be glad to receive what help the brethren can give us, and I trust that some conference may be led to send us a good Bible teacher and support him here, where there is a wonderful opportunity to labor for God.