Oakwood School by W. J. Blake

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 7, 1907

Oakwood School

By W. J. Blake

THERE are many encouraging features at present in connection with the work of the institution, for which we feel especially thankful. The attendance is larger than it has been for some time in the past. One day last week seven new students entered. There are several more applicants, who will doubtless be in later. It appears that our quarters will be filled to their utmost capacity very soon. This is as it should be, for the school has a great work before it in training a sufficient number of workers to carry the message to the seven or eight million colored people here in the South, to say nothing of this race in Africa and other foreign countries. It would seem that we are far behind in preparing these workers, but we believe that God is leading out, and that greater victories than we have yet experienced will soon be apparent. This must necessarily be so because of the magnitude of this work.

Our building work is well under way. Manual Arts is completed, and will admirably serve as a domicile for the school shops. Brother Auger and his force are busily engaged completing the foundation of our new Study Hall, preparatory to the laying of the cement blocks. Several hundred of these blocks have been made, and the different designs will be combined in a very neat way, and form a substantial building. It has been decided to cover the building with metal shingles, so it will be practically fire-proof.

We hope soon to have a better water-supply for the school. The well drillers are at work, and expect to finish in a few days. If successful in finding a good flow of pure water, a perplexing problem will have been overcome in our work. The well is being put down on an elevated part of the school campus. A steel tower will be erected, also a storage tank, into which the water will be pumped by a large windmill; and from the tank it can be piped to the different buildings.

Through the kindness of friends a broom outfit and carpet-loom have been donated to the school, and shortly we shall be in a position to add these industries.

Our class work is going on each day as usual. The students are doing good work. We are also thankful for an increasing spiritual growth in the school. Some have left us and gone into the field, and from these we get good reports. Others will soon go out to take up the work in various places.

W. J. BLAKE, Principal.