School at Hildebran, North Carolina
By Albert Carey
As one sits on the upper veranda of the teacher's home, or, better still, mounts the belfry tower of the academy building, the vista that meets the eye in every direction is something to thrill again and again the heart of the beholder. Sweeping away to the north, over pine and oaken hill and fertile vale, the rugged outlines of the old Blue Ridge range of mountains bound the horizon, save for a few craggy peaks that lift their heads still higher beyond the range, at a distance of a hundred miles or more. To the south and west the lofty range fades mid tinted hues, while nearer lie the lower hills and mountain heights, which give the picture a variableness and grandeur scarcely to be excelled, save from the tops of those isolated mounts themselves. Mounts Piney and Baker are but a few miles from the school, and the view that greets the eye as one looks in every direction from their peaks is one never to be forgotten. Truly, this Piedmont district of America, with its most wholesome climate, its ennobling scenery, its agricultural and educational possibilities, is a most providential center for a school work that is to be a beacon of hope for the millions of the Carolinas. Such is the feeling of those upon whom rests the burden of placing this school where it may be the instrument for service in God's hand that he desires it to be. The following words from the Lord's servant and handmaid give hope and energy to their hearts: "From the light given me, I know that the work at Hildebran, if properly managed, will be a great blessing to the surrounding country. I have been instructed that we must establish schools in just such districts, away from the cities and their temptations." Just seven years ago the Lord's servant, Elder D. T. Shireman, pitched a gospel tent on the side of the hill where the school now stands, and the people came for miles to hear the truths of the third angel's message. Believers were found, a church was organized, and very soon a small school was begun, to meet the need that was evident on every hand. The seed grew. There was no village of Hildebran then; but now, on its principal thoroughfare, stands another chapel, neat in appearance, and larger than the first, while just above, on one hand, upon the crest of the hill, stand the school buildings, and just below, on the other hand, are the burned ruins of the Piedmont Sanitarium. It took much labor then to go into the forest that occupied the school site, cut away the trees, erect buildings, and plant orchards, vines, and berries; but its early founders were tried pioneers of the North and West, who had before launched into the great unsettled districts of those sections, and, with hearts attuned to service for God and man, they entered upon a work that has already borne much fruit for God, and which still stands as a fortress of truth for many, many souls in this yet neglected and needy field. The first pupils had to climb over logs and through brush to reach the buildings just opened for them; and some ridiculed, as in the days of old, a work that to them gave no promise of ultimate success. But the faith and energy of those who have toiled these years have made it possible for this school to enter upon the era, that, through the special favor of God, is just before it. The school buildings, humble yet commodious, comprise quite a complete outfit for primary and academic work. More than a hundred students can be accommodated in its rooms, while the students' and teachers' homes, within a few yards of the main building, afford sufficient accommodation at the present for non-resident students and teachers. A young orchard of several acres of choice fruit is just beginning to bear, and a fair setting of grapes, strawberries, raspberries, etc., are in producing condition. And in connection with the school is about seventy acres of choice, tillable land, which is this year bearing a good quality of crops. The farm lies well, being mostly bottom and valley land, adjoining the rear of the school plot. Altogether, one would search a long time to find a more delightfully situated and equipped outfit for the work designed for this school. But no one of experience in the work of God will think for a moment that this work has all been accomplished without determined and constant opposition from the enemy of truth and of souls. Even after the buildings and farm were all put in their present condition of equipment, it seemed for a time, even for months, that all would be entirely lost. Gloom settled over the hearts of those whose hands had toiled so hard, early and late, to build up what, after all, seemed almost, if not quite, lost. But God's work as well as his Word ever has its champions and friends. A faithful brother who had sold his Northern home and brought all his means to help in the needy Southern work, who had already invested heavily in establishing the work in Nashville, came to the rescue with his little remaining cash, and with the help of friends whom God most wondrously raised up, saved to the cause of truth that which was all but lost through the working of the adversary, who has no love for the progress of the message for which our schools pre-eminently stand. The brother who now has the ownership and control of the school earnestly desires that its influence and field of usefulness be widened and strengthened. Since the school began its career, the primitive work in the Carolinas has grown into a small but well-organized conference, and now North Carolina has an organization by itself, while the old Columbia State is still under the direction of the Southern Union Conference, as a mission field. So it is desired that the school established here be taken under the direction of the conference, as a training-school of the intermediate grade, to prepare students for a humble place in the work in this field, or for the higher training-schools already established in the South, west of the mountain chain which forms no inconsiderable barrier between the central Southern field and the Atlantic Coast region occupied by the Carolinas and adjoining States. Since early in the spring of this year this matter has been under advisement, and several months before the burning of our sanitarium, the Southern Educational Company, the legal body of the North Carolina Conference, made a small payment, and took a legal contract for the entire school property, on the following terms: By Jan. 1, 1905, the first payment of one thousand dollars should be made, when the ownership and control of the plant would be assumed by the conference, and its school board begin the direction. The remaining one thousand dollars should be paid in from three to five years. Brother B. A. Rogers, who now holds the title of the school, is advanced in years, and feels that he can not now begin life anew without any means, and with a family to support, hence requires the payment of this small amount, but even then shares liberally in giving his portion of the purchase price. Again: to those in this needy field the Lord has given the word that they should call to the East, the North, the West, and the South to help in placing the work here on vantage-ground. And shall we refrain from calling? To those upon whom it now rests to raise this means it seems that the set time has come for the work in Hildebran to take a most decided advance step. It seems to us that the entire work in this field demands it. We feel that to draw back now would be to jeopardize our souls. But one avenue has gleams of light for us, and that through the word advance. But how shall we advance? With the loss of several thousand dollars, so recently sustained by the burning of our sanitarium, with laborers leading out in this work who have received no salary for months, with conference laborers receiving but a small portion of the amount their due, with a small conference constituency of about two hundred members, most of whom have but their little homes or meager salaries as a means of support,—with all this, what can we do but cry to God, and to his faithful children in other places, that we may receive the help that is so greatly needed in this crisis of our work? We do not wish to detract in the least from any other work; but are there not some who have an extra mite to spare21us at this time, when it seems to us that we dare not wait any longer? May God give us friends who have means, and will spare them. May he move upon others who have means to move to this field, start new centers, take the lead of small companies that are in greatest need, and assist in establishing other schools, smaller than this one, yet just as necessary in the field they occupy. O that God might give many a soul a vision of the actual need of the living witness for present truth in many localities of this beautiful but sin-laden State! Shall we not hear from many thus exercised by the Holy Spirit? Shall we not hear from you? ALBERT CAREY.