A Place Called Oakwood

Condition

Brother Sutherland thought that perhaps he ought to return to Berrien Springs immediately upon reaching Nashville after this trip; but we do not think that this would be wisdom. Early next week we have an important meeting to attend at Huntsville, and it is very important that our brethren should be at that meeting, for decisions are to be made as to what shall be done with the Huntsville School. The future of this school is hanging in the balance. PCO 151.1

Sources: Letter 193, 1904

My visit to our school for the colored people, at Huntsville, Alabama, brought me great sorrow of heart. I had known that this institution was in pressing need of substantial help, but I had not understood fully the real condition of the school. That which I saw staggered me. I asked myself, “How can the brethren in the South, who have seen the needs of this school, remain silent? In what light does God regard their failure to bestir themselves in an effort to place this school on vantage-ground? How can He acquit the sight of their eyes?” PCO 151.2

The equipment of the Huntsville School is very incomplete. Even some of the most common necessities are lacking. There are no proper facilities for giving treatment to the sick. Those who attend this school have been getting along with crude makeshifts, hoping that in time some of the necessities would be supplied. PCO 151.3

That which to me seemed the greatest mystery of all was the striking contrast between ----- and Huntsville. At ----- the school and the sanitarium have been built up substantially by friends both in the North and in the South. The ----- brethren and sisters have given much toward the erection and equipment of good buildings. The ----- community has an appearance of thrift and prosperity. This is as it should be. But I could not understand how those there, who have known of the destitution of a sister institution at Huntsville, have been content to continue building up their home institutions, without doing something for the training-school for colored people. PCO 151.4

Sources: The Southern Missionary, September 1, 1904

A school for colored people is being carried on in Huntsville, but I was greatly pained while there to see the poverty-stricken condition of the institution. I knew from previous presentations, that this was displeasing to God and that the school was not accomplishing that which He designed it to accomplish. I resolved to bear a plain, clear-cut testimony to our people, telling them that the money spent in the adornment of dress is a misappropriation of God's money, lent us to use in the advancement of His work. PCO 151.5

Sources: (Australasian) Union Conference Record, September 1, 1904

Early this past summer I visited the South and spent several weeks there. As I traveled from place to place, I saw anew the poverty-stricken condition of the field, and was reminded vividly of scenes that have often been presented to me in the night season. PCO 151.6

The condition of the Industrial School established for the training of Christian workers at Huntsville, Ala., appealed strongly to my sympathies. The large farm of three hundred and sixty acres, purchased by the General Conference as a home for this institution, will, with intelligent cultivation, meet a considerable portion of the running expenses of the school. But the buildings have been inadequate for the work that should be done. The teachers and students have very few schoolroom appliances. In the students’ home and on the farm there have been very few suitable facilities. Some new buildings must be erected and furnished. Good bathrooms are greatly needed. In connection with this school, students are to be trained for the medical missionary work. PCO 152.1

Sources: The Signs of the Times, November 30, 1904; And Their Cry Came Up Unto God, 5-6

The school at Huntsville is greatly in need of help, that young colored people may be prepared to go forth to work as teachers for their own race. There is a great need in the Southern field of an orphanage for Colored children. At Huntsville a beginning has been made on a building for this purpose, but the work has stopped for lack of means. A small sanitarium is also needed at Huntsville. Let those who desire to work place their zeal and their efforts where they will tell in supplying a genuine necessity. PCO 152.2

Source: Record of Progress and An Earnest Appeal In Behalf of the Boulder-Colorado Sanitarium, 36

I felt great sadness of heart on hearing that one of the Huntsville School buildings had been consumed by fire. I am so sorry that one life was lost. We must now do our very best to make the needed improvements at the school. I am not favorably impressed by what you say about all the buildings that are to be erected being small. We must not let the work at Huntsville flag or be brought down to small dimensions. There is need of buildings, and there is need of larger buildings, but these must not be extravagantly large, for the work in other places in the South must be considered. PCO 152.3

Sources: Letter 348, 1906; Manuscript Releases 2:71