A Place Called Oakwood

Vision

The light given me is that the schools in Graysville and Huntsville make these towns places of special interest. In both of these places there are excellent opportunities for giving the students manual training. I mention these places particularly because they have been presented to me by the Lord as places in which we should make persevering efforts to build up and strengthen the work. In these places there is much to be done, and the efforts of the laborers should be specially directed to this work until something is completed that will be an object lesson of what can be done. PCO 158.1

Sources: Letter 87, 1902; Manuscript Releases 2:66; Manuscript Releases 14:46-47; Testimonies for the Church 7:234

Brother _____ has been chosen to act as business manager and principal of the Huntsville School. For years he has labored in school work for the colored people in Mississippi, under the direction of the Southern Missionary Society. He is a teacher of experience, and is a capable manager. Associated with him will be a faculty competent to carry forward all branches of instruction, both in the school lines and in industrial training. The efficiency of the school will be much improved this year. PCO 158.2

Source: Letter 221, 1904; Manuscript Releases 2:69

The schools in Graysville and Huntsville were established in the order of God. They are to do a work for Him. They are to become self-supporting, by making the best use of their land, by raising those products best suited to the climate and soil of their locality. Various industries are to be established. The Lord will greatly bless these industries if the workers will walk in His counsel. If they will look to Him, He will be their wisdom and their righteousness. His wisdom will be seen in the work of those who follow His directions. He will teach all who will learn of Him His meekness and lowliness. PCO 158.3

Sources: The General Conference Bulletin, April 14, 1903; The Southern Watchman, October 25, 1904; The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1800

I am so pleased to see the colored students who are here today. I wish that there were a hundred of them, as it has been presented to me that there should be.... PCO 158.4

In regard to this school here at Huntsville, I wish to say that for the past two or three years I have been receiving instruction regarding it—what it should be and what those who come here as students are to become. All that is done by those connected with this school, whether they be white or black, is to be done with the realization that this is the Lord's institution, in which the students are to be taught how to cultivate the land, and how to labor for the uplifting of their own people. PCO 158.5

Sources: The Southern Missionary, June 1, 1904; Manuscript Releases 6:210-211; Manuscript 60, 1904; Manuscript Releases 4:25

Over and over again the light has been given that a special work is to be done in Huntsville. Those who are rooted and grounded in the truth, in all its bearings, are to be placed in charge of the work. A beginning has been made on the orphanage for colored children, but this work stands unfinished. On the beautiful farm of over three hundred acres, God purposes that an efficient missionary training school shall be conducted, which will develop many workers for the colored people. PCO 158.6

Sources: Letter 205, 1905; The Watchman, August 29, 1905; Spalding and Magan Collection, 380; To Those in Charge of the Colored Orphanage Enterprise, 3

The land at Huntsville was a donation from our people to the colored work. A much broader work would have been accomplished there had our people moved forward in faith and self-denial. It was God's design that Huntsville should have convenient school buildings and a sanitarium for the colored people. This sanitarium building has become a positive necessity. Some of the brethren have been free to give their advice concerning this institution, saying that it should be “a small sanitarium.” The advice I have had to give has been that we should have a modest but roomy sanitarium, where the sick can be taken in and treated. The colored race should have the benefits of such an institution as verily as should the white people. In this sanitarium colored nurses are to be trained for service in the field as gospel medical missionaries. PCO 159.1

Sources: Letter 322, 1907; Manuscript Releases 2:77

When this light was given me, I had never seen Huntsville. I was shown that Huntsville would be a place of special interest to those who would act their part to help the colored people. PCO 159.2

Sources: To Those in Charge of the Colored Orphanage Enterprise, 2-3; The Huntsville School, 2

We are endeavoring to bring the colored people to that place where they can be self-supporting. The time will come when you will be able to escape many of the evils that will come upon the world because you have obtained a correct knowledge of how to plant and to build, and how to carry various enterprises. This is why we want this land occupied and cultivated, why we want buildings put up. The students are to learn how to plant, and to build, and to sow. As they learn to do this, they will see a work before them which they will be very glad to have a part in. Opportunities will present themselves by which they can make themselves a blessing to those around them. PCO 159.3

Source: Manuscript 27, 1909; Manuscript Releases 2:83; Southern Field Echo, June 1, 1909