Ellen White: Woman of Vision

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The Avondale School Opens

For some unknown reason, no official report of the opening of the Avondale school appeared in the Bible Echo. However, Metcalfe Hare stated in a report: WV 330.3

The school opened the twenty-eighth of April, Mrs. E. G. White, Elder WV 330.4

S. N. Haskell, and the teachers being present, with all those who had been associated with the work. The buildings were dedicated to their sacred mission by Elder Haskell (DF 170, “The Avondale School, 1895-1907”). WV 330.5

Ellen White furnished a few more details in a letter to W. C. White a few days later: WV 330.6

April 28 our school opened. At the opening exercises the upper room of the second building, above the dining room, was quite full. Brother Haskell opened the meeting by reading a portion of Scripture. He then prayed, and made a few remarks. I then followed (Letter 141, 1897). WV 330.7

“The Spirit of the Lord was present,” she wrote to Edson (Letter 149, 1897), and in her diary for the opening day she wrote: WV 330.8

We had the opening exercises in the last building erected. We had more in attendance than we had expected. We felt very thankful to make so good a beginning. We were very much pleased to have Brother and Sister Haskell with us. Brother Herbert Lacey and his wife were with us (Manuscript 172, 1897). WV 330.9

So with a staff of six (four of whom were teachers) and with 10 students (Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 365) the Avondale school commenced, and on the very day appointed. WV 330.10

One week after school opened, Ellen White reported that 40 students had enrolled. The Bible Echo dated June 7 reported that “about fifty students are in attendance at the Avondale school,” rather more than expected. The next issue declared that they were “happy to revise these figures this week and state that there are sixty-two.” WV 330.11

Ellen White felt comfortable with the Haskells taking the leading role at the school. She wrote of them as experienced laborers who “were a great help to us in the work of preparation, in devising and planning to get things in order” (Letter 149, 1897). Prof. and Mrs. C. B. Hughes were on their way from Keene, Texas. After the school was quite well organized and had continued for two months, the faculty was described in a report by G. T. Wilson in the Bible Echo: WV 330.12

Prof. C. B. Hughes and wife arrived two weeks ago from America. He has been chosen by the school board as principal of the school, and is to have the general management of things on the place. He teaches the history class, who are now studying “Empires of the Bible.” His wife teaches grammar, rhetoric, elocution, penmanship, and one Bible class. WV 331.1

Prof. H. C. Lacey is teacher of mathematics, physiology, geography, singing, and voice culture; and his wife teaches the primary department. WV 331.2

Pastor S. N. Haskell is the principal instructor in Bible study; and Mrs. Nettie Hurd Haskell, his wife, has charge of one Bible class, and acts as the matron of the school. WV 331.3

Mr. T. B. Skinner, a graduate of St. Helena Sanitarium Nurses’ Training Department, has charge of the kitchen and dining room, and on one day in the week gives practical instruction in cooking. The students are taught how to make bread, can fruit, and the other arts of healthful cookery (June 21, 1897). WV 331.4

In concluding his report, Wilson observed that “the students are mostly young men and women, of good, intelligent class, besides whom there are a few persons of more mature years.” About one half were below the age of 16. WV 331.5

The school at Avondale was off to a good start. WV 331.6