Centers of Influence
A good beginning has been made in the Southern field. In the
forward march of events the Lord has wrought most wonderfully for
the advancement of His work. Battles have been fought, victories
won. Favorable impressions have been made; much prejudice has been
removed.
In the night season I was taken by my Guide from place to place,
from city to city, in the South. I saw the great work to be done—that
which ought to have been done years ago. We seemed to be looking
at many places. Our first interest was for the places where the work
has already been established and for those where the way has opened
for a beginning to be made. I saw where there are institutions for the
advancement of the Lord’s work. One of these places was Graysville,
and another, Huntsville, where we have industrial schools. These
schools are to receive encouragement and help, for the Lord led in
their establishment. Each has advantages of its own.
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.
Eternity alone will reveal the work accomplished for the colored
people by the small schools at Vicksburg, Yazoo City, and other points
in the South. In this field we need many more such schools.
We must provide greater facilities for the education and training
of the youth, both white and colored, in the South. Schools are to
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be established away from the cities, where the youth can learn to
cultivate the soil and thus help to make themselves and the school
self-supporting. In connection with these schools all the different lines
of work, whether agricultural or mechanical, that the situation of the
place will warrant are to be developed. Let means be gathered for the
establishment of such schools. In them students may gain an education
that, with God’s blessing, will prepare them to win souls to Christ.
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