I think I have never yet heard an Indian Christian man or woman offer a prayer in which I have not heard this petition, "Oh Father in Heaven bless all the white people who love us and send us these teachers to tell us of God's ways." Shall we not return their grateful thought, by loving prayers, generous and sympathetic interest and every practical aid?
EXTRACTS FROM ADDRESS BY MISS HELEN S. LOVELAND.
I have come to tell you something of Orange Park, the town, the school established there, and the trouble connected with it. The village is situated on the west bank of the St. John's River, which at that point is a beautiful expanse of water three miles wide. Nature has been very prodigal in that section. The trees and plants are of a luxurious growth. Flowers are numerous. Every kind of fruit is plentiful. Because of these natural advantages, general climate and apparent fitness for orange growing, a Northern settlement was made. The people were from various Northern States. The principal industry was orange growing.
Five years ago when the Association was looking for a favorable place in Florida in which to locate a school, attention was drawn to this town. The place was selected because of its healthful situation and beautiful surroundings. The people in the town were anxious such a school should be established. To secure this the town voted the Association a considerable tract of land on which to build, and in addition a large wooded park. This was done with the understanding that all children in the town should be allowed to attend school.
The buildings belonging to the institution are a church, in which both white and colored people worship together; the Girls' Hall, in which the girls, teachers and matron live; in the rear of this, connected by a passage way, is the dining-room and kitchen; next, to the west, is the school building, containing the chapel, study room and recitation rooms; yet farther to the west of this is the Boys' Hall, in which the principal and his wife live, in charge of the boys. Back of the two last mentioned buildings is the shop where the boys do the industrial work.
The school has entered upon its fifth year. It has grown steadily and surely. The work done has been thorough and of a high grade. Up to the present time there have been in all 252 pupils connected with the school. There have been five teachers aside from the music, sewing and manual training teachers, principal and matron.
The students are instructed in the common school branches. The work in the normal grades is designed to prepare them for teaching. The girls have classes in sewing, are taught to care for their rooms, and each one does her own laundry work. A certain amount of time, whether in the dining-room, halls, kitchen or laundry, is required. In this plan there are two objects; to aid the pupils in paying their school expenses and to teach them the arts of housekeeping. Each boy is required to give especial care to his room. A certain amount of work is also required of them. It consists of yard work, carrying mail, sweeping school buildings, attending to the lamps, etc.
When there have been white boarding pupils they have had separate rooms and a separate table in the common dining-room.
Bible lessons are given twice a week by the pastor. A school prayer meeting is held every Thursday afternoon in the school chapel. In this meeting the majority of the pupils take part, and much interest is shown. The Christian Endeavor, however, is the most enthusiastic meeting in which the students engage. It is held in the chapel of the church, and attended by both town people and the school. The colored students have shown themselves efficient committee workers and leaders. There have been several conversions in the society, and there is great reason to be encouraged. It is in this field that personal work is needed and is effective. So the school is educating the pupil in different lines, industrial, intellectual, and religious.