Pine Forge Academy - Flame Yearbook (Pine Forge, PA)

Page 15 text:

Pioneers llere they may find Him whom to know is life eternal. They may prepare for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of service in the world to come. The leaders of this denomination through the years have built a system of church- supported schools that have circled the globe. They are no longer experiments, but tried and proven and successful ventures. Pine Forge Institute is proud of its recent inclusion into this mighty endeavor to kindle and make the flame of Christian Education burn more bright- ly. ln the early thirties a committee compris- ing General, Union and local conference breth- ren was organized to establisharural boarding school for colored youth in eastern Pennsyl- vania. The great depression and other hind- rances prevented the successful completion of this project Nine months after the Allegheny Conference was organized, a committee composed of Elders J. H, Wagner, J.L. Moran, F.l,. Bland, J. H. Lawrence and M. S. Banfield, was author- ized to find a suitable site. After examining several places, Elder Bland, who was pastoring in Philadelphia, found the present spot. The committee.together with the Columbia Union President, Elder F,H. Robbins, visited the grounds on November 4, 1945, and later placed an option on it. ln three month's time the small membership of the infant conference raised over forty thousand dollars cash, and on April 27, 1946, almost six hundred acres of rolling woodlands were dedicated to God for the building of a school. F - ' as .N--l U1 vu, i i? 3? X 5' .Ai tt-f -6x S First kennel, then an office, now converted into laundry fi:-1' From storehouse to office, Principa1's home, and now a guest house.

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f U! Y o HI Ttllll 0F Pl E FURGE it ventnre in Christian Education .... . Sponsored by tlie llllenlreny tonierenre ot S. ll. ll. For more than forty years the colored people of the North had dreamed and prayed for a much-needed boarding academy in this section of the country. The disquieting sight of thousands of Seventh day Adventist youth streaming out of the church and into worldly pursuits forced at least four serious attempts to start such a school.Three of these failed. Pine Forge Institute is the only child that survived by a miracle and stands today as a splendid monument of God's own making. ln October, 1945, the infant Allegheny Con- ference, under the vigorous and dynamic lead- ership of Elder J. H. Wagner, launched the Northern School Project with not one single dollar in hand. Today, not fully ten years later, stands a school plant valued at one-half million dollars, a faculty of ten instructors and a stu- dent body well over one hundred Truly, the small, but strong desire for a school for our youth that ricochetted like a spark from the anvil of difficulty when struck by the hammer of faith has grown under the blessings of God into the bright, steady flame of Christian Education. Hundreds and hundreds of youth have been led by this guidinglight from the paths of sin. Their young hearts have been cleansed bv its purifying rays, and they have departed sharing the precious light of truth with countless others The servant of the Lord enjoined the estab- lishment of such a school taway from the evil influences of the citypl, out in the quiet ex- panses of the countryside. Here nature and nature-'s God is evident both night and day. Here Godly instructors may open God's great text book, the Bible, and unfold its precious lessons of life to the young in heart. Here midst a program of quiet, reverent meditation, thought-provoking study and physical labor,the youth may find that harmonious development of the physical, mental and spiritual powers.

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x Garage--converted into chapel. Dairy Barn--converted into chapel. Grist mill--converted into present school building. The eight, old, but sturdily constructed buildings acquired new purposes. The quaint mill building with its new look became head- quarters' for offices and classrooms. The dairy barn blossomed as our new chapel. The stable for horses and wagons became our cafe- teria with additional rooms upstairs for girls. The dog kennels first served as Allegheny Con- ference headquarters when they moved from Washington, D, C, The Manor House became the palatial girl's dormitory. Cottages which were remodeled for Teachers' homes. E