The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-18
HARNETT LEADS IN EDUCATION
Editorial CorrespondenceD

present at the close of the first session
of Buie's Creek Academy, and to speak
to the ninety-three students and their
friends. The school, established that year
country school, the patronage nearly all
being drawn from this neighborhood. The
only building was a small, implanted, plain
structure, somewhat better than the aver
age country school house. There were
not less than thousand people present,
gathered to cheer the young teacher in
his noble undertaking. The parents,
seeing the eagerneSs with which their
children learned their lessons, felt that
it was no ordinary man who had the
training of their offspring. The older
men, seeing his practical methods, sub
lime faith, and marvellous industry said:
He is made of the right stuff" and they
held up his hands.
Last night as l looked into the faces
of nearly three hundred bright-eyed boys
and girls who attend this Academy, and
saw a model, three story, modern school
building which would be an ornament to
any town or city, my mind went back
thirteen years, and dwelt upon the then
and the now. When we see great prog
ress in the world of Christianity, we say:
What hath God wrought" AS l looked
upon the commodious school building, fur
nished and brilliantly lighted; saw fac
ulty of ten instructors and these earnest
youths of both sexes gathered here; and
felt the uplift of this whole community
and county brought about by Buie's
Creek Academy, l felt to say: What
hath man, blessed of God, wrought
About fifteen years ago. Rev. J. A.
Campbell, who had made sacrifices to Sc
cure an education, graduated at Wake
Forest College. He was in debt, he had
no rich or influential friends, and as he
returned to the humble home of his
preacher-father in Harnett county, 1
doubt if anybody looked to see him ac-
complish great work that would lift
up whole county and bless a large sec
ton of his State. Many young men, with
his equipment and surroundings. would
have been content to teach little here
and there and look forward to a call to
preach in a town church. AS Mr.. Camp
bell was looking about to decide where to
begin his work, good man OF this neigh
borhood, Mr.. VIM. Pearson, once a mem
Der of the House, suggested that If he
would teach at Buie's, and assume the
risk, he thought the people would build
school house. Mr.. Campbell was
looking for an opportunity to do
good where school was need
ed. Here was the field white TO
the harvest. He was resolved to devote
himself to the education and uplifting
of the youth of the community. The
school house was built, the school open
ed, and the young man has gone on for
thirteen years working as few men have
worked until he has laid deep and broad
the foundation of one of the largest and
most useful educational institutions in
North Carolina Today there are lis
boarding pupils in Buie's Greek Academy,
drawn from all sections of the State.
Think of it, Nearly two hundred board
ing pupils, here far from any railroad or
centre of population, brought to this in
stitution because its fame for thorough
instruction, good discipline, and health
full and moral environment has gone
abroad. There are students here from
Raleigh, from Wilmington, from Newbern
and other cities. sent here so that they
could study without the temptations of
town life about them. The total enroll
ment now is sos, the largest of any ses-
sion yet. To see how much he accom-
plishes here, one would think that Mr.
Campbell had his hands full. He finds
time to teach and to manage this big in
stitution, and in addition to be the pastor
of four large widely separated country
churches-one near Morrisville one below
Dunn one in another section of Harnett,
and one at Buie'S Creek-and he never
misses an appointment on this big cir
cult. 1t is an inspiration to see what this
man, endowed with energy and ambition
to do good, has accomplished in this re-
mote country neighborhood. If we had
such a school as this in every section of
North Carolina, the State would soon be-
come known for it's thrift. it's education
it's zeal for doing good. Within the past
year eight large two-story houses have
been erected within sight of the Acade-
my and people have moved here from
other sections to educate their children,
land has gone up in value from $500 to
SIS and $40 an acre, there has been I'm
provement in farm methods, the churches
are better attended, ambitious young MN
have gone out to become leaders IN the
towns and cities, and a spirit Of amhi
ton and going forward has resulted from
the influence of this school. IS it am
wonder that Buie's Creek Academy is
the pride of Harnett county?
In his work here, which he has sen
prosper in his hands, Prof. Campbell has
been ably seconded by his wife. who has
all along been a teacher in the school.
He has selected his faculty with rare
good judgment, and it is now corpos ed
Of Rev. J. " Devenny, A. NJ. Profs. j. K.
Baggett, L. c. Ogburn, Q. l. Hudson,
Clifford E. Edwards, W. B. Upchurch. T.
]. Melvin. Miss Della V. Pool, Miss Zula
Tcmlinson, and Prof Campbell and wife
faculty in perfect accord win the spirit
that has characterized the school from
the start. That spirit is to inculcate in
dustry, uprightne5s, economy, as well as
| instruction in Tie text hoo%s. The dis
| cipline here has been easy because the
students as a rule realize why they come
to school. Many pay their own expenses,
and nobody will ever know how many are
helped by Prof Campbell.
| Thirteen years age il took q whole day
| to go from Raleigh TO Buie's Creek. To-
dow ba Fri m De in two three