The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-09-11
Orangeburg Collegiate Institute.

to say of an institution over which a
Ncwberry man, Prof. w. S. Peterson,
presides with SO much success:
South of the Atlantic Cost Line
railroad running from Columbia to
Charleston and east of the Southern
from Columbia to Augusta lies the
territory of about dozen counties. In
this territory live about one-fourth
of the Baptists Of the entire State.
The two largest towns in this part of
the State are Aiken and Orangeburg,
Charleston excepted.
The people for the most part are
farmers, and of recent years have not
enjoyed great amount of this
worlds goods. But for their genuine
worth-their love of home and church
they are not excelled anywhere on
earth. They are the embodiment of
hospitality. Mtan& pf them would
divide his last dollar with a needy
friend.
Recent years have noted a great
change in all this part Of the State.
1t is gradually becoming one of the
finest trucking sections in this coun-
try. The fine price received for pro-
duce Of all kinds has amounted to
thouands Of dollars to our people,
and they are now for the most part in
easy circumstances, with bright fu-
ture before them.
Within this vast territory some
points of interest not known by all
our people should be noted. For in
stance, here we have the greatest sin
gle express office in Aemrica, that Of
Megget 5 in Colleton county. 1t is
the largest cabbage shipping point
said to be in the world. The largest
Irish potota shipping point. and then
we have within this territory the lar
geSt asparagus shipping point, if not
the largest cantaloupe shipping point,
and it is gradually becoming one Of
the finest sections in the State in cot
ton raising. Lands have advanced
from almos, nothing to enormous
prices. Here fewer people remain
outside the churches than anywhere
within my knowledge, and the whole
section seems to be tecming with
Young people: as fine and healthy
looking. as bright and strong intellec
tually as the mountains or anywhere
else in the world can produce.
The only drawback that seems to be
in the way of the greatest possible
development is the lack of needed
educational advantages. Very true it
is, our rural schools have been greatly
improved within the last few years;
sessions having advanced from three
and four months to six and nine
months, yet, the fact remains that
the schools must be greatly improved
before the necessary efficiency shall
be attained unto.
Orangeburg Collegiate Institute.
Within all of this territory in which
live possibly thirty thousand Baptists
there is one single Baptists high school
that Of the Orangeburg Collegiate in
stitutc. While it was established sew
cral years ago it has lived varying
successes. and the fact still remains
that very few of our Baptists boys
and girls in this part of the tSate
have had the advantages of high
school education. Had it not been
for the perseverance of Il few faith
ful ones who realized the necessity
cf schools of this character, even this
school would have been no more.
After many ups and downs expert
rnred by different teachers this in<ti-
tilirn Prof. w. S. Peter ~; ok r:!Hr="
whom accompanies this C.. !, charge.
With great faith in the possibilities Of
the school. faith in its consistency,
and above all faith in God, he has
reached a glorious success.
| had the pleasure of visiting this
school just before the close of last
session. and was aStonished at the
magnitude OF! lis possibilities and the
quality of the work done They have
two buildings, capable of accommodate
inc possibly 200 boarlers, and | found
that these buildings were filled to
their utmost capacity. I never saw a
finer looking lot of boys and girls
together. How within two years time
such success could have been reached
with an undertaking such as Prof.
Peterson had tackled was astonishing
to me.