The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-04
MASTER SCHOOL 7 FORMALLY OPENE ]
 IN FIRST SESSION
Institution Of Former Con- greSSman Howard For Poor
 Children Is Dedicated


 tied Fort Payne Sunday on his way to Lookout mountain, seven miles east of here, where he participated in the dedication exercises of the Master school, an institution for poor boys and girls of the mountains of north Alabama, which is being fos- tered by former Congressman M. w. Howard and Mrs. Stella Vivien liar per, the former now q resident of Los Angeles, Cal, and the latter a resident of Brunswick, Ga.
 A Thousand persons gathered there from the villages and both noun tains, in spite. of the showers of rain which fell throughout the day. The exercises were conducted from Sen tinel rock, which Is about the size of an ordinary house and rises to an elevation of several feet, com manding a view of the villages in the valley below and the winding chain of mountains along the distant horizon. Colonel Howard called the crowd together and asked that the choir conduct the singing upon the elevated rock. The Sacred Harp song book was used, this being the kind of singing adopted by the pioneers of the mountains of north Alabama. The venerable editor of the Fort Payne Journal, Thomas II. Smith. led the singing, assisted by a plethora of the oldtimers of the Fla, Sal, La fra ternity.
 Howard Praises Governor.
 In introducing Governor Brandon, Colonel Howard paid high tribute to the states chief executive, saying, among other things. that "our pres en&~ governor is the best governor Alabama ever had;' that "he could always be found for the right against the wrong" and that he was an official of the people and for the people, believing in better edu cational advantages for the boys be- hind the blow handle"
 Governor Brandons address, which was fuli of wholesome thought and Bill Brandon" humorous anecdotes, occupied the morning hour The speaker caught the attention of his audience from the start. paying 9 glowing tribute to the pioneer fla thers and mothers of north Alabama and urging that the safest way for the continuation of peace and pros perity of America was to go back to the old-time religion of those who blazed the trails for coming genera tions. He eNtolled the manhood of Alabama, praising the soldiers in warfare and the virtues of the women of the south.
 The governor took occasion to 1aud Colonel Howard in his undertaking 
 poor boys and girls may acquire an education without money and with out price, declaring that great sue cess will crown his efforts, and that from such institutions will come the hope of. the young manhood and womanhood of America.
 School Result Of Vision.
 Colonel Howard and Congressman AlIgood delivered addresses in the fA he had a dream, vision, to do some thing for the boys and girls who were unable to obtain an education for themselves, and that he had found the end of the rainbow right here on the topmost peak of Look had consecrated his life, the revenue from his two books and the moving picture, "The Bishop of Ozarks," to the service of the Lord and to the success of the Master school. He de- clared that eminent teachers over the country had offered to teach in the school free of charge, and that al- ready more pupils were on the ground than they could well take care of until more adequate build ings have been provided. However, notwithstanding the handicap of the rainy weather in preventing the completion of the two dormitories and adequate seating of the school building, sessions began today with an enrollment of more than 30.
 All of the buildings are constructed or stone and logs, which present quite pleasing and rustc effect there being a school room of large dimensions, two dormitories and a large dining room and kitchen. Wells are being bored from which to fur nish the school with water. The grounds upon which the buildings are located are like a "mountair upon mountain" being In the shape of an hour glass, flanked on the west by the brow of the mountain and on the east by the flow ot Little river. Across this beautiful mountain stream Colonel Howard states that a great cement dam vii be construced in the near future for the purpose of furnishing cleo, tric power and lighting for the use of the school and for lighting z great high tower to be constructed on Sentiment rock, sending its rays for miles around at night, as a mem. orial to the generosity of all those who have contributed to the success of "The Master School"
 Brandon "sounds Chord.
 Governor Brandon and Colone' Howard proved themselves con- governor calling for the selection oi The Promised Land" himself ''soundlng the chord" and leading in the rendition of the old familiar hymn, beating time" as Is the GUS tom with the old country singing masters However, the governor missed the use of the erstwhile tun- ing fork, which he stated he had used in his old home town many years ago. Colonel Towards favorite selection was Green Fields," the poety of which he said had so much influence in his life and the vision he had of the establishment of "The Master School" He quoted the words of this old hymn in his ao- dress, the poetry and sentiment O. which are most tender and sweet: How tedious and tasteless the hours
 when Jesus no longer I see Sweet prospect, sweet birds anC
 sweet flowers have all lost
 their sweetness to me;
 The midsummer sun shines but dim
 the fields strive in vain to look
 gay;
 But when I am happy in Him De
 cember's as pleasant as May"
 The opening of ''The Master School was one of the most delightful oc. casions ever held in this section anC there has seldom been an occasion when so much enthusiasm was showr by the people gathered for the open. Ing exercises. That the community in which the school is located is squarely behind it was evidenced by the bounteaus dinner served by the ladies of the community and the buildings already erected, which bear the handiwork of the men of the community.