struction. As they
profit by her instruction, and listen a few times to some of their
familiar hymns on the organ, the younger people manifest pleasure and
delight and the early prejudices of the older ones are gradually
forgotten.

The first elders of Forest church were Simon Folsom, Charles Bibbs and
Lee Bibbs. Charles Bashears was soon afterward added to their number and
died in 1912. His wife exerted a leading influence in the earlier years
of this church.

The allotment of lands in 1905 made it necessary to move Forest church
to another location; and in 1909, it was moved about two miles east in
the valley of Red river.

XV

ERA OF JAMES F. McBRIDE

1888-1892

GIRL'S HALL IN 1889.--ADDITIONAL SCHOOL ROOM.--McBRIDE DIES JAN. 29,
1892--MRS. McBRIDE.

"Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before
kings, he shall not stand before mean men."

ERA OF SUPT. McBRIDE

About October 1, 1888 Mr. and Mrs. James F. McBride arrived to take
charge of the work as superintendent and matron. Their arrival was the
occasion of another joyful meeting on the part of the colored people who
came to see the "suptender, and express their great joy over the new
start that was to be given the school."

Mrs. McBride at a later date, referring to the appearance of things on
the day of their arrival at this, their new home, wrote:

"I can still see how the old log house looked as we drove up; so
dilapidated. A broken down porch ran along the front of it, and we
had to climb over an old rail fence to get to it. Our first meal was
corn bread made with water--without salt--and stewed dried peaches."

When the school opened they were assisted by Miss Carrie Peck, Celestine
Hodges and Mary Grundy.

A new era was now inaugurated in the management of the school. Ownership
as yet extended only to the farm buildings, which consisted of the old
log house, and barn, purchased from Robin Clark, and the new school
building. The first effort was now made to utilize two small fields of
cleared land and the neighboring timber to raise stock and crops for the
local support of the school.

GIRLS' HALL

In 1889 a commodious Girls' Hall was built having ample facilities for
carrying and boarding a considerable number of students. The enjoyment
of anything like ordinary home comforts on the part of the teachers
began with the occupancy of this building. It became the home of the
family