The preparations for the Portland Avenue Christian School are going on, and everything will be in order and readiness in time for the opening day, which will be on August 26th, one week earlier than the beginning of the Public-School session. The work will be in the general charge and oversight of Brother Stanford Chambers, who is a teacher of much experience, as well as a faithful preacher of the gospel; and the lower grades will be under the hand of Mrs. Alice B. Waters, a trained, accredited, and highly efficient teacher, a devoted Christian woman, who loves God, and His precious word, and loves children, large and small, and possesses great influence with them.

At a recent meeting it was decided that only the first year of high-school work will be attempted this opening session. Moreover, our limitations will hardly permit us to take a number of pupils exceeding fifty. We shall have to give precedence to children of Christian parents, though it is by no means our intention to exclude others. We look forward to having better facilities, more rooms, more means, and more teachers, than we can have now at the beginning of the work. The advantages of this school are offered free of all charge to everyone, as many as we shall be able to accommodate. Whatever is contributed to this work by any, will be in the nature of a free gift.

We shall need such contributions, in order to carry on the work and meet the expenses. But those contributions, whether by patrons or by others, will be just as freely given to this great good effort, as our work and the use of all the advantages and facilities will be freely offered on our part. As to the nature and quality of the work— we purpose that the instruction given in the grades and first high-school year, shall measure up fully to the standards required in the public institutions in all the secular branches; and in addition, every pupil shall receive daily instruction in the Bible. The word of God will be given that honor and pre-eminence which is due to it.

Moreover, we trust to maintain a loving but firm and faithful discipline— which is one of the greatest needs of our day. Every child will be on its honor to maintain the credit of the good work we are doing together in the name of the Lord. In all this undertaking, and the more as the time approaches, we feel the need of God’s special help— His guidance, His wisdom, His strength and sustenance. May we count on the prayers of the children of God who read this announcement, that they may intercede for us and jointly with us, that God’s blessing may rest upon this effort?

-R. H. Boll–Word and Work, August 1924