Guided in the Purchase of Cooranbong

This led to the appointment of a committee to make diligent search for a suitable location in the country. There was much searching, and much disappointment. Good land was found in desirable places, but the cost was absolutely prohibitive to us. No landowners made us any good offers. No community in all the country had any interest in our proposal to establish a school on the land. So everywhere we faced indifference and high prices.AGP 311.2

Some good places were found, but the price ran from $75 an acre up. At last we found a block of about fifteen hundred acres, located at Cooranbong, about seventy-five miles north of Sydney. It was offered at a very low price,—about three dollars an acre. The price seemed alluring, but the land itself was disappointing. Most of it seemed to be poor, sandy, and hungry. We were disappointed, and were divided in our judgment in regard to its purchase.AGP 311.3

On May 24, 1894, Mrs. White went with the committee to examine the property. The day was spent in going over the various parts of the large estate; but when night came, no decision had been reached. The following morning the committee again met, and examination was resumed. Of this Mrs. White wrote at the time to her son, J. E. White:AGP 312.1

“Before starting we had a most solemn season of prayer. My heart was drawn out in earnest prayer for the Lord to guide us in judgment. He alone could indicate to us what was His holy will. The decision of this day meant much to every one of us; for it would be settled whether or not the school should be located in this place. I also felt most earnestly for Brother McCullagh who has been quite feeble, and prayed that the blessing of God might rest upon him. Our hearts were melted with the softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God. We did believe that we received the things we asked of the Lord. All present seemed deeply moved, and several earnest prayers went up to the throne of grace. My faith increased, and I knew the Lord would teach us and lead us, and this He did do. There was perfect unity in making the decision to purchase the fifteen hundred acres of land at the price of four thousand five hundred dollars.” E. G. White Letter 82, 1894.