God had given the message in how to build these 'Hill Schools' all over the south. Madison was one of the first and God said that it should be the model for others to follow. God said that SDAs should have these 'hill' schools all over in vast areas of the south where land was not being used. So, many of these schools were built on the same model as Madison. Cowee Mountain school was an excellent school and was self supporting for many years.
Then one day for some reason the GC based at Loma Linda had a committee that decided that all training for SDA children should take place ONLY at the Madison school. All funding was directed to the Madison school. Cowee continued to do it's great work and continued to be self supporting. The GC did not like that they ignored the mandate to not train anymore so they never sent any funds to the school at Cowee. Cowee however never needed the funding as they did very well... students were learning, happy, and reaching out to the neighboring community with health message and treatments. The GC then started spreading rumors that Cowee was not the place to send your youth for training... One day Cowee had 19 students that were ready for baptism and they were denied. They sought a local SDA pastor and he came and did the baptizing. It was problem after problem for Cowee and eventually they were pressured to close... I believe all the 'hill' schools eventually closed including Madison.
It seems to me that the problem was about power and control and what man thought was best over what God had originally told EGW.
EGW was near the end of her life but made several statements that we should not criticize the brethren that are doing work for God. We can all contribute in many different ways as moved by the Spirit of the Lord and that no one should be forced to do what man thinks is best.
I found a link to two articles, both identical, published in church magazines, in which the conference discouraged people from sending their children to the school and severed ties with it. The names of several persons that had worked there and were dissatisfied are mentioned.
