p. 4 | Untitled article by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 18, 1915

Notes From the Field — No. 2

By F. M. W.

LEAVING Boulder, Colo., we spent one day in Colorado Springs. Here we were entertained, with the old-time spirit of hospitality, at the pleasant home of Brother and Sister William Eames. It was a great pleasure for us here to meet Brother Frank Mills, who returned some months ago from Korea. Brother Mills has greatly improved in general strength, although he is still far from well. He hopes, however, that after several more months spent in Colorado he will again be able to take part in the work which has come to be the joy of his life. We also found Elder M. A. Altman and his family earnestly at work for the upbuilding of the Lord's cause in this important city. Through his earnest labors and those of the faithful brethren and sisters in this city, a neat house of worship is nearing completion. The work has proceeded slowly, as they are determined that the building shall be erected without incurring debt; and in this purpose the Lord is signally blessing their efforts. It is comparatively easy to erect church buildings on borrowed money, but it is discouraging for the congregation to be placed for years under the grinding load of a church debt. It may require greater faith and more earnest efforts to raise the money before the building is erected, but we believe that the joy will be heightened when the worship is conducted in a building dedicated to the Lord free from encumbrance. We rejoice to see the spirit manifested by Seventh-day Adventists during the last few years, to rid their institutions and organizations of the burden of debt. This spirit should be encouraged, and earnest efforts should be made by our brethren and sisters everywhere to clear off the debts which may be hanging over their meetinghouses or institutions. God desires us to be free men and free women in Christ Jesus. We know of nothing else that will so make a man a prisoner, and hold him with such a ruthless and deadly grasp, as a great debt.

Our academy home at Lodi, Cal., seemed indeed a Bethel of rest as we reached it on Friday evening, at the beginning of the Sabbath. A very pleasant Sabbath day was spent at this important center of our work in California. The school buildings, three in number, are located one and one-half miles south of Lodi, in a highly favored section of the great San Joaquin Valley. Orchards, vineyards, and gardens greet the eye at every turn. The school owns twenty acres of fertile land, and rents ten or fifteen acres. This land affords opportunity for a number of students to earn their way through school from year to year, and very materially contributes to the income and upkeep of the institution.

We found an enrollment of one hundred students in the academic grades, a fine class of earnest and sturdy young men and women, who, apparently, have come to the school for the one purpose of securing a preparation for rendering efficient service in this closing work. Between eighty and ninety boys and girls are attending the church school. Thus more than one hundred and eighty students are brought together under one school management. Prof. J. H. Paap is principal of the school. With him are associated the following-named instructors: W. B. Payton, George McCready Price, W. B. Taylor, Fred T. Oakes, L. E. Westermeyer, Miss Beatrice Haines, Mrs. J. H. Paap, Mrs. W. B. Taylor, Miss Hilda Paap, Mrs. F. T. Oakes, George B. Morrison, Miss Stella Voris, and Miss Alma M. Fink.

In addition to the preceptor's work, Brother W. T. Taylor conducts a class in carpentry. He displayed with justifiable pride some excellent specimens of the handiwork of the boys engaged in this industry.

A large constituency have established homes in Lodi, in the neighborhood of the academy; hence the greater part of the students are day students, there being only about forty students in the homes. It was our privilege Saturday night to attend the reception given by the faculty to the students of the school, and to listen to a musical program of unusual merit, reflecting great credit upon the musical instruction afforded by the institution.

This was our first visit to Lodi, and we were surprised to find such a large gathering of our people. The church here numbers between four and five hundred. It was our privilege Sabbath forenoon to listen to an earnest sermon by Elder E. E. Andross, the president of the Pacific Union Conference, and in the afternoon to speak to the brethren and sisters who came together for a special service. Elder D. T. Fero, whom we had known many years ago in the East, is pastor of the Lodi church, and although hastening toward threescore years and ten, is doing faithful and efficient service.

We were glad to learn of the cooperation between the academy and the church, and that the brethren and sisters in this center are heartily sustaining the institution which has been established among them. Our churches that have institutions located near them enjoy great opportunities, and also share great responsibilities. Directly and indirectly, every school is affected by the spirit of the community in which it is located. The spirit of the church will be reflected in the lives of the students. How necessary that our brethren and sisters should recognize this, and that the influence in their homes and in the church should be of a character to build up and to strengthen the things of God, rather than to demoralize or tear them down. Those who have been placed in charge of our institutions are laboring under heavy burdens. They do not need our criticism, but our prayers. We believe that the school in Lodi is doing excellent work, and that, in the hands of God, this institution can be made a powerful factor in preparing laborers for this cause. A goodly number have already gone out from this school into places of responsibility; and we believe that from the earnest young men and women in the

school at the present time, many will be found to go out at the call of the Master, some, perhaps, to earth's remotest bounds, to give the message of the soon-coming kingdom. F. M. W.