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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 4, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 54.

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Our Schools

By I. H. Evans

Our denominational schools are among our strongest and best facilities for the advancement of our special work. We place our sons and daughters in these schools that they may receive a training to become workers in the cause of God. We expect our schools so to mold and shape the lives of these young people, and to give them such an education, both in character building and in literary attainments, as will fit them to be efficient workmen for the Master. In all parts of the world, graduates from our schools or those who have had more or less training in them are leading in the work of proclaiming the third angel's message.
I am sure all will be glad to know that this year our schools have opened with a good attendance. The Educational and Missionary Volunteer Council held last spring, and the conventions following, gave to our educational leaders and the teachers in our schools new inspiration for better service, and we believe that our educational work is keeping pace with the advancement of the message.
Our educational secretary, Prof. Frederick Griggs, writing under date of October 20, speaks as follows concerning the work of our schools:—
The statistical report for the year 1914 of the schools of the North American Division Conference, shows a total of 565 schools, with an enrollment of 16,176 pupils and 1,054 teachers. This is a gain over the preceding year of 46 schools, with a net gain in enrollment of 656, and in teachers of 43. This increase shows a healthy growth in our school work, not the least encouraging feature of which is the fact that it is quite largely in our elementary schools. These eight-grade schools conducted in our churches are the foundation of our advanced schools. The more we have of them, and the stronger the character of their work, the larger the number of students we shall have in our secondary schools and in our colleges, and accordingly the larger number of workers will be available for both home and foreign fields. Therefore this growth of our church schools is indeed gratifying from every point of view.
During the past summer, following the Educational and Missionary Volunteer Council, six conventions were held in different parts of the United States. This council and these conventions were especially marked by the spirit of consecration on the part of the educators in attendance. Never before have we had such helpful, inspiring educational gatherings. As a consequence we look for a long advance step to be taken by our schools this coming year in spiritual and intellectual growth.
The department is in receipt of reports of the opening of nearly all our secondary schools and colleges. These reports reveal the fact that our teachers are determined to put into effect the spirit and plans of our council and conventions. The opening of the school year of 1915-16 is a cheering one.
Already some of those in charge of our schools have reported concerning their work since the beginning of the school year. Prof. B. F. Machlan, principal of South Lancaster Academy, says:—
At the council in California, as I listened to the instruction given from morning to morning, I felt that the responsibilities resting upon teachers were greater than I had ever realized. Though the burden seemed heavy and to fit pretty snugly upon one's shoulders, yet it gave me a new inspiration for the work of the coming year. All summer long I was praying, and planning what we ought to do as a faculty to make our work more effective, and what I ought to be to my fellow teachers and my students. As the time neared for the opening of the school, I prayed that the Lord would give us as a faculty a special blessing, and that our first meeting might be one that would mark a new era in our work here; and I was much pleased when I saw the faculty line up with me. We have set the following as our goal for the coming year: First, every teacher a soul winner; second, every student converted; third, $500 for the Harvest Ingathering.
Our school opened with about the usual number. They have not come in so fast this year as last, but at the present time we have about the same number that we had last year, and the prospects are that we shall go beyond the enrollment of last year.
On the first Friday evening, five of our young people took their stand for the truth, and on the second Friday evening there were three more. After the regular prayer meeting had closed, I invited those who had a burden for the unconverted and needed special help for themselves, to stay, and about forty remained. These young people expressed a desire to have a part in attaining our goal of seeing every student converted, and banded together to pray and work until this shall be accomplished.
Professor Field, one of our new teachers, said, in students' meeting, that he had been a student in our schools and also a teacher in them, but that he had never seen a greater evidence of consecration and desire to do the Lord's will and work than he saw here at South Lancaster. . . . I am deeply grateful to the Lord for giving me the help here this year that I have. Those who have been on our faculty for several years have taken hold of the work with new vigor.
Prof. H. A. Morrison, president of Union College, under date of September 27, writes as follows concerning the work there since the opening of school:—
Beginning with the very first morning, we organized our regular prayer bands, which meet every day just before chapel. The students are taking part in these bands in a very encouraging way. We are undertaking to call the attention of the young people to the evangelistic and mission work in the great fields that need attention, and are trying to direct the great majority of them along some of these channels for service. We are giving our ministerial band and our Bible workers' classes one hour of the chapel period each week. This brings the entire school in contact with this work.
I am much interested in seeing our young men go into the ministry, and a large number of our young people preparing for the foreign fields. Our teachers here are desirous of making these the great goals of this institution. Several members of our last year's class are in the home field this year, some of whom I believe will make excellent material for mission fields by another year.
We have a splendid class of students; they are well advanced in their studies, and even more mature than in past years. We believe that the Lord has sent us excellent material upon which to work, to prepare men and women for service in his cause. Our teachers are all taking hold of their work with an enthusiasm and earnestness that ought to bring good results. We have now enrolled two hundred and seventy-seven, which is twenty-three more than last year at this time. We know of a number who are yet coming, so we feel quite encouraged as far as attendance is concerned. Already we have forty-six who have been in the canvassing field during the past summer. Thirty-three of these earned one or more scholarships, many of them earning two or three. Several are still in the canvassing work who are planning to be here within a few days.
We are anxious that our students shall get a broad experience while in school, not only in general culture and intellectual development, but in their religious experience as well.
Emmanuel Missionary College sends in a splendid report concerning its prospects and work. Under date of October 4, Prof. O. J. Graf, president of the school, writes:—
We have organized our dormitories into small prayer bands of about six or eight. They meet once a week, one of the older, spiritual students taking charge. I am also planning, as soon as we are sufficiently acquainted with our students, to take up the matter in our faculty meeting, and have each teacher become responsible, as far as possible, for the spiritual welfare of certain students. I realize that there are some objections to this plan, but there is danger, in a large school like this, of “everybody's business being nobody's business.”
I am also planning to visit the students in their dormitories as often as I can, and talk with them about their plans for their future work, etc.
You will be glad to learn that our ministerial band has already been organized, and the members have found several places where they can hold meetings. Last year eight began keeping the Sabbath as a result of the work of this band. The Bible workers' band is organized, with a membership of thirty.
We are planning to have Elders G. B. Thompson and A. G. Daniels give lectures on mission fields. Last year one hundred and twenty students definitely consecrated their lives to work in the foreign fields.
Our enrollment has reached two hundred and twenty-four. An unusually large percentage of these are in the dormitories, which are full to overflowing. We have filled the rooms above the printing office, and two cottages in the grove.
Prof. E. C. Kellogg, of Walla Walla College, sends the following good report of the opening of the school under his charge:—
Our school this year is the largest in its history. The present enrollment is one hundred and twenty-four in the first eight grades, and two hundred and thirty-six in the other grades. There are sixty in the college department. Four years ago there were twenty-five. The increase in the strength and general condition of the school is quite noticeable.
Comparatively few of our young people are not church members. Of course that does not mean that all do not need a continual growth and an earnest experience in spiritual things, and we are doing what we can to help in this matter. In our Missionary Volunteer Society we have a ministerial and Bible workers' band, a Christian Help band, a mailing literature band, and a distributing literature band. The ministerial band is the strongest in the history of the school. The other bands have a large enrollment, and are doing good work. I have felt for some time the need of putting forth especially earnest efforts to encourage our young people to enter the ministry and the Bible work.
Our normal department has twenty-six in training this year. Nearly all these are working on the advanced normal course. This is the best showing we have ever had.
We hold a devotional meeting for the whole school in the chapel every other
Friday evening. Some of our schools hold one every Friday evening, but that does not seem to fit our work so well as the plan we follow. On the alternate Friday evenings the foreign mission band meets. This band has an enrollment of seventy-five. The village prayer bands also meet on these Friday evenings. Our young people hold their Missionary Volunteer Society meeting on Sabbath afternoon. Of course there are prayer meetings in the dormitories, which are held Wednesday evening. Probably we have sufficient organization to accomplish a good work, and we are trying to make the spiritual interests and influence prominent in the school.
Under date of October 19, Prof. A. N. Atteberry, head of the Southern Training School, writes as follows:—
The class of students in attendance this year is very good; but I feel, as do most of the brethren in the field, that the standard in some things must be raised if we hope to man our field with home talent, which is certainly what we should aim to do.
We have ninety-five above primary grades, and seventy-five in the normal school department. This is considerably below the attendance of last year. No doubt the uncertainty of the location and the change in administration, as well as the financial depression over the whole South, will account for a good share of the lessened attendance. On the whole, our school work is moving on well, and especially in the boys' home we feel that progress is being made in raising the standard of discipline. The patrons from the village are manifesting a deep interest in the school, and so far there has been a spirit of cooperation. We are holding biweekly parent-teachers' meetings in the church, discussing principles of our school operation and kindred topics.
Under date of October 21, Prof. J. L. Shaw, president of Washington Missionary College, writes as follows concerning the prospect of his school:—
The enrollment the first week was two hundred and six. This has increased until at the present time there are two hundred and fifty-three enrolled, the increase in attendance being about evenly divided between academic and college students. While a large number of former students have returned, many new ones are in evidence. The ministerial college course has called a number of young men who are taking this course to prepare for the gospel ministry. There will be twelve or fifteen graduates from the college course at the close of the present school year.
Several new teachers of experience have been added to the College faculty, among whom are Prof. E. G. Salisbury, Elder H. H. Votaw, Prof. E. F. Albertsworth, Prof. C. Crager, Prof. C. C. Pulver, and Miss Pauline Schilberg. Special attention is given to field training of evangelistic workers. Elder Votaw gives most of his time to training young men for the ministry. Mrs. Williams has a large class of young women who are being trained in the science and art of giving Bible readings.
Some changes have been made in the language teaching, so that the institution is able to provide a German to teach the German, a Frenchman to teach the French, and a Spanish lady to teach the Spanish. This affords the students an excellent opportunity to acquire a correct pronunciation of these languages.
The increased growth of the College has greatly taxed the facilities of the institution. A building has been rented from the Sanitarium, and fitted up to accommodate twenty-three students. The other dormitories have not been large enough to accommodate the students, and it has therefore been necessary to find rooms outside for a considerable number.
The dining room also is crowded. The chapel, which is arranged to seat one hundred and forty-four students, has over two hundred and fifty crowded into it. The doors have been taken off, and future students will be seated in the hall. The library is so crowded that the students often have to stand while consulting books of reference. Sometimes as many as forty occupy classrooms which should not accommodate more than half that number.
It is the feeling of the board and the College faculty that in order for the institution to do the work assigned to it, more accommodations must be provided.
A strong spiritual influence has prevailed during the opening weeks of the school, and a spirit of earnest work seems to possess the large majority of the students. Twenty-six students earned scholarships in the canvassing field.
Several lectures have been given by Elder A. G. Daniels on the work in the Orient, and a goodly number of students are looking toward Eastern lands, desiring to prepare to answer the calls to the Orient if Providence so wills.
The College of Medical Evangelists, at Loma Linda, Cal., has begun the year's work with very encouraging prospects. Under date of October 6, Dr. Newton Evans writes:—
We are all feeling very grateful at the propitious opening of our school year. We are especially glad this year for the large entering class of special two-year medical evangelistic students. This course has been arranged at the suggestion of a number of our workers, and seems to be giving satisfaction to all.
The opening exercises of the school were held Sunday evening, September 26, in the chapel, and the program was interesting and inspiring. Besides the members of our teaching faculty, there were present Elder E. E. Andross, president of the board, and Elder W. F. Martin, president of the Southeastern California Conference. The school work is proceeding nicely, and with little friction. Both teachers and students seem to be contented and earnest.
We were made especially happy during the last few weeks by the report of the State board examinations which were taken by our graduates in July. The nine graduates who took the examination at that time, all passed successfully. We feel that this is a great blessing, and are thankful to God for his goodness.
We are informed that other schools have opened most encouragingly. It is evident that our educational work is growing, and that our people are more and more inclined to send their children to our denominational schools until they
have finished a thorough course of study. With the entire denomination entering into this educational policy heart and soul, there ought not to be such a lack of available workers in the future as there has been during the past few years. We bespeak for our schools in the North American Division Conference the united prayers and cooperation of our brethren and sisters. The work is a holy, sacred work, and means much not only to individuals and families, but to the cause of God as a whole. Our schools need our hearty support.
I. H. EVANS.