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The Educational and Missionary Volunteer Conventions

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 23, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 47.

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The Educational and Missionary Volunteer Conventions

By M. E. KERN; FREDERICK GRIGGS

We have spoken in the REVIEW of the work of the council held at St. Helena, Cal., June 4-14, but little has been said concerning the conventions. We think that a word from some of the delegates to the different conventions will be of interest as expressive of the spirit and results of their work at these conventions.
Rosa N. Kozel, Bible worker in Chicago: “The required attendance at all meetings and the devoting of a part of the study time to services of consecration were two features which impressed and profited me most.”
J. L. Shaw, president of the Washington Missionary College: “The educational and Missionary Volunteer conventions held during the summer have been a source of education and inspiration to workers in these two departments. I regard the conventions as the strongest effort that has yet been made to build up and unify these lines, both in the North American Division as a whole and in the respective union conferences and college districts in which they have been held.”
C. A. Russell, educational and Missionary Volunteer secretary of the Lake Union Conference: “I consider the educational and Missionary Volunteer convention held at Emmanuel Missionary College a pronounced success, both professionally and spiritually. All class work at the summer school was laid aside for the week, thus affording the nearly one hundred teachers the privilege of attending the daily sessions. Including these, there were 225 in attendance. Many important steps toward unifying our educational work were taken, while the Missionary Volunteer plans discussed and papers rendered were greatly appreciated by all.”
W. A. Long, educational superintendent and Missionary Volunteer secretary of the Missouri Conference: “I think it was one of the best conventions I ever attended. The subjects that were studied were dealt with in a practical way. Many problems that I was grappling with had been solved by those long in the work, and a solution was given, so that I am on vantage ground in my local work. However, the most inspiring feature of the convention to me was to see all the educational men and women united with energy and determination to bring about an educational system that could be adopted in every conference to develop strong workers for the speedy finishing of the third angel’s message in the earth.”
O. Montgomery, president of the Southeastern Union Conference: “‘It was a grand success,’ was the verdict of all who attended. I feel confident that it will mean a great advance step and a new impetus which will be clearly seen in the educational and Missionary Volunteer work in this field.”
H. A. Morrison, president of Union College: “I am much pleased with the result of the work of the convention at Union College for Union College district. I feel that this has caused us to make rapid progress in the unification of our educational work. It has also helped us to appreciate the close relationship that should exist between the Missionary Volunteer Department and the Educational Department; and on the whole, it means that we are presenting a solid front in the work for our young people.”
A. N. Atteberry, principal of the Southern Training School: “The convention recently held in Graysville will, I feel, prove a greater uplift to the educational and Missionary Volunteer work throughout the South than anything else in its history thus far. The teachers and workers have received new ideals and new inspiration. The spirit of consecration and earnestness manifested by those in attendance insures the infusing of this same spirit through the entire field. We look forward to a new era in both these lines of work in the great Southland.”
M. B. Van Kirk, educational and Missionary Volunteer secretary of the Northern Union Conference: “The educational and Missionary Volunteer convention at College View resulted in uniting our school men of the Northern Union Conference as never before. The spirit of cooperation has been strengthened, and new courage and inspiration born. The Missionary Volunteer secretaries got a broader vision and a new grasp of their work. This meeting must bring splendid results to this union conference.”
N. W. Lawrence, Missionary Volunteer and educational secretary of the North Pacific Union Conference: “The spirit of this convention was one of progress. The keynote—‘Deeper consecration; greater efficiency’—sounded at the beginning, continued to the very close, and still works. A greater appreciation of the value and importance of our work for the youth of our denomination, and of what still remains to be done, is an immediate result of the convention. Unity of plan and purpose throughout the field is another.”
L. A. Hoopes, Bible teacher in the Southern Training School: “The convention was a great spiritual and intellectual uplift to both the educational and Young People’s Missionary Volunteer work in this Southland. The great variety of school interests, so essential to the progress of the cause in the South, needed a unifying power that would cement in one grand system, and yet preserve the individuality of each. The convention met this need.”
Katherine French, a member of the Glenwood (Iowa) local Missionary Volunteer Society: “The convention at College View gave to me general inspiration and uplift, definite help along certain lines where I had been failing, and a deeper realization of my own responsibility. I am so thankful I was there.”
S. E. Jackson, president of the North Dakota Conference: “From what I was able to gather at the convention, I inferred that a more lengthy discussion would have been appreciated by the participants. This perhaps, however, was impossible, owing to the shortness of time. Our educational people here feel benefited, and have a desire to cooperate with the plans suggested as far as practicable.”
W. W. Ruble, Missionary Volunteer and educational secretary of the Central Union Conference: “I had never attended a convention that was so freighted with blessings as the one recently held at College View, Nebr. Every one present seemed to feel that this was true. I can see the effect of this convention in our field, and I surely shall see it more and more during the coming year. The Lord was certainly present at this meeting.”
E. C. Kellogg, president of Walla Walla College: “To my mind the educational and Missionary Volunteer convention which was held in College Place this summer, was of much benefit to this field. This is especially true in two particulars: First, the matter presented bythe men of the General and Division Departments, and the full and free consideration and discussion of the same, did much to unify the work throughout the North Pacific and Western Canadian Union Conferences; second, this meeting together in convention and giving careful attention to the needs and possibilities of our rapidly developing work deepened the sense of individual responsibility and increased the determination to push on to a successful conclusion.”
R. A. Underwood, president of the Central Union Conference: “The results of your convention in College View have proved to be a great blessing to all the teachers, and to the educational work in general.”
O. J. Graf, president of Emmanuel Missionary College: “The educational and Missionary Volunteer convention held at Emmanuel Missionary College, Berrien Springs, Mich., was a great inspiration in every way, and a great benefit to these lines of work in the Lake Union Conference. It was a great spiritual uplift to many, and has greatly increased the efficiency and unity in the work of both departments. We thank God for the blessings of the convention.”
Mrs. A. N. Loper, Missionary Volunteer leader, Dinuba, Cal.: “The sentiment of our convention was, ‘Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward.’ ‘Israel’ obeyed. The glimpse of the higher vision still remains. Efforts toward harmonious unification of our work, and greater thoroughness, were eminently successful. Surely a new epoch dawned in California.”
Leo Thiel, educational and Missionary Volunteer secretary of the Southeastern Union Conference: “‘Unity, consecration, and efficiency’ was the keynote of the Graysville convention. Coming, as it did, at the close of the summer school, it served to bind up the work of the whole summer. Great good is promised the field because of the determination formed to strive harder. The teachers, secretaries, and superintendents united for advance in the work of these departments.”
C. L. Stone, educational and Missionary Volunteer secretary of the Columbia Union Conference: “Attending a convention such as was held at Washington Missionary College has been to the less experienced educational and Missionary Volunteer workers what attending camp meeting is to those who have recently embraced the third angel’s message. At a single sitting, the plans and activities of these departments are thrown upon the curtain, and a distinct impression of the whole and of all the parts is left upon the mind.”
Lynn H. Wood, educational and Missionary Volunteer secretary of the Southern Union Conference: “For the Southland I am sure this series of conventions has united the interests of the educational and Missionary Volunteer work in a positive way, and will lead to a deeper study of the spirit of prophecy concerning the proper methods to use in saving our young people. It lighted the consuming fire in my life.”
To us not the least feature of benefit to our departments from these conventions, taken together with the council preceding them, is the unifying of our efforts in our common work of qualifying our youth for gospel service. We thank God for what has come to us through this series of meetings. We are now upon the line of advance.
M. E. KERN, FREDERICK GRIGGS.