Notes Afield by W. E. H.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 28, 1914

Notes Afield

By W. E. H.

It has been my valued privilege so far to visit two of our colleges, one of our foreign seminaries, and five of our academies.

It is truly inspiring to look into the faces of the talented youth gathered in our schools. I am reminded vividly and repeatedly of the word of Testimony that came to us some years ago to the effect that there is more than an average of ability among our people.

It requires moral stamina and personal force of character to accept an unpopular truth and maintain fidelity to its teachings. It is our task to develop this ability, especially in our young people, and train it for the Master’s use. That there is such ability, and that it is being developed and trained, seem much more real after one has looked upon eight different school chapels within a month, filled with promising, consecrated youth, than when merely sitting in an office and depending upon figures and one’s own imagination.

While such a view gratifies, I cannot say that it satisfies, for I think of the equal number of our precious boys and girls who are not yet in these “cities of refuge,”—our own schools,—and who have not yet enlisted in these gospel recruiting stations. The summer months are now before us, when we must work more earnestly than ever before to gather them all in.

Adelphian Academy

This is a ten-grade school situated at Holly, in the East Michigan Conference, enrolling about one hundred this year and holding about sixty to the end of the school session. The principal is Prof. Thos. W. Steen, a graduate of Emmanuel Missionary College, who, with his faculty, is working earnestly to build up the strength of the school, both in the classroom and in the industries. One change in the faculty is made necessary by the calling of Prof. M. L. Kelley to the commercial department of Mount Vernon Academy; but

Miss Mary Lamson, who has been preceptress and teacher there for several years, and Elder W. E. Videto, one of our experienced Bible teachers, will remain.

Cedar Lake Academy

Michigan was not only the home of our first college, at Battle Creek, but

claims also our oldest intermediate school, at Cedar Lake, in the West Michigan Conference. Its principal for the last three years, Prof. R. U. Garrett, has resigned with the intention of entering the ministry, and Prof. J. G. Lamson, an early promoter of this school, has been chosen to succeed him. The new principal has expressed his determination to make it one of the best ten-grade schools in the denomination, and to keep its work within the general lines marked out by the General and Division Conferences. Prof. H. O. Swartout, a graduate of Emmanuel Missionary College, has been called from Cedar Lake to the science department of Mount Vernon Academy.

Emmanuel Missionary College

After the Lake Union Conference, I accompanied President Graf to this thriving educational center. As one result of careful economy in its management, of good team work on its faculty, and of a uniform plan of cooperation with the five academies of the union, this college has been able to hold its liabilities at bay for the last three years, to make some profit on operation for improvements, to increase its laboratory and library facilities, and to maintain a strong spiritual and missionary mold on its teaching. While there was not much increase in attendance over last year, a large proportion of the students remained through the year. Both this and few changes in the faculty have been elements of strength in the school work. It was my pleasure to hear talk of taking definite steps to reduce the indebtedness at least fifty per cent, and to raise the enrollment of the school from 230 to at least 300. This is catching the spirit of the recent union conference, where the gospel workers felt deeply moved to work for an addition of 1,000 souls to the church membership of the Lake Union. W. E. H.