p. 17 | A Visit to Mt. Vernon Academy and Berrien Springs College

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 14, 1915

A Visit to Mt. Vernon Academy and Berrien Springs College

By I. A. Ford

It was my privilege to be present at the opening exercises of Mount Vernon Academy. It was a most beautiful sight to see so many students in their places on the opening day, and the expression on their faces indicated their joy in being able to begin another year's school. Although this school has been reduced from a college to a twelve-grade academy, yet the attendance was greater at the beginning of the school this year than it was on the opening day one year ago. I was glad to meet a number of the students who have been engaged in the colporteur work during the summer. Several in the territory of this school who have earned scholarships were just finishing their deliveries, and so were unable to be present on the opening day.

Many improvements have been made in this school since my first visit there five years ago. One thing which attracted my attention perhaps more than any other was a cement plate fastened into the corner of the building, and containing these words, “Mount Vernon College freed from debt, 1915.” The paying off of the debt, besides the repairing and improving of the building and the equipment, has been a Herculean task, and we rejoice to know that it has been accomplished.

I was delighted to find so many students at the college at Berrien Springs. It was a real perplexity to Professor Graf, the president, to know where to place them. However, he said he enjoyed that sort of perplexity. Every seat in the chapel was occupied, and extra chairs were in use. I found here over thirty who had earned scholarships during the past summer. Several of them have earned more than one. Among this number were ten young ladies, who felt justly proud of the accomplishment. This was the first time I had visited this school for more than ten years, and I was very much pleased to note the many improvements that have been made in that time. The school has taken a very lively interest in our colporteur work, and this has contributed much to the increase which we see in the circulation of our publications by the army of student colporteurs, and also has increased the number of students in the school.

The increased patronage of our schools shows that our people are appreciating more and more the value of these institutions in training workers for the fast-closing work. I. A. FORD.