Healdsburg Academy

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 27, 1882

Healdsburg Academy.

A MEETING was held in the Oakland church, at 2:30 P. M., Sunday, April 23, to consider the interests of Healdsburg Academy. The brethren who came from a distance to attend the annual meeting of the Publishing Association, and the State Quarterly T. and M. Society, were present at this meeting. Many of the members of the Oakland and San Francisco churches were also in attendance. Eld. J. H. Waggoner was appointed chairman, and prayer was offered by Eld. J. D. Rice.

The following preamble and resolution, expressive of gratitude to God for his guiding hand thus far in the progress of the work, was adopted by a unanimous vote after it was spoken to by Professor Brownsberger, W. C. White, and Eld. G. D. Ballou:—

WHEREAS, the importance of establishing a school on the Pacific Coast for the special advantage of the youth of Seventh-day Adventists, in which good moral and religious instruction and influence can be combined with thoroughness in secular branches of education, has been impressed upon the minds of our people; and

WHEREAS, Action has been taken in the purchase of grounds and building at Healdsburg, and the school has opened with such favorable prospects of success,

Resolved, That we recognize the hand of God in directing his servants in securing property in so favorable a locality, and so well adapted to present wants, and that we hereby express our gratitude for this manifestation of his care and approval in this undertaking.

Professor Brownsberger said that the progress of the work of establishing the school thus far, cannot fail to excite a deep feeling of gratitude in the hearts of all its friends. At first there was some difference of opinion in regard to the choice of locality. Some of the prominent friends of the school expressed some preference for other towns, when the question of locality was first considered, but after the advantages at Healdsburg were fully canvassed, all were convinced of its superiority in most respects over all other places. A unanimity of sentiment now prevails, and this in itself is a source of great satisfaction.

But what is of more importance, and is worthy of deeper gratitude, is the feeling of general satisfaction and expressions of unbounded confidence in the success of the school. This is true not only of our brethren and sisters throughout the entire coast, but also with many others acquainted with the steps already taken. This is especially marked in the citizens of Healdsburg and

vicinity. They have uniformly treated the enterprise and its friends with marked respect, and expressions of friendship and confidence by prominent citizens are freely made. The local papers have extended to us much kindness and courtesy. Does it not seem as though Providence had kept in readiness a building and grounds, just adapted to our present necessities, and was waiting only for us to get ready to occupy it?

Where would we go for a purer air, and a more healthful climate? Where else could we purchase a building or where build one so well suited to our wants with the same means? My dear friends, I feel an assurance that God is leading in the work, and will approve all well-directed efforts to make the school a success.

W. C. White regarded it a cause for thankfulness that they had been fortunate in securing experienced teachers to take positions in the school. That buildings and grounds, however good, were inadequate to insure the success of the school. It is only when these are equipped with first-class teachers, that we can justly look for the highest success. He was very grateful that the school had opened with such promise of prosperity.

Eld. G. D. Ballou said that he had been in Healdsburg and vicinity for the past few weeks, and had opportunities of learning the feeling of the people in regard to the school. He found that it is one of uniform confidence. That some of the prominent citizens, now patronizing it, express the highest satisfaction at the manner in which the school is conducted, and at the future prospects.

The second resolution, also unanimously adopted, was discussed by Mrs. E. G. White, and Professor Brownsberger. It reads as follows:—

Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to labor for the success of the school, and we suggest that all its friends, but especially those of our brethren who travel among the churches and scattered families, endeavor to induce all worthy persons to attend, whose circumstances may permit and necessities require.

Mrs. E. G. White's remarks on the resolution will be found in another column. [On account of lack of time and space, Sister White's article will not appear until next week.]

Professor Brownsberger said that as the resolution referred particularly to efforts for securing attendance, it might be in place to produce some reasons why our children should attend the Academy, and to state some of the special advantages to be offered there. As a people we attach much importance to what we call truths for the present time. We teach them to our children from the pulpit, in the Sabbath-school, and sometimes at our homes. And to make these teachings effective upon the lives and characters of our children, their influence should go with them to the day-school, and should exert a power for good over them constantly.

But is it not a fact that the influences at work in the schools of most communities, are directly antagonistic to the results you are working to bring about in your children?

Is it possible for, or would you expect, a child to stand up amidst such influences, and successfully resist the spirit of iniquity that is carrying so many older ones along before it? It must from the very circumstances, become more or less contaminated by contact with the evil.

The influences and teachings of the day-school must harmonize with that in the Sabbath-school and the church, to insure success in building up moral characters in your children. We cannot afford to have undone during the week, away from home, all the work for our children of the home circle, the Sabbath-school, and the church. God would provide a school for them where their characters may develop under the predominating influence of Bible truths and Christian associates and teachers. Those of our children trying to be Christians, must be shielded in their childish weakness from the power of ungodly influences that makes our times so perilous. To the degree in which the Academy at Healdsburg does not secure this, to that degree it fails to accomplish one principal object of its existence.

At this time there are thirty-one students enrolled in the Academy, and all, without exception, are taking daily Bible lessons. Those not members of S. D. A. families appear equally interested with the rest, and have joined the classes from choice.

I believe the Lord will bless the study of his truth in our school to the salvation of many a youth, and this is one advantage we hope to secure at this school.

Elder Ballou said that parents in sending their children to the school, should consider not merely the benefit they might receive, but also the good influence they might exert. Children who have had religious training at home should be sent at the beginning of the school so that a healthy moral sentiment might predominate from the first.

The third resolution reads as follows:—

WHEREAS, The time for labor is short, and it is important to have favorable influences for our children while they are pursuing their studies, therefore,

Resolved, That we recommend prompt action on the part of parents who contemplate sending their children, and also on the part of young men and women who wish to attend school for the purpose of seeking a better preparation for labor in some branch of the cause, or as teachers in the public schools.

This resolution was carried, and the meeting adjourned.

S. BROWNSBERGER.