Our Swedish and German Seminaries by H. R. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 18, 1910

Our Swedish and German Seminaries

By H. R. S.

Two weeks ago, while on my way to the Texas camp-meeting, I improved the opportunity to visit two of our foreign schools, one near Chicago, and the other in Clinton, Mo.

The Swedish Seminary

This school is only seventeen miles west from the center of the city of Chicago, on a suburban line of the Illinois Central Railroad, ten minutes' walk from the station; or, by going about a mile and a half, a very frequent train service may be found. While I was there, an electric line was surveying across one corner of the property; and this, when completed, will enable one to take a car from the seminary grounds.

I had had some anxiety about establishing a school so near the great city of Chicago; but when I reached the place, I found it surrounded on every side as far as my eye could reach with prosperous farms, owned mostly by Scandinavians and Germans. I saw at once a great advantage in this location: first, because it is in a quiet, farming community; and second, because, while it is in the country, and has the benefits of country life, the seminary is so near the city of Chicago, with its tens of thousands of Scandinavians, that it can carry on systematic missionary work in connection with its regular school program. If this work is made a leading feature, and carried on under competent management, it will prove a great blessing not only to the school, but also to the Swedish work in and about Chicago.

The farm contains seventy-eight acres of good land, all under cultivation or in pasture. The land and buildings cost our brethren but $20,000, which I found to be very reasonable when compared with the price of the land lying about it.

The property contains a well-built brick house, which can be used for a permanent dormitory for the young ladies, also three good barns, and a comfortable cottage for the farmer. The committee in charge are planning to remodel one of the barns for a temporary school building. I trust our Swedish brethren will subscribe liberally to this enterprise, in order that a new school building and a boys' dormitory may be built during this coming school year in time for occupation next year. In this way very little money will need to be used in remodeling that which can only be temporary; but rather, after making the most inexpensive alterations possible, we shall have the money for permanent buildings.

Brother G. E. Nord has been chosen to act as principal of the new school. As Brother Nord has had a successful experience in city work, this appointment means, I am sure, that an aggressive missionary policy will be carried out in planning the future of the Swedish seminary.

The German Seminary

From Chicago I went to Clinton, Mo. Here, on the edge of a town with a population of five thousand, are the school building and the farm. The building was formerly a young ladies' seminary. It is well built, conveniently arranged, and contains one hundred ten rooms. Connected with this institution are one hundred twelve acres of good land, which will be used for agricultural purposes in the manual training department.

The land with the building was purchased for $60,000; but the citizens of Clinton are raising $39,500 of this amount, leaving our brethren but $20,500 to pay. As the land is valued at $15,000, the price paid for this large, commodious building was but $5,500. Of course the building must have repairs, having stood unoccupied for three years; but an additional $5,000 will put the school in condition to carry on its work with comfort and convenience. It is steam heated, and will be lighted with electricity,—a safe convenience, which I wish all our schools could enjoy. Artesian water is laid on, and there are sewer connections.

There are many Germans on farms about Clinton, and some living in the town. Numerous applications for music and German have been received from those living near the seminary; and the managers of the enterprise are planning to give a very thorough course in music, with the hope that other subjects may be taken by the students who come for this special work.

Prof. G. A. Grauer, who has been chosen to take charge of this new seminary, is hard at work this summer among the Germans in the interest of the school. Both he and his associates are encouraged by the number of applications received from those desiring to attend.

We heartily welcome these two foreign schools, together with the Danish-Norwegian seminary, and pray that God may bless them in their plans as they respond to the call of the hour in training consecrated workers to meet the demand for laborers among the great foreign populations which they represent.

H. R. S.