Features of the Work of the Foreign Mission Seminary
By M. E. Kern
THE new plans for the selection and training of missionaries, which have been set forth in recent numbers of the REVIEW, seem to meet with general approval on the part of our people. The work of selecting the missionaries needed to fill the calls for the next two years is going steadily forward. It may be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW to know something more in detail of the work at the Foreign Mission Seminary. The work will be conducted to meet the special needs of those under appointment to foreign service, and is not a substitute for a general education, which should be obtained at our regular training-schools. And those who have completed courses in these schools will, perhaps above all others, appreciate the work done here. The needs of the foreign fields and the requirements of those who go are, however, so varied that it is necessary to offer quite a wide range of studies. Those who have not already done so will take a course in the general history of missions, which will bring them in close touch with world mission problems, and help them to appreciate the great work that God has wrought in preparing the way for the advent message. Aside from this work the student will make a special study of the field of his choice. The missionary who labors intelligently can not afford to be ignorant of the life and thought of those among whom he works. A study of the secular and missionary history of the country, its races and their manners and customs, the mission problems to be met there, and how they are being solved, will help the missionary to enter upon his work more intelligently and hence more sympathetically. A thorough foreknowledge of the conditions will forearm one against discouragement. No effort has been spared to make the Bible work very thorough and comprehensive. Ministers and other advanced students will pursue advanced study in Bible truth. Others will be given a thorough review of Bible doctrines. There will also be opportunity for the study of the life of Christ and apostolic history. Pastoral training will include practical work in preaching, and giving Bible readings, under the guidance of experienced workers. Some nurses and canvassers under appointment have not had general history. A year's work in this subject, with Bible connections, is offered. For those who have a good knowledge of history two classes are conducted,—“Historic and Prophetic Review;” and “Reformatory Epochs,” including denominational history. The first consists of a careful study, point by point, of the history which shows the fulfilment of prophecy. The Congressional and other valuable libraries in Washington offer exceptional advantages for research. “Reformatory Epochs” this year will be a study of the development of the Papacy in the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and the French Revolution. It is a great advantage to the missionary to begin a study of the language of his field while obtaining other necessary preparation. It shortens the period of preparation in the field very much, and helps to avoid the errors in speech of the uneducated among the people. Spanish, French, German, and Greek are offered this year. Those who must learn their language in the field, and who have never studied language other than the English, should by all means take one of these languages,—or, preferably, Latin,—as an aid and a foundation for future language study. The importance of a thorough knowledge of the mother tongue can not be overemphasized. Aside from the regular English work of the academic course, there will be opportunity for a thorough review of English grammar. Every missionary is called upon to write more or less for the press. A class in journalism will be conducted, with this end in view. Moffat said that the medical missionary is a missionary and a half. Quite a large per cent of our missionaries are graduate nurses. While pursuing their course in Bible and field work, which has necessarily in most cases been neglected while obtaining their professional training, they will have the privilege of an advanced course in anatomy, physiology, hygiene, and sanitation. Special work will be done in tropical hygiene and elementary dentistry. These classes are open to all who can take them. We also offer a course in theoretical and practical hydrotherapy. Music, both vocal and instrumental, is especially valuable to the foreign missionary; but many in their intellectual preparation have neglected this. The Seminary offers to all the opportunity to acquire what they need and have time for in these lines. The knowledge of practical things is even more essential in the mission fields than at home. The Seminary does not offer a wide range of industrial studies, but only such lines as are most necessary in the mission fields. In every land the truth must be published. We have a well-equipped small printing-plant, such as will be installed at first in most of the mission fields. The Seminary is successfully operating a farm and dairy, which not only supplies our institutions here with wholesome products, but furnishes opportunity for the study of these subjects. The matron of the institution will conduct classes in cooking and general housekeeping, and it is our purpose to offer a practical course in dressmaking. Our course in scientific building construction is a very practical one for the missionary. A definite educational requirement is not made of foreign missionaries. Various capabilities can be used in the foreign field as well as the home land. Successful canvassers, nurses, and other persons, many of whom have not completed the academic grades, are often chosen. For the benefit of such, and of those who need to review high-school subjects, the full academic work is carried in the Seminary. This includes algebra and geometry; English composition, literature, and rhetoric; botany, physics, zoology, and astronomy; Latin and other high-school subjects. A course in bookkeeping is included. Denominational Organization and Work Another very important line of work, which is a distinctive feature of the Seminary, is lectures and studies in denominational organization and work. The whole question of church, conference, and mission-field organization, denominational finance, and departmental work, will be thoroughly canvassed by the president of the General Conference and members of the General Conference Committee. This, as well as some other features of the work here, will doubtless attract a few of our home workers for a brief course of study. The General Conference Committee feels that the best is none too good for this important work; so no effort has been spared to provide a good teaching force. We have been fortunate in securing a faculty which represents thorough scholarship, and practical knowledge of the work of the third angel's message in home and foreign fields, as the following partial list of teachers and lecturers will show:— J. N. Anderson: Bible, history, general history of missions, and the far East. W. A. Hennig: Bible, pastoral training. M. Ellsworth Olsen: English, rhetoric, and journalism. Warren E. Howell: New Testament Greek. Clemen Hamer: Vocal culture, vocal and instrumental music. Lynn H. Wood: Science, mathematics, and building construction. R. S. Ingersoll, M. D.: Tropical hygiene, sanitation, general diseases, India.19 H. N. Sisco, M. D.: Anatomy, physiology, and hydrotherapy. Mrs. H. R. Salisbury: Latin, French, physical culture, and Mohammedan fields. Mrs. N. Z. Town: Spanish and Catholic countries. Miss Emma Stevens: Bible work. Charles H. Hayton: Africa. Mrs. W. D. Workman: Cooking and domestic economy. Oliver F. Thompson: Agriculture and dairying. A. G. Daniells: Church organization. W. W. Prescott: Protestantism and the new theology. W. A. Spicer: Missions and mission work. W. T. Knox: Denominational finance. E. R. Palmer: Missionary and publishing work. H. R. Salisbury: Christian education and comparative religions. K. C. Russell: Religious liberty. Mrs. L. Flora Plummer: Sabbath-school work. G. B. Thompson: Higher Criticism, Spiritualism, Christian Science. F. M. Wilcox: Inspiration of the Bible. B. G. Wilkinson: Evidences of Christianity. A. J. S. Bourdeau: Romanism. All arrangements are made with reference to the missionary student spending only one year at the Seminary. The range of subjects offered, however, will permit of a longer course of study. There may be mature persons, desiring two years of school work, who will spend both those years in this school. With these excellent arrangements for the quick preparation of missionaries, we need the prayers and active co-operation of all God's people. Above all, we need the endowment of the Holy Spirit to make the work a success; for without him we can do nothing.