Correspondence Study by W. E. HOWELL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 12, 1909

Correspondence Study

By W. E. HOWELL

Who Else Should Pursue It; Notes of Progress

This study by correspondence is coming to be a really operative thing. We are into it before we know it. We already have some good returns from that introductory lesson printed in the REVIEW of July 29. It is always well, in taking up a new subject, to give careful attention to the preliminary instruction. For this reason it might be profitable to any who have not yet done so, to read over that introductory lesson.

Then, in the REVIEW of August 5 is found, “The First Correspondence Lesson.” If you have already studied that, it would pay you to review it now, for we purpose to do thorough work in this school. There may be something contained in that lesson which you have overlooked or forgotten. If you have not read it at all, you certainly ought to before going further with this third one. If you learn that second lesson well, if you master its “special theme,” the after-effect will be: “No regrets.”

The theme of our third lesson is, “You Ought to Make a Beginning, Too.” Who? You who are a little older and more experienced in life. You who have passed beyond the stage of “know-it-all” and “I’m-it.” You who have begun to see how imperfectly you learned what you did study. You who begin to sense what a great ocean of truth lies all undiscovered before you. You who feel keenly the need of adding to your little modicum of knowledge in order to make the service you are doing more fruitful.

Canvassers, a word to you, please. “The King’s messengers” bear a message so solemn in its import, so cheering in its promises, so trenchant in its denunciation of evil, and so winsome in its solicitude to a sweeter, better life, that its bearers are doing almost the work of the heavenly messengers themselves, the angels; for angel means messenger. Do you not think it highly fitting that the words of the King’s messengers should be not only pure in content, but pure in form and use? You would not want under ordinary circumstances to present your message with a soiled collar on, or with your hair uncombed, or to leaf your book before your patron with untidy fingers. Why? If for no other reason, it would not comport with your message. Do you think it any more consistent to clothe a sweet thought in an unbecoming garb—to tell your story in anything but pure, faultless English? If you have been doing thus, you doubtless have much company in the ranks. But—

There Is a Remedy

In that course of English mentioned in our second lesson (August 5), we shall do our utmost, through the simplest, most effective methods we know, and through such additional capacity and faithfulness as it may please God to give us as teachers, to correct this evil of faulty speech. But when we have done all that lies in our power to provide the instruction, it still rests with you to make diligent and faithful use of those six evenings in the week and those six early mornings and those stormy days and those minutes or hours lost by missing a train or in waiting for some one who is tardy at an appointment. Read “Christ’s Object Lessons,” page 343, last paragraph.

And there are many others—among our ministers, our teachers, our institutional employees—who would find that passage exceedingly interesting and profitable reading. And some of them, too, suffer an equal need of this English work, for they, too, bear the vessels of the Lord. What greater incentive to study could be offered than this close relation to so sacred and so mighty a work, than the matchless prospects within the horizon of the Christian’s future?

The motto of the largest correspondence school in the world reads, “The business of this place is to raise salaries.” The working motto of the youngest correspondence school in the world may read, “The business of this place is to increase capacity for service.”

You who are already engaged in the Lord’s work, are you satisfied with your attainments? Do your present qualifications fully meet the demands of your calling? Are you continuously trading with your talents? Read this from “Christ’s Object Lessons:”—

“The more thoroughly the intellect is cultivated, the more effectively it can be used in the service of God.”

“The Lord desires us to obtain all the education possible, with the object in view of imparting our knowledge to others.”

“We should not let slip even one opportunity to qualify ourselves intellectually to work for God.”

“Far more might be accomplished in the work of self-education if we were awake to our own opportunities and privileges.”

Ponder these things well, dear worker. Weigh the opportunities now brought to your very threshold by the Correspondence School. Review that list of studies once more, and make your choice. And there is no time like to-day to do it.

Notes of Progress

The Correspondence School Announcement is now ready. It contains the detailed information you are waiting for before registering.

A supply of announcements and registration blanks will be in the hands of the secretaries of the young people’s and educational departments of your conference by the time this REVIEW reaches you.

A complete prospectus will be ready somewhat later.

Nine specialists are now at work preparing lessons for use in the Correspondence School.

We now have applications for correspondence study from the following States: Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, New York, West Virginia, South Dakota, District of Columbia, and Maryland.

The Correspondence School will begin work October 4. These who are beginning thus early to make definite arrangements for study in the school, are the ones who will certainly pass the first two tests for success,—Purpose and Promptness,—and who stand on vantage-ground to add the third P—Perseverance.

Do not forget to order at once an announcement and a registration blank.

A special word to ministers next week.

W. E. HOWELL, Principal.

Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.