Training-Schools in Australasia by J. E. FULTON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 15, 1912

Training-Schools in Australasia

By J. E. FULTON

READERS of the REVIEW AND HERALD will be interested to learn that our training-schools of the Australasian field are well filled with young people, many of whom have a deep interest in the cause of God, and are preparing to become workers in the same.

Reports from the Darling Range School in Western Australia tell us the work is going forward nicely. Pastor W. J. Smith, formerly in charge of our New Zealand training-school, has taken up his duties in the west. We believe his long experience as a teacher in state schools, and his later experience in connection with our own schools, will be of great advantage to him in his work in Western Australia. We are glad that some excellent young people from the west are developing into workers in the cause of God.

The Pukekura Training-school in New Zealand is at present under the charge of Brother J. Mills. The school has a fair attendance, and Brother Mills writes encouragingly of the prospects. The New Zealand school is to undergo some changes. The farm has been sold, and it is expected that soon the school will be started in a more suitable place.

Pastor A. G. Stewart, in charge of our work in Fiji, and Brother George Marriott, in charge of our training-school at Buresala, Fiji, both write encouragingly of the conditions there. We have some excellent young natives in training for the field. Two of these, a young man and his wife, have gone to New Guinea, where they are laboring with Pastor S. W. Carr. A number of others are in different parts of Fiji preaching the third angel’s message. Others are in training, willing to go anywhere. This school, we believe, will prove a great blessing to the cause of God.

Our nurses’ training-school in connection with the Sydney Sanitarium, is filled with an excellent class of young people. This school has already turned out some workers who are doing faithful service in the field. There are others in training who we feel sure will be men and women to bear responsibilities for the Lord.

The Australasian Missionary College has a large number of young people in attendance this year. At a recent visit the writer gathered all the students who were to finish this year, or are to finish next year, and handing to each a slip of paper, asked him to write on it his age, the course he is working upon, what work he is inclined toward, and the field where he desires to labor. About forty young persons were thus questioned. The answers received were varied. Some desired to go to foreign fields, some to train for ministerial work in the home field, some to labor as Bible workers, and some, desired to work along business lines in connection with the cause. They were told that some might change their minds, or might be advised differently from what was written on their papers, yet it was thought a good plan to make the mind up to something definite, and work toward a definite end. As a primary training, all were advised to take up canvassing. There is quite a large class forming at present in the school, under Brother H. M. Blunden, one of the teachers, who formerly was state agent. These expect to canvass during the coming vacation.

We have a few young people from the islands in attendance at the school, and are planning to start some classes in the South Sea island languages, which will be helpful to those who at a future time may go out into the island field.

God has directed in the establishment of this school, and we have realized many times his signal blessing. We believe that from this place many more young men and women will go forth as heralds of the Lord’s soon coming.

J. E. FULTON.