Union College by FREDERICK GRIGGS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 31, 1912

Union College

By FREDERICK GRIGGS

UNION COLLEGE opened this year with a substantial increase in its attendance. The personnel of the student body is a strong one. This may be accounted for in part by the large senior class of this year. Already fifty students have enrolled for graduation, nineteen of whom are to be graduated from the college course. Schools always recognize the fact that the graduating class is a substantial help to the work of the school, and with this large number of students who are completing their work this year in the school, there is found an added strength in all departments of work.

The spiritual interests of the school are good. Our daily program has a fifteen-minute period before the chapel exercises. At this time the faculty meet for prayer, and the students meet in various rooms for prayer. This is not a required exercise for the students, and those who do not wish to join remain in the chapel for study. But a large number of the students take part in these prayer seasons. The mid-week prayer-meetings of the students in the school homes are seasons of great blessing. These are held Wednesday evening, in place of the regular evening prayers and silent hours. They are conducted by the students. The Friday evening prayer-meeting, held at the going down of the sun, is a season of benefit and blessing to the school, and altogether the religious spirit of the school is good.

There have been several changes in our faculty this year. Elder F. M. Burg, who for four years served Union College very acceptably as its Bible teacher, was called to work on the Pacific Coast, and Elder Eugene Leland took his place as head of the Bible department. Prof. H. U. Stevens, who has been head of the science department for several years, left, at the request of the General Conference, to take up work in South America in connection with the school in Diamante, Argentine Republic. Prof. L. H. Wood came from the Foreign Mission Seminary to take his work. Prof. H. A. Morrison was asked by the board to take the business management of the school. This necessitated his having an assistant in the department of mathematics, of which he is the head, and Miss Mary E. Hartwell, who was in Bible work in the St. Louis Mission Field, was asked to assist in the department of mathematics. Miss Kate Sierke, who has been connected with the Pacific Union College for two years as vocal instructor, was added to the musical faculty of the school. Mrs. Winifred Rowell, who for many years has been head of the department of English language, was granted a leave of absence on account of impaired health, and her place is supplied by Mr. Leo Thiel, who has had special preparation for the English work.

With a united faculty and a strong student body, we look forward to an excellent year's work, hoping that the standard of intellectual and spiritual life will be raised so high that the school may meet the purposes of God in its establishment.

FREDERICK GRIGGS.