Informal Talks on Education by W. E. Howell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 10, 1913

Informal Talks on Education

By W. E. Howell

I WANT to talk to the readers of the REVIEW about a few things educational. No one who attended the recent General Conference could fail to be impressed with the rapid extension of the message in all lands, especially with the many remarkable providences connected with its progress. Citizens of Washington who read the press reports of this session have said repeatedly that they regard the growth of our denomination in so short a time as “perfectly marvelous.” To us who are in the denomination this growth is a matter of gratification, but not of boasting; for our sentiment is, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

But is it not true that the Lord is not doing through us half that he longs to do, and that he surely would do if he had the full cooperation of every man, woman, and child in the ranks? Mission operations in well-nigh every land on the globe demand money and men. With the blessing of God those black lines on the diagram charts showing the increase of our offerings in money have climbed up the scale at a remarkable rate, and at no time more so than during the past twelve months.

And we have increased our offerings of men, too—sacrificial offerings they are truly; for no sooner does the cream of our tried workers at home rise to the top than do our mission officers skim it off and pass it on to the more needy. We have constantly, therefore, to renew the supply. Here is where some are making valiant efforts, but where the fuller cooperation of all is greatly needed.

Our Schools

Chief among our agencies for recruiting the field service are our schools, steadily growing into a well-organized, effective system. Among them are represented the literary college, the medical college, the foreign mission seminary, the foreign seminary, the academy, the church-school, the correspondence school, and the family school. The attendance in these various types of school during the past year totals the highest in our denominational history, Emmanuel Missionary College increasing its enrolment above the eighth grade thirty per cent over the previous year, and Union College graduating a class of twenty in its highest course. This is gratifying indeed, and we expect greater things next year; for the Lord always works on the multiplication plan when we ourselves do not thwart his purposes. But there is—

A Serious Fact

which we all must face. Statistics gathered widely and carefully in the United States and Canada during the spring, show that less than one half of our children and youth of school age are attending our denominational schools; that about one fifth of them are not in school at all; and that for every five in our own schools, there are four attending the secular schools. I am well aware that

among the one fifth who are out of school, some are employed in our institutions, a few of these taking a nurses’ course, and a small number evening class work. Yet leaving out the entire one fifth, we still have a large problem to work on to bring the benefits of Christian education to the four out of five yet without it. Some time ago, Sister White wrote: “All our youth should be permitted to have the blessings and privileges of an education at our schools, that they may be inspired to become laborers together with God.”

Push the Summer Campaign

Our schools are working earnestly to extend their benefits to the largest number possible. One college reports over $13,000 worth of labor provided students the past year to assist them on their expenses. Other schools are doing a noble proportion. Shall we as patrons do our part in supplying students? This is the season of the year for gathering recruits for the next school session. Representatives from our schools who attended the General Conference gathered fresh inspiration from that spiritual occasion, and returned home with their hearts burning to do more effective work for our youth. They and other school men are attending our summer assemblies to search out the young people and counsel and pray with their parents. Let us give these burden-bearers a hearty welcome, and lift in every possible way to fill our schools at their autumn opening.

W. E. HOWELL.