The Scholarship Plan

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 7, 1908

The Scholarship Plan

THERE is perhaps no other recent development connected with our schools of more far-reaching importance than the scholarship plan. It provides an opportunity for thousands to attend our schools who otherwise could not do so. The meeting with so many minds and conditions of people in the selling of these books is in itself a most splendid education. It brings this third angel’s message before those unacquainted with it, in perhaps its most effective form,—the printed page. Nearly every one who enrols in our schools has a purpose, more or less clearly defined, to have a part in the finishing of the gospel work. His experience among all classes of people with the printed page of truth can not but give a greater definiteness to all his school work. It enables him to see all a world to be warned, through and beyond all his studies.

Sturdy young men and women of action are needed for the hour,—men and women in whom the power of initiative dwells most largely,—men and women who can plan a line of action, and march straight through it, to the end. Scores and hundreds of those who can dare, and can do, are needed at once for China, India, and the islands of the sea. It follows as naturally as an effect follows its cause that those who can make an independent way through a proper course of instruction in one of our schools, develops those traits of character so necessary to the doing of successful gospel work among strange peoples.

We do not want our young men and women to study for the simple joy of knowledge-getting, in itself, or for the satisfaction of having completed a definite course of instruction, laudable purposes though they may be; but we want them to study that they may learn to accomplish hard tasks, to overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties, and to be altogether energetic in the cause of our Lord. To this end we can not but believe that this scholarship plan is of divine origin, in common with other features of the great awakening of our young people now taking place to respond to the calls for help in far-away lands.