p. 10 | Contact-Culture by G. B. STARR

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 14, 1908

Contact-Culture

By G. B. STARR

G. B. STARR

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Prov. 27:17.

It is by contact with others that our rough corners are smoothed, and our bumps of conceit hammered down; we are really and truly educated in a living school. In fact, this is the highest quality of education. It can not be purchased or obtained from books, or from high school or university.

The greatest Teacher the world ever knew took his disciples with him from place to place, that under varied circumstances, by being brought in touch with ignorance and with culture, with the rough and the refined, and with truth as it fell from his lips, as occasion called it forth, they might be trained to meet and deal with all classes of minds.

Men and women who shut themselves up with books and papers, and the few individuals who surround them in the business or the home circle, are narrowing their experience and culture. Next to the actual education of travel from country to country, is the education gained by association with those who have traveled.

In the hard, stern school of life, character is hammered out, as were the golden vessels of the sacred sanctuary. “Beaten work,” it was called, as they were shaped by being beaten out of pure gold, by the hard, continuous hammering of the skilled workman, especially appointed of God for the production of the finished article. So are our lives molded and shaped by contact with hard problems and hard people; gentle folk also, to put on the soft tints. “Man’s goings are of the Lord.” He directs man’s steps, chooses his surroundings, and the persons who are to take part in his schooling. Man’s part is to learn to shape himself to circumstances; to learn each day’s lesson; to meet the people where they are, to help and be helped. This is true education.

But high-class schooling is combined with high tuition. The most valuable costs the most to obtain. So contact-culture requires the relinquishing of the easy-chair in the cosy corner at home; the denying of self in many a cherished plan; taking ourselves in hand, forcing ourselves to do unpleasant things; going to places we would not naturally choose, and at times when we might greatly prefer to be somewhere else, but permitting duty’s call to govern us and balance our decision. Often when we go, we are rewarded by precious experiences and lessons unobtainable elsewhere. From such experiences we return with the Spirit’s witness of approval, with the brain active with new lines of thought startled into healthy action by the facts met with, and with the heart at leisure from itself, lovingly and healthfully occupied with the problems of our brothers, and planning to help meet them.

Scholarships in this school are open to all who are determined to become competent to fill hard places in the work of God.

Wahroonga, N. S. W.