A Wonderful Meeting at Fernando Academy by H. G. LUCAS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 21, 1908

A Wonderful Meeting at Fernando Academy

By H. G. LUCAS

Last fall the following words were sent to our school by Sister White: “In a place like Los Angeles, where the population is constantly changing, a wonderful opportunity is presented for the sale of our books. Why should not teachers and students from the San Fernando school make Los Angeles a special field for the sale of our books? If, with earnestness and faith they will work out the plan that has been given us for the use of this book, ‘Christ’s Object Lessons,’ angels of God will attend their steps, and the blessings of heaven will be upon their efforts.” In February it was decided to go ahead with the “Object Lessons” work. The Testimonies were read, the matter was presented to the school, and a class of thirty-five was organized. Twenty-seven was the actual number that went into the field last week under the direction of Brother Horsman, the field missionary agent.

Brother E. G. Fulton, of the vegetarian café, kindly allowed the young women the use of a portion of his house; and on his lot the young men pitched three 12 x 17 foot tents, for their use. In order to save expense, the young people were taken by team from Fernando to Los Angeles, a distance of twenty-one miles. The start was made early on Sunday morning, March 15. Tents were pitched and other necessary arrangements made in Los Angeles before nightfall. Brother Horsman held a meeting with the young people that evening, and encouraged them to go out with earnestness and in faith to present the book, “Christ’s Object Lessons.”

It was a great help to the work to have all the young people encamp on the same premises so as to enable them to hold evening meetings together, and relate their experiences. This served to encourage them in their labors. When Monday morning came, fifteen young men and twelve young women, many of whom had never sold a book or a paper before, started out to introduce “Object Lessons” to the people. Although the campaign was continued one week, not one of the twenty-seven turned back or fell out by the way. They had varied experiences. They had doors slammed in their faces; then they would find people who were interested in religious things; then some would be surprised to receive orders where they least expected them; some could work among the wealthy people; others could work only among the poorer classes. They all had opportunities to put into use the scripture that they had learned at school.

At the end of the first day they had taken fifty-eight orders. Their five days’ work were full of rich experiences. After the week’s work was over it was found that two hundred sixty-seven orders had been taken by the twenty-seven workers, or an average of about ten each.

Figures can never present the success of this “Object Lessons” campaign. The young people were used of the Lord to speak to the people when they needed help. On Sabbath afternoon they related their experiences to the Los Angeles church, whose members were encouraged by these efforts, and some determined to go out themselves to sell this wonderful book.

One young man found a lady who had been praying for a book that she had heard of, entitled “Bible Readings for the Home Circle.” He said that he knew the book, and offered to bring it to her, and he sold her both “Bible Readings” and “Object Lessons.” She said that the Lord must have sent him in answer to her prayers.

The young people returned to Fernando on Sunday, March 22, and as they came into chapel on Monday, March 23, their faces shone with their happiness. Elder Reaser gave an encouraging talk to the students, after which the young people who had been out on the firing line related their experiences. Then teachers and others spoke of their determination to work for the Lord. The meeting continued until one o’clock. The young people were not timid in telling of their work. Each one felt that a great blessing had been gained, and they advised others to go out and receive the same blessing.

The young people who did not go expressed regrets that they had remained at home. The remarkable experiences of those who went, and their wonderful success, stirred up the young people and the teachers to set apart one week in April when all who are willing can go. The first campaign paved the way for the second. So when the call was made, sixty volunteered. Our faith did not reach far enough to close the school during the first campaign, but the teachers had to remain here to carry on the school work for those who did not go out into the field; but teachers and students will go out together in the second campaign.

We call this a wonderful day at Fernando Academy because the young people of their own accord were induced by an invisible power to offer themselves to do definite work. It is this kind of work that is needed among our young people and older people in the denomination to-day. The teachers all feel glad that this spirit of work has come into our school. Both teachers and students are determined that, during the balance of this school year, and for future school years, they will carry out the following instruction: “If our young people would only realize it, there is no more acceptable work to be done in the home field than engaging in the sale of ‘Object Lessons,’ for, while they are thus helping to carry out the Lord’s plan for the relief of our schools, they are also bringing the present truth of the Word of God to the attention of the people.” I wish that all our colleges, academies, and intermediate schools could receive the same blessing that has come to us and which helped to make Monday, March 23, the best day of this school year.

H. G. LUCAS, Principal.