p. 18 | Closing Exercises of Keene Academy by GEO. A. IRWIN.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 9, 1908

Closing Exercises of Keene Academy

By GEO. A. IRWIN.

THESE exercises commenced Sabbath, June 20, with a sermon by Elder C. Santee. On Sunday evening a musical program was rendered in the church. Monday was devoted to examinations and the making out of grades, and the evening was taken up with class exercises. The commencement address, entitled, “True Christian Education, and Consecrated Workers the Need of the Hour,” was delivered by the writer, Tuesday morning, after which Elder C. Sorenson, principal of the school, in a few well-chosen words of counsel, encouragement, and good wishes, presented the diplomas to the graduating class.

The graduating class consisted of Misses Enie Martin, Robin Hunter, Sidney Smith, Nellie Sturgeon, Daisy Butka, and Mr. Ray Goss. Of the six, all are from Texas except Miss Sturgeon, whose home is in Oklahoma. While the number of graduates was much smaller this year than usual, they gave evidence of having done faithful work, and are full of the missionary spirit.

The past school year has been one of marked prosperity, both in point of attendance and financially. Two hundred twenty students were enrolled in the academy proper, and eighty-five in the church-school (which is under the supervision of the academy), thus making three hundred five in all. Eighty-two of the academy students were in the home. The school has furnished work to needy students to the amount of five thousand dollars during the school year. Although the balance sheet is not yet out, the manager is confident that it will show quite a good sum on the right side.

The store, broom, and tent factories are all sources of income to the school, and enable it to overcome any deficit that might otherwise occur in its operation.

A company of forty from the school have gone into the canvassing work, most of whom have the earning of a scholarship in view. The canvassing work and the cotton crop have in the past been factors with which the school board have had to reckon in determining the dates of the beginning and ending of the school year. For the coming year, however, it has been decided to begin September 30,—two weeks earlier than usual,—and close May 11, in time for the General Conference.

In the main the same faculty has been chosen to continue the work another year, and it is expected that there will be a fuller school than ever before. The building erected by the conference for a sanitarium and used for a time for that purpose, has been purchased by the school board, and will be moved to the school campus during vacation, and fitted up for a boys’ dormitory, thus increasing

the facilities for the accommodation of students.

There are many children and young people in the States composing the Southwestern Union Conference, and as our work extends in that field, the Keene Industrial Academy is becoming more and more a necessity and an important factor in the work of the union as well as to the work at large.

May the Lord give wisdom to the teachers in this school to train the children and young people placed in their charge, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and to aid them in forming characters that will stand the test of these evil times while they are engaged in the Lord’s work, and the final test of the judgment above, when their work is finished. GEO. A. IRWIN.