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A Washington Training College Educational Convention

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 16, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 20.

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A Washington Training College Educational Convention

By B. G. Wilkinson

One idea suggests another. While ministering to the churches of Baltimore the last Sabbath in March, I endeavored to persuade two or three of their young people to get an education for the work of the third angel's message. The proposition was then made that the Young People's Society of both churches unite in having an educational rally. This proposition suggested the idea of holding just such a rally in our churches of the District of Columbia. The College faculty was pleased with the idea, and a suitable program was prepared and presented to a large audience in the Takoma Park church, April 27.
Many interesting parts were arranged for the program rendered, enlivened by appropriate music under the direction of Professor John; but we will simply endeavor here to state some of the leading points which might benefit those who have a desire to promote similar interests.
Elder K. C. Russell, who was chairman of the day, introduced the program with a short talk upon the necessity of young people's securing a preparation with the definite aim of carrying the message of the Lord's soon coming to the world in this generation. A general education without any specific relation to our work, he said, was not the education that our young people should seek to obtain. In fact, the education of the present time, which would fit a man for a high position in other churches, would not be the preparation needed for a worker in our cause. He once heard a Seventh-day Adventist minister, who previously had been a Baptist minister, answer the question whether the work in which he was now engaged differed very greatly from his previous position. The minister replied that he found his change of work had demanded of him a complete “right about face” in his methods and ideas of labor. How necessary it is, then, for our young people to seek for an education in our own schools!
Professor Lawhead followed with an earnest talk on “The Responsibility of the Church.” He pointed out the necessity of church-members zealously laboring for the conversion of the youth. He recalled an incident in a church out West, where all the young people had practically left the truth and were on the point of being lost to the cause. In consequence, the church was dead. One member, however, resolved to labor earnestly to regain the youth. As a result, the whole church-membership was revived, and very soon quite a company of young people had been brought to Christ, and their faces turned toward a definite preparation for the Lord's work.
After this speech twenty minutes was divided among four students, who spoke upon the value of an education, and the great help they had received at the Washington Training College. Mr. Roggenkamp related his experience as a preacher in the New York Conference. Though the Lord had blessed him spiritually, he felt that he was shorn of the power he might have wielded had he been in possession of a better education. He related briefly two or three incidents, which made a deep impression upon the audience, carrying the conviction that more zeal should be put forth in educating our youth. Mr. Westbrook, as the second student, spoke forth his praises to the Lord for the material help that God had vouchsafed to him while he had been studying the past three years at college. He had mended shoes, had performed carpentry work; and while struggling to meet the financial demands of this period, he had found the Lord a present help and powerful to assist. His stirring words could not but sweep from the minds of the young people any fear which they might have of failing to secure the necessary financial help whenever they are determined to educate themselves for the Lord's work. Mr. Manuel occupied the next five minutes in testifying to the manner in which the Lord had helped him financially while attending school, and he also spoke very earnestly of the great value his studies had been to him in the College. The fourth student, Mr. Prener, testified by his own development to the great good he had received during the two years he had attended Washington Training College. Mr. Prener will labor in the ministry this summer, as in fact all these four students have been called to do.
Professor Derby presented to the audience the subject, “Proper Standards for Our Schools.” He quoted the authority of Dr. Harper to show that all the technical and specific lines of education, as found to-day in the great schools of the world, are wanting in one very necessary element,—religious education. Therefore, our schools should seek to emphasize permanently the religious side of education. He very pointedly called the attention of the audience to the fact that the four students who had spoken had not only gained an education in the College, but had actually gained it while learning to be independent. He therefore concluded that our schools should seek to make a man of an independent mold.
The writer then spoke on the topic, “The Debt of Our Schools to Missions.” In 1792 one little band in England sent forth William Carey, the founder of modern missions. Their donations were $65.50. A century later the one missionary had grown to fourteen thousand, while the $65.50 expanded to almost twenty million dollars. “The field is the world,” said Christ, and he gives to his church power enough to occupy the field. Zinzendorf, the founder of Moravian missions, the fruits of whose noble work are found in all lands, dedicated himself to this work at twenty-two; Judson, the heroic missionary to Burma, sailed from America when he was twenty-four; Robert Morrison took China as his field of labor at twenty-five; David Livingstone gave himself to Africa at twenty-seven; John Williams, the mighty apostle to the South Sea Islands, began work at twenty-one. How necessary it is that the youth be led to consecrate themselves to the missionary idea at an early age, before their growing powers become set in worldly lines.
The speaker here called attention to the great results produced in our own denomination by educational funds, which have been created to help worthy students obtain an education for the work in the German Union, in the British Union, and in the Latin Union, which proved how results had been produced for Europe by the creation of an educational fund. He made an appeal to the churches of the District to take up the matter, and do what they could for the Washington Training College.
The last speaker was Elder Lee Wellman, then on a visit to Takoma Park. He presented himself as an object-lesson of the possibility of educational funds. He had been associated with the writer in the missionary classes of Battle Creek College some ten years ago as a student, at which time he had been helped by an educational fund. To-day he is doing excellent work in the West Indian Islands.
The convention closed by a stirring appeal from Elder Russell. He asked that all those present who desired to secure more education to fit them for the work, should rise to their feet. It was encouraging to note the number of young people who responded to this appeal, testifying to their determination to secure an education that would make them efficient workers for God. All felt that the convention had produced good results. It contributed to arousing a greater enthusiasm on the subject of definitely educating our youth for the work.
How commendable it would be if all our churches and conferences would keep their eyes on the young people, helping them continuously both spiritually and financially, until they find their place in the vineyard of the Master!
On the Sabbath following this convention at the Takoma Park church a similar one was held in the Washington Memorial church. Following is the program as rendered there:—
HYMN Congregation
PRAYER B. L. House
“Church-Schools, Intermediate Schools, Colleges—Their Value” W. A. Colcord
SPECIAL MUSIC
“Individual Benefits of Education” G. H. Heald
“Necessity of Awakening Our Youth” B. G. Wilkinson
HYMN Congregation
“Financial Help to Worthy Students” J. W. Lawhead
SPECIAL MUSIC
“How Students May Aid in the Missionary Work” W. A. Ruble
SPECIAL MUSIC
BENEDICTION K. C. Russell
The blessing of God attended the execution of the program. The hearts of many burned within them as the different speakers opened to their understanding the possibilities of true education, and the desire for knowledge and progress which seizes the newly converted youth. To co-operate with heaven in aiding youthful aspirants after a Christian education, several of the speakers presented the possibilities of our educational fund.The audience responded with a splendid donation of $215 in cash and pledges. Why may not other of our churches awake and do likewise?
B. G. WILKINSON.