The British Ministerial Institute by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 11, 1912

The British Ministerial Institute

By Arthur G. Daniells

THE ministerial institute for our workers in the British Union Conference was held at Stanborough Park, Watford, Dec. 11-20, 1911. Stanborough Park is the name of the park-like estate of fifty acres, which the British Union Conference has purchased and made its headquarters

of our British Union Conference very accessible to London, the world's metropolis. In less than an hour one can transfer from the surging masses in the heart of London to a beautiful, quiet, restful spot in the forest.

Our brethren have erected four institutional buildings at Stanborough Park, — a printing-house, a college, a sanitarium, and a food factory. The sanitarium has not yet been opened for service, but the other three institutions are in full swing. The publishing house and food factory are inexpensive, well-planned buildings. The college is a very nice, attractive building, and it is well kept by the management. The sanitarium is beautifully located, and should be an excellent place to care for the sick. One can not visit this headquarters without feeling profoundly grateful to God for his guiding hand in the work.

Our institute was attended by about seventy of the regular workers, and some thirty of the advanced students of the college. Every minister and nearly every Bible worker in the kingdom was present. Elders L. R. Conradi and Guy Dall came over from Germany. The day before the institute opened we met with Elder Fitzgerald, president of the British Union, to arrange the program of work. It was decided to follow the same line of studies we had been presenting in the institutes in the United States — the message, the ministry, and the Spirit. To Elder Conradi was assigned the studies on the ministry; to Elder G. B. Thompson, the studies on the Holy Spirit; and to the writer, the studies on our message. Elder Fitzgerald had general charge of the institute, and conducted a part of the devotional meetings and round-table talks. In addition to these three regular studies, we held four other meetings each day. One was a devotional hour, when we met to pray together, and to tell of the Lord's great love toward us. Another was an hour devoted to the Question Box; a third was the round table for heart-to-heart talks about the details of our various kinds of work. Each evening we held a public service, which usually crowded the college chapel.

In no institute that we have held, have the workers taken a deeper interest in the studies and the meetings than in this one. Prof. H. C. Lacey, the president of the college, readjusted his program so that the older students could attend nearly all the meetings, and both Professor Lacey and Elder W. H. Wakeham, the Bible teacher, were present at nearly every study. Elder Fitzgerald, Brother W. C. Sisley, and their associates did all that interested, earnest brethren could to make the occasion most pleasant and profitable to all.

The most important thing that can be said about this institute is that the Lord was with us. His blessed Spirit gave us new views of his message and work, and also clearer and fuller views of our personal needs and responsibilities. As these revelations came to us day by day, we were sent to our knees at the foot of the cross to seek the Lord with all our hearts for divine help. Some told of spending a large part of the night in earnest, importunate prayer for deliverance from all sin, and for the consecration and power necessary to make them efficient, successful workers for the Master. The great burden that pressed hard upon every heart was to win souls to Christ, and most serious, determined resolutions were made to give all — life and time and talents — to consecrated service as never before.

The closing meeting of the institute was one I shall never forget. Somehow nearly all were led to read some passage of Scripture as an expression of their experiences. I never realized so fully before how the Lord had foreseen the experiences, the desires, and the hopes of his children here in this world of sin, and through his inspired servants expressed all these experiences so beautifully for us.

We were sorry to close this good institute and to part from one another. The love of God had broken down all national barriers and everything else that would tend to separate us, and bound our hearts together in the bonds of Christian love. But we separated, and returned to our various fields and lines of work with new courage and determination to render to this blessed cause the very best service of our lives. Surely the Lord will help those who so earnestly desire and endeavor to do efficient work for him. We thank God for the British Union Institute. A. G. DANIELLS.