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A Note of Warning

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 12, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 41.

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A Note of Warning

Our Educational Institutions
A LARGE proportion of our schools and colleges are just beginning another school year, and many family circles are broken by the departure of one or more of the younger members who have gone to seek a better preparation for usefulness. In many instances it is only by rigid economy and by real sacrifice that it is possible to provide an education for the children, and this is especially true when it becomes necessary to send them away from home to attend school. That which induces Seventh-day Adventist parents to deny themselves in order to give their children the benefit of our schools is their desire that they should receive a Christian education—an education which will impart a knowledge of the God of the Bible and of the plan of salvation as set forth in the Scriptures, which will foster a love for the third angel's message, and give a suitable preparation for proclaiming it.
It was for the purpose of providing just such an education as this that denominational schools have been conducted as a part of this advent movement. This people did not attempt in their poverty to establish other educational institutions because they expected to build finer buildings, or provide better equipment, or present more extensive courses of study, but because they felt the necessity of shielding their children from those influences which tend to draw them away from God and his truth, and of imparting instruction of such a kind and in such a manner as would preserve them from the skepticism so prevalent in this last generation. The natural consequence would be that many so educated would devote their lives to the spread of the truth which they had learned to love.
It is now more than thirty years since the first educational institution was established among this people, and some interesting changes have taken place during this period. Colossal fortunes have been spent by the rich men of the world in building up great universities. Large gifts have been made to nearly all of the older colleges and universities, which have made it possible to erect fine buildings, extend their courses of study, and largely add to their faculties. But with all these additional facilities there has come a most marked departure from the fundamental and old-time standards of Christianity. The Bible has been deposed from its place of authority. A false science has been exalted in the place of Bible truth. A new philosophy has superseded the revelation of the gospel made in the Scriptures, and human speculation and human reasoning have been given the precedence over the Word of God. “The master mind in the confederacy of evil is ever working to keep out of sight the words of God, and to bring into full view the opinions of men. . . . Through educational processes he is doing all in his power to obscure heaven's light. Philosophical speculation and scientific research in which God is not acknowledged are makingskeptics of thousands of the youth.
In the schools of to-day the conclusions that learned men have reached as the result of their scientific investigations are carefully taught and fully explained; while the impression is distinctly given that if these learned men are correct, the Bible can not be. Skepticism is attractive to the human mind. The youth see in it an independence that captivates the imagination, and they are deceived. Satan triumphs; it is altogether as he meant it should be. . . . Far more than we do, we need to understand the issues at stake in the conflict in which we are engaged. We need to understand more fully the value of the truths that God has given for this time, and the danger of allowing our minds to be diverted from them by the great deceiver.”
Some of the most dangerous teaching is in these days clothed with the appearance of truth. A false philosophy is taught in the very words of the Scriptures, and the familiar phrases of the gospel of Christ are made to do service in behalf of deceptive errors. By a large majority of the leaders of the professed Christian church it is declared that these new ideas are simply a better interpretation of the Scriptures, the result of advancement in all fields of knowledge, while in our own denomination it has been claimed that they were in perfect harmony both with the Bible and with the spirit of prophecy. This claim has called out the following plain words of counsel: “Let none seek to tear away the foundations of our faith,—the foundations that were laid at the beginning of our work, by prayerful study of the Word and by revelation. Upon these foundations we have been building for the last fifty years. Men may suppose that they have found a new way, and that they can lay a stronger foundation than that which has been laid. But this is a great deception. Other foundation can no man lay than that which has been laid.”
In view of the situation as it exists both within and without the denomination it is plain that there is a more positive demand than ever before for schools where our young people can be safely sent without the fear that they will be educated away from this message, and be led to despise the simple faith of their fathers. After the experience of more than a quarter of a century, and after receiving so many warnings and counsels against the insidious character of this modern sophistry, will any of our people be caught by popular announcements and flattering inducements? We have resisted these inducements when they came to us openly from the world; shall we yield to them when they come from any other source? It may be time to repeat the instruction which was given about a year ago: “God forbid that one word of encouragement should be spoken to call our youth to a place where they will be leavened by misrepresentations and falsehoods regarding the Testimonies, and the work and character of the ministers of God.”
The efforts which are now being made to counterwork the leadings of God's providence, and to make of no effect his counsels concerning the education of our young people, lead us to sound this note of warning. We urge both parents and youth to consider well the principles involved before responding to any call, however favorable it may seem to be, to an education under influences which lead away from the message and work committed to this people. Furthermore, we urge upon all our schools to meet conscientiously the demand upon them at this time to provide such an education as will hold our young people loyal to this advent movement, and as far as possible to plan such means of support for students as will enable those with limited means to secure the benefits of a genuine Christian education. These serious problems should be grappled with and solved. The present situation urgently demands this.