Walla Walla College and the Missionary Campaign
By M. E. CADY
In harmony with the aim and purpose of Walla Walla College as an institution, the teachers and students earnestly and enthusiastically took up the work planned for the missionary campaign. The college and church join weekly in a missionary meeting held each Monday evening in the chapel. From one hundred and twenty-five to two hundred and fifty are usually in attendance on these occasions. The time of the last two or three meetings was occupied in organizing for effective work in the missionary campaign. All those desiring to engage in this work indicated it by giving in their names and the locality where they desired to work. The territory canvassed embraced College Place and vicinity, Walla Walla and the outlying towns,—Waitsburg, Athena, and Pendleton. The college teachers and others were appointed as leaders of these divisions, and all the way from six to ten workers were directed by each leader. In all, there were eight companies that went out, and about seventy engaged in the canvassing work. About fifty of this number worked in the city of Walla Walla. It was my privilege to be associated with the Walla Walla companies, and I rode from the college in the sixth load that left College Place early Wednesday morning. We had gone but a little way when the students started to sing, “To the work! to the work! we are servants of God, let us follow the path that our Master has trod.” While with many of the students this was a new experience, and one which caused more or less trembling, yet they went to the battle singing. Some of the students were not able to sell a single paper, but all had the privilege of giving away several pages of reading-matter in tract form, and while they did not accomplish what they had expected in the matter of selling or taking subscriptions for the Signs and the Watchman, yet they feel that they received a blessing in offering themselves to the work, and in doing the best they could to bring the light of truth to those who know it not. The six companies and their leaders who canvassed Walla Walla and vicinity, met in the Adventist church, where further arrangements were made for the work of the day. Before leaving the church a song was sung, and all bowed in prayer, asking the blessing of the Lord upon the work of the day, and that some souls through these efforts might be led to accept the truth of the third angel’s message. At noon all returned to the church to partake of the lunch that they brought with them. A pleasant hour was spent in telling of the experiences of the forenoon. The experiences were varied, some having had good success in selling papers, while others did not have. Those who were more successful endeavored to encourage those who were less successful, and all returned to the work again for the afternoon, and canvassed from two until four o’clock, at which time the teams returned to take the companies back to the college. The companies that went to Waitsburg, Athena, and Pendleton spent two or three days in the canvassing work, so some did not return until Friday evening. At our next missionary meeting on Monday evening, we listened to reports from the leaders of the various divisions and from others, and it was very interesting to hear the reports from the field of battle. Many were impressed with the thought that it is much harder now to interest the people in the special truths for this time than it was a few years ago. Many of the people recognized The Signs of the Times as a paper that they had seen before, and while a few were glad to see it again, the great majority treated the paper and the truths it contained with indifference. But it was a source of encouragement to all our workers to find souls now and then who were hungering for the truth. The following is a summarized report of the work done during the day’s effort: Sets of Signs sold, 152; single Signs sold, 99; sets of Watchman sold, 39; single Watchman sold, 18; Life and Health sold, 43; books sold, 33; pages of tracts distributed, 4,366. We have already organized the missionary society into divisions for permanent work. The divisions are as follows: (1) The Ministerial; (2) the Bible Workers; (3) Circulation of Literature; and (4) Medical Missionary. Each division has two leaders to direct in its special work. Next Sabbath we shall have our second missionary convention, and endeavor so to organize and plan our work that it will grow in interest and results as the weeks go by. We are endeavoring to so arrange our work that it shall not be of a spasmodic character, but, on the contrary, be a part of the regular program. As far as the college is concerned, we expect to give the students an opportunity to spend one afternoon each week in some line of missionary work. This time is to be taken from the industrial period. This will enable the students to spend one afternoon each week in coming into actual touch with the people, which is the only way that we can find out their needs and bring them to the help of the blessings which they so much need. This touch and contact with the19people, not only helps them, but brings new life and new experience to the worker. We believe it will be an excellent plan for the school, and for all our training-schools, to give place for missionary work in the regular program of the students. It seems consistent with the aim and purpose of these schools to give the students some opportunity for an experience in the lines of work for which they are preparing themselves, and not wait until school-days are over before gaining an experience in their chosen work. If this plan were followed, our workers would be much better prepared to render efficient service than they have been by following the other plan. We have several young men and women in the school who are preparing for the ministry and Bible work, and it is our purpose to give them opportunity to engage in this work in addition to the regular instruction that they receive in the Bible department. We shall make further reports of our work from time to time as it progresses.