Washington Foreign Mission Seminary by M. E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 21, 1911

Washington Foreign Mission Seminary

By M. E. Kern

THE constituency meeting of the Foreign Mission Seminary was held in connection with the Philadelphia ministerial institute, May 17-20, 1911. The constituency is composed of the members of the General Conference Committee and the president of each local conference in the United States. A legal quorum consists of ten members, but more than that number were present at each meeting.

The president’s report showed the total enrolment for the year to be 110, the largest in the history of the institution. The Lord has blessed the efforts put forth to give missionaries a special equipment for their work. The General Conference Committee and the Sanitarium and Seminary boards have given special study during the year to the best methods of training recruits for the foreign field. The results of this study were presented in the plans for a closer union between the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary and the Washington Sanitarium in their work.

The treasurer, M. E. Kern, presented the financial report for the year ending June 30, 1911, showing a present worth of $51,327.84, with a net gain of $1,058.74 for the year. This report, with the statement of the auditors, was adopted.

The constituency voted —

“1. That we approve of the action of the board of trustees in bringing about a closer relationship in the operation of the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary and the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium, to the end that Seminary students may receive a better medical training, and that Sanitarium nurses may receive a more thorough training for evangelistic work.

“2. That the membership of the board of trustees of the two institutions be identical.”

The following-named persons were elected as the board of trustees of the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary: A. G. Daniells, Dr. Robert S. Ingersoll, Dr. H. N. Sisco, W. T. Knox, R. T. Dowsett, F. M. Wilcox, M. E. Kern, H. R. Salisbury, E. R. Palmer.

Organization of Board

Soon after this meeting the new board of trustees organized, with W. T. Knox, president; M. E. Kern, secretary; and R. T. Dowsett, treasurer. The Sanitarium Board elected the same chairman and treasurer, with Dr. H. N. Sisco as secretary. Legally the two institutions are entirely separate, but they are united in their operation, having the same business management.

Courses of Study

The Seminary offers the following courses: Ministerial, postgraduate missionary nurses’, canvassers and colporteurs’, Bible workers’, and music. Academic work is provided for those who are deficient in those subjects. Special attention is given to thorough and advanced training in Bible, missions, history, modern languages, English, music, Christian work, and other fundamentals. Of the industrial subjects, printing, agriculture, dressmaking, millinery, and cooking are emphasized.

The Seminary and the District of Columbia Conference work closely together in giving our students the very best possible experience in Christian work. In this way special attention is given to the training of ministers and Bible workers.

The postgraduate nurses’ course seems to meet a real need, and appeals very strongly to our missionary nurses. The opportunities afforded for clinical and dispensary work in the largest hospital in Washington is proving a great blessing to those who desire advanced work. There is still room for a few others to enter this course this fall.

The special lectures on denominational organization and work and on the Bible versus human philosophy which were given daily last year, and which proved to be a most beneficial feature, will be continued this year.

Faculty

The faculty chosen to carry forward the work for the year 1911-12 is as follows: M. E. Kern (president), C. Sorenson, J. N. Anderson, M. Ellsworth

Olsen, Warren E. Howell, Dr. R. S. Ingersoll, Mrs. H. R. Salisbury, Dr. H. N. Sisco, Clement Hamer, Dr. Olive Ingersoll, Isabella B. Campbell, Lynn H. Wood, Dr. Bourdeau-Sisco, Mrs. N. Z. Town, Esther M. Spicer, S. Grace Denny, Ruby N. Owen, O. F. Thompson, W. J. Maxson, F. E. Hull. The special lecturers are: A. G. Daniells, W. W. Prescott, W. A. Spicer, W. T. Knox, H. R. Salisbury, K. C. Russell, Mrs. L. Flora Plummer, G. B. Thompson, J. N. Anderson, F. M. Wilcox, B. G. Wilkinson, M. E. Kern, A. J. S. Bourdeau, Dr. Geo. Thomason, M. E. Olsen, R. T. Dowsett.

The Seminary opens Wednesday, September 20, at 9 A. M. On the evening of that day, appropriate addresses will be made by different members of the General Conference Committee.

As a board and faculty we solicit the prayers of God’s people that wisdom may be given for the carrying forward of this important work which means so much to the progress of the third angel’s message.

M. E. KERN, President.