Grove Meeting at Takoma Park
By W. A. Colcord
A VERY pleasant all-days' open-air grove meeting was held at Takoma Park, Sunday, August 7, on the Washington Sanitarium and Training College grounds. The object of the meeting was to have a sort of general rally of our own people in and about Washington, and to set before them and the public the objects of the institutions which are now being established in this place. Invitations had been sent out a few days before the appointment. The meeting was held under the shade of the trees on the site selected, chairs and board seats being provided for the accommodation of those who came. About three hundred were in attendance, quite a good number of citizens from Takoma Park and Washington being present, and a number of brethren coming from as far as Baltimore. In the forenoon brief but pointed addresses were given by W. T. Bland, W. C. White, P. T. Magan, E. A. Sutherland, G. A. Hare, and G. B. Thompson; vocal selections, with organ and orchestral accompaniment, being interspersed between the addresses. Professor Bland spoke of our object in building schools, and why we deemed it essential to maintain a separate educational system of our own. Not only was it necessary in order to give a religious, intellectual, physical, and all-round education to our young people, which they could not get in the schools provided by the State, but we have a specific work to do in the world, to warn the world of Christ's soon coming, and to prepare a people for that event; and an education and training especially for this work is absolutely essential. Those who go out into the world to give this message, must believe it, and be inspired with it. Emphasis was laid on the importance of students knowing how to build, work the soil, and labor with their hands when they go to labor in foreign lands, and how an education in these things can not best be gained in large, expensive buildings in the cities, fitted up with all the modern improvements and conveniences, but rather in modest, plain buildings, located in the country, with land to cultivate, and other work to do. Elder White spoke of how we build, and why we build as we do. We had selected Washington as a location for one of our schools and sanitariums because we wished to get near the capital of the nation. We had selected Takoma Park because we thought it one of the most beautiful suburbs of Washington. And we had selected this particular site in Takoma Park because of its many natural advantages and adaptability to our purposes, and because of the beautiful place we thought it could be made. It is rural, has timber on it, rock and sand, a running spring, and a delightful stream of pure water. Instead of building in the ordinary way, by contract, and then inviting the students to come to the school, we invite young men who desire to attend school to come and gain an experience, as well as to earn some means, in helping to erect the buildings and prepare the grounds of the school which they expect to attend, managers, foremen, and draftsmen simply being placed over them to direct in the work. Twenty-five young men, from eighteen different States and countries, were here helping to erect the buildings. On request, these, with their foremen, all lined up in front of the assembly, presenting a fine company of intelligent, thoughtful, earnest-looking young men. Later these same young men, from the experience gained here, will be able to assist in establishing schools elsewhere. The school and sanitarium were placed close together because they could be mutually helpful to each other in their work, and to the young people in gaining their education. All the rock and sand being used in the construction of the buildings are taken from the place, which is a great saving in expense, the concrete walls thus far built costing only seventeen cents per cubic foot, or only half the cost of ordinary brick walls. About two hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber are to be used in the erection of the various school and sanitarium buildings, one hundred and fifty thousand of which are on the grounds. Professor Magan spoke briefly of the Berrien Springs school, and how, contrary to the ordinary custom of erecting the buildings and then inviting the students to come to them, the students were invited to come and assist in erecting the very buildings in which they expected to go to school, thus gaining an invaluable experience and education in practical work which would fit them to go to other fields and build up schools in the same manner. Professor Sutherland called attention to the fact that God did not first make the bark of a tree or the shell of a tortoise, and then have the tree or the tortoise grow up inside of these, but that whatever bark or shell was necessary grew up along with the plant or animal inhabiting it. So he believed this was the best way for us to build our schools. Let the students themselves, as far as possible, help build the “shell” of the school in which they are to receive their education. This of itself is a necessary part of practical and essential education. Dr. Hare explained the objects and aims of the Washington Sanitarium Association. The world was sick both physically and spiritually, and the sanitarium was designed, under God's blessing, to help restore both body and soul to health and soundness. To best meet life's battles men must not only have health, but a strong, fixed hope, a hope of a future, immortal life. To give both is the object of our Washington sanitarium enterprise. It is not to be a branch of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, but a plant planted, conducted, and controlled by the people who founded the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Elder Thompson spoke briefly of the relation between healthful living and the religious life. Man can best glorify God and serve his fellow men when he is well, and to fulfil these ends is the great reason why we should seek to maintain health. Lunch hour having arrived, all separated into little groups on the seats or under the trees as they chose, and enjoyed heartily the lunch they had brought with them. Free lemonade was served to all throughout the day. After lunch, all who wished strolled about the grounds, viewing the buildings that have been started, and the sites of others yet to be built, or, in company with some of the employees, went down the banks to see the Sligo, the stone quarry, the sand pit, and the spring. Those who remained in camp were entertained by the orchestra, composed entirely of our own young people here in Washington, mostly from the employees on the ground or from the Review and Herald Office. In the afternoon Elder J. S. Washburn and Mrs. E. G. White addressed the people. At some length Elder Washburn explained why we believe in the advent of Christ and keep the seventh day, and why our headquarters have been removed from Battle Creek to Washington. We have a world-wide message. Years ago we were told not to center so much in one place, but to scatter out and build up our work in many places. But the instruction was largely unheeded, until finally our two largest and most beautiful structures in Battle Creek were suddenly destroyed by fire. This, those who believed in our great mission and work regarded as the voice of God to us, speaking through his providence, to heed the warning, and branch out. So this work of scattering out and building up the work in many places has begun in earnest, and this accounts for our presence in Washington, the capital of the nation. Our institutions are being erected here as a part of a great plan to evangelize the world with the advent movement. After singing by a male quartet, Sister19White spoke on the education that should be given both in the home and in the school. She spoke with great power and freedom. The duties of fathers and mothers toward their children, the spirit of love, kindness, and helpfulness that should pervade the home, and the education which our youth should receive, were dwelt upon. The whole span of life, with all its opportunities, privileges, and duties, is but a school in which to fit for the higher life. If we do not gain the victory and learn to manifest the right spirit here, there will be no place for us in heaven. Should one sinner be admitted there, there would have to be another great war in heaven, and he and his sympathizers and followers cast out. A deep impression was made upon all by the address. After the singing of another male quartet, the day's exercises closed with the doxology and benediction. It was the universal verdict of all present that a very pleasant, enjoyable, and profitable day had been spent, many expressing the hope that this would not be the last of the meetings of this kind that would be held on our grounds at Takoma Park.