The Washington Foreign Mission Seminary by P. G.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 2, 1910

_The Washington Foreign Mission Seminary_

By P. G.

THE Washington Foreign Mission Seminary closed the third year of its work on Sabbath, May 21. The exercises of the day consisted of a sermon by Elder I. H. Evans in the morning, and a program in the evening. Elder Evans based his discourse upon Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” His remarks concerning the marvelous work of Jesus Christ, in comparison with that of other great reformers of earth’s history, were very forcible, and highly applicable to the audience, composed largely of the students of the Seminary.

The program of the evening was rendered by members of the board, the faculty, and the students. The addresses bore very directly upon the mission and work of the Seminary. The recitations and the musical features of the program were seasonable and well rendered. The Seminary has no graduating class this year; but seven young men and women, who are under appointment for foreign lands,—three for India, two for America, and two for Mexico,—were presented as partial fruits of the year’s work work. The president of the school, Prof. J. L. Shaw, made some very fitting remarks concerning the work of the school, and this class as an illustration of its ideal.

Three years ago, at the Gland Council, the General Conference Committee was overwhelmed with the great demand for workers for the Orient, Africa, and the islands of the sea. The minds of the brethren were directed to our schools as the natural source to which to look for these workers, and quite extended consideration was given to the direct relation of our schools to mission fields.

It was recognized that our training-schools are called upon to give to the youth regular, graded courses of instruction, as many young men and women enter them with little or no fixed purpose for gospel work, and the majority who do have definite plans for a life-work need careful, technical instruction. But it was also recognized that there are continually coming into the message many men and women, who, while perhaps not needing the regular graded courses of instruction which our training-schools are required to give, could, through the aid of especially adapted courses of instruction, be qualified in a short time for valuable service in mission lands.

As these matters were discussed, it became very clear that it would be of inestimable value to our mission enterprises to have a school whose special work would be the giving of courses of instruction preparing directly for mission service. It was seen to be impossible for all our training-schools to obtain the necessary help and equipment for the giving of such courses, so that this school would not devote its first energies to the giving of a technical, graded course, but to the special mission lines. This would make it possible for students having graduated from our union conference training-schools to receive additional instruction at this school, which would qualify them for foreign mission service, if such were the work of their choice.

It was apparent to the council that such a school would be most valuable if located at the Mission Board headquarters; for this arrangement would give the students and the members of the Mission Board an opportunity to become acquainted with one another. It often occurs that persons who have an honest desire to do service in mission lands are not, because of conditions of health, or for other reasons, best qualified for labor in the fields of their particular choice. This acquaintance between the Mission Board and these candidates would enable the board to direct them to a proper field of labor, either in the home land or in a distant land, where the conditions would be well adapted to their qualifications. Accordingly, the Washington Training College, which was at that time carrying on courses of study in general harmony with those of our other schools, had its work so changed as to undertake these special lines of mission preparation.

Prof. H. R. Salisbury, who for a number of years had been president of the British Union Training-school, and who was at the Gland Council under appointment to the Levant mission field, and en route thither, was turned from this work of his choice to undertake the establishment and conduct of this proposed school. The three-years’ history of the school has abundantly demonstrated the wisdom of this undertaking. Including the seven students before spoken of, who are now under appointment

over forty missionaries have in these three years gone forth from this institution to lands of heathen darkness.

While, as we say, the excellent work of the school since its establishment has witnessed to the wisdom of the decision of the Gland Council, yet it is seriously to be questioned whether this number of missionaries might not have been greatly increased if the presidents and faculties of our advanced schools had sought a closer co-operation with the Seminary. Such a school is the natural gateway into the heathen lands, and every training-school should feel that the Seminary is a part of its own undertaking; for it is impossible for our other advanced schools to maintain the required courses of study necessary to fit in a proper manner those who are to do service in mission lands.

Why, then, should we not unite most heartily in building up an institution to do very strong and efficient work in these special lines of mission education? The educators in our advanced schools must recognize that there is a danger, in our enthusiasm for the upbuilding of our several schools, that we unwisely encourage persons to remain in our schools who might better be in attendance at the Seminary, thus hastening on their way to the foreign fields.

This upbuilding work does not rest alone upon the teachers. Our conference presidents and the ministry should continually search for men and women who need the advantages which the Seminary offers, to prepare them for foreign work. Let us unite earnestly, as educators and gospel workers, to fill this good school with just the class of students that it was established to receive. If we do this, we shall not lose sight of the ideal set forth in its establishment, nor shall we compel it to take on lines of work competing with our other schools. Surely there is a need and a field for the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary. Let us all unite in helping it properly to occupy that field.

P. G.