A Modern Prophets’ School
By Stephen N. Haskell
It was a pleasure to visit the camp-meetings in Iowa, Minnesota, and in North and South Dakota in company with Elder Butler, with whom I had attended so many camp-meetings in early days. We also met with many acquaintances, some of whom we had not seen for thirty years. As “iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Prov. 27:17. We grew stronger physically as we went from camp-meeting to camp-meeting. Much of the Spirit of God was present at each of these meetings. There is evidently a need of reviving that spirit of consecration that existed in early times among our people. The last work of Moses was to write the book of Deuteronomy, a repetition of the law and the early experiences of Israel. This revived in Israel a spirit to go over Jordan and enter the promised land. On our return we stopped over at Emmanuel Missionary College. It is situated about two and one-half miles from Berrien Springs, on the St. Joseph River, which runs past Benton Harbor and St. Joseph into Lake Michigan. These two cities contain about twelve thousand inhabitants. About five miles of this river resembles Dora Creek at the Avondale School in Australia. We almost imagined ourselves on that river as we saw the banks and trees reflected in the water, which was without a ripple. The college farm contains about three hundred acres. One hundred and seventy-two acres of this is in a state of cultivation. Like the prophets’ school at Gilgal, the students gather their own provision. They alone, under the direction of the teachers, cultivate the soil. In all the work the teachers are with them, instructing them not only in the work, but in the scientific truths and spiritual lessons connected therewith. Thus building, domestic economy, cultivating the soil, and all kinds of labor are made educational. Two hours of manual labor are expected of every student each day. There have been three dwelling houses built, from seven to nine rooms each. These are occupied by teachers. Two two-story buildings, Manual Arts and the Advocate Hall, 32x64 feet each, have also been erected by the students. Another, The Domestic Arts Building, 38x95 feet, with an annex 37x38 feet, show what can be done by unskilled labor with a competent instructor. The attic of the last-mentioned building is occupied by the young ladies, their bedsteads standing side by side, the entire length of the main building and annex. The men occupy attics and various corners in the other buildings wherever there is space. We heard no complaining, neither did we see any wry looks; all seemed contented and happy. Besides this, in the woods there is a pavilion, the walls of which are partly of wire netting. This pavilion is sixty-five feet in diameter. Nestled around this are twenty-six small cottages, which will each accommodate from two to four persons. These also were built by students. About two hundred attended the summer term. The entire cost of these buildings, including the ground, which cost nineteen thousand dollars, is over forty thousand dollars. These funds have been largely raised by the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” They are now erecting another large building for the main school building and chapel. They have twelve thousand more copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” to sell this coming season. Truly in this two things have been demonstrated; first, that moving out of Battle Creek was right; second, that the sales from this book can free the school from financial embarrassment. It is apparent that the blessing of God has been with them, both in the amount of labor done by the students and in the amount of money raised within two years. About five thousand copies of the Bible Training School were subscribed for by the teachers present. This paper should be in the home of every Seventh-day Adventist. It is devoted to house-to-house work. Children who understand its contents, and sell the paper by the single copy, not only receive an education as canvassers, but at the same time are receiving that mold of character, and gaining an experience, that will fit them for the Lord’s work in proclaiming this last message of mercy when older people are forbidden to preach. All heaven is astir. Angels are hurrying to and fro, as though some important event was happening. An intensity from beneath is taking hold upon the powers of earth. Of all the people in the world who should be awake, it is those who are expecting soon the consummation of all things. Time is short. What is done must be done quickly. It is not so much the amount that we do, as it is the relation we sustain to God and his cause. This modern prophets’ school in the woods presents advantages not found in the cities and towns. So does every school thus situated. It is too late to purchase dwelling houses and settle in large cities with our children. They should be taken to the country, where they can labor in the open air, beholding the works of the great Master Artist, where new scenes are continually unfolding. When the manual training connected with our schools is simply for financial advantages, or when it is simply to learn a trade, it comes far short of God’s original purpose. It is to see the character of God, the plan of salvation, in the work itself. The mind should be educated in gospel truth by the labor. This is the aim of the teachers at the Emmanuel Missionary College. This was Christ’s method of teaching. In the sowing of seed, in harvesting the grain, in cultivating the soil, in fishing, and wherever he found men and women in their ordinary employment, he drew spiritual lessons. So with the book knowledge taught in our schools there should be manual training by which the science of all sciences, the science of salvation, should be taught by competent instructors. All our schools are aiming to this end, and those who come the nearest to this plan come the nearest to heaven’s ideal. “No man can serve two masters.” “Bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.” 1 Tim. 4:8, 9.