A Large Debt Paid by L. H. Christian

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 9, 1916

A Large Debt Paid

By L. H. Christian

Ever since the Battle Creek College was moved to Berrien Springs, Mich., and rechristened Emmanuel Missionary College, it has been burdened with a heavy load of debt. For a number of years this kept increasing. On Dec. 31, 1914, the total liabilities of the school were $49,285.65. To pay the interest on this large sum was a serious financial burden to the college. During the early part of 1915 there was paid on the debt $15,435, and on Jan. 19, 1916, sufficient money was on hand to pay all the remainder of the indebtedness, without counting either outstanding pledges or annuities.

MAIN BUILDING, EMMANUEL MISSIONARY COLLEGE

As this school is really the oldest of our colleges, it is only fitting that it should be the first of our present colleges to sing the jubilee song. This encouraging result has been reached, not by the efforts of a few, but by the hearty co-operation of all our local conferences and other friends of the college. While the work has been hard, it has been very pleasant because all were united and willing.

In mentioning how this large sum of money was secured, we are happy to state that $3,000 of it was donated by the Review and Herald Publishing Association, $1,000 in 1915 and $2,000 in 1916. When the Review and Herald was moved from Battle Creek to Washington, D. C., some years ago, not a few prophesied that it would meet with great loss. It is certainly gratifying to know that our publishing house at Washington has prospered so well that it can return such a liberal sum to its old sister institution in Michigan.

In May, 1914, the teachers and students of the college began a definite attempt to clear away the debt. We have never seen another movement just like this, and so far as we know, nothing similar to it has ever been found in our schools. This effort of the school itself to help pay the debt has proved an excellent experience. The spirit, the enthusiasm, and the faith of the college people, meant more than the money raised, though this was not a small sum. When the college debt was apportioned, the students and teachers agreed to be responsible for $5,000.

Most of our local conferences and institutions in the Lake Union are burdened with debt, but in spite of this every conference joined heartily in the effort to clear the college. Some friends of the school contributed large sums. Several gave $1,000, others $500, and many more gave liberally. Some conferences paid their apportionment out of the return money of the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund; others raised the money in ways of their own. During 1915 we secured $123,838.27 on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund in the Lake Union Conference. This meant an increase over 1914 of $24,000, and was $6,692.67 over the twenty-cent-a-week quota. Out of this money sent to the Division Conference the Lake Union received back $36,522.59. A part of this was used in paying the college debt, though a share was applied on local liabilities.

We shall not soon forget the meeting in the college chapel at which the announcement was made that the college debt was paid. After several members of the board had spoken, a most encouraging testimony meeting, in which many took part, was enjoyed. Prof. O. J. Graf, the president of the school, spoke in behalf of teachers and students, and expressed their sincere and deep gratitude for the splendid liberality shown in completely wiping out the college debt. The assistant business manager, Brother Fred Green, recalled a Testimony that had come to Emmanuel Missionary College in its earlier days, while he was a

student there, in which Sister White wrote that the school at Berrien Springs would go through trying experiences, but that there were “better days ahead;” and he fully believed we had reached those “better days.” We quote a few other statements made by teachers and students:—

“The paying of the college debt so speedily is a symbol of the way God will quickly close up his work in the earth.”

“As our brethren and sisters receive back the money lent by them to our institutions, they will no doubt be moved to give more freely to the finishing of the Lord’s work.”

“The lessons that these students have learned in self-sacrifice and giving will make them more valuable workers when they take up their duties in the field.”

“This experience will help these young people to be lifters instead of leaners, and has given them a training that will help them to avoid debt as they take up responsibilities in other institutions.”

A student at the beginning of the effort had expressed his confident hope that he would be graduated from a college free from debt, and now, as president of the senior class, he gave thanks that his hope was to be a reality.

The Emmanuel Missionary College is situated very favorably out in the country, and yet on a car line between St. Joseph and Niles, Mich. Thus the students are not exposed to temptations as they would be in a town. The school has a strong faculty of experienced and godly instructors. There is a splendid spiritual influence and a deep missionary zeal in the institution. Of its forty graduates from all courses last year, twenty-two have entered the work, and fifteen are back in school for further study. Four graduates from the college course entered the ministry. The school owns a large farm, and has the best dairy herd we have ever seen at any school. Last year Emmanuel Missionary College gave work to students on the farm, in the printing plant, and in other industries, to the amount of $25,000. 'This is a great help to needy young people and to students’ parents of limited means. We are profoundly thankful to God and to our brethren because the college debt is paid, and we hope that erelong the beautiful banner of “Freedom From Debt” may float over every institution and association office in the Lake Union Conference. L. H. CHRISTIAN.