Notes on the Educational and Missionary Volunteer Council
By Frederick Griggs
Our council at St. Helena, Cal., opened under most auspicious circumstances. Nearly every delegate was present at the vesper service conducted by Elder I. H. Evans. It was a calm, beautiful evening, and the peace of God seemed in a marked manner to rest upon this opening service of the council at the beginning of the holy Sabbath. Following vespers, words of welcome were spoken by Pres. C. W. Irwin of the Pacific Union College, where the council was held. Responses were made by Prof. M. E. Kern and the writer. Elder E. E. Andross, the president of the Pacific Union Conference, then gave a most stirring and appropriate address on “The Demands of Our Times.” Sabbath was an excellent day. The sermon in the forenoon by Elder I. H. Evans on “The Problems of Our Young People and Our Message,” and the consecration service in the afternoon, having as the leading thought the motto of the Missionary Volunteers, “For the Love of Christ Constraineth Us,” led by Elder Meade MacGuire, were occasions of great spiritual value. At the very beginning of our meeting, there came into the council a very firm purpose to consecrate anew and in a special way our life efforts to the education and training of our children and youth for the work of rescuing all honest souls from the maelstrom of doubt and unbelief, war and strife, into whose vortex the whole world is being rapidly drawn. The evening after the Sabbath, the secretaries of the Volunteer and Educational Departments read to the council papers which they had prepared, outlining the work of the council as related to their departments. Thus was our council opened. In the general arrangement of time for the program, the Educational Department had two sessions to each one of the Missionary Volunteer. This division seemed necessary owing to the large amount of technical work which the Educational Department was obliged to give consideration to at this council. There are thirteen standing committees which were appointed at the time of the last General Conference. These committees are as follows: Elementary standards, science equipment, library, standards, Bible courses, courses of study, textbooks, certification, blank forms, industrial credits, auxiliary organizations, normal library, and normal equipment. The topics on the program were presented largely by papers. These papers were well written and unusually strong, showing that much time and effort had been put forth in their preparation. We never had such excellent papers and helpful discussions in any of the previous conventions or councils of these departments. The Pacific Union Conference and the Pacific Union College showed the utmost kindness and courtesy to the delegates at the council. Nothing was left undone to make our stay here agreeable. Upon their arrival the delegates were immediately directed to their rooms, which had been previously assigned. Everything, from the hearty welcome given the delegates as they arrived, by Elder Andross of the union conference and President Irwin of the college, to the excellent home care by the preceptress, Miss Andre, and the matron, Mrs. Robbins, was all one might wish, and more than might be expected. There were in attendance at the council about fifty delegates. Many visitors also came in. The delegates were seated in a body in the central part of the college chapel; and with delegates and visitors, we had an average attendance of from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five. Many of the delegates had never been in California before, and they enjoyed the beauties of California scenery to the full. We are glad that our teachers could have the opportunity of visiting this portion of the country. The decisions made at the council are certain to have important results in connection with the work of these two departments of our great cause.