The Twenty-sixth Opening of Union College by R. A. Underwood

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 5, 1916

The Twenty-sixth Opening of Union College

By R. A. Underwood

The readers of the Review will be interested to learn something of the prospects of Union College for the year 1916-17. This institution has turned the corner stone of a quarter of a century. It opened its doors for students September 14, for the twenty-sixth year of its operation as a training center for the denomination. Last year the school made ten per cent gain in attendance over any period since the separation of the foreign departments, about six or seven years ago. The present opening indicates an increase over last year, at least the enrolment at the present date is considerably in advance of the corresponding period last year. We cannot always tell for certain what the attendance will be until two or three weeks are past, as a number of students — those engaged in canvassing and some others — are a little late in coming.

The first meeting of the student body with the faculty was held on Wednesday evening, September 13, in the large chapel. An address of welcome was made by the president, Prof. H. A. Morrison, and short addresses were given by Profs. C. L. Benson, W. W. Ruble, J. I. Beardsley, and others. Quite a number of students were present for the first time.

The meeting on Friday evening was one of special interest. It was conducted by the president of the college. Some anxiety on the part of the managers of the school had been expressed that the first Sabbath after the opening of the school in Union College should prove to be a great blessing, not only to the student body, but to the entire College View church. College View has grown in population, and a large number of our people are now living in the town or in its vicinity. Most of these are very devoted, earnest people.

Considerable anxiety had been manifested on the part of the church with reference to its ability to conduct a strong church school in coöperation with the normal department of the college, for the reason that during the past two or three years quite a large deficit had accumulated in carrying on the church school. However, the opening of the church school was encouraging, and showed quite a large increase of students in this department, and sufficient means was provided to make the school self-sustaining.

The Sabbath school, as usual, was opened in the college with an attendance of nearly all the students, filling the large chapel almost full.

The services at the eleven-o'clock hour on Sabbath were conducted by the writer. An endeavor was made to place before the church, the student body, and the teachers, the responsibility resting upon each individual, especially in view of the location of Union College in this place. An appeal was made to the members of the faculty, to the student body, and to the church members, to dedicate themselves anew to God for service, to consecrate their all upon the altar of service, and to indicate the same by coming forward. Every member of the faculty and hundreds of students came forward and stood in front of the large audience. Then, before the consecration prayer was offered, we appealed to those in the congregation who would unite with these teachers and students in seeking God to rise to their feet. Many eyes were filled with tears as we stood and implored God for his blessing and grace to rest upon the church, and upon the students and teachers connected with the college.

After this service the faculty had a most precious meeting together. This was followed by an assembly of young people in the chapel at four o'clock, where was conducted a round table talk suggesting various ways by which the students as well as teachers could be more helpful in their efforts to make effectual the motto adopted, 'Every student in Union College for Christ, and to be ready for service at Christ's call.'

The faculty as well as the students gave expression to their purpose in a united effort to make the work of Union College this year the best in the salvation of souls and in the uplifting of the cause of Christ that it has ever experienced.

As the school starts out this year for the first time in its history with the burden and load of debt rolled away, its faculty possessed with one purpose, its patrons praying in its behalf, and its students making a united effort, we shall hope to see the most successful year in soul-winning and in preparation for service that this noble institution has ever had in its history of a quarter of a century.

R. A. Underwood.