South Lancaster Academy, Melrose, and Attleboro
By Joel C. Rogers
It has been a great pleasure to me to spend my first week after landing in America in the Central New England Conference. As Elder W. B. White had invited me to visit South Lancaster Academy before going West, I took this opportunity of doing so. More than five years ago, on our way to Africa, my wife and I stopped at South Lancaster, it being the last visit before sailing. I can not remember ever having found gathered into one of our schools a more earnest and intelligent company of our youth. The school is full to overflowing, and all seem to realize that they are there for a definite purpose. After a short talk on “The Needed Preparation for Service,” by the writer, it was a hopeful indication that all the students, gathered at the Friday night service, arose in response to Professor Longacre’s question, “Who will volunteer for this wholly consecrated service anywhere in the world?” I understand that the New England Conference Committee has sanctioned the erection of a new building at the academy to accommodate the normal department. Apparently such a building is urgently needed, and no doubt the brethren of this whole conference will rally to raise the necessary funds. I believe our faithful people will gladly unite in this, after the amount required is carefully studied out with economy in plans, and laid before them for their support. It was a pleasure for me to place before the church and students the nature of mission work in Africa and to tell them of our good experiences in this work. Questions by students and others indicated a very intelligent interest in missions, as opportunity for questions was made the special feature of the young people’s society afternoon meeting As the written questions were read, the most frequent among them was, “Can young people be useful as missionaries in Africa?” My answer was: “Certainly; after their training is completed and a reasonable age of maturity reached, they can do excellent service as unmarried missionaries. In older missions there are many such workers in Central Africa at present.” It was my privilege to spend about three days with the Melrose Sanitarium family. A good work is being done both in the institution and in its vicinity. At Attleboro Sanitarium we found several friends of Battle Creek College days. Being invited to address the patients and family, I did so at an evening service. Here we found a young people’s society organized, and planning for active work in several bands. In a short meeting with them, we tried to encourage them in this good work. There seems a very hopeful outlook in this New England field.