Emmanuel Missionary College by J. H. Haughey

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1911

Emmanuel Missionary College

By J. H. Haughey

When a young person asks for admission to one of our schools, the questions arise: What is his past record? what is his present standing and character? what is his desire? what is his purpose for the future? are his qualifications, physically, intellectually, and morally, such as to fit him for a place in the school? And just as naturally, on the other hand, and just as rightfully, too, the young man or young woman may inquire: What is the history of this institution? what is its character? what is it doing for the physical, intellectual, and moral uplift of those who come to it? how well is it filling its mission? and what product is it sending forth? If the ideals and work of the institution are in harmony with the ideals and purpose of the individual, the question of entrance is settled.

It is the purpose of this article briefly to mention some of the things Emmanuel Missionary College stands for, what it has done and is doing. As is well known, it is the successor of the Battle Creek College; and it is now about ten years since the General Conference of 1901 unanimously decided to dispose of the buildings of that institution, and locate in the country. This action was taken as being necessary to the proper giving and receiving of a balanced education.

The college stands for the maintenance and development of the physical powers. This is accomplished by the performance of domestic duties by all the students, and by work in the cooking and sewing departments, in the broom-shop, in the carpentry department, in the printing-office, and in the agricultural, horticultural, and gardening departments of the farm. In every depart-ment the work is of an educative character, looking toward the promotion of habits of promptness, neatness, thoroughness, accuracy, and rapidity of execution; as also toward the strengthening of the attributes of faith, hope, courage, patience, and perseverance, all of which are necessary to the triumphs of success.

Indeed, a proper amount of physical exercise is demonstrated to be conducive to the healthful growth not only of the physical powers, but also of all the mental faculties and the spiritual graces. In every department a certain number of hours' work is required of each student as an apprentice, for which he receives no pay. When he reaches that degree of proficiency which makes his work remunerative, he receives a reasonable wage, which enables him, in part, to defray his expenses while obtaining an education.

Industrial Departments

Cooking, sewing, and the cultivation of flowers are provided especially for the young ladies; but to learn how to do plain sewing, and how to prepare a good, substantial meal, it is the privilege of every student in the school.

The broom-making department furnishes material financial aid to several students.

In the carpentry shop the student is taught how to saw, plane, make a joint, and, if it should become necessary, how to erect an entire building.

Students in printing learn typesetting, in connection with proof-reading and composition in the English department. Some also learn to do presswork. The volume of work in this department has more than doubled during the past two years, and it is crowded to its utmost capacity.

The college farm consists of 264 acres, about seventy acres of which is in fruit, 120 acres in cultivation for farm and garden products, and the remainder in wood and pasture. The soil is being brought up by the raising of leguminous crops, such as clovers and peas. In the dairy herd there are twelve cows, which produce an average of about two hundred pounds of milk a day throughout the year. The herd, which consists of Guernsey and Jersey grades, is run for quality and quantity of milk, “and there is not a single star boarder in the herd.” The average test of the milk is above five; that is, five pounds of butter fat to one hundred pounds of milk. This is considered a high test. Instruction is given to students in connection with the work done. Poultry-raising also constitutes a part of the work of this department. At present buff and white leghorns are the predominating breeds. An accurate record is kept of each farm crop, of each cow in the herd, and of the poultry department, showing the amount of outlay and of income, so as readily to determine the sources of losses and gains.

While the spirit of commercialism is avoided, yet the principles of thrift and economy are carried out in every part of the work in each department. This is illustrated in the keeping of bees for gathering the nectar and fertilizing the flowers of the orchards and certain farm crops, and also by the manufacture of maple-sirup. On the farm there are about five hundred maple-trees large enough for tapping. A steam-evaporator is in use, and a superior article is produced.

When Baum's scale reads 32°, the temperature of the liquid being 60° F., a gallon of sirup weighs eleven pounds, and is ready to be taken off. At this time, the boiling-point of the sirup is 219° F. When the boiling-point registers 238° F., it is ready to sugar.

Opportunities for Summer Employment

In the fruit department the student who takes a special interest in his work, and becomes expert, is urged to remain in the employ of the department for the summer season, after which he may be asked to take charge of portions of the work, thus gaining experience as an instructor. In this way, he is prepared to take the direction of similar work in other of our institutions. The cannery, which is a branch of this department, has proved a success, as is evident from the fact that it has supplied practically all the fruits and vegetables for the college dining-room, besides making large shipments of canned fruit to some of our sanitariums, both in the Lake Union Conference and in other conferences. Large quantities of natural fertilizer are being purchased for the gardening department this spring. Intensive rather than extensive methods are followed, as being more successful, from both a financial and an educational point of view.

This department is using a sprayer equipped with a three-horsepower gasoline engine, a two-hundred-gallon tank, and a ten-foot tower, so that the spray can be thrown to a sufficient height to reach the top of the tallest trees. Spraying has become an absolute necessity for San Jose scale, for fungus growths, and for insect pests. Spraying for the scale is begun before the buds open in the spring; for fungus growths and insect pests, during the spring and summer months, with repetitions from time to time, until within a few weeks before the picking of the fruit.

Thorough Class Work Required

The intellectual work is strong and thorough in every department. Bible study stands first, there being one distinctive Bible class in either the English Bible or ancient language department for every year of the course. The preparation of Bible readings is a part of the work of the advanced class in Bible doctrines. Some of the members of this class are holding a series of Sunday-evening meetings, giving a course of lectures in a country schoolhouse a few miles from the college. Quite an interest is being awakened, the attendance increasing from week to week. Prof. W. E. Videto, who is in charge of the Bible department, has in preparation a series of lessons on Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the minor prophets, for use in Bible classes.

The work of the English department is thorough and efficient in every way, and is sufficient for the needs of workers in any part of the Lord's vineyard. In every recitation, in every class, it is endeavored to emphasize the fundamentals recommended by the General Conference, Educational Convention,—spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

In the mathematical department, the work is intended to give all that is necessary for use in the study of the sciences, as taught in our schools.

In the modern language department, strong work is being done in German. Next year we hope to give Spanish.

The music department is well equipped with instruments, having five pianos, four of which are new, and a large vocalion.

In the ancient languages, Latin is offered for its special use in the study of English, in the study of the sciences, for medical students, and for its help to those who expect to enter foreign fields. Greek and Hebrew are taught for the purpose of enabling the student to do critical reading of the Holy Scriptures in the original, as well as for their help in laying a foundation for the study of other languages.

The library contains about thirty-four hundred volumes, and is used for original research by many students in almost all classes.

The commercial department gives not only the principles of bookkeeping, but also business practise. The head of this department has collated about seventy-five typewritten pages of passages in the Bible and Testimonies, with quotations from other influential sources, setting forth Christian business principles. This is used in connection with the regular drills in the commercial classes. It is well classified, and would make good reading for any one who is, or ever may be, engaged in any line of business.

The shorthand department is growing steadily, showing a good increase in enrolment over last year. Besides being a mental drill without a superior, the mastery of shorthand is one of the best stepping-stones to positions of responsibility in such lines as reporting, teaching, and editorial work. The openings and opportunities for well-educated, well-qualified shorthand writers are almost unlimited. More strong, bright, Christian young people should take up this work.

Financial Condition

Financially, the school has prospered during the past three years. For 1909 the ledger showed a gain of $1,500; for 1910, of $2,700. This year it is expected that there will be no loss, although since the reincorporation the operating department has taken over the indebtedness of the old Seventh-day Adventist Educational Association, and has assumed the payment of interest on these debts. This, together with the loss of nearly all the fruit on account of the freeze during the spring of 1910, has made the year an especially hard one.

The attendance is gradually increasing from year to year, the enrolment for the year just closed being 160.

The Higher Interests

But the spiritual interests in the school stand uppermost in the minds of all the workers. On Tuesday morning of each week the chapel service is given to the school for meetings of the canvassers', foreign missionary, and Missionary Volunteer bands, while on each Thursday morning the chapel service is given to the special seeking of the Lord in prayer divisions, the faculty meeting apart from the students every alternate week. Both the band meetings and the social services are attended by practically all the students. On other mornings, chapel talks are given not only on topics of interest in the general work of the school, but on instructive topics, such as the lives of great missionaries, like Carey and Morrison; of Reformers, like Luther and Melanchthon; and of statesmen, like Washington and Lincoln, as well as on other topics of general interest in the religious, social, and political worlds. These are given by both teachers and students.

The church-school has been turned over to the college, and is under the supervision of the head of the normal department. In it the normal students are getting practical experience.

The Friday evening social service is perhaps the most interesting and profitable of the week. The Young People's Missionary Volunteer meetings are held Sabbath afternoons, and are one means of developing consecrated workers for the field.

Much benefit also comes to the school from the visits of our leading brethren who come to the institution from time to time to attend institutes, conventions, and other general meetings, or who stop a few days as they pass through these parts. Their earnest talks stir up the missionary spirit among students and teachers, and lead them to renewed consecration to the great work of giving the gospel to the world in this generation.

Each summer there is held a summer school of six weeks' duration. The time for opening this school the coming summer is set for June 14. Those who attend receive credit on the college records for all work successfully completed. Any desiring further information as to the work of the college may obtain it by corresponding with the president, Prof. O. J. Graf, Berrien Springs, Mich.

J. H. HAUGHEY.