The Opening of Our Schools by H. R. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 10, 1910

The Opening of Our Schools

By H. R. S.

I AM glad to add a further report of the opening of our schools throughout America. During opening week I was able to give a few words concerning Union College, but have received from Mrs. Winifred P. Rowell, the head of the English department, a more complete report:—

Twentieth Opening of Union College

“More than a month has passed since Union College entered on the twentieth year of its service to the young people of this denomination.

“For several days before the opening, the teachers and heads of industrial departments had spent daily seasons together in prayer and counsel for the best interests of the work. On Wednesday they met for a short season of prayer before the chapel exercises. As the teachers filed to their places on the rostrum, and the waiting student body rose to join in the grand hymn, “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” God’s presence was manifest in a marked manner. The opening exercises consisted of an address of welcome by the president, followed by short talks by several members of the faculty. Mrs. Shepherd, the preceptress, who has returned to Union College after an absence of many years, touched a tender chord in her invitation to the students, especially those away from their homes, to recognize in her a friend who would give, whenever needed, a mother’s counsel and comfort.

“After the chapel service, students began to register. During the first week, the registration reached nearly two hundred, which compares very favorably with previous years, in spite of the absence of the students of the foreign departments. The enrolment does not include the pupils of the model school, which is carried on in the college building in the rooms left vacant by the foreign departments.

“The daily prayer-meetings of the faculty and the students have been an important factor in securing these blessings to us. In the other religious exercises of the school a spirit of deep consecration has been present. The first Sabbath was marked by several as a decision day, and at every Friday night students’ prayer-meeting, several have signified their desire for prayer. Some have already asked for baptism. These are omens of good; and though we realize that Satan will do his utmost to defeat the work God would have accomplished here, we are of good courage in the knowledge that the work is not ours, but God’s.”

Fernando Academy

Prof. H. G. Lucas writes:—

“This school opened September 14, with a large attendance. There was a time when the Fernando Academy stood almost alone in the Pacific Union territory as a training-school. With the starting of the Loma Linda, Lodi, and Pacific Union schools, however, it appeared as if this school would be seriously hindered in its progress. But time has proved that the academy has developed strength from which it need not turn back. The excellent work done in the school is shown by so many young people coming here to receive the benefits of the institution.”

“During the past summer a new building was erected, with accommodations for sixteen persons. The opening of the school showed the wisdom of providing the additional rooms for young men. Last year we had about twenty-five young men as an average attendance. This year the academy building is accommodating twenty-nine, the normal building thirteen, and the annex eight, making fifty young men in all these buildings. The largest number of young men ever in the homes before was thirty-four.”

“The young women’s dormitory is about full, and will be more than filled when those arrive who have written that they will come. About one hundred students and teachers now take their meals in the dining-room of the academy. One hundred ten are enrolled in the academic department, and seventy-five in the normal school; the prospects are good for an enrolment of two hundred.”

“Our new teachers are taking hold of the work well, and the school is better organized than ever before. For the first time we are starting an educational industrial department, and require each student to take an industrial study with his other four studies.”

Of the work at the—

Adelphian Academy

at Holly, Mich., Principal E. F. Dresser reports:—

“Our school opened with a good attendance and a very pleasing spirit among the students and teachers. The attendance has increased from the beginning, and we now have an enrolment of fifty-six, and expect others soon. The ninth grade is the largest in the history of the school, so the outlook for a successful school year is encouraging indeed.

“The spiritual interest was never better. Our Friday evening prayer-meetings are seasons of refreshing. Our hearts rejoice to see almost the entire school take part in these meetings, and place themselves on the side of truth.”

Principal J. L. Stansbury, of the—

Williamsdale Academy

in Nova Scotia, writes:—

“I am pleased to report a prosperous outlook for our school. This year we enrolled twelve students the first day, while last year only seven students presented themselves for admission on the opening day. At this date last year we had only thirteen students, while at present we have twenty-six enrolled. We feel certain that before 1911 our enrolment will reach thirty. We have with us three students who are not Adventists, and whose parents are not Adventists; but they act in harmony with our plan of school work, and engage willingly in our religious services. I feel sure that already the truth is having an influence on their lives. We are very thankful that our students are nearly all earnest Christians, and that a good Christian influence prevails in the school. The outlook financially is much better than last year, and the school farm has never before produced such a large crop of hay and grain.”

This good report from Williamsdale will be welcome news to our people in eastern Canada and Newfoundland. Brother and Sister J. L. Stansbury have won the confidence of all by their unceasing efforts to make the school a blessing to that field.

H. R. S.