Berrien Springs, Mich by K. C. Russell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 23, 1909

Berrien Springs, Mich.

By K. C. Russell

WEDNESDAY evening, December 8, I spoke on religious liberty in the Emmanuel Missionary Training College chapel at Berrien Springs, Mich. It was one of the course of lectures to be delivered from the college platform during the present school year. The evening was exceedingly stormy, but notwithstanding this, there was a good attendance. This was my first visit to this school, and in spite of the storm, I enjoyed it very much.

The present enrolment in the college is about one hundred thirty. They seem to be an earnest class of students, and fully sense the purpose for which they are attending the school.

This school is certainly admirably situated, separated as it is from the many demoralizing attractions that prevail in every city and large town. I was especially interested to learn about the industrial

department connected with the school, and about the farm products, consisting of numerous kinds of fruits and vegetables. In the industrial and agricultural work lie great possibilities. Besides enabling our schools to supply a large portion of the food consumed, and furnishing a large amount for the market, it helps to solve the difficult financial problem of meeting the running expenses.

Owing to the fact that I had an appointment to meet in Chicago, I was obliged to leave the next forenoon, immediately after addressing the students during the chapel exercises. I spoke on the present aspect of the religious liberty work, and the need of all doing what they could in enlightening the people on the true principles of religious liberty.

I was gratified to learn that the Bible teacher, Elder W. E. Videto, is conducting special studies, in which is presented the principles of religious liberty. This is a step in the right direction, and should be adopted in all our schools. If the religious liberty work, or the warning against the beast, his image, and the reception of his mark, is the message for this time, why should we not give it more than simply a passing notice in our schools by teaching a class in civil government? This is no more than any ordinary public school is doing, which is not blessed with the principles that God has committed to us. With the aid of the excellent material that can be secured on religious liberty,—the revised edition of “American State Papers,” which is a veritable encyclopedia on this subject, the magazine Liberty, the Protestant Magazine, and the Religious Liberty Leaflets,—we have ample data to equip one in teaching these principles.

Prof. O. J. Graf, the principal of the Emmanuel Missionary College, and the other members of the faculty, are of the best courage in their work. Do not forget in your prayers those who are carrying the responsibility of our schools, from our colleges down to the church-schools. K. C. RUSSELL.