C. C. LEWIS by C. C. Lewis

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1909

C. C. LEWIS

By C. C. Lewis

Historical Sketch of the Educational Work of Seventh-day Adventists—No. 1

Most of the early converts to this cause were Adventists who had been disappointed in the advent movement under William Miller. When the time passed and the disappointment was experienced, they fell out by the way; but the more earnest, devoted, and pious people among them began to look to the prophecies for special light to help them understand the disappointment. They embraced the Sabbath and kindred truths. They bore a great cross, and were very unpopular. Some took their children out of the public schools, as they still thought the Lord’s coming must be very near. They did not like the influences prevailing in the public schools; and Adventism was so unpopular that the children were often ridiculed and things made very uncomfortable for them. But after a few years had passed, and they had begun to see the great need of education, they again sent their children to school or arranged to teach them at home.

At a very early date, about 1857 or 1858, a sister by the name of Louise M. Morton taught the first church-school in Battle Creek, Mich., in the little church building erected on Cass Street, a few feet south of Elder S. H. Lane’s brick flat. She had all the children in the then small Battle Creek church. She taught a good school, charging twenty-five cents a week a scholar as remuneration. This sister had a liberal education and was a magazine writer. She did not remain long in Battle Creek; and when she left, the education of the children ceased for a time. In the summer of 1907 the writer visited her at the Old People’s Home, Battle Creek, Mich. But later, early in the sixties, a sister taught a select school in a kitchen in a house near the present Negro church on Van Buren Street. Not over twelve children attended this school. Still later, J. F. Byington taught a large parish school for the Seventh-day Adventist children in the church already mentioned, which was built by our people, and used by them for divine worship.

When the Health Institute was started in 1866, Prof. G. H. Bell, with health broken down, came there for treatment, a teacher from the schools of the world. He received help, both physical and spiritual, but especially spiritual help, and became an earnest believer in the truths of Seventh-day Adventists. This naturally drew his sympathies away from the public schools, and he began to see the importance of education among our own people. Elder and Mrs. James White and other leading laborers saw the necessity of some provision for the rising generation, and encouraged him to establish a private school in Battle Creek. Professor Bell’s school started small, in a building belonging to the Review and Herald, away down toward the Kalamazoo River. Quite a number of those prominent in the cause began their education under his instruction.

The school grew, and in a few years it became evident that increased facilities must be provided. As the great mass of those who had preached strongest against the advent movement were college-bred men, who used their educational advantages to do everything they could against the truth, there was a prejudice among many of the old believers against college education. Their minds were intensely religious, and the need of education was not so apparent to them, as the Lord’s coming was so soon expected. But after a period of years had passed, the more thoughtful ones began to study the subject of education, and to see the need of their children’s having its advantages. But there was not, by any means, a general desire to provide the facilities for education, such as we have seen since the college was started in Battle Creek. That introduced a very prominent feature of our work, which has been constantly developed by our people ever since.

The principal cause leading to the founding of Battle Creek College was the great need felt by the intelligent members of the denomination as they saw their children going to the world in spite of their home training, because of the influences brought to bear upon them in the public schools and in the higher institutions of learning. In many instances efforts were made to turn away our young people, and as they saw openings where they could make money (as young people will even before they leave school), they were thus caught out from under the influence of godly parents, and were swallowed up in the great maelstrom of pleasure seeking, pride, and worldliness. Love of the cause of God, and faithfulness in proclaiming the message to the world, were the leading motives that actuated our people in starting the educational work. It was indeed a work of self-preservation. If the aged laborers died, whence were the new workers to come, unless from our own families, brought up in the faith?