Convention of the Educational Department of the General Conference by L. A. Hoopes; Frederick Griggs

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 30, 1903

Convention of the Educational Department of the General Conference

By L. A. Hoopes; Frederick Griggs

LAST week's REVIEW contained a report of the convention until Monday night, June 15. Throughout the entire week the weather has been perfect, and nature has certainly done everything possible to make the convention a pleasant occasion.

Tuesday was a marked day in our work. The early morning meeting was led by Elder Daniells. He read from recent communications received from Sister White, regarding our work. These communications emphasized the thought that when the keynote of our message is struck by all in all departments of the work, and when the near coming of the Lord is proclaimed with faith and power, marked results in people turning to the truth will certainly be seen, and there will be a decided advance in the work of this message. Elder Daniells made earnest remarks concerning the importance of our believing and heeding this instruction. At eight o'clock the same subject was continued, and many spoke of their belief in the instruction which had been given.

At ten o'clock the regular program was laid aside, and Professor Prescott took up a consideration of the application of this keynote of our message, which is the near coming of the Lord, showing how this thought is the one thought that runs throughout the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, and how it should be emphasized in all our teaching. A very profitable general discussion followed his talk.

This same subject was again considered at the afternoon meeting, the regular program again being laid aside. Some earnest remarks were made by Professor Cady and others. A season of prayer was held during the meeting, in which light was sought for a further understanding of these things.

Following the season of prayer, a spirit of confession came into the meeting, and there was a wonderful movement on the part of all present to draw together and to see eye to eye. It was not that we should renounce our individuality, but that we should concede to our brother the same right to work out these problems of education in his own field as the Lord may direct him, and feel a deep sympathy with him, even though he does not work upon exactly the same plans and with the same methods that we do.

At eight o'clock in the evening Prof. B. E. Nicola addressed the convention upon the subject of our school work in the South. He gave a clear exposition of the conditions surrounding the educational work in the South, not only for the colored people, for whom he is working, but for the white people as well. He spoke of the difficulties which they had to meet in Huntsville in maintaining a training-school for colored people, the constituency for such a school from our people being small, as we have only four or five hundred colored Sabbath-keepers in the whole South.

The question of the support of this school and its work was presented. The needs for financial help for the introduction of industries was also spoken of. At the close of his remarks, a collection was taken, in which over one hundred dollars was received.

At six o'clock Wednesday morning, the members of the convention, led by Brother H. W. Carr, of New York, again met, and engaged in a season of earnest prayer for God's blessing to rest upon them during the day.

At eight o'clock the report of the Committee on History was submitted. The committee suggested that a teachers' manual on the teaching of elementary history from the Bible be prepared for our church schools; that a text-book in United States history, beginning with the rise of Protestantism, and written on the basis of true principles and prophecy, be also prepared; that a general history, comprising a year's course, modeled on the general divisions of subject and treatment after Elder Jones's three books on history, be prepared, and that Elder Jones be asked to furnish for publication in pamphlet form an essay on the Philosophy of History. These recommendations were adopted.

At ten o'clock Brethren H. A. Washburn, H. W. Carr, and N. W. Kauble presented the subject of industrial work. Many most excellent thoughts were given, among which it was suggested that our intermediate schools should not be constructed on too large a plan, and that they should be industrial, the chief industry being agriculture. At a later meeting of the convention the Committee on Industrial Work presented the following resolution, which was adopted: “In view of the increasing need of teachers qualified to teach both literary and industrial classes, we recommend to our young people interested in the work of teaching that they seek a good preparation in industrial training.”

At three o'clock Brethren E. A. Sutherland, H. W. Cottrell, E. T. Russell, C. W. Flaiz, and William Covert discussed before the convention the subject of the Support of Church Schools. There was a general discussion of this same subject at the six o'clock meeting, Thursday morning. A committee was appointed on this subject, whose report was embodied in a later report of the Committee on Organization. The general suggestions made in their report with reference to the support of our church schools were that they were to be supported by tuition from parents, gifts from church-members, gifts from the conference, and the second tithe. No one general line to the exclusion of others was fully adopted. It was felt that the responsibility rested, first, upon parents; second, upon the church; and third, on the conference; that in the establishing of a school its support should be arranged for according to local conditions and means.

At the Wednesday evening meeting, Brother W. A. Spicer spoke on Education for Missions, and Elder A. G. Daniels upon the Supplying of Workers for the Field, speaking particularly with reference to the need of teachers for our foreign schools.

On Thursday morning at eight o'clock the Committee on Organization rendered its report. It provided for a thorough system for the management of our school work from the General Conference through union and State conferences to the church and home. The work of the General Conference and of the union and State conferences is advisory, except in the matter of union and State conference schools, where they naturally would have executive authority. This leaves upon the church the responsibility of conducting its schools under the advice and counsel of the conference management. The report provided for an Educational Department of the General Conference, which was to be related in its work to all union fields and general organizations alike, for educational secretaries for the union and State conferences. It also outlined regular means for the study, development, and support of our educational work throughout the world. This report was adopted.

Thursday evening Dr. W. B. Holden gave a very practical and helpful lecture upon Education for Medical Missionary Work. He emphasized the thought that the education should be practical, and that students should be sent forth with an ability to adapt themselves to whatever conditions they may meet.

Friday was largely taken up in the consideration of reports from committees. Mention has already been made of some of these reports which were adopted at this time. The Committee on Courses of Study

submitted its report. This report embraced also a portion of the report of the Committee on Text-books. A course of instruction for our schools from the beginners' grade to the tenth was outlined and adopted by the convention. It was not intended that this report should be absolute or binding upon our schools, but merely suggestive. The Committee on Text-books also rendered its report, one prominent feature of which was the encouragement of the preparation of suitable text-books for all grades of our school work.

In the evening an address upon Discipline was given by Frederick Griggs.

Sabbath, W. W. Prescott preached the closing sermon of the convention. The subject was the Reward of Service. At 6 P. M. the members of the convention met for a farewell meeting. This meeting was led by Elder Daniells. All united in expressing the feeling that the meeting had been a source of great help and encouragement, and that we could reasonably look for advancement in our educational work throughout the world as its result.

A report of the convention is being prepared, and will be published shortly in pamphlet form. Announcement will be made in the REVIEW of the price, and where it can be obtained when it is ready for distribution.

L. A. Hoopes, Chairman. FREDERICK GRIGGS, Sec. of Educational Department.