Washington Training College by J. W. Lawhead

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 7, 1907

Washington Training College

By J. W. Lawhead

PERHAPS there is no one feature of the work of this institution more interesting than its missionary society, nor is there one that will more clearly and definitely set forth the spirit of the school and the object and purposes of the students who are here assembled. The society was organized soon after the opening of the school year, and the usual work of a missionary society, which finds expression in sending out periodicals and tracts, was taken up with a will. Many thousand pages of literature have been mailed, letters have been sent to those who were known or supposed to be interested in the gospel truths held by this people, and some very interesting and helpful replies have been received.

While this work has been carried forward in an aggressive manner, much thought and study have been given to the question of how best to engage in personal missionary labor; and as a result, quite a number of young people are going out and making missionary visits, holding Bible readings with interested groups, and some of the young men have regular appointments for preaching, where they meet fair-sized audiences and are interesting the people.

As a result of this work, these young workers have been very much encouraged and strengthened, for it is by exercise that we grow, and every note of advance or of success is hailed with delight by all; and as the young people begin to realize that they can do a work which the Master will accept, a deepening interest in the missionary cause is manifested. Already fruit of this work has been seen, several having begun to keep the Sabbath. Others are deeply interested, and are moving forward as rapidly as could be expected, accepting point after point of our faith, and there is good reason to believe that by the close of the school year, several more will have taken their stand for the full truth.

In connection with this actual missionary effort, studies have been conducted in which the different mission fields have been considered, where the opening providences of God have been traced in such a way as not simply to entertain, but to interest the members of the society in these mission fields. Thus far, studies upon the following fields have been conducted: China, South America, South Africa, the West Indies, Mexico, Spain, Abyssinia, Australia, and Canada. These studies have been conducted in part by our missionaries who have been in the foreign work, partly by our teachers, and partly by the students, who are manifesting the deepest interest in this work. While studying the foreign fields, it has been thought advisable to consider the home interests as well, and at the present time the society is in the midst of a study of the work in our Southern States. Two, or perhaps three, weeks will be

consumed upon this study; and as this work is largely conducted by students who are from the South, they can speak from their own knowledge of conditions as they actually exist, and of openings and opportunities before our people at the present time. We trust the blessing of the Lord will so rest upon this effort that not a few of our young people will develop an interest in the work in the Southland and be ready to volunteer to take part in it as soon as school closes.

These studies on our different mission fields will be continued during the entire school year, and they are undertaken for the twofold purpose of informing ourselves in regard to the work in the various countries studied, and also with the hope that God will lay upon hearts a burden for labor in some of these very needy countries. If this latter result be accomplished, we shall rejoice and feel that the Lord has indeed blessed his school to the good of mankind and to his own glory.

As we look over this band of sixty or seventy earnest, consecrated, and godly young men and women, and reflect that they are but representative of a much larger number of youth who are in our denominational schools receiving their education and training for actual work, we can but rejoice in the mercy and the providences of God in providing these institutions where our young people may become informed in regard to the needs of the present day, where their hearts may be stirred with a desire to respond to the calls for help, and where they will enlist and go rapidly to the front in carrying the knowledge of this gospel to all the world.

J. W. LAWHEAD.