South Lancaster Academy by Sara J. Hall

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 1, 1906

South Lancaster Academy

By Sara J. Hall

Nearly a quarter of a century has passed since the founding of the South Lancaster Academy, now the Atlantic Union Conference school; but no year in all this number has found so many earnest young men and women within its walls at the beginning of the school year. It is evident to the faculty and those acquainted with the spirit of order and quiet prevailing throughout the school, as well as by the unusually large number in attendance, that the missionary key-note, struck at the educational convention held at College View, has found a hearty response in this Eastern country. A genuine missionary spirit prevails among the students in the planning of all their work and study.

This good spirit has been strengthened by the visits of Elder Wm. Guthrie, president of the Maritime Conference, and Prof. J. L. Shaw, who is on his way back to India, there again to take up the work he has been obliged to leave for a time. The talks of these brethren have been inspiring and helpful to both teachers and students.

The friends of our school, as well as all who are interested in these far-away mission fields, will be glad to know that another member of the academy, Miss Bertha King, a graduate of last year, will accompany Professor Shaw to India, there to join Dr. Marsh in her work for the people. Dr. Lucinda Marsh, one of our former teachers, is a missionary to India, sent, and supported at present, by the members of our Young People's Society. Many others of our students are looking to this needy field, studying and planning to go when their preparation is finished, and the call comes for them. Naturally, this great field lies very near to the hearts of all our people in South Lancaster; for here, as teachers in the school, Brother D. A. Robinson and his wife, who have given their lives so nobly to the cause in India, lived and labored. But other fields, too, are not forgotten,—the needy Southern field has its earnest student preparing for the work there; a class in Spanish has been provided for those desiring to prepare for fields where this language is needed.

Last year there went out from the school over forty young men and women, to engage in various branches of our denominational work. We are hoping that this number may be more than doubled the coming summer. There is a great work to be done in the finishing of this message, even in the Eastern portion of the United States; and from our schools here, there must go forth, each year, an earnest company of workers to spread the message in the home land, and so prepare to carry it to foreign lands.

The Lord seems to be blessing us, not only by giving us a large school, but by working upon the hearts of the students by his Holy Spirit, and thus preparing them for service in the cause of the Master. Already there have been remarkable conversions. Some of our pupils whom we have taken to the Lord in prayer for years, have just decided to give their lives to the Master; and on the Sabbath, October 20, in our little church, seven were baptized, thus witnessing to the world of their faith in a crucified and risen Saviour. The Lord was with us, and the day was one long to be remembered because of the sweet, solemn influence of his Holy Spirit.

The faculty feel that their pleasures and privileges are great. To be co-workers with our students in preparing the world for the coming King, in helping to send the gospel of peace to the dark corners of the earth, is no ordinary work.

One feature of our school which may be worthy of mention, is our seminars. There are three of these,—one for the young men, one for the young women, and one for those who are preparing for teaching. The young men in their seminar consider the work of the ministry and preaching; the young ladies study the Bible work and the giving of Bible readings; the teachers study the methods of conducting successful class recitations and the management of schools. These seminars meet at least once in two weeks. The young men deliver sermons and addresses, under criticism, and discuss the plans and methods of best prosecuting the work of the ministry. The young ladies work along the same line, giving Bible readings. Those who are preparing for teaching do actual class work, under criticism. Members of the faculty are associated with these students in their work, and as a result the students are not only benefited in a practical way, but there is a live spirit begotten in our school in these important lines of denominational work. These seminars have been conducted for several years, and have been of much help to our students and to the school.

SARA J. HALL.