The Relations of the Washington Training College and South Lancaster Academy
By Frederick Griggs
It seems fitting that a few words be said with reference to the relation of these two schools. They are both situated in the eastern portion of the United States, and both exist for the express purpose of preparing workers for this message. South Lancaster Academy was established under the direction of the Lord. It had been running over twenty years when the Lord gave direct message that at Washington another training-school should be established. Now God does not speak amiss, and this is our evidence that both of these schools belong in this territory, and have a great and important work to do. It has been by no small effort that the people of the territory now embraced in the Atlantic Union Conference have maintained South Lancaster Academy both financially and educationally, in carrying on its work. This school has probably never been filled to its fullest extent, and it is but natural that those who have for years been endeavoring to maintain it, in its God-given work, should have some fear as to whether the establishment of another training-school, doing more advanced work in this territory, would not have a somewhat harmful effect upon it. On the other hand, there have been those who have had confidence that because God had ordained the work of both of these schools, it was good that they should both be where they are. Together, these schools have a capacity, in their homes, of about two hundred and fifty students. Now there are at least four times that number of young men and women in the Atlantic Union Conference alone whose age and qualifications are such as to make it a real duty for them to be away from their own homes, and to be in these school homes, attending one or the other of these schools, directly preparing for advanced work in the Master's cause. This is another evidence that both of these schools are needed where they have been placed. From one point of view the Washington Training College has a field of operation that is world wide. It was established in connection with the work at Washington, under the direct instruction of the Lord. With this school are associated those men and women whose work extends throughout all the earth. It is the avowed purpose of this school to give such a thorough course of instruction as will enable its graduates to do effectively the gospel work in any portion of the world. Because of these facts there will naturally come to it students not only from all portions of the United States, but from distant portions of the world. But, nevertheless, it would seem that for a time at least, and perhaps as long as it shall carry on its work, this school will draw the major part of its students from the territory within the Atlantic Union Conference. This is so not only from its location, but from the further fact that our other training-schools have in mind, and are fitting their students directly for, this world-wide work; and it is well that they are, for no one school can begin to prepare the great number of workers that are needed for this finishing work. Years ago the spirit of prophecy said that the message would return to the East in power, and the fact that in these latter years it has instructed that the school at Washington shall be established, in addition to the one already in existence, is, indeed, direct evidence that the message is returning to the East in power. Nearly one third of the population of the United States is within the territory of the Atlantic Union Conference, and there is a mighty work to be done here in the closing work of this message. This constitutes another call for both of these schools. It, then, remains for the rank and file of our people in the East to set in motion all the denominational machinery to place our young men and women who should be in school, in one or the other of these training-schools, and it is not too late for much more to be accomplished in this direction during this school year. Then let us all work to build up the interests of both of these schools, for the rapidity with which this present truth is spreading, particularly in the East, and indeed in all the world, depends very much upon the successful work which they shall do. Those in charge of the Washington school have recognized something of the feeling of fear which has existed with reference to the effect of their work upon South Lancaster Academy, and as a result have not pushed the interests of their school, in this territory, so enthusiastically as they might otherwise have done; but we trust that any such feeling may be laid aside, and that we shall all do our utmost to build up the interests of this new and important school.