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An Interesting Letter

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 16, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 33.

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An Interesting Letter

By V. O. Cole

The Oklahoma Tract Society offered the students of Keene (Tex.) Academy a year’s scholarship if they would sell one hundred and ninety dollars’ worth of our books, and turn the entire proceeds over to the tract society. Several have started out to secure the scholarship during the summer vacation, and the following letter is from Brother R. P. Montgomery, who is one of this number, and who has averaged more than one hundred dollars’ worth of orders a week since May 30.
The letter is headed, “At Summer School,” and reads as follows:—
“Concerning the canvassing work, it is said, ‘The education obtained in this practical way may properly be termed “higher education.”’ Then we might say that we who are in this work are attending a school, for that is where we obtain our education.
“Brother Chenault and I are attending this summer school in Choctaw County, Indian Territory. We began here May 30, and have never missed a day, nor have we been tardy. We have the best teachers, God and the holy angels. All we have to do is to obey our teachers and believe them, and we have good success, and thereby this school is made pleasant. We have a variety of schoolhouses, from a mansion down to a little log cabin or a tent, and are seldom in the same house more than one time. However, we try never to complain about our schoolroom.
“The text-books we study are the Bible, Prospectus, REVIEW AND HERALD, Record, and Manual. As you see, we take five regular studies, and enjoy all of them. The Bible gives special instruction from our Great Teacher, and obedience to these instructions is the secret of our success at school. The Prospectus is the book we use most in our school, and from the study of the REVIEW AND HERALD and the Record, we can get a knowledge of how this great school is progressing throughout the world. The Manual is a study that gives great strength and encouragement to every student. It brings a person up when the trials and perplexities of this school life are pressing hard upon him.
“Concerning boarding places, we scarcely ever stay at the same place longer than overnight. There are plenty of houses here, so you see we do not have to board at the same place long at a time. We also get plenty of exercise, for we do a great deal of our drilling while walking, as our boarding places are sometimes far apart.
“This is entirely an industrial school. A young or old person can enter the school without a cent, and can work out all his board; the tuition costs nothing. All he has to furnish is the Bible and Prospectus, as the other books are given him free. If the student is industrious, he can easily work his way through school.
“Brother Chenault and I are going to attend this school seven or eight weeks longer, and then have review and examination of what we have done. Then we shall find out how well we have done our work.
“Some of the things to be learned in this school are faithfulness, honesty, truthfulness, meekness, charity, temperance, steadfastness, industry, discretion, foresight, tact, and perseverance. Those who succeed in acquiring these traits of character, will certainly make successful students.
“To all who attend this school, and do their work faithfully, the teacher says, ‘Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.’ So you see we get our diploma and degree and our reward when our great Teacher comes.
“But one great lack in this school is in the number of students. There are not enough; where there is one, there ought to be one hundred. I wish to say to my young friends, If you desire to enjoy the blessings of this higher education, come and attend school with us; there is room for all.”
Thinking that it might be an inspiration to others to read this good letter, I therefore pass it on to you; and if at any time your hearts become stirred to enter this school of “higher education,” which will not only hasten the Saviour’s coming, but help you and others to meet him in peace, I would be glad to hear from you. Address me at 217 West Seventh St., Oklahoma City, O. T.
V. O. COLE.