The Young People's Society at Union College
By Otto J. Graf
The missionary work of the college was carried on formerly by an organization under the direction of a member of the faculty. The Young People's Society was a separate organization, whose principal burden was the weekly Sabbath afternoon meeting. When the school opened this year, it was thought best, after careful consideration, prayer, and study of the Testimonies, to discontinue the missionary society, and ask the students to carry on the missionary work of the school in their Young People's Society. The old constitution was set aside, and it was decided not to draft a new one until experience should teach us what we needed under the new arrangement. The work has been divided into departments, each led by committees whose chairmen are members of the executive committee of the society, thus bringing the several departments into close touch with one another. The first work we took up was in the interest of the special number of the Scandinavian papers. Many of the students wrote to their home churches, encouraging them to assist in getting the papers into every Scandinavian home in this union conference. By mail, personal work, and with the assistance of a few churches, we were able to distribute one thousand of this special number. Our periodical and correspondence work for the year is, to us, an experiment. We have written to the presidents of the conferences in this union conference for the names and addresses of persons in localities where a course of meetings will be held next summer. The Signs is being sent to these persons, and our students are corresponding with them. All letters received are preserved, and will be turned over to the laborers before they enter the field. Thus they and the field are prepared for the work, and we are prompted to be more faithful, knowing that our efforts will be followed by personal work. A number of young women are engaged in house-to-house tract work in the city of Lincoln. Already some have become sufficiently interested to desire Bible readings. Work in the country and at the Lincoln City Mission is being carried on by a company of young men. We hope that the effort in the country will develop an interest which will demand public meetings, and result in bringing souls to a knowledge and acceptance of the truth which is so dear to us. The tracts used by this department and all others, in doing work in this State, are furnished us, free of charge, by the Nebraska Conference. This help we greatly appreciate; for our regular income is quite limited. The Scandinavian and German students are also engaged in missionary efforts; each department sends out fifty papers, and corresponds with the people in their own language. Personal, house-to-house tract work is also carried on among the Scandinavians and Germans of Lincoln. With many of our students it is quite impossible to spend the time required to carry on the work already mentioned. Some of these engage in conducting cottage meetings each Sabbath with the sick and suffering of our village who are unable to attend the church services. Others are engaged in Dorcas work. This company of workers prepare bedding and clothing for the needy. Forty pieces of clothing, besides towels, quilts, and books, have been sent to the Huntsville Industrial School. Now garments are being prepared for the Nyassaland Mission in Central Africa. Several of our well-to-do brethren whose aid we have solicited, have opened not only their hearts, but also their purses to this worthy cause, thereby furnishing us funds with which to carry on this branch of the Lord's work. The merchants of Lincoln have given us liberal discounts on the material for these garments. We hope to have three hundred ready by the first of April, to be sent with any missionaries who may be going to Nyassaland after the General Conference. To help make our weekly Sabbath meeting interesting and profitable, each program is preceded by a ten-minute Scripture drill. Different members are appointed to ask questions on the scriptures which have been selected for our study. For some time we have been learning the principal texts concerning the law and the Sabbath. Most of our members are able to give not only the thought, but also the reference of these Scriptures. We are now studying the spirit of prophecy, adding new texts as the old ones are mastered. We hope, with the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is within us, with meekness and fear. Our entire school has become interested in what might be termed the hundred-dollar Life Boat campaign. Having done but little for the regions beyond, we decided to make an aggressive effort in behalf of the Argentine school in South America. We could think of nothing more effective and appropriate than to show our appreciation of the educational advantages we enjoy, by a little self-sacrificing effort to help poor, worthy students in that needy school to receive a preparation for the Master's service. Accordingly it was decided to raise one hundred dollars for this purpose. Just the day before presenting the plan to the school, Misses Smith and Burghart, from the Chicago Sanitarium, arrived here on their way across the continent, in the interest of The Life Boat and what it represents. The school soon became interested in their work and in the sale of the paper. It was, therefore, thought best to unite the two missionary efforts by advising each student, as far as possible, to earn his donation to the hundred-dollar fund by selling The Life Boat. The day was set, arrangements were made, and about one hundred students and teachers boarded the 1:10 P. M. street car for the city of Lincoln. We had over a thousand papers, but within two hours nearly every one had sold out, and was looking for an opportunity to help others sell their quotas. Many who considered themselves unable to sell anything were surprised at their success. We trust this experience may be the means of inducing some to engage permanently in work for the Master. Over one hundred and twenty-five dollars has been subscribed to this student fund.17We realize that satisfactory results will be secured only as God's blessing rests upon our efforts. We trust that even our feeble efforts may, by his strength, become a power for the truth.