IMPRESSIONS AT BATTLE CREEK—THE COLLEGE.
By S. M. S.
A few days’ leisure gives opportunity to visit the various institutions and departments of interest here, connected with this people. Just across the street from the Health Institute are the College grounds, a beautiful square, neatly laid out with cement walks, diversely arching around fresh lawns and flowers. Here is an abundance of shade trees, many of them fruit trees, which, upon this beautiful May day, are covered with a charming mantle of roseate bloom, breathing out such a flood of fragrance as makes one query whether Eden could have been more delightful. But we must not forget that right here before us stands the temple dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. It is, indeed, a fine-looking building, constructed of brick, three stories high above basement, neat and tasteful in design, and finished, in the best possible style, both within and without. Besides ample halls and stair-ways, it has a chapel hall and recitation rooms, sufficient to accommodate two hundred or more students. About half that number are now in attendance, and many more are expected the coming year. We observed a general air of respect for order, and a diligence and zeal on the part of teachers and students, which showed that education is here appreciated as a necessary agent in carrying on the noble work and mission of this people. May these means of knowledge be truly sanctified to the Master’s service, and every noble effort here bring forth a hundred-fold in the future. So great is our interest in the prosperity of this cause, that we must urge upon the attention of all our youth the importance of using every available means of securing a good education. Would that all our people might be duly interested in this department of Christian labor. The instructions of the school-room, if properly directed, are not inferior in value to those of any other place or calling. It is here that the youthful mind is committed to the teacher who is to mold, strengthen, and prepare it for active life. Here the rising generation is to be educated and prepared for the responsibilities of society, both in church and State. Here the physical man should be developed in harmony and strength, prepared for the arduous duties of busy and active life. Here the intellect should be awakened, unfolded, matured, and qualified for the duties of the citizen, the patriot, the statesman, and the Christian; and here the moral principles should receive a properly fixed character—a controlling and directing power. Here those emotions are to be awakened, those sentiments inspired, and those principles inculcated, which shall ever lead aright, prompting to a love of virtue and noble deeds. Too much care, then, cannot be exercised in rendering the influence of the school-room such as shall accomplish all these noble purposes of education—in selecting such text-books, employing such teachers, and securing such facilities as shall develop aright the intellect, strengthen the judgment, control the will, refine the taste, and purify the heart. Hence the schools of our land as well as the churches have a very important mission to accomplish. Let, then, the noblest sentiments, the purest motives, well-directed and self-sacrificing devotion, be consecrated to both of these important interests.