p. 168 | The Proposed School by School Committee

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 7, 1872

The Proposed School.

By School Committee

Since the general camp-meeting is postponed, a word further may be necessary in regard to the school mentioned in Review No. 18, lest some should receive the impression that the postponement of the meeting necessarily delays the commencement of the school. This is not designed to be the case, as a practical commencement can be made to meet the immediate want, before a regularly organized society is formed.

The school must commence at the earliest point practicable. Two brethren are coming from Europe, to be educated in the English language, and become more fully acquainted with our faith, who are now probably on the way. It may not be possible to commence at the time mentioned, May 13; but it will be started as soon thereafter as may be. So none need decide not to come, because they cannot commence at that time; for students can join any time. We want to hear from all who would like to attend such a school as is proposed, and when they think it probable that they can arrange to come.

And a word more may be necessary as to the nature of the school. It is not designed to be a local affair, designed for the children of Sabbath-keepers here in Battle Creek. If it was such, the Battle Creek church would take it wholly upon themselves, and no appeal would be made to brethren abroad. There are schools here already of a secular nature, probably as good as can be found in the United States. But this movement is designed for the general benefit of the cause.

The circumstances which it is intended to meet are these: There are persons all through our ranks, who have come to years of maturity, who have convictions that they ought to do something to directly forward the glorious and important cause in which we are engaged. To this end, they want immediately to acquaint themselves thoroughly with the teachings of the Bible in reference to those great truths which pertain to this time. But at the same time, they feel that they lack in education, so that they could not use that knowledge of the truth after it was obtained, for the benefit of others, either in the way of writing or speaking.

Now there are plenty of places in the land where any of this class could go to obtain an education in other languages, grammar, rhetoric, logic, history, philosophy, and the sciences in general; but they would lack the other advantage which they would need, that is, the society and influence of those of like faith, and lectures and instruction on the different points of Bible truth as they hold them.

This is the point which this school is especially designed to meet; and it is proposed to make provision for instruction in all branches of education, so that, while persons are equipping themselves from the armory of Bible truth, their educational deficiencies may at the same time be supplied, and they go forth, after a due course of training, prepared to wield those weapons for the advancement of the cause. On no other consideration, except to secure both these advantages, could we suppose that persons would be to the expense of coming here from a distance, instead of attending good schools nearer their own homes. The need in this direction is so urgent, that it is decided at once to enter upon the experiment. We believe it will be a success.

Some are responding by way of pledges. We should be glad to hear from others. The more we can learn of the feelings of the brethren in regard to this matter before the general camp-meeting in the fall, the better those who attend that meeting will be prepared to act at that time. That meeting will soon be upon us. It is none too soon to begin to act now.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.