Our School by A. Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 25, 1872

Our School.

By A. Smith

THE movement for the organization of a denominational school among us, as a people, is evidently well-timed, and will doubtless meet with the hearty approval and support of the church. I do not look upon the movement as a practical denial of our faith. Were the period of our Lord's advent deferred for a few years, the want of such an institution would be seriously felt. On the other hand, if his coming should occur within one year, I think there are still advantages to be reaped from such a movement that would compensate for all the forethought and labor it would impose.

Among these advantages, I would mention as the first, and perhaps the most important, the attention and inquiry it would elicit concerning the moral status of our public schools and seminaries, and the danger of intrusting our children and youth to the baneful influence of such associations. Any one at all acquainted with our common schools, is aware that the influence of its associations is terrible upon the morals of our children, and although home discipline and instruction may, in a measure, fortify their minds against its power, yet the evil cannot thus be fully met and overcome.

Attention having been called to this subject, plans will doubtless be devised and efforts made by all our people to shield their children from the corrupting influence of the profligate associations of the young of this generation.

The second advantage to be gained, will be the calling into use for a sacred purpose means that otherwise might be employed in worldly pursuits and speculations, and be finally consumed at the last day. If we come up nobly at every point, and put our shoulder to the burden, I do not think that the Lord will measure the merit of our efforts by the period he may call them into exercise.

Many, through the assistance such a school would afford, would be led to devote their lives to the Lord's work, who otherwise would not entertain the thought, through a sense of their incompetency.

Although the heart of the work will be at Battle Creek, I confidently expect it will quickly assume proportions that will enable it to extend branches into all our churches of large membership, for the instruction of children and such as cannot avail themselves of a course of study at Battle Creek.

Among the gifts to the church are not only apostles, prophets, &c., but also teachers. I do not know why young ladies could not qualify themselves, by a course of study at Battle Creek, to serve as teachers of select schools in our large churches, giving instruction in the common and higher branches of English, and in the principles of our faith and hope.

I have thus briefly expressed my thoughts upon the subject, and the matter is doubtless still open for discussion. From the mass of opinion thus collected, a plan may be formed that will carry with it the force of universal approval. A. SMITH.