CEDAR LAKE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
By S. M. BUTLER
CEDAR LAKE is in Montcalm County, one of the central counties of the State of Michigan, about midway between Grand Rapids and Saginaw, on a branch of the Pere Marquette Railroad. It is a village of about one hundred inhabitants. The soil in the vicinity is of medium quality, and was formerly covered with a pine forest. The timber has been cut away, and the land is now being utilized for agricultural purposes. The town has a post-office, with four mails a day; a railroad station, at which all trains stop on signal; telegraph, telephone, and express offices. The school farm consists of one hundred and forty acres of land, one hundred of which are ready for cultivation, about thirty acres being free from stumps. The school buildings comprise an academy, students’ dormitory, and an industrial hall. Each of these buildings is a two-story structure, with basement under the whole. The dormitory has rooms for the accommodation of about fifty students. The object in starting this school was to provide for the education of our youth who are not prepared to enter college, and who desire to receive their elementary training in a Christian institution. The plan of the school contemplates a thorough training in the common branches. No student will be permitted to pass to a higher grade until he has thoroughly mastered the essential principles of the studies in the grades below. While standing for thoroughness in the fundamentals of education, this school will not be unmindful of the spiritual needs of the student. In the teaching of every subject the teachers will endeavor to lead the pupil to God, the true source of all knowledge. It need not be said that such schools are a necessity; that is apparent to all whose eyes are open to the conditions of the times. The neglect of the common branches for what is popularly called the “higher education” is becoming so notorious that some of the most advanced public educators are demanding a reform. It is not an uncommon thing to find high-school and college graduates who are ignorant of the fundamental principles of education. Skepticism is leavening the whole public-school system, from the district school to the university. What shall we do? Shall we continue to educate our children under these influences, or shall we train them according to the pattern that God has given us? It is true that it will cost more money to equip Christian schools and maintain our children in them, than it will to patronize the schools of the world; but aside from the minor question of dollars and cents, which will be the more profitable? In the day of God none will care about the gold, but all will be intensely interested in the souls of their children. We appeal to the people of Michigan to sustain the school at Cedar Lake. Surely, so great a State can easily support a school of this size. Shall we do it? Will you send your boys and girls? Please consider this matter, and consider it now. How soon your young people will be beyond your reach you know not. There is no time to lose. When God tells us that such a radical move as this should be made, it is because danger is imminent, and now is the time to act. May God help us to know the time of our visitation. This school can doubtless be made self-supporting in a short time if it can be run to its full capacity. It has ample accommodations for about fifty students. The running expenses, aside from board and fuel, are about the same whether the students are many or few. God has spoken in regard to this school. It was in response to his instruction that it was started, and he has since spoken approvingly of the enterprise. We can not think that it is his will that it shall languish. He means to accomplish great good for his people through the school work, and the school at Cedar Lake is one of his agencies. Shall we now rally to its support? We have confidence that the people of Michigan will do it. If the school is not filled by Michigan, we shall be glad to welcome students from States that have no similar schools. The present term began October 31, and will close December 21. The second term will begin January 3, and close May 29, 1901. Students may enter at any time. For further information, address the principal, Elder H. D. Day, Cedar Lake, Mich., or the undersigned, 627 So. Ingalls St., Ann Arbor, Mich. S. M. BUTLER.