Two Splendid Opportunities by Frederick Griggs

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1907

Two Splendid Opportunities

By Frederick Griggs

At the meeting of the General Conference Council at Gland last May it was voted to establish a training-school in the Latin Union field. A school has existed in this field for a number of years, but it has not been on a thoroughly established basis. It has had no buildings in which to do its work. The school has not been organized in a thorough manner. On account of the rapid growth of the work in this field, it was felt by the council that an earnest effort should be made to put the school upon a sound financial basis, to enable it to do a thorough work in the training of young men and women for gospel work in that field.

This field is composed of the Roman-Swiss Conference, and the French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French-Belgian, Algerian, and Tunis Mission fields. It is a very thickly populated territory. During the last year Elder Jean Vuilleumier was in charge of the school. It was held in three or four different places about the sanitarium buildings at Gland.

Now it is high time for the school to be thoroughly established; and they have asked for the small sum of three thousand dollars with which to erect buildings and begin their work. When we compare this limited amount with the large investment of money in our training-schools in this and other countries, it must appeal to all as being indeed a very humble beginning for a school in so important a field. The brethren in this field are far from wealthy, and in all reason they need help for this worthy enterprise. They are raising one thousand dollars of this three thousand dollars. It was felt by the council that two thousand dollars could be raised by the students in our advanced schools, academies, and intermediate schools in the United States. This can be easily done by these students if all will enter upon the work unitedly, and will raise a sum of money equal to one dollar a student.

Now the majority of our students in these schools have difficulty in meeting their school expenses. The question of one dollar is oftentimes a serious one, but a most excellent opportunity is offered them to earn this sum of money, and at the same time help to spread the message of truth. The most excellent special numbers of the Youth’s Instructor, Watchman, Life and Health, and Signs of the Times afford them this opportunity. The “Our Truth” special number of the Youth’s Instructor is an exceedingly valuable paper for the students in all grades of our schools. Not only is it valuable for their own reading, but it is most excellent as a means for missionary work. The same is true of the special issue of the great Missions number of the Signs of the Times, and the most excellent special of the Watchman. The December number of Life and Health treats of the tobacco evil, and is exceedingly valuable for distribution. These four papers afford our students a most excellent opportunity to raise the means with which to assist in erecting a needed building for this Latin Union school. It would seem that every young person who appreciates the value of the school with which he is connected, would enter enthusiastically upon this plan to provide assistance for the establishment of this Latin Union school, and we look for splendid returns in this direction. FREDERICK GRIGGS.