Meetings in Healdsburg.
By Editor
THE meetings commenced the evening of April 16, as appointed. The ministers present, who took part in the preaching exercises, were Elders Loughborough, Corliss, Healey, Mrs. E. G. White, Elder Haskell, who arrived Monday evening, and the editor of the SIGNS. The school recitations were continued each day until the close. This was not exactly as we expected, but was considered best under the circumstances. Of course there was not all accomplished in the meetings which seemed desirable. The preaching, however, was well received, and seemed to have good effect. The hours for recitations were varied somewhat to accommodate the meetings, and studies were to some extent waived to give place to a meeting in the interest of the school. This was an interesting occasion. The meeting was spirited; the reports were favorable, and all felt encouraged. The financial report was more favorable than was expected, and speaks exceedingly well for the management of the school. The health of the students was an item of no small interest. It is not unusual to see the health of students fail at college, provided that proper attention is given to study. Many "fond parents" think it would be a terrible infliction to make their children do some work at school. But they must have manual exercise of some kind, and orderly exercise in pleasant labor is much better than the violent exercise of ball-playing or boat-rowing. The students at Healdsburg College have enjoyed their labor, and many of them testified that their health improved while at the school. Of all the scholars present only two said their health was not as good as when they first went there. We asked one the reason, and he said he went swimming, took a severe cold, and became sick! Young ladies said, before they went there they did not like to do housework, but now they did like it. This is no small point gained to any household, to have the girls learn to do housework right, and love to do it. We think one reason why all the scholars love the work is that it is all done on time and in exact order. However much people may be inclined to be negligent and disorderly, we firmly believe that most people really love order rather than confusion; and if well trained to it they love to preserve it rather than to be disorderly. Our brethren lately from the East were enraptured with the situation. As one said, looking out from North College Hall, "No picture can equal it." The plan adopted in this "Students' Home" has proved very successful. Our experience ought to be worth something to the work, and each new institution planted by us should be better than those preceding. From the first movement toward starting a school in California the blessing of Heaven has seemed to attend every step. And nothing has been attended with better results than our boarding or house system at Healdsburg. The classes in Bible study highly appreciate the instruction given the past year. The College is in every way proving a great blessing, not only to individuals and to families, but to the California Conference, and to the cause at large.