p. 24 | Biblical Institute by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 11, 1877

Biblical Institute.

By James White

At the recent California Quarterly Tract and Missionary Meeting held at Oakland, we called the attention of the brethren to the importance of a Biblical Institute being held in this State by Eld. Uriah Smith of Battle Creek, Mich., during the month of April, 1877. We urged,—

1. That our principal hope for accession of numbers to help extend the cause on this coast is in the proper selection and thorough drilling of young men to go forth and teach the Word of God, and circulate our publications among the reading public. We cited the meeting to the strength of the cause in the little Peninsular State, where for the last eight years the work has been carried forward by young men, in the absence of our most experienced and able ministers, Elders Loughborough, Waggoner, Canright, Van Horn, the Lane brothers and others, who while ostensibly belonging to the Michigan Conference, have labored on this coast and in the Eastern and Middle States. And yet Michigan to-day has about one-third of our numerical and financial strength.

2. That there is no time to be lost, that Eld. Smith, at the close of his Biblical Lectures of the winter term at the Battle Creek College, could leave the last of March and be on the ground here the first of April, ready to conduct a Biblical Institute.

3. That April would be the most favorable month for the purpose, being just prior to the tent campaign, and also just before the harvest in this State.

4. That with proper effort fifty persons who need such a drill could be assembled at the proper place.

5. That the General Conference would bear Eld. Smith's expenses to and from the coast, and pay him the usual amount per week paid our ablest and most experienced preachers for the support of his family in his absence, and leave to the brethren in this State the duty to care for him and pay his local expenses while in California.

It was suggested that the school be held in camp at some pleasant and convenient place proper for tent life in the month of April. But the general opinion prevailed that it should be held in the city of Oakland. Here, however, board is high. But furnished rooms can be obtained, and some of our brethren here would wish to entertain certain persons whom they might invite. And, perhaps, arrangements can be made for free board and lodgings for a large portion of the students, if they bring their blankets, and take up with plain fare which will be much better for students than to be full fed.

We ask all persons in California who are interested in such a Biblical School, and wish to attend it to report to this Office before the first day of February, 1877. Promptness in responding to this call is necessary to give time to make necessary arrangements for the school. We hope to hear from all interested parties immediately, that plans may be laid in season to give Elder Smith ample time to arrange to visit this coast.

We will here suggest that Elder Smith should remain with us six months at least, and, probably, hold a similar Biblical School within the boundary of the North Pacific Mission before his return.

Address, Eld. James White, Oakland, Cal.