Our School by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1875

Our School.

By James White

The Battle Creek College is worthy of the support of all our people, and the patronage of those who wish to prepare their minds by study for lives of usefulness. Our people from the Atlantic to the Pacific should prayerfully consider the matter of sending their children to our school where they may be under the influence of the present truth, rather than to send them to schools where there are influences to lead them away from God and his truth. There are men at the head of our institutions at Battle Creek who will not yield to those influences which are ever manifested in lowering the standard of morals and religion.

But we have taken up our pen to say that something should be done immediately for a hundred young men among us whose minds are being exercised on the subject of preaching. Some of these are nearly or quite destitute of means, and are hesitating, and losing time for the want of proper encouragement and a little help. A young Dane of promise in San Francisco, who expects at no far-distant day to go to Denmark to teach the word of God, asked our opinion of his going to our school at Battle Creek. We at once replied, Go, and we will help you.

What we mean by this is, that this young man who gives himself to the Lord, as one of his missionaries to the world, should at least be helped to the amount of his board and tuition at our school one year. And if others do not feel it a duty to assist, we will cheerfully do it alone. If this brother meets the matters of fare to Michigan, books, and clothing, he will do well. A fund should be immediately raised to assist first-class young men who need help, to prepare for the ministry.

The several State Conference Committees should take this matter in hand. We recommend that they immediately correspond with Prof. S. Brownsberger, Eld. Uriah Smith, and Dr. J. H. Kellogg, all of Battle Creek, Mich., on this subject. All cases should be referred to these brethren, and their decision obtained before giving encouragement of help. It is only the clearest cases, where full sanction could be given by our Conferences, that should be encouraged. But while we should be on our guard against impositions, we should be exceedingly earnest to secure all clear cases.

Let a fund be raised at once to help worthy young men who need help. We give $100 for this object, and Mrs. W. gives $100 also, and we urgently invite others to help. Help is wanted now. If our people could realize the importance of immediate action on such matters they would feel very unhappy in holding their means from the Lord's cause. J. W.