Union College by M. E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Sep 8, 1904

Union College

By M. E. Kern

THIRTEEN years ago this fall, on the morning of September 30, seventy-three young persons assembled in the chapel of Union College at the opening of the institution. To-day many of this number are actively engaged in the Lord's work in various parts of the earth. Year by year during the history of the institution there has gone forth a company of young people whose hearts were filled with a desire to do something toward the proclamation of the advent message. Within this institution, dedicated to the cause of God, many spiritual battles have been fought, and won. Some have been lost. But there are many to-day who look back to the days spent in Union College with joy, because here they received a new conception of life and its possibilities, and a development of mind and heart. The success of a Christian school is to be judged by the degree of spiritual life pervading it, and the standard of moral, religious, and intellectual culture upheld.

This year the Union College board and faculty have spent more time than usual in studying some of the great problems pertaining to our work. That the Lord is calling for his institutions to come upon higher ground is evident. “All our institutions—our sanitariums, publishing houses, and schools—are to reach a higher standard. Then the workers sent to foreign fields will reach a higher standard. They will be more earnest, more spiritual, and their labors will be more effective.”

At the regular meeting of the board in March, it was decided to hold a joint meeting of the board and faculty to study the principles of Christian education, and outline the policy of Union College for the coming year. Such a meeting was held May 25-31, and was a great blessing to all who attended it. The following is a list of the subjects discussed at this meeting:—

1. The true object to be reached by our schools. Scope of curriculum.

2. Work in Union College: (a) Bible teaching. Work to be adapted to the various grades of students, considering age, literary qualifications, and experience; (b) personal work and revival effort; (c) missionary efforts of teachers and students during the school year.

3. The college homes: importance of the home life.

4. Discipline: (a) positive and negative sides to question. Work to prevent discipline, and the administration of discipline when necessary to both home and resident students; (b) relation of the sexes; (c) amusements and entertainments; (d) the school and its environments.

5. Manual training: (a) How we may so adjust our work as best to encourage industrial instruction and training; (b) manual training in other schools.

6. Foreign departments: (a) how can the German Department be strengthened? (b) how can the Danish-Norwegian Department be strengthened? (c) how can the Swedish Department be strengthened? (d) relation of school to International Publishing Association.

7. Courses of instruction: (a) a proper balancing of studies and specific courses; (b) departmental work; (c) how shall the Bible be made the basis of all our educational work?

The following are some of the resolutions passed as a result of our deliberations in these two meetings:—

Manual Training and Industrial Work

Manual training will be given a

prominent place in the college, and a certain amount of accepted work is required in order to complete any of the college courses. There will be fifteen or twenty classes which will meet each afternoon. To make room for the manual training work, the forenoon session will be shortened, and the dinner hour will be at 12:30.

Each home student will be required to do one hour's domestic work as part payment of his expenses. This plan is restored for its educational value and its moral influence in the formation of character.

Publication and Printing

At a joint meeting of the college board and the International Publishing Association board, it was decided to accept the recommendations passed by the Publication Committee of the General Conference, concerning the publishing departments of our colleges, and that in the interests of the college, and in harmony with the light given through the Testimonies, the college printing plant be retained. The College Printing Department was authorized to take the responsibility of printing and distributing small educational books.

In conjunction with the Central Union Conference Committee, a book committee of seven members was appointed. The committee consisted of the following-named persons: B. E. Huffman, C. R. Kite, Mrs. M. I. Reeder, M. E. Kern, L. A. Hoopes, C. C. Lewis, and the principal of the College View church-school.

College Extension

That the teachers should endeavor in every possible way to extend the influence of Union College throughout the Central Union Conference is the desire of the board. The plan of carrying on an active correspondence with the young people of the field, and of preparing and distributing small leaflets on timely topics for young people, to assist in turning their minds toward the work of God and a preparation for the same, was approved. The faculty was authorized to organize a correspondence department.

College Paper

In view of the fact that the Central Advance has been discontinued, the college has begun the publication of a semimonthly paper, the Union College Messenger. It is to be filled with short articles on topics pertaining to educational and young people's work, and to contain news items of the work of former students of Union College.

Principles of Government

Realizing that self-government is the only true government for the individual, steps were taken for its promotion among the students. The board, faculty, and students have discussed together the rules to govern the school, and it is the plan to earnestly seek the hearty co-operation of students and patrons in the school management.

We solicit the prayers of God's people in behalf of the corps of workers in this the nicest work ever assumed by men and women, the dealing with youthful minds. That Union College shall receive a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and that the excellency of the work done here shall call the attention of the people to the message for this time, is our prayer. M. E. KERN.