The Progress of the Southern Training School
By J. E. Tenney
According to the announcement, the fall term of this school began on the twenty-third of September, and had therefore, been in progress for two months. The writer, having been ill during the summer, was unable to do any field work in the interest of the school, and this may have had something to do with the fact that the attendance at the beginning of the year was smaller than usual. There are, no doubt, many experiences that are common to all our schools. One of these is the admission of young people who do not care to conform to the spirit of the school, and so voluntarily, or otherwise, become separated from it. Such has been our experience, though our numbers have been kept up by the addition of worthy young men and young women. We are sorry for parents whose final effort for the salvation of their children seems to have failed. If the power of God as it works in a Christian school is unavailing, what will touch the hearts of the young and bring them to Christ? About twelve of our students will soon complete the teachers' course, and go out to fill a few of the many openings for that class of workers. As many more are taking a business course, and give promise of rendering efficient service in the near future. Our nurses' preparatory class is large, and very earnest. A field of great usefulness is before them. The Southern Sanitarium, which co-operates fully with the school, is not yet open to the public, but already has more applications from patients who desire its advantages than the building can accommodate. A few in the school have the work of canvassing and the ministry in view, but this class is not so large as we wish it were. There are also those among the students who have not reached that stage in their experience where they are ready to decide definitely for what work they will prepare. We are thankful, however, to be able to report that nearly all our students have given their hearts to the Lord, and desire to serve him. The school is God's institution, and we are earnestly seeking to conduct it in such a manner as will meet his purposes in the progress of the message in this great union conference, and in the salvation of precious souls. Our total enrolment thus far for the year is about eighty, whose ages will average about twenty years. The enrolment will doubtless considerably exceed one hundred before the close of the year. A few of our more advanced students will spend some time before the year closes in practical city mission work under the direction of Elder and Sister S. N. Haskell, whom we expect soon to join us. For this we are thankful. Others will seek to gain some practical experience in the canvassing work. We are of good courage and happy in the blessings of our Heavenly Father.