Convention of the Educational Department of the General Conference
By Frederick Griggs
According to appointment previously announced in the Review, this convention was called to order by the chairman of the department, L. A. Hoopes, at ten o’clock, Friday morning, June 12. A goodly number were present at the opening meeting. More have come since. Several of the General Conference Committee are present. All the union conference schools in this country are represented. Nearly all the union conference superintendents of church schools are present, and many of the State superintendents are also here. A large number of church school teachers from the central part of the United States are also present, so that, altogether, we have a company of about one hundred and fifty teachers. Nature has certainly smiled upon us so far during this convention. Shortly before the convention met, the heavy rain clouds which have been hanging over the central portion of the United States, and pouring their contents upon the earth, broke away, and the sun shone forth brightly upon the earth. Those who are acquainted with College View say that it was never more beautiful than at present. It is certainly a beautiful and inspiring scene that one beholds as he looks out from the chapel windows— in which room we meet for our session—across the rolling prairies. The first meeting was opened with an earnest season of prayer, beseeching God’s blessing to rest upon us, and that the Teacher of teachers should be with us during the days of the convention, that we might all be properly instructed. A program had been prepared. Words of welcome to the members of the convention were spoken by L. A. Hoopes. He said, in part: “We have many reasons for thanksgiving for this convention. I believe it to be an evidence that there is a taking hold of our educational work in a decided way, and that it indicates a concerted movement, for which we have all been looking. It should be remembered that the work of the message committed to the last generation is in its nature an educational work. While this may be said of the gospel work in all time, it is more emphatically true of the last message to the world. It is at the feet of the only One who knows all truth that we have come to sit and learn. We therefore gladly welcome you to our place, and trust that the fondest anticipations of this convention may be realized.” In response, F. Griggs said: “I think it is a most excellent thing that this convention of ministers, Bible workers, and teachers has been called; that we have here come together to look at the work from one another’s view-point. Without this mutual counsel our schools are certain to get away from the gospel work; and on the other hand, there are certain things which teachers can see, that, if appreciated by those who stand at the head of our work, may be utilized as a means of advancing the message. But it must not be forgotten that the greatest benefit which this convention can be to our school work can come only when the vitalizing spirit which our great Teacher is waiting to impart to us, is received. Let us seek for it, first of all; for having received it, many of the perplexities which we meet in our work will be solved.” At eleven o’clock Elder A. T. Jones gave an address upon the philosophy of history. “The problem of sin and its solution is the philosophy of history. Any study, or any teaching, of history that is not conducted in view of that, is not the true study of history at all, and as a study in itself it is certain to be vain. Therefore another thing follows, and that is, since the history of this world, as alone we can know it, is the result of sin, and the solution of it, it is plain that the beginning of our study of history must be with the beginning of sin, not only in this world, but the beginning of sin where sin began. The philosophy of history, and that philosophy worked out in demonstration, is given in the Bible. This problem of sin, and the study of history in the light of the solution of it, is the only thing that will give the true understanding of the occurrences that history outside the Bible records.” At three o’clock, Friday afternoon, this subject was further considered, with special reference to the teaching of it. Elder Jones said that his histories were not written primarily for our schools, but were the result of a request made by our brethren that he should prepare something which would bring together the facts of history in accordance with the general principles which he stated in his morning talk. He felt that so far as possible it was better to go to the original sources for his facts. Accordingly he had taken, as far as possible, that which the men who made the history had to say of what they had done. His histories were thus quite largely a compilation. He had done this, feeling that those who read and study them would be better students for having thus studied the records as they were originally written. A general discussion followed, led by M. E. Kern and W. A. Colcord. As a result of this meeting, a committee, consisting of the following-named persons, was appointed to bring to the convention recommendations regarding the outline of history and the preparation of suitable books for our schools: A. T. Jones, M. E. Kern, W. A. Colcord, B. E. Nicola, J. G. Lamson, F. Bralliar, and Miss M. Bessie De Graw. At eight o’clock Elder A. G. Daniells gave an address upon “Our Message.” He emphasized the thought that our work had not happened to come into existence, but that it was in the definite order of God. So in the giving of this message we had a specific and peculiar work. From this idea we must never depart. Sabbath forenoon Elder Jones spoke upon “The Bible in Education.” “Education truly begins with life, and is intended never to end. And the Bible belongs in it all the way, for the first of all reasons because it is the Word of God, who is the author of life, the designer of destiny, and the continuance of life without end. Being the Word of God, the Bible belongs in education, because it is thus the fountain of knowledge.” Sabbath afternoon a union social meeting was held, led by Elder H. W. Cottrell. Sunday morning at six o’clock Elder J. J. Irwin, superintendent of the North Michigan church schools, led a prayer and social meeting. At eight o’clock the general relation of our educational work to the third angel’s message was considered. This subject was spoken to by several. It was particularly emphasized that our work in education was not the message in itself, but rather an integral part of the message, embracing other features equally as important. At ten o’clock Prof. M. E. Cady, followed by Miss F. M. Dickerson and F. Bralliar, opened a discussion of the subject of science. Many most excellent and helpful things were said regarding this important subject of work. The general idea was that we should study science even more earnestly than we have, but that we should avoid some of the dangers in its study. Pantheism is rapidly gaining ground because of a wrong conception of the working of God in nature. “The written Word must be to us the interpreter of the works of God about us. There is danger of making too much of the flower and of the vine, and not making enough of that living Word which convicts of sin.” As a result of the general discussion, a committee on suggestive courses of study was appointed. The committee was as follows: M. E. Cady, C. C. Lewis, Miss F. M. Dickerson, H. A. Washburn, B. E. Nicola, F. Bralliar, B. E. Huffman, Mrs. Flora Williams, and H. W. Carr. At three o’clock in the afternoon L. A. Hoopes opened a discussion of “The Relation of Church, Intermediate, Union, and Medical Schools to One Another.” “There are many factors that enter into the discussion of this question. The spiritual phase of the work is the one great part. Yet there are practical questions20concerning the extent of the work which each one of our various schools is to carry on.” The studies, grades, and similar questions are ones with which we naturally have to deal.” A general discussion followed Elder Hoopes’s paper. A committee was appointed on the organization of an educational system, consisting of A. G. Daniells, W. W. Prescott, M. E. Kern, E. A. Sutherland, F. Griggs, W. A. George, E. T. Russell, B. E. Nicola, H. E. Giddings, Mrs. L. Flora Plummer, Mrs. Flora H. Williams. At eight o’clock in the evening, Professor Prescott spoke upon the subject of science. “What shall we study, then, in the things that are made?—We will study the essential truth of the third angel’s message. What the heavens declared, was the reflection of him when he was manifested in the flesh. He manifested forth the glory of his salvation from sin in his works. But before this can be seen, the life of God as manifested in the person of his Son for salvation must be realized.” Elder T. H. Jeys led the Monday morning prayer and social meeting. At eight o’clock a partial report of the committee appointed on history work was considered. At the ten o’clock meeting the subject of language teaching in our schools was considered, led by Prof. W. E. Howell. The afternoon session was devoted to the consideration of the organization of church schools. Miss M. Bessie De Graw, followed by B. E. Huffman and S. M. Butler, led an interesting discussion, in which many practical questions and difficulties were discussed. At eight o’clock Professor Prescott addressed the convention upon the subject of “The Closing Message and the Schools.” FREDERICK GRIGGS,
Secretary of Department.