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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 29, 1883

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 9, No. 45.

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College Matters.

By Sidney Brownsberger

WE are now nearing the close of the first half of the present College year. Only four weeks remain, and then follows the holiday vacation of two weeks, beginning December 19, 1883. The commencement of this year has been one of unusual anxiety to many friends of the College. An untried field of responsibility was entered upon in uniting physical employment with mental labor, and every step in the development of this system was watched with intense interest. The theory of this union had everything in its favor, and we all had faith in it; but it remained to be tried by that test that determines the merits of all theories.
Four months have elapsed since the experiment was entered upon, and all are more than gratified with the success already attained, and with the prospects before us. Almost from the very first there has been a steadily increasing interest on the part of the students, in the practical workings of this new system, and I doubt that there is one of our number who would willingly return to the old method.
The attendance has been greater than we had anticipated; 130 have been enrolled during the past four months, and our present daily attendance is 107. At our College Boarding Hall there are now thirty-seven student boarders, nine of whom are ladies.
The best of feeling prevails throughout the entire school. The students are hard at work, at their various employments, and they are happy because they are faithful. At the boarding hall the harmony is complete. There is no spirit of disaffection or unrest among the students. It is an interesting sight to see them at their work during the intervals of labor. One would admire the energy and activity with which they apply themselves. With scarcely an exception, each takes pride in doing well the greatest amount of work in the shortest time.
The variety of employment adds a new charm to our daily programme. Three intervals of labor occur during the day, at present aggregating two hours. The twenty-eight young men and boys are separated into five companies for the convenient distribution of labor. Each company has a leader, who has in charge the particular work allotted to his company. One company is assigned the job of painting; another, of fence-building; another, of gardening; another, of carpentering; and the fifth, of caring for the College Building. The different companies exchange work every few weeks, thus giving each student a wider experience in common labor. Each one has an additional responsibility in performing a part of the general work about the premises, commonly called choring. The entire management is intended to inculcate habits of industry and thoroughness, and to give experience in the most practical affairs of daily life.Our general programme of daily recitations has been greatly improved, in the estimation of all, by arranging for one session a day, which opens at 9, and closes at 1:55. There are two short intermissions which separate the time of recitations into three equal intervals.
The special instruction, in charge of Dr. Waggoner, to those preparing for missionary labor, is constituting an important feature of this College year. The class somewhat exceeds thirty in number, and appears to be intensely interested in the special work. Their labor is chiefly devoted to the study of the Bible. Beside the forty-five minutes spent daily in class recitation on Bible subjects, they meet daily also as a missionary class. This exercise is proving of incalculable benefit to all, but especially to such as have not had much experience in the work. The Dr. also meets a class in physiology daily, and one in vocal music twice a week. The Bible students receive instruction also in reading, spelling, penmanship, and English language. In all these branches immediate, practical results are aimed at.
We feel that all are receiving what is well adapted to prepare them most speedily for their work. The only regret expressed by teachers and others is that no more are enjoying the benefits of this instruction. There are but eight from a distance that are over thirty-five years of age, while there should be here a score or more of men and women in middle life to prepare for the work. We have good reason, however, to expect quite an increase of this class of students in January. We trust that it will be so.
The Lord's blessing is attending the work at Healdsburg. There are indications of his willingness to pour out his spirit upon students, teachers, and church far surpassing anything hitherto enjoyed. His spirit is impressing the minds of the youth with the importance of living godly lives, and several young men and women are endeavoring for the first time to be Christians, and to obey God's commandments. Five or six students have requested baptism. The impression prevails in College and church that God is in the school, and that this is the place for young men and women to come to prepare themselves for practical life, and to insure true mental and spiritual growth. S. BROWNSBERGER.
Healdsburg, Cal., Nov. 21, 1883.
AGE, when somewhat advanced, rises as a barrier to many against any further effort toward mental improvement. They say, when even in the prime of life, Oh, if I were young I would have some hope of learning something, but it is too late. The proverb has it, "As long as there is life there is hope." If the proverb be true with reference to prolonging existence, why not equally true with reference to improving that existence? But even advanced age is not a discouragement to all. There is one student here at Healdsburg College that will be sixty years old just one month before the coming Christmas. Though his hairs are as white as snow, and his early education was wholly neglected, yet he feels like doing all he can to become more efficient in the cause so dear to his heart. He loves to be at the school, and expressed his fears that he might become so much attached to it, that he would not want to leave it to go to his field of labor. However that may be, we love to have him with us, and shall feel our loss when he leaves us. We all honor and love him the more for his efforts in old age to make up for the want of an early education. May God bless him, and may many others follow this worthy example. S. B.