From East to West: Visit to Emmanuel Missionary College
By J. C. Rogers
At the invitation of the Upper Columbia Conference and the management of Walla Walla College, I left Battle Creek, October 3, to connect with our educational work in the Northwest. It was a pleasure to spend Sabbath and Sunday at Emmanuel Missionary College. Everything there presented a scene of activity, preparing for the opening on the 15th. Being received with kindness and courtesy by the president and his associates, my desire to become acquainted with the institution’s work was easily realized. From two days’ study of the situation, attending the first meeting of the faculty where the coming year’s work was outlined, and several hours’ personal study with Professors Sutherland and Magan, my impression is that Emmanuel Missionary College is being built upon the principle of hard work, both mental and physical, with the object of giving a broad educational training in the Word and things of God. To all who wish to understand the real work being carried on at Berrien Springs, I can recommend a visit there. You will enjoy it. For a long time I had desired to visit19some of our Chicago institutions. One day and two nights with our faithful workers there is enough to convince one that God has set his hand to this work. The transformations of character seen in the work of the Life Boat and other missions may well be called “modern miracles.” I was glad to lift up before the men gathered at the mission the Lamb of God that taketh away sin. One poor man who had found the burden too heavy to carry remained after the meeting to seek God with the workers. The secret of success was revealed when the superintendent and a man redeemed from like bondage led the burdened soul to the place of prayer, read God’s promises on their knees together, a human arm of love and sympathy surrounding the discouraged sinner, while a strong arm of faith lifted him to the mercy seat above. Traveling from Chicago to St. Paul by day, and remaining overnight, I arranged early Wednesday morning to go via the Great Northern “Flyer” to the Coast. A prominent feature noticed in all who are connected with this road, from traffic manager in the great office block at St. Paul to the porter on every train, is the uniform effort to make the traveler comfortable and his journey pleasant. Passing through the rich harvest fields and fruit-laden orchards of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, and Washington, deeply impressed me that God is wonderfully blessing this land and his people living here. After seven years in the barren wastes of Africa, possibly I appreciate this more than do others. If God’s people in this favored land will devote themselves and the hundredfold God desires to give them for his work, this message can soon go to every nation under heaven. At Spokane I was met by Brother Greenville Holbrook, who has been connected with the Walla Walla College board from its organization. During three days’ stay at the rapidly growing city of Spokane, I found the sanitarium prospering under the direction of Dr. Yarnell and its efficient matron, Mrs. Morrison. The interests of our churches in that district are under the charge of Elder Saxby, who is actively engaged in the work with “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and in pushing the erection of a church building for Spokane. The final pleasure of my journey awaited me at Walla Walla in meeting Professor Lewis and his fellow teachers, with nearly all of whom I have been associated in the past. On Wednesday morning, October 15, about one hundred and fifty earnest, intelligent young men and women assembled for chapel exercise, which was followed by their regular weekly missionary meeting. Nearly ten years before, at the first closing exercises, I had spoken to the students in this same chapel, when about to leave for Africa. How different the circumstances now! That first group of students was scattered to the ends of the earth, with two or three remaining as teachers, and about as many just returned as students. How many of the first company are still faithful to God and his work? How many of this company will join the army of workers? Meeting the president of the conference, Elder Breed, I learned that he and his force of laborers are bending all their energies to strengthen the hands of the college by helping to raise the debt. I have not yet become acquainted with a conference which has so completely given itself to this work. It will surely result in unifying the interests of the conference and the school as never before. This spirit is contagious, and soon engenders the determination to throw our strength into the same good work until we shall see it grandly completed.