At the Parting of the Ways by Edward Alexander Sutherland

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 8, 1902

At the Parting of the Ways

By Edward Alexander Sutherland

A GLANCE at the advancement made in educational thought by Seventh-day Adventists as a denomination during the past year is reassuring. It is well to ascertain our bearings. Are we traveling the straight road? Only a little over one year ago the Educational Department of the General Conference was brought into existence. The creation of that department set the pace for the union conferences, and they in turn were followed by the separate conferences, until to-day practically all the States have some form of organization for carrying on their educational interests.

Nominally, the denomination has committed itself to the truth of Christian education. Has it done so in reality? or must we deem that what has been done is mere form devoid of life? Passive assent to a principle will not bring a rich reward. To say that seed will grow, never brings a harvest. We must sow if we would reap. So in the educational work; to see the full glory of this truth there must be intense activity. It will enlist the full energy of every individual, from the presidents of conferences to the lowliest church member in the most obscure company of believers. When such activity is seen, when such co-operation exists, there will be a mighty uprising throughout the denomination. It will mean a school for every child in every church, and hundreds of schools for foreign lands.

In the early days of the message, the first steps were taken toward the establishment of church schools. After a time Seventh-day Adventists returned their children to the public schools on the plea that they could not afford to support an independent system of schools. Seventh-day Adventist parents used the same argument as did other Protestants. Evil results were not seen at once, but we are to-day reaping the inevitable results of the seed sown. An article in the Outlook (March 15), by Theodore D. Bacon, entitled “The Outcome of Higher Criticism,” gives the results of the education of the past forty years. I quote but one result. He says:—

This attitude [the doctrine of higher criticism] modifies the feeling toward missions. There is no longer the feeling of frantic haste to save a few souls out of countless millions from going down to endless torment; nor is there any burning desire to let every heathen know of the name of Jesus in order to hasten the time of the second coming. . . . It is not to be denied that there has been a certain cooling of the interest in foreign missions, especially since our eyes have been opened.

Seventh-day Adventists must admit that their zeal for foreign fields has not been overgreat. A man of the world attributes this to the popular teaching, such as that under which the present generation

grew up, and such as our children to-day are absorbing so long as they are left in the state schools. In other words, we not only lose our own children by failing to establish Christian schools, but we ourselves, because of this neglect, lose all ambition to preach Christ to the heathen or proclaim his soon coming to the world. Of what use is it, then, to say that we believe the world should be evangelized in this generation while we so reluctantly grasp the truths of Christian education?

The Protestant denominations which nearly a century ago turned their children over to the state for an education had two messages preached to them. The first message was given by William Miller. It was the judgment message,—the truth of Christ’s near coming,—the same that men are repeating to-day. They heeded it not, because they were deaf. Their deafness came as the result of disobedience to a divine law—the law that spiritual life comes as a result of proper education. God sent the message, but having ears, they heard not. Then came that second message, “Babylon is fallen,”—the most terrible thing which heaven has ever said of any organization.

To-day we have the judgment message,—the evangelization of the world in the present generation. Has it life? or is it as sounding brass? We can prove that we mean what we say in but one way; that is, educate the children to fulfill the message by carrying the glad tidings to the world. That means schools, Christian schools, and enough of them for every child to have Christian training. If this principle is not heeded, then to this church in this generation will be given that second message, “Babylon is fallen,” as truly as it was given to the Protestant churches in 1844.

We stand at the parting of the roads. One way leads Seventh-day Adventists over the road which the majority of Protestant denominations have trodden; the other leads heavenward. Which way shall we take? “How long halt ye?” E. A. SUTHERLAND.