Closing Exercises of Emmanuel Missionary College
By M. Bessie Degraw
QUIET, without ostentation, and yet wholly in harmony with the spirit of the institution, were the closing exercises of Emmanuel Missionary College. The baccalaureate sermon was preached Sabbath, May 24, by Elder W. A. Spicer, secretary of the Mission Board. He spoke with deep feeling of the need of surrender of self to the cause of Christ, and of the important work of training missionaries. He met the students a second time on Sabbath afternoon, and related to them the history of Brother Booth, and the outlook for missionaries in Central Africa. The heart of the speaker beats in sympathy with those needy fields, and he made a strong appeal for workers. Before closing the meeting, he stated that one of the students, W. E. Floding, had been asked to go to Samoa to carry on the work, which will be deprived of laborers by the return to America of Dr. Braucht and those associated with him in labor. Brother Floding spent some time in Samoa several years ago, and is known and loved by the natives. The exercises of the closing week were arranged with the idea of presenting the policy of the college to the friends of Berrien Springs, as well as for the benefit of the students. Sunday evening Dr. Sophia Brunson lectured on missionary work in Japan, her lecture being illustrated with stereopticon views. The following Monday evening, Professor Morse and his pupils gave a musical, which illustrated the work done in the Department of Music. Several young people of the village have taken instruction in music of Professor Morse during the year. Tuesday evening, May 27, Prof. W. W. Prescott delivered the annual address before a representative audience. His subject, “The Call of the Hour and the17Education Necessary to Meet That Call,” gave an opportunity to outline for his hearers Christian education, and to dwell upon the mission of a training school for Christian workers. His words were a strong appeal. “I ask, What is the call of the hour? I may answer by saying, The call of the hour is for those who are able to recognize the needs of the present time, and who are able also to meet those needs. The world looks for men who can lead. If there is one thing above another that education should do, that thing is to make leaders.” For weeks the people of Berrien Springs have manifested a deep interest in the public Bible studies given by Elder Brunson. They have treated with all kindness the new institution which has come into their city, and express regret that the activities will soon be transferred from the village to the farm. One unusual feature connected with the closing this year is the fact that very few of the students left the school. The majority remained to work during the summer or to attend the Summer Assembly.