Get Thyself a Teacher by E. A. Sutherland

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 6, 1902

“Get Thyself a Teacher”

By E. A. Sutherland

IN a list of Jewish maxims, the one which heads this article especially caught and held my eye. That people to whom the commandments of God were first intrusted had engraved in their very natures the importance of universal education. Teachers were reverenced and obeyed. If, as they believed, “the town which had no school must perish,” what wonder that the admonition, “Get thyself a teacher,” was often repeated.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church to-day bears the same relation to the gospel message as was once occupied by the Jewish nation. To-day the saying must be changed to read, “The church which has no school must perish.” It is time, then, that one Christian should meet another with the words, “Get thyself a teacher!” for the salvation of our children and the hope of our work for the world depend upon heeding this admonition.

Two thousand churches in the United States, and only three hundred schools! Thirty thousand children of school age, and not over one sixth of them have Christian training! And to this add the numbers in lands beyond our own.

Hitherto we have had no educational system with which to meet the worldly schools, but to-day one is developing. But what is our educational system without teachers? And how hard is the teacher’s work without the co-operation of an intelligent, consecrated patronage on the part of parents and church members! Our need to-day is therefore for teachers; we are looking everywhere for teachers. The Foreign Mission Board alone has made a call for one hundred thoroughly qualified teachers for foreign countries. Our own churches should have several hundred recruits next fall.

Except we act with rapidity, the children

of to-day will be lost to the cause. Another generation will be required to finish the work in the earth, for God cannot translate a people who cannot or will not properly educate their children. Let us keep pace with our profession. If we are preparing for the end, let us seek for our children a thoroughly qualified Christian teacher.

For the training of teachers, there will be conducted at Berrien Springs, Mich., a summer school of ten weeks, from June 12 to August 20.

A promiscuous class of students will not be accepted. The work is for teachers. Those who apply for admission should, at least, be able to pass a satisfactory examination in all tenth grade subjects. The standard is high, and the work done will be first-class.

Owing to the combined interest of the Mission Board and the Lake Union Conference, students qualified to take this training are offered free tuition, free room rent, and board on the European plan. If interested for yourself or friends, write for further information. Address President of Emmanuel Missionary College, Berrien Springs, Mich.

E. A. SUTHERLAND.