UNION COLLEGE by L. A. Hoopes

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 5, 1901

UNION COLLEGE.

By L. A. Hoopes

The opening at Union College, September 18, was encouraging indeed. There is a good representation of intelligent young men and women, representing all the Conferences of the school district, in the English, German, and Scandinavian departments. There is to this date an enrollment of two hundred and forty-three in the college, one hundred and seventy-six of whom are above eighteen years of age. Most of these are taking regular courses of study, and preparing to labor in the Third Angel's Message. Twenty-eight are enrolled to take the Normal course, to prepare for the church-school work. Thirty have started in the Commercial course, forty in the Scientific course, eight in the Ministerial course, and ten have signified their desire to take either the Nurses' or the Medical course.

There is also connected with the school a Church-school department, with an enrollment of forty-three, thus bringing the entire enrollment up to two hundred and eighty-six. This, to us, seems encouraging at this stage of the school work. When we consider the extent of the drought all through this Western country, we are agreeably surprised to see so many in attendance. Among these are many who were here last year.

At a recent meeting of the Union College Board plans were laid for various industrial features to be connected with the college courses. This will give employment to a much larger number of students, while at the same time such instruction will be given as is called for in the Testimonies.

There will also be connected with the college, during the winter weeks, a Special Training Course for Workers.

In addition to the regular teaching force of the college, there will be special help from the Conferences in the school district and from the Union Conference to give instruction along the special lines of missionary work. This latter course is to begin the 8th of January, and to continue until the 4th of March, 1902.

The religious tone of the institution is good. Besides the regular chapel services and the morning and evening worship, which are respectfully attended, there are division prayer services conducted by the students two days in each week. These are in six divisions, the Scandinavians and Germans in rooms by themselves. The English students divide into four companies. There is a small per cent of students who do not take part in these services, but spend this prayer period in study in the large chapel. Every Friday evening there are general services for the students conducted in three divisions. The work is going steadily forward, and already fruits are being seen of the steady growth and influence of the Spirit of God in the hearts of students who had no particular drawing in this direction when they came. There is a young people's association connected with the school, which bids fair to prove of permanent benefit to all who take part in the exercises. Connected with the school is a missionary society. In this special attention is given to the foreign work. Preference is given to the circulation of the papers and literature in other languages aside from the English. By invitation of the board, Elder F. H. Westphal recently connected with the school for the remaining portion of this term, and already we can see a revival in the German department.

We feel thankful for the students who have already come to us, and pray that the way may open for many more whose hearts are burdened for the souls of their fellow men.

There is a free spirit on the part of each teacher. All take hold of the work with a willingness to do anything assigned them, and they do it with a view of making the school all that God would have it. In all these blessings we recognize the hand of God. We are all glad that there is a faithful Watcher in our midst. We pray that all our conduct may be such as will meet the approval of God.

L. A. HOOPES.