Our School at Battle Creek.
By Geo. J. Butler
FROM recent references in the REVIEW the readers of the paper have become acquainted with the fact that a school was to be started June 3d in Battle Creek having some connection with our denomination, the General Conference Committee having the supervision of it. As one of that committee, I wish to say a word in reference to this subject so that all may know my feelings concerning the matter. “I fully believe it is in the order of God that we should have a school started in connection with the other institutions which are growing up there. And I expect to see this comparatively small beginning which is now being made, amount to something very important before the message shall close. I believe this because it is something that is necessary to meet a want that exists among us. And as I firmly believe this197to be the work and cause of God, the means necessary to its existence and prosperity are of course connected with that work, and in due time will be put in operation in spite of any obstacles which may seem to hinder.) That there will be great difficulties to surmount and obstacles to be overcome we do not doubt, as there have been in every enterprise undertaken by our people. But we have seen the work move forward, because we believe God has a hand in it. So we expect to see in this case; and we expect the sober consideration of this school matter by our people will result in the same manner. When it shall have been properly set before them, we fully believe they will see its importance and act with their accustomed liberality and promptness. We want a school to be controlled by our people where influences of a moral character may be thrown around the pupils which will tend to preserve them from those influences which are so common and injurious in the majority of the schools of the present day; and in this school we want a department in which those who would labor in the ministry, or in other public positions of usefulness, may receive that instruction which will qualify them for the duties of those positions. That such a want as this exists among us, it seems to me every one of our people must admit, unless stone blind. Whether it can be fully met without calling into existence dangers and difficulties of a magnitude to counterbalance the advantages we hope to gain by such a school, may be a question with some. We believe this want may be met, and this school be made a success, and such difficulties overcome, if the matter is carried out with caution and with wisdom, and no injury, but rather great benefit, result to the cause of truth. Any one who has ever attended our high schools where the youth of our country mostly congregate for the purpose of receiving the necessary instruction to prepare them for the business of life, and has had his eyes open, must know that there are influences and temptations brought to bear upon the minds of those in attendance, which are exceedingly dangerous to religion, or even morality. And though it is possible for those of a strong, decided character, whose principles are fixed to resist them and come forth from the ordeal uncontaminated by the spirit of the place, yet those who are weaker and more thoughtless are very sure to be affected by them; and we have many instances of those who are morally ruined in this manner. And how rare it is for young people who attend such schools to keep alive a spirit of piety and religion under the pressure of the influences brought to bear upon the mind. Those who have never attended such schools, probably never suspect what passes in the rooms of students at our academies and colleges. I have had opportunity from personal experience to judge of these matters. Many a pious father sends his children away to such schools, comparatively free from the corruptions of the world, and while he is fondly hoping all is well, and his promising son will come forth to a life of usefulness, at the same time the son may be taking lessons in card-playing, intemperance, carousing in the dead of night, or committing all kinds of iniquity and mischief that would chill the heart of the parent with horror if he knew it. Those who have attended such schools, and re-call the things that took place in by-gone school days, will acknowledge that I have but hinted at matters that might present a sad picture indeed to the pure. Again, the influences and motives brought to bear upon pupils by teachers in order to incite them to study, are many times calculated to build them up in pride and vanity rather than in virtue and religion. Praise and flattery to those who excel are the motives generally appealed to. Here the roots of pride are nourished and strengthened until it is almost impossible to eradicate them. Again, the standard of discipline is so lowered down in these days, and such loose ideas of even morality prevail all through the community, that it is impossible to find things in a condition, in any of our schools, to satisfy the minds of discerning people who are trying to prepare for the Judgment. We want our children to have a chance for mental culture without moral loss. Cannot we throw safeguards around the youth which will have a tendency to preserve them from some of these dangers? I believe we can. Another great and crying want among us, recognized by all, is the need of laborers in the cause to preach the message. All over the field there are individuals who might be useful in this way, men whose thoughts are turning in this very direction. Some of these have not had suitable chances for instruction and mental discipline. It is quite an important step to leave the farm and the shop where the mind has been devoted to secular things, and the muscles have had the main burden of exercise, and go at once into a new field to cope with able opponents, and call all the faculties of the mind into requisition. Not one in a thousand can do this successfully; and many a one who will only partially succeed, could, if he had an opportunity for mental discipline, united with instruction in the principles of the present truth, succeed far better than he can with our present course of action. (What a mighty field is opening before us. What a work we have to do. What a short time to do it in. Nothing is more evident to my mind than the fact that we as a people are not making use of all the means in our hands to send this truth to the world. I am perfectly satisfied that we have many among us who ought to go into the field and take hold of the work if they can have the proper discipline and thus be able to work to good advantage. Who can suggest a better plan to bring about this very desirable object than a school such as we have in contemplation? We have tried the do-nothing plan too long; and now it seems to me the time has come when the means should be supplied to accomplish such an important object.) But some will say, You are going to follow right on in the course of the other churches, and become like them, and no doubt will feel much distressed at the prospect, thinking it is a denial of our faith in the soon coming of Christ, and that it will all end in formality and spiritual death. No doubt there is danger of it. But is it a necessity that such a result should be reached? Never was there a plan originated but what there were dangers connected with it. These must be guarded against. To be sure, most of the churches have come to the very result above mentioned. But I have yet to learn that their schools were the cause of it. A few denominations I might mention have never established such schools, and they are as bad off spiritually, as far as I can see, as the other churches, and have a mountain of ignorance to contend with to boot. I do not believe ignorance is a help to spirituality. Those who do, better throw away all those aids to Bible study provided for our use by learned men, and go back to the dark ages for their inspiration. The fact is, most of the denominations have recognized a real want that exists, and must ever exist, where there are things to be learned, and have tried to meet it by establishing schools of instruction. How far they have wisely carried out a sensible plan I will not say. But the want is a real one. And it stares us in the face as well as them. We shall be simply recognizing an actual fact when we act upon the need before us. We are no more imitating the churches in establishing means for necessary instruction than we are in having preaching at all, building meeting-houses, organizing, establishing printing offices for the publication of our views, or in many other necessary things. And the same opposition no doubt will be met in the case of the proposed school, as was met in establishing some of the institutions which we now recognize as very necessary, and which we are thankful are in successful operation. The formality of the churches and their low condition spiritually is no more seen in their schools than in many of those institutions which we all admit are right, and which we have in operation now. Why then should this be any objection to the establishment of a school? No doubt this must be guarded against, and that great care must be exercised on this point. But we believe God will be pleased to have us take hold of this as we have of other worthy enterprises. We have no expectation that a term of study will be proposed as long as that in the theological institutions; we have no time for such a course, neither is it necessary. This is a great subject. I have barely hinted at a few points. I trust abler and more experienced men among us will set the matter more fully before our people. And before the full object can be brought about, the subject must be agitated and the public mind be properly prepared. Means must be solicited and raised, suitable buildings erected, teachers provided, and means of boarding pupils prepared. It is not expected this can be done in a day. But this, like other institutions among us, must be started and grow up to the position God has designed for it. And may he give us as a people a proper sense of the importance of his work and a will to do our part of that work faithfully. Civil Bend, Mo., May 22, 1872.