Our School and School Fund.
By D. T. Bourdeau
THERE is no event in connection with the progress of the cause upon which I have looked with greater interest than upon the establishment of our school. I regard this school as a crowning agency to aid in the work of warning the world and preparing a people for the coming of Christ. I heartily indorse what has been said and written by leading brethren on its importance, and on the necessity of sustaining it with our means. Especially would I approve of what Bro. White has recently written on raising $10,000 as a charitable fund, to aid in giving an education to intelligent and consecrated young men and women among us, who are poor, and yet desire to prepare for the ministry. We know that such an institution as our college cannot succeed without means. All that has been paid in thus far has been applied in purchasing grounds and erecting suitable buildings. It is reasonable and just that those who are able should meet their own expenses in getting an education. This will teach them the lesson of self-reliance, will make them appreciate the knowledge they acquire, and at the same time help in sustaining the institution. But what shall we do with quite a large class of intelligent, worthy persons among us, both youthful and middle-aged, who are just as valuable to the cause as those in better financial circumstances? I do not include in this class those with second or third class minds, who are naturally indolent and like to be carried in the world. Such have no claims on the charity of our people. I speak of those who are among the worthy poor, who are industrious, and are willing to help themselves, but cannot. There are evidently some whom the Lord has made poor to humble and save them, and make them useful instruments in saving others. Shall we help such? or shall we, through unbelief and covetousness, turn away from them and from our golden opportunity of giving a telling lift in advancing the cause? My mind has been stirred on this subject by cases that have recently come under my observation. In our good, closing meeting among the France French, near Kankakee, Ill., were a noble and strong young man and his wife, people with a fair education, who have, through economy and industry, accumulated a few hundred dollars since coming to this country, and have been strongly impressed that it is their duty to attend our school, and join us in France as a reinforcement in one or two years. These persons have good minds, and a little help added to what they could do for themselves would be appreciated, and would not be lost. The following is another remarkable case: A few days ago, while passing on the cars through Centerville, N. Y., on my way to Vermont, I thought of a French brother by the name of Joseph Roberge, with whom I was acquainted while at the Grande Ligne Mission school, C. E., twenty-two years ago, and who embraced the truth in Centerville when Bro. Czechosowski and myself labored in Northern New York seventeen years ago. I was querying in my mind whether this brother was still in the truth, when I opened a letter which had been handed to me at Battle Creek. It proved to be an interesting letter written in good French by a France Frenchman, who has recently embraced the truth through the influence of Bro. Roberge, and who wishes to attend at least one term of our school, and to devote his life to the work of the ministry. Such was my interest in this young man that after reaching St. Albans, Vt., I sent Bro. Wm. Saxby after him. He is now with me, and having had two interesting interviews with him, I am prepared to report as follows:— He is a healthy, fine-appearing young man, aged twenty-four years. He has an excellent French education, having been through a regular course in a college in Paris. He has a good knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages; and has studied English in France, but needs to be drilled on pronunciation. His father was a wealthy machinist, near Paris, but lost nearly all his property in the Franco-Prussian war. Disheartened at the situation of his family, this young man came to America, and I believe Providence has thrown him into our hands. But some cautious brother will say: We have been so often disappointed by strangers that it is dangerous to venture in such cases. We reply, Caution is commendable if not carried too far. Will the fisherman cease to spread his net because he at times takes bad fish? Or does the farmer refuse to sow his grain because some of his seed will fall on poor ground and bear no fruit? Why not venture in the most important work that was ever committed to mortals? This superfine caution that leads men to do nothing at an important crisis, is unbelief in disguise, and will lead to ruin unless it is shaken off by energetic and well-directed efforts. Better fail trying to do something than to be so cautious as to accomplish nothing. May God help us to arouse to a sense of the special openings of his providence, and to the responsibilities that our solemn profession brings us under. Our school fund, the fruit of economy and sacrifice, will be a precious fund devoted to the Lord; and it is but reasonable that those who shall enjoy the benefits of this fund should show themselves worthy by carrying out the great object for which our school was established. It would be robbery and sacrilege for young men and women to get an education at the expense of this sacred fund under the pretense of preparing for missionary work, and then selfishly turn to an occupation purely secular. This we have often seen done in charitable schools of other denominations, as the result of a lack of prudence and consecration on the part of persons managing those schools. Those youth who thus selfishly and deceitfully appropriate to themselves the Lord’s money, will have a fearful account to render in the day of reckoning. Discrimination is needed in selecting persons among the worthy poor who should be assisted in obtaining an education. Even the best of men have erred in judging of the adaptation of persons for filling important stations. Take as an illustration the case of Samuel in selecting among the sons of Jesse a proper person to replace Saul as king of Israel. When the sons of Jesse came before him, “he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16: 6, 7. In this case, the necessary qualifications to fill the office in question could not be determined simply by a fair appearance. So in the case before us. Behind a coarse and unpolished exterior are often found choice talent and true moral worth, which those who have had the advantages of refinement, wealth, and education in this favored country are in danger of overlooking. We are in danger of judging of individuals from their dress, manners, and appearance. Many backward and awkward young men, who have been neglected because they did not at first appear to advantage, have outstripped brilliant and dashing students. Adam Clarke was regarded as a dull, unpromising youth till he had reached his thirteenth year. Doctor Wolfred N. Cote, a native of Canada, is doing a great work for the Baptists in Italy. He is a splendid writer, and no mean orator. But when I knew this man as a student at the Grande Ligne Mission school, his teachers thought that he would never make anything but a farmer, and as he was an orphan boy, left under their care, they sent him to Upper Canada to work on a farm. But he had an extraordinary mind, the development of which required time, and he did not stay long on the farm. Soon, to the surprise of all, he worked his way back on foot to the school, and he has proved to be one of Canada’s ablest sons. At the same school was a young boy who was away from his home for the first time. He had come from a farm on which he had cultivated his physique; and for awhile he was so lonely and so engaged in performing physical feats that his refined fellow-students made him a by-word, and some of them despised him. But it was not long before his habits were changed, and he outstripped most of the schoolmates. D. T. BOURDEAU.