AN IMPORTANT QUESTION by S. Brownsberger

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 21, 1877

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

By S. Brownsberger

DO S. D. ADVENTISTS HOLD LEARNING IN CONTEMPT!

Every effort is being made by this people to place their children under the most favorable circumstances for developing their minds and shielding them from the base influences so prevalent in our public schools. I have no hesitancy in venturing the assertion that, as a people, S. D. Adventists are behind no other denomination in their lively interest in, and high appreciation of, the value of education. Yet this interest is not understood by many of our friends of other religious bodies. Some regard it a great mystery that they should feel any concern about the education of their youth. When the editor of the St. Louis Democrat, a few years ago, first heard the click of the builder in hewing the stone for Battle Creek College, in an issue immediately following, we noticed this in substance:— “One of the latest marvels of the age is just now being developed at Battle Creek, Mich. The Adventists are building a college. Now we should like to know what Adventists want with a college. The dilemma thus forces itself upon our minds: If Adventists are so soon to withdraw from this terrestrial sphere, of what benefit will their college be to them? But if they do not expect to go, why in the name of reason are they establishing a school to propagate this dogma among young men? Who will answer first?”

Now I cannot say whether he ever received the desired information or not; if he did not, I am sure it was not on account of any difficulty involved in the answer; but it was probably thought he might understand the matter by making a little effort.

The fact is this: When the Lord shall appear, Adventists expect to leave their money here, and take their brains with them. For this reason, they value brain culture more than money. You see it becomes a simple matter of shrewd investment. Now on what ground this transaction can be involved in any mystery I cannot say, except it be this: Our friend of the Democrat was expecting the reverse, that they would take the money but leave the brains.

Prof. David Swing, in a recent sermon at Central Church, Chicago, said: “Second Adventism brings with it contempt for invention, industry, learning, and philosophy of all kinds, which would soon strand the ship of life; hence, if widely spread, it would become a great practical evil.” If there were not many individuals in the ranks of S. D. Adventists of whom the above is literally true, we might well look with pity and surprise upon the large number of this very class in the ranks of other denominations. To admit the existence of one such among S. D. Adventists is a humiliation.

But is it reasonable or even humane to indulge such unqualified assertions as the one quoted above? If the statement be based upon the fact that some Adventists are known to despise learning and philosophy, we reply that our nearest neighbors in the planetary system can with equal reason and truth assert that the inhabitants of the earth hold human life in contempt because cases of suicide have been known among them. Or if the view be based upon a theory of cause and effect, we can find no circumstances in the case from which such conclusions would receive the least support. But, on the contrary we find that which will utterly preclude the possibility of any such result.

We find in their faith the very ingredients that would tend to stimulate S. D. Adventists above all classes of religionists to throw their whole energies into the improvement and development of man in his relations to society, as well as to God, and as an individual. The measures of S. D. Adventists in educational interests are comprehensive and active, and when fully developed will prove to the world that they have been in earnest. They have willingly and gladly donated means to the amount of about seventy-five thousand dollars within the past two or three years for the establishment of a college, wherein are taught all the branches of the sciences, and languages, both ancient and modern, usually found in a college curriculum of study. The patronage of this institution in so short a time after its establishment is truly a wonder to the observer, and a source of congratulation to its founders and friends. No other denomination during the first twenty-five years of its existence will compare favorably with S. D. Adventists in the extent of their educational interest and enterprise. S. BROWNSBERGER.