COLLEGE MATTERS by S. Brownsberger

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 11, 1879

COLLEGE MATTERS.

By S. Brownsberger

THE OPENING OF THE COLLEGE YEAR.

The labors of another college year have begun, with all their attendant anticipations and self-denials on the part of parents, students and teachers. Within the past few weeks hundreds and thousands of young men and women all over the world have bid adieu to home and friends, and have flocked to the various schools. About 150 of this vast host presented themselves at Battle Creek College on the first morning of the opening, Aug. 20. The arrivals since this date have been on the average five daily, so that there are now over 200 students in attendance. Judging from these daily arrivals and the numerous letters received from various quarters containing this or similar expressions, “I intend to be at your school in two or three weeks,” we may very reasonably expect a larger attendance this college year than there has been in any previous year. Another encouraging feature to all the friends of our school (and it is a fact that is frequently remarked by them), is that, in intelligence and age, the students of this term average better as a class than those of any preceding year.

There is every promise of a successful term’s work. The teachers were never in better spirits and courage. The students are generally studious, interested, and well pleased. Notwithstanding the many mistakes of the past, the blessing of God is with us now, and I verily believe there is in store for us much more than we have ever received. Nor are we content with mental acquirements, simply, for our students; we believe that Heaven has a higher attainment in store for these youth. May God send his converting power among our students this year, as never before.

THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT.

The exact time of opening this department may not be generally understood, though it is well known that a general business department will be opened at the College sometime this fall. It is now definitely decided that all arrangements will be completed so that this department can be fully opened on Monday, Oct. 27. As it cannot, at present, be accommodated in the college building, a large room is being fitted up in the west REVIEW building, which will be fully supplied with business offices and counting-room furniture. It is designed to make this department a complete success in every respect.

Besides the instruction in general business, and the different forms of single and double entry book-keeping, there will be formed special classes of young men and women to prepare them to act as T. and M. secretaries and librarians, also to keep properly the records of all church business, etc., etc. There should be more than a hundred here this fall to take advantage of this rare opportunity, who would not be induced to attend school for any other purpose. If there are any churches that lack good T. and M. and church officers, such would do well to send along their raw material, and we will try to make it up to order. And do not be so particular about the material that you will refuse to send anything, simply because you have not the best. Send the best you have, and rest assured that we will make the most of it. It is time, brethren, to use what means God in his providence places within our reach to be used, to improve ourselves, and to prepare us and our children to be his faithful servants in this work.

THE BIBLICAL DEPARTMENT.

The Biblical lectures will be supplemented during the coming year with a course of lectures on Ecclesiastical History. There is no doubt but the coming course will be far superior to anything that has preceded it.

STUDENTS’ EXPENSES.

Though much has been written in our college circulars and other publications concerning the small expense incurred by students while attending the College here, yet many students after their arrival express their astonishment that the cost of living is so small. They say, “Why, I didn’t suppose it possible to live so cheap.” Now, this is evidence to us that such did not believe what had been said upon this point until they came and saw for themselves. If there are others who, Thomas-like, feel that they cannot believe until they can come and do likewise, we would extend to them a cordial and confident invitation to suspend their doubts, and come right along, and satisfy themselves that it is all true. The fact is, students live within the estimate of expenses given in our catalogues. They regard it too extravagant and unnecessary in some respects.

When we say that students are boarded here for $1.10 per week, we mean just what we say and no more. And yet to avoid a gloomy suspicion, the last college circular, in the estimate of the necessary annual expenses of students boarding in the club, p. 11, has board entered at $1.20 per week. The clubs are now boarding for $1.10 per week. All the expenses of students here are correspondingly low, so that no person need neglect his education on account of expense. The expense for books is also very low. The method of instruction in some of the branches is such as to obviate the use of any particular text-books. Books need not cost each student more than $2 annually.

S. BROWNSBERGER.