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FIFTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE S. D. A. EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY

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The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 20, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 21

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FIFTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE S. D. A. EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY.

By James White; Uriah Smith

Stockholders in the Educational Society assembled, according to appointment, in Battle Creek, Nov. 9, at 9 A. M. Hymn 7 of Spiritual Songs was sung, and the meeting was opened with prayer by the President, Eld. James White.
The roll being called, there were found to be present sixty-seven stockholders, representing 816 shares.
The President being called away, he requested Prof. S. Brownberger to occupy the chair.
Minutes of last yearly session read and approved.
The Chair, being authorized to appoint the usual committees, appointed Elds. S. N. Haskell, H. W. Decker, and D. M. Canright as a Committee on Nominations, and W. C. White, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, and C. W. Stone as a Committee on Resolutions.
A statement of the present condition of the College being called for, the Principal, Prof. S. Brownberger, gave a very interesting account of the workings of the institution, financial and literary. The debt is continually decreasing, having fallen from $12,000 in 1875 to less than $8,000 last year, to be reduced to about $6,000 the present year.
The attendance the past year has been 426, while the prospect for the present year is, that there will be a larger attendance than in any previous year.
He spoke of the additions which have been made in departments and teachers to meet the growing demands of the school. Three new departments have been added,—the Normal, or Teachers’ Institute, a Commercial and a Primary Department. He spoke also of the advantages of the new arrangement of terms, which makes it possible for those who wish to engage in winter teaching or summer labor to put in complete terms in the fall and spring without interfering with their engagements or plans.
Prof. G. H. Bell spoke of his encouragement in regard to the school. His courage and hope in this enterprise were never better. He spoke of the difficulties which have beset the efforts to maintain the moral standing and discipline of the school, and the success which has triumphed, and will triumph, over all these.
W. C. White spoke of the reason why the addition of new departments and extended courses of instruction must increase the expenses of the College without a corresponding increase of income. His explanation of the necessity of these departments, and his defense of them and statement of their advantages, were full and complete. At the conclusion of his remarks, he Moved, That the Secretary be hereby instructed to appoint a committee composed of one person from each State to look over the list of unpaid pledges, make such revisions as necessary, and suggest some means by which to collect the amounts due.
This was amended by substituting in place of one person from each State, a committee of three, to whom the presidents of the different State Conferences should report in this matter, so far as it concerned their respective Conferences.
As amended, the motion was carried.
In obedience to these instructions, the Secretary appointed Brn. A. O. Burrill, E. R. Jones, and D. M. Canright as said Committee.
Eld. D. M. Canright urged the necessity of ministers acting as special agents of the School, to labor to secure for it the requisite patronage.
Prof. G. H. Bell spoke of the necessity of a portion of the time being spent by students in physical labor, in connection with their studies, though he knew not how this could be secured.
Adjourned to 2:30 P. M.
SECOND MEETING, 2:30 P. M. Prayer by D. M. Canright. Minutes of last meeting read and approved.
The Treasurer’s report being called for, it was presented by Dr. W. B. Sprague, as appended in another column.
The Committee on Nominations, being called for, reported by suggesting the following persons as a Board of Trustees for the ensuing year: Eld. James White, L. McCoy, S. Brownberger, J. H. Kellogg, W. C. Sisley, W. B. Sprague, and W. C. White.
W. C. White declining to be a candidate, the name of U. Smith was substituted for that of W. C. White.
Ballots being circulated, the nomination was confirmed.
It was then voted to instruct the Secretary to cast the ballot for the stockholders present in favor of the persons nominated, which vote was reconsidered, and the balloting proceeded in the usual manner.
The result showed 730 votes cast; necessary to a choice, 366. There were 490 in favor of the nominations, and 240 against. The persons named were accordingly declared elected.
The Committee on Resolutions presented the following, which were separately considered and adopted:—
Whereas, The increasing demands for laborers in the various departments of the cause, and particularly in missionary fields in this and foreign countries, requires the preparation as soon as possible of a large number of well-trained workers for these several fields of labor, and
Whereas, The Lord has signified his approval of efforts in this direction by blessing in a signal manner the labors of this Society and the educational institution founded by it, therefore
Resolved, That each member of the S. D. A. Educational Society be hereby earnestly requested to labor more zealously than ever before for the advancement of the interests of education among us, and especially to induce young men and women who may be benefited thereby and become useful in the cause, to avail themselves of the excellent opportunities afforded at the College located in this place.
Whereas, In the past some who have moved their families to Battle Creek for the purpose of affording them an opportunity to avail themselves of the advantages of the College, have suffered much, pecuniarily and otherwise, on account of ill-advised moves in reference to purchasing or renting property, therefore
Resolved, That we recommend to those who are contemplating removing their families to Battle Creek for the purpose named, to correspond with some member of the Board of Trustees before doing so, and to confer with the Board respecting their plans, before settling, after their arrival.
Resolved, That this Society does heartily approve of the careful discipline enforced by the Faculty of the College heretofore, and recommend that no less vigilance in caring for the deportment of students be exercised in future.
Whereas, In most of the State Conferences there has been created an educational aid fund, therefore
Resolved, That we invite the careful attention of such State Conference officers to the selection of such persons in their midst as would be proper subjects for the reception of the designed aid, that they may be encouraged to prepare themselves for usefulness in the cause by taking a course of study at our College.
Whereas, Our College employs no special solicitors of its own, for the promotion of its interests among the people, therefore
Resolved, That we invite all of our ministers to labor in their respective fields for the interests of our excellent College, by soliciting patronage and support.
Resolution three, in reference to discipline, was discussed by D. M. Canright, Jas. White, and Mrs. E. G. White. A strong appeal was made by both Elder and Mrs. White in behalf of the College, setting forth the duty of the friends of education among us to give the school the influence of their moral support by sympathizing with the teachers in their arduous duties, and seconding their efforts to maintain a proper standard of discipline in the school.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
Jas. White, Pres. U. Smith, Sec.

TREASURER’S REPORT.

W. B. Sprague in account with the S. D. A. Educational Society, for the year ending July 1, 1879.
Dr.
To cash on hand July 1, 1878, $69.00
To cash received on pledges, 1,391.59
To cash received for tuitions, 4,095.27
To cash received from sale of real estate, 550.00
To cash received on bills receivable, 800.00
To cash received for rent and interest, 1,089.43
To cash received from book sales, 1,101.92
To cash received for College Record, 319.53
Total, $9,416.74
Cr.
By amount paid janitor & teachers, $4,077.84
By amount paid on accounts, 355.19
By amount paid for improvements and incidentals, 3,991.11
By amount paid for school books, 569.08
By amount paid for interest on account, 419.91
By cash on hand to balance, 3.81
Total, $9,416.74

INVENTORY.

Amount
Real estate, College grounds, 12,400.00
Real estate, buildings, 28,323.32
Real estate, detached lots, 2,850.00
Real estate, cottages, 4,025.00
Philosophical apparatus, 1,150.00
Museum, 550.00
School books in stock, 446.33
Bills receivable, 3,010.00
Cash on hand July 1, 1879, 3.81
Total, $52,758.46
Indebtedness, 6,334.74
Net assets, $46,423.72
W. B. Sprague, Treasurer.
This is to certify that I have carefully examined the books and accounts of the S. D. A. Educational Society, and find them correctly kept, according to my best knowledge and belief.
F. H. Sisley, Auditor.