The Missionary by W. C. Grainger

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 29, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 50.

The Missionary.

By W. C. Grainger

HEALDSBURG COLLEGE.

THE fall term, which has now closed, has been a very successful one. The number in attendance has been large, notwithstanding the General Conference recently held in Oakland prevented many from attending, who would otherwise have done so. No better results have been obtained in the work of any previous term. Feeling grateful to God for the measure of success we have attained, we are not content that our school should simply remain at the point of excellence it has reached, but shall labor as earnestly as ever to reach a still higher standard of excellence in all departments of our work.

Our teachers are Christian men and women, who are earnestly devoted to the work to which they have consecrated themselves, and they will leave nothing undone that is possible to be done for the intellectual and spiritual welfare of our students. A larger number of the students than usual this year were without any religious experience when they entered the College. Nearly all of these have either taken their stand for God and his truth, or are under deep conviction of their duty to do so. Religious instruction occupies a very important place in our school work. Everything is done to impress upon the minds of the students that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"—that the great end to be reached by our efforts in this life is to secure a home in the kingdom of Heaven.

The spring term will open January 2, 1888, and will continue seventeen weeks. In addition to the stated work of the last term, which will be continued, the special biblical and historical work of the Biblical Department will be begun with the opening of the term, and will be continued through to the close. All who desire to prepare themselves for labor in the ministry, or as missionaries and Bible workers, and those who desire a better knowledge of the Scriptures, should not fail to enter this department. Elder A. T. Jones, one of the editors of the Signs of the Times, will be the teacher in charge of this department.

In connection with this biblical instruction, there will be given instruction and drill in methods of doing missionary work, conducting Bible-readings, book canvassing, newspaper correspondence, and short-hand reporting. Miss M. L. Huntley, secretary of the International Tract and Missionary Society, will have charge of the missionary instruction. Miss Huntley brings to her work many years of experience in practical missionary labor, and also as a teacher and trainer of mission workers. Everyone who realizes that he is his brother's keeper, and that God has a work for him to do in securing the salvation of others, ought, if possible, to attend this instruction.

There is a large and increasing demand for earnest and devoted men and women to engage in the work of teaching, not that there is a great scarcity of those who profess to be teachers, but there is a lack of those who have the right mould of character to rightly train our children and youth that they may become symmetrical men and women, who will become a blessing to those with whom they may become associated—who, instead of yielding to every wrong influence that may come in their way, will have the power to lead others away from evil influences into paths of virtue and honesty. To meet this demand, the stockholders, at their meeting last May, resolved to establish a Normal Department in connection with the College, where all who desire to become teachers may obtain just that discipline that will enable them to successfully engage in the work of their choice. The teachers of the College are well qualified to give the special instruction necessary, as the majority of them have had a special training in the best Normal Schools of this country, besides years of experience in the school-room. There will be given daily instruction in methods of teaching, school management, and other special subjects.

We hope to see many new students at the opening of our next term.

W. C. GRAINGER.