Dedication of the School Buildings at South Lancaster, Mass.
By S. N. Haskell
THE dedication of the South Lancaster Academy took place on Friday, Oct. 17, at one o'clock. Friends were present from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York; among whom were Elders A. S. Hutchins, A. O. Burrill, E. W. Whitney, J. B. Goodrich, and S. J. Hersum; also several ministers from Lancaster and Clinton, together with other friends of education living in the immediate vicinity. About three hundred met on the second floor of the new school building. The meeting having been opened with prayer by Elder A. S. Hutchins, a few remarks of welcome were made by the writer, thanking the people for the cordial sympathy with our work existing in the community, and stating that whatever may be one's belief, education is a platform upon which all can unite. A brief history of the school was given by Elder D. A. Robinson. Its remarkable prosperity shows plainly that God has blessed the efforts put forth, and that he will continue to do so if we prove faithful to the responsibilities laid upon us. Brother J. Taber, the master builder, in presenting the buildings to the Board of Directors, stated that although difficulties had been encountered, it was evident that the providence of God had been over the work; that the cost of the buildings, including the grading that had been done, had not exceeded $19,000, and that the outstanding bills did not exceed $2,000. The expense of furnishing the buildings, and grading, when completed, will probably be $5,000. This added to the cost of the land, $13,500, will not exceed $37,500 for the entire cost of the Academy property, including work-shops, printing-office, store-house, etc. Elder Smith, having been delayed on his way from Battle Creek by a railroad accident, arrived just in time to make the dedicatory address, of which the following is a partial report:— "Those who are acquainted with Seventh-day Adventists know that they are nothing unless they are, or at least think they are, scriptural. They have an immense reverence and regard for that old volume which so many nowadays are inclined to regard as obsolete and outgrown, as it reveals Him who alone is the true light of the world, and teaches the fear of the Lord, which is the very beginning of wisdom. They look upon this book as the only one which has through all the ages stood abreast of the times, grasping, through its prophetic outlook, all the salient points of the world's great revolutions, the rise and fall of its kingdoms, explaining current phenomena, and shedding its light upon the future. This position it will occupy to the end of time; for it spans the whole duration of human history, and grows more full and explicit in its testimony as we draw near to the important point of transition between this dispensation and the final one soon to be ushered in. "This wonderful book also contains instruction for the development of the body, and the cultivation of the intellect, as well as the purification and regeneration of the heart. If these had always been followed, we should not see the physical and mental degeneracy around us which we behold to-day. We might therefore expect to find upon its pages declarations appropriate to this occasion, as we have met to dedicate a new institution to the noble work of intellectual and moral culture. To one such we briefly call your attention. By the prophet Jeremiah (9:23, 24) the Lord says: 'Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.' "Here are named the three attainments in which the heart of man most naturally and most commonly glories. And how much glorying there is in these after the worldly standard. Yet the Lord says that there is only one thing in which a man can appropriately glory, and that is in a knowledge of the Lord, and in the cultivation and exercise of those principles of loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in which he delights. The standard which the Lord here raises is not the world's standard to-day. What efforts are put forth for riches and might and worldly wisdom! but where is the knowledge of the Lord, and who is seeking for that? How has God's arrangement been reversed; and the knowledge of himself instead of being put first, is put last, or ignored altogether! "It needs no other argument to show that some change is demanded; for whenever there is a clearly-defined issue between the practices of men and the teaching of the word of the Lord, there is a work to be done to bring back that practice into conformity with that word. Such a work clearly ought to be done in the educational world; and to this work we are committed. We do not expect to revolutionize the world; but within the limited sphere of our influence, and so far as our efforts may be able to affect others, we shall try to establish conformity to the divine standard, making the fear of the Lord, and the principles of his government, which should also be the principles of our lives, the great foundation, and all other accomplishments and attainments only accessories thereto. This is to be made the paramount object in all our educational institutions. Wisdom (even from a scientific standpoint alone), and might, and riches, are not to be despised; they are good so long as kept in their proper place, and used with the right motive, and for the right purpose. It is only when they are suffered to become the masters and not the servants, and man is led to prostitute his true nobility to the sordid ends of worldly ambition and lust for power, for his own selfish enjoyment and personal aggrandizement, that they become elements of evil and not of good. This has been one of the leading thoughts in the minds of those who have agitated the subject of education among this people." Rev. A. P. Marvin, of Lancaster, gave a short history of the educational interests of the town. The long list of scholars he mentioned, whose names are famous in literature and art, and the many grand old associations connected with the place, make it appropriate that an institution of learning should be erected on ground that had been dedicated so long ago to the work of enlightening mankind. Rev. Geo. M. Bartol congratulated the managers upon their beautiful buildings, the success of the enterprise, and the prosperity that was attending the school. Remarks were also made by other prominent citizens of the place. Esquire Howe, ex-president of the First National Bank of Lancaster, and chairman of the Selectmen of Lancaster, congratulated our people on having such well-arranged and thoroughly well-made buildings. He pronounced them in all respects well adapted to the purposes designed. The building reflected much credit upon Brother J. Taber, who took charge of their erection. Then came the dedicatory prayer, asking for God's guiding hand in the work, for his blessing to attend it, and that it may be the means of furnishing many God-fearing men and women to carry the last message of warning to the world. Thus the buildings were dedicated to the giving of instruction to those who feel a desire to connect with the work of God, in fitting men and women for the kingdom of Heaven. The tour of the buildings was then made by the visitors. The large and welllighted683rooms presented a very neat appearance, and many spoke of the ability manifested in the planning of the work. All seemed well pleased, and the visitors returned home feeling that the institution was a credit to the town. Thus closed a profitable day for the cause of God.