EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
By Editor
ONE of the matters which, though having no legitimate connection with the Conference, yet persistently intrudes itself, and outside, occasioning no little remark, is the cold weather. There has been very much of it in the East this winter, and Michigan has had more than her share of it. And it is still here. Two or three days since our arrival have made old residents of the East almost smell maple sugar, so warm, sunshiny, and beautiful were they after the sharp frost of the night previous. Weather of this kind is most delightful, overhead at least, and those from California have enjoyed it much. During these days the melting snow and ice run in rivulets and brooks down the streets and gutters. The two beautiful days thawed out the electric railway track of this city, and the cars are again running. We could not help thinking of how San Francisco's cable roads would withstand such storms, thaws, and freezes, and how the people would ever get up and down some of the hills of that city. This morning, February 21, the mercury stood at eight degrees below zero, following quite a snowstorm. The sleighing is good. But we did not begin this to speak of the weather. The climate of our own "Golden State" in many localities is delightful, though it has its draw- backs. The climate in many parts of the East is severe and rigorous, though it has its advantages. But the climate of that "better land," even the heavenly, will perennially be all that the mind could wish or the heart hope. There we hope to meet our readers. We wish to speak in this article of our educational institutions. We do not exaggerate when we say that their growth has been marvelous. Battle Creek College was started seventeen years ago. It was established in the providence of God to educate men and women for usefulness in God's cause. When a few years ago it was, through unconverted men, turned away from this purpose, it was by the Board of Education promptly closed. Many at that time thought that such a step was a confession of weakness, and a fatal blow to the college. But subsequent history proved otherwise. It was the strongest and wisest thing which could have been done. Since that the school has been enlarged from time to time, new facilities have been added, and it has prospered as never before. This has been especially true during the last two years. When Union College, near Lincoln, Nebraska, was established, two years ago, it was thought that it would draw largely from Battle Creek College. But how has it been?—Union College has a greater number of students to-day than Battle Creek College had ever had when Union College was established, and Battle Creek has more students enrolled than ever before, numbering now seven hundred and twenty-five members; and it is calling loudly for funds for the increase of buildings and facilities. Every possible inch of space is used, even to the room containing the museum, for daily school work. The last year has been one of revival in spiritual things; and revival in spiritual things means progress. The motto for Battle Creek College, as is that of Union College also, is, "They shall be all taught of God." The educational secretary gave a very interesting sketch of the beginning of this work, in the institute held at Harbor Springs, Mich., nearly two years ago; how God revealed himself to his people there; how the above scripture was taken then as the motto of the institute, and how the light which God there gave had revolutionized the methods of education among us; that now the education is not part religious and part secular, but all religious; and how the true idea was brought into the schools that the very education which would prepare men and women especially to work for the Lord, best prepared them to meet all the duties, conflicts, trials, and privileges of life. These methods have been carried out in our schools, and as the result many workers have been prepared and souls have been converted. Union College was opened September 30, 1891, with an enrollment the first year of three hundred and twenty-one students. The enrollment thus far the present year is five hundred and fifty-three, consisting of seventy-one German students and eighty-five Scandinavian, with the remainder English. The English quarters are already too small, and a new building is demanded.291Walla Walla College was opened December 7, 1892, with an attendance of one hundred and one. The enrollment at present is one hundred and sixty-five, with the gentlemen's dormitory already full, with more room demanded. Another school has been opened in South Africa, and while the buildings were considered by some too large, as were also those of Union and Walla Walla Colleges, they are already crowded, and enlarged facilities will be demanded soon. Four teachers were sent from America, and more are demanded. Our older schools, Healdsburg College, California; South Lancaster Academy, Massachusetts; and the new school conducted by Brother Colcord, at Paris, Tennessee, are all in prosperous, growing condition. Many of us thought that when these large buildings were erected, the older institutions would be weakened and our teaching force scattered, but the older institutions are stronger than ever, and the demands for instructors have been met, and we believe that He in whose providence the schools have been founded, will have all that is necessary for carrying on these institutions in due time. There has been greater progress in education among us during the last two years than all the previous years. The next two years will, we believe, show the same rate of progression. There are now about two thousand students in attendance in our various schools, and many of these are there for the purpose of preparing themselves for labor in the cause of Christ. Demands for short-term schools for middle-aged people will be met the coming year. Our sanitariums and Bible schools are doing good work in educating workers for Christ. For all these omens of good we thank God and take additional courage. His work is like him. We expected progress, but it is greater than we expected. It is so in all good things. God does for us more than we are able to ask, or think, if we will keep our face and heart faithward.