p. 15 | Christian Education by H. R. Salisbury

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 13, 1912

Christian Education

By H. R. Salisbury

Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference H. R. SALISBURY - - - - Secretary

Emmanuel Missionary College

At the biennial meeting of the Lake Union Conference held in Battle Creek, Mich., early in May, the president of the college, Prof. O. J. Graf, gave his report, which showed that the blessing of God had been with the institution, and that prosperity was seen in every department. I earnestly hope that all our members in the Lake Union Conference will see in the prospering hand of the Lord in the college, a call for all the young men and women to leave the schools of the world, and crowd its halls to overflowing. I quote quite fully from the report, that all may know of the success of this school:—

"The past two years have been good years for Emmanuel Missionary College in many ways, for which we are indebted to a loving Heavenly Father, who has worked out his plans for us through a loyal and cooperative body of teachers and students. I think that I do not put it too strongly when I say that the working together of the board, faculty, and students in unity and harmony has, more than anything else, achieved the degree of success that we have experienced. The enrolment and attendance, as well as the per cent of advanced students and the number of graduates, are increasing, the attendance this year reaching 174.

Reincorporation

"In harmony with the action of the Lake Union Conference two years ago, the college has been incorporated under the College Act of Michigan, and bears the corporate name of 'Emmanuel Missionary College.' The school is now authorized to confer literary honors upon its graduates. At the close of this year, the college will have conferred the degree of Bachelor of Arts upon fourteen of our college students. Our degrees are honored and accepted at full value by the leading universities of this country.

The Normal Department

"At the time of the last Lake Union Conference, it was recommended that we accept the offer of the Berrien Springs church to turn its church-school and church-school building over to our normal department. This was done, and the following summer the building was moved onto the college grounds. The school has now been under the supervision of our normal department for nearly two years, with the most gratifying results to all concerned. This arrangement makes it possible for our normal graduates to do actual teaching under the direction and criticism of an experienced teacher. It combines theory and practise. We also plan to have it in operation during the coming summer school.

Equipment and Improvements

"During the past two years we have added quite freely to our musical, library, laboratory, and commercial equipment. Among these additions may be mentioned three pianos for the music department; three hundred books for the library; an adding machine and new typewriters for the commercial department; and a great deal of general equipment for the science department.

"Some of the improvements worthy of mention are the following: A one-hundred-loaf bake-oven for the kitchen. By means of this oven one of the students has been able to earn a large part of his school expenses, and at the same time provide the school with an excellent quality of bread at a lower price than it could be purchased from bakeries.

"The cow-barn has been provided with new cement and cork-brick floors, swinging stanchions, and a silo.

"The college grounds have been, are being, and will continue to be improved by grading, sodding, and the planting of trees and making of flower beds.

Industries

"We have four leading industrial departments, each under the supervision of a competent manager and instructor,—the printing, the farm, the fruit, and the carpentry departments.

"From two to twenty students are given employment in the printing department, a number of them earning nearly all their way through school. Practically all the typesetting, presswork, folding, stitching, trimming, and addressing of the Lake Union Herald is done by these students.

"The farm department has under cultivation about one hundred acres of land, the producing powers of which are being continually increased by means of fertilizing. The dairy consists of fifteen profitable milch cows. The sale of milk, cream, and butter now amounts to from $150 to $200 a month. Next year we hope to supply our kitchen with butter. This will be a great saving, for during the past winter we have paid out seventy dollars a month for butter alone.

"Seventy acres are devoted to the raising of fruit. The past season was a good one for this department, with the exception of a hail-storm which damaged our grapes to the extent of about $1,000. Notwithstanding this misfortune, we were able to market about five car-loads of grapes, between four and five car-loads of pears, and one or two car-loads of cherries and various kinds of berries. Aside from this, thousands of quarts of fruit were canned, both for our kitchen and for the market.

"The carpentry department has charge of all the repairs and construction work. In this department, as well as in the others, the work is done by students, under the guidance and instruction of an able workman. Last year the various industrial departments of the school gave to the students $8,012 worth of work.

Financial Condition

"Up to the time of the last session of the Lake Union Conference, the financial interests of the school were looked after by two departments,—the operating department meeting all running expenses, while the Central Educational Association made all improvements, paid insurance, and the interest on the debt. This arrangement relieved the school management of some very heavy burdens, which, however, had to be borne by an association that had no income, and hence found it necessary to borrow money to pay interest and make improvements. While this was embarrassing to the association, it was a great relief to the operating department, and we were

able to show good gains each year. But two years ago the debt, with its interest of about $1,900 a year, together with the other burdens formerly borne by the association, were passed over to the management of the school. We feared the result; but the Lord prospered us, and, with the aid of the two per cent fund, we were able last year to meet all expenses, including interest, and show a gain of $513. This year, the financial report for ten months shows a gain of $6,000. Of this gain only $659 was received from the two per cent fund, while all running expenses, and interest to the amount of $1,654 were paid, and improvements made to the amount of over $1,900. Our inventories have been increased over $2,000, and $1,383 of the college debt has been paid. This gives us courage to believe that we have been moving in the right direction, and we are hoping and earnestly praying that the Lord will in some way touch the hearts of his people in the Lake Union that they may now, in times of prosperity, roll away the reproach of debt, and free the school from its interest-bearing burden.

Spiritual and Missionary Interests

"But what should be of greatest interest to the conference is not the equipment, improvements, financial prosperity, or even the industrial or intellectual work of the school. All this and much more can be found in the schools of the world. That for which we are most thankful is that under the influence of the school, young men and women are giving their lives to God, and are preparing for service in giving the third angel's message to a lost world. During this school year, twelve have taken their stand for God for the first time. Each school year about sixty of our students actively enter some department of the denominational work.

"Various lines of missionary work have been carried on during the school year. Tracts, papers, and books have been sold, given away, and loaned. Three native missionaries—one in Japan, one in Korea, and one in China—are being supported by the Missionary Volunteer Society. Some of the young men who are looking forward to the ministry have held meetings in near-by halls and school-houses, and already some fruit of their labor has appeared.

"We have organized four missionary bands,—the canvassers' band, the foreign missionary band, the Missionary Volunteer band, and the evangelical band. These meet every Tuesday morning during the chapel hour to study the problems connected with these various lines of work. The evangelical band is for those who are planning to become ministers and Bible workers, and enrolled forty during the year. I think I can safely say that at least ninety per cent of our students are definitely preparing for service in the Lord's work."