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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Sep 19, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 38.

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Christian Education

By H. R. Salisbury

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

Missionary Work in the School

HERE is an interesting report from Brother E. R. Potter, the missionary secretary of the British Columbia Conference, who also teaches Bible and history in the Manson Industrial Academy, in that conference. I hope that the year 1912-13 will see a great advance in our schools in this grand work. The weekly meetings should be carefully planned, and the most interesting experiences related by the teachers and students. The practical results which come from these meetings will do much to lead the students to dedicate their lives to the work of preaching this last glorious message of salvation. Brother Potter writes:—
“During the last year of school at the Manson Industrial Academy, Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, a special effort in missionary correspondence was made by teachers and students. One period each week was devoted to this work.
“Our aim was to send copies of the Temperance Instructor to temperance workers and leaders and to public-school teachers, and the Protestant Magazine to all Protestant ministers in our province, and to accompany each copy with a carefully written personal letter. We found that each student, properly instructed, could write such a missionary letter and prepare the publication for mailing in thirty minutes.
“These letters were carefully inspected by the teachers in charge. Neatness and accuracy could very easily be encouraged, for there was the missionary motive prompting the students to do their best. The replies received and subscriptions obtained by this work were inspiring to the whole school.
“Dr. Earnest Hall, secretary of the British Columbia Local Option League, wrote: ‘I have received with intense interest and satisfaction the copy of the Temperance Instructor. It contains accurate information put in an interesting style, and should be a welcome visitor in all our homes.’
“Newton R. Brown, grand secretary of the Royal Templars of Temperance of British Columbia, wrote: ‘On my arrival from eastern Canada a few days ago, I found your esteemed favor and the Annual Temperance Instructor on my desk. I may say, I have read the copy from cover to cover, and find it one of the best temperance publications I have ever had the pleasure of reading.’
“In a personal interview with Mrs. Spofford, president of the British Columbia W. C. T. U., she directed me to send copies of the Instructor to the local officers of the W. C. T. U. of the province.
“As a result of this we were given an opportunity to present the Temperance Instructor work at the annual W. C. T. U. convention held recently in Vancouver. In connection with that we arranged for the secretary of our conference to present a strong temperance resolution adopted at our last annual conference, expressing our united stand on the great temperance question and our appreciation of, and sympathy with, the good work being done by the W. C. T. U. and other temperance organizations.
“It was moved and quickly seconded in the convention, ‘That we express our appreciation of the resolution presented on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Conference, and that as a convention we indorse the Temperance Instructor.’
“On this question the president called for a rising vote, to which the whole delegation responded in a very appreciative way.
“We were glad to thus place our literature and our work as a people in a favorable light before this body, which represents every part of the province and every church, including the Catholics.
“The results from the work with the Protestant Magazine have also been encouraging. We sent fifty copies to the meeting of the Grand Orange Lodge of British Columbia, together with a letter expressing our appreciation of every proper effort in behalf of true Protestant principles. Their official year-book records that the letter was read to the delegation, and the matter referred to the committee on special resolutions, and that that committee brought in as the first item the following, which was unanimously passed:—
“‘In reference to the Protestant Magazine, the committee indorse and recommend the Protestant Magazine to the earnest consideration of the members of this R. W. Grand Lodge.’
“As a result of that we were able to arrange with Professor Odlum, editor of the Western Call, Vancouver, British Columbia, to present the Protestant Magazine in connection with his address at the annual celebration of the Orangemen of British Columbia, at which five thousand members and others were present. On rising to speak Professor Odlum held up a copy of the Protestant Magazine, and said:—
“‘I hold in my hand a copy of the Protestant Magazine, supplies of which you will find under the sign at my left. [We were supplied with a table over which we had a sign, “Protestant Magazine,” in letters large enough to be seen across the grounds.] This publication, taken from a historical, literary, and scientific treatise of the issues now before the Protestant people, is the best thing I have ever read.’ Then he quoted and read from the magazine during his speech.
“On the same occasion the Dominion representative of their work and grand organizer, W. J. Whitely, said that he had been a subscriber since the Revelstoke meeting last winter, and he has since given me the following statement:—
“‘I am a regular subscriber to the Protestant Magazine, and take pleasure in recommending a periodical that is run along the line of sane, sound, and clear-cut evangelical Protestantism. I have found the articles that it contains to be thoroughly reliable, and have been able to use many of them in connection with my work. A dollar invested in a year’s subscription is money well spent.’
“These experiences and results can be traced directly to the effort in missionary correspondence in our school, and they encourage us to continue the work the coming year, and indicate what might be carried on in all our schools.”