Danish-Norwegian Seminary, at Hutchinson, Minn.
By H. R. Johnson
Our school, which now has an enrolment of ninety-seven, has been greatly blessed of the Lord. Our meetings are good, especially our Friday evening meetings, which are very precious seasons, and in which the Spirit of God has at times come very close to us. We also experience the divine presence in our classes. But the Harvest Ingathering time has been the most precious and refreshing experience of all. For some time we had been thinking quite seriously about the Harvest Ingathering campaign. But how could we spare the time to go out? We seemed to be overcrowded with work on every hand, both within the school buildings and on the school farm. However, we did not feel justified in passing by this special season of missionary work. After a sermon on the subject we began to organize. A committee on arrangements was appointed, and the school grouped into bands with a leader in charge of each. November 19 was chosen as the day for this special effort. The previous evening we gathered for a brief general meeting. After Prof. P. E. Berthelsen had given a short talk on how to approach the people with the Missions number of the Review, Prof. M. L. Andreasen, the principal of the school, read some words from the Testimonies. "This is just the thing to do," was the message, and this message also assured us of God's blessing upon those who would go forth in faith. "If 'this is just the thing to do,' then let us do just this thing," added Brother Andreasen. The church elder then prayed that God would help us do just this thing. Afterward each company separated by itself to further complete the organization. The next morning, notwithstanding the threatening storm, we went forth to our respective fields. As the day wore on, the sun appeared shining in its strength, and every student seemed to feel that the Lord was showing favor to the effort that was being put forth. On returning that evening17there was great joy in the camp on the part of all, even on the part of those who tarried by the stuff. We gathered in the chapel to hear the report. One hundred and seventy-six dollars was placed on the desk. I have never seen students more happy. An appropriate hymn was sung, and the principal read the one hundred and twenty-sixth psalm. Our mouths were filled with praise and thanksgiving to God, for we felt that the Lord had done great things for us. Our attention was again called to the Testimony which had been read the evening before. Surely the word had been verified, and we were glad. After singing "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," we had a short testimony meeting. It was a thanksgiving feast indeed. Notwithstanding the fact that the rooms in the school building were very chilly,—the boiler being under repairs,—we all were as happy as could be. The blessing of the Lord makes rich and adds no sorrow. There were three things we had accomplished this day,—a personal experience was gained, the papers were placed in the hands of the people, and a generous sum was gathered for the foreign fields. After a prayer of thanksgiving had been offered, we felt moved to sing the doxology again, and then the benediction was pronounced. Thus closed the day's experience, one never to be forgotten by the seminary family.