p. 250 | COLLEGE ITEMS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, April 21, 1885

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 16

COLLEGE ITEMS.

The second term of this College year will close on the 21st of April. It has covered two weeks, or more than one half of the College year. This is a long time to devote to close application to books, and our students will welcome the respite from College work, which will be furnished by the solitary week set apart for the vacation. The term is made thus long because into it are crowded the missionary work, the special course for the canvassing and colporteur institute, and nearly all the instruction that is designed to fit young men and women for our special denominational work.

It is with satisfaction that we review the term that is just coming to a close. It is exceptional in its character. Probably there has been no other term in the history of the school which has furnished to pupils as good opportunities for qualifying themselves for the work of the ministry as the one which is now coming to an end. This is particularly true of its closing weeks. A series of popular lectures presenting to the public in an attractive and impressive form the fundamental principles of our faith has been delivered at the Tabernacle by some of our most experienced teachers. This has given to those students who, through the lectures of Eld. U. Smith, had previously been acquainted with the Scripture argument upon which the points of our faith rest, an idea of the best method of presenting the truth before the people in a way calculated to both interest and convince. In addition to this, Elds. Butler and Canright have discussed, before special classes in the College, in an able and satisfactory manner, questions with regard to those practical duties, labors, and responsibilities which necessarily devolve upon a minister who enters the field of active service.

These instructions have covered such points as the organization of churches, the pitching of tents, the selection of fields of labor, the order in which subjects should be presented in a course of lectures, and the method of testing the people, etc., etc. In addition to this, while Bro. W. C. Sisley, with the aid of Eld. [illegible] and others, has conducted each day classes in which instruction has been imparted in the canvassing and colporteur work, Bible readings, etc., with the object of fitting young men and women for useful service in the work of selling our publications, obtaining subscriptions for our periodicals, and presenting the truth before the people generally.

Last but not least of all, a revival movement has been carried on in the College and the church in connection with the other special work, in which scores of persons have given their hearts to God, many of whom have gone forward in the ordinance of baptism.