p. 32 | Review and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 38. (9/17/1908)

The Opening of the Foreign Mission Seminary

At nine o'clock on Wednesday of last week a large number of the employees of this Office, the General Conference Office, and the Sanitarium, gathered in the chapel of the Foreign Mission Seminary to enjoy, with the students, the opening exercises of the first session of the new school year. Prof. H. R. Salisbury opened the exercises by reading the sixtieth chapter of Isaiah, and an earnest prayer for God's blessing upon the work of the Seminary was offered by Elder G. A. Irwin. The opening address was given by Elder A. G. Daniells, the president of the board. He spoke of the deep interest which he felt in the work of this institution, which is to give the final preparation to our young missionaries before they depart to take up work in the rapidly whitening harvest-fields. The purpose and the necessity of such an institution were clearly set forth. The necessity of the Foreign Mission Seminary was made more emphatic by giving in detail a comprehensive outline of our school system from church-school up through to the Seminary. He gave a very inspiring array of facts in this discussion. For instance, five hundred have church-schools, with over five hundred devoted teachers, are giving instruction to about eight thousand children. Next came twenty-two intermediate schools, with sixty-eight teachers and about one thousand pupils. Then there are thirty-two academies, with one hundred sixty-two teachers and about twenty-two hundred students. Above the academies are our thirteen colleges, with one hundred eighty-five teachers and twenty-two hundred students,—a total of about thirteen thousand students and nine hundred teachers. In all these schools the object is to rightly mold the growing youth, and give them a correct idea of their relationship to God and to their fellow men.

Elder Daniells then spoke briefly of the unique place which the Foreign Mission Seminary occupies in our school system, taking the graduates of our other higher schools, who have definitely decided to enter the mission fields, and giving them that definite instruction and definite help which will enable them to carry the work to victory in the fields to which they go.

Elder Daniells expressed deepest satisfaction over the fact that we were not now called to send missionaries to any Protestant country; that in all the Protestant countries the work is now self-supporting, and those lands are now providing their own workers. Now the Mission Board's special attention is given to Catholic and heathen countries. We are already operating, he said, in thirty-two Catholic countries and twenty-seven heathen lands. The magnitude of the work never seemed so great, nor our force of workers so cosmopolitan, as when the speaker gave a list of the languages in which this message is now being proclaimed. “To all of these people,” he said, “some of you will go; and some of these languages all of you will learn.” These remarks closed with the assuring declaration that God would lead these consecrated young men and women in the field as well as to the field.

Elder Irwin then occupied a few minutes in emphasizing the difference between the work and purpose of this school and of the schools of the world, and the certainty of the triumph of this message in spite of all that can be done against it. He predicted that the facilities here would soon be found to be entirely inadequate for what will be demanded of them.

Following Elder Irwin, Dr. D. H. Kress, who is in charge of the Sanitarium, and will conduct the department of tropical hygiene in the Seminary, gave a short address upon the necessity of teaching the principles of health, hygiene, and cleanliness while ministering to the spiritual needs of the people.

A few appropriate remarks by Professor Salisbury upon the purpose and prospect of the institution closed the exercises. The present prospect is that the institution will be filled to its utmost capacity during the present year. The number matriculating on the opening day of this school year is nearly a half larger than last year. It cheers the heart of the lover of this message to see so large a company of earnest, consecrated young men and women whose one purpose is to fit themselves for service in the work of proclaiming this last message in the regions beyond. May God greatly bless them in this noble purpose, and make their work fruitful in the dark lands of the earth.

Fosters Reach Japan

Brother Walter Foster and wife reached Yokohama, Japan, August 20, after a very rough voyage. They were in time to attend a portion of Japan's first camp-meeting, which was in session at Kozu.

Prof. Frederick Griggs Visits Camp-Meetings

PROF. FREDERICK GRIGGS, after visiting a number of the camp-meetings in the interests of the educational work, returned to Takoma Park on Wednesday of last week. The following Friday he left for Newmarket, Va., to attend the Virginia camp-meeting, and assist at the dedication of the Shenandoah Valley School at that place.

Advance Information

By Editor

ADVANCE information in reference to the contents of the magazine number of the Signs of the Times for October will be found on page 30 of this number of the REVIEW, where is given also a reduced facsimile of the first cover page. We are certain that a study of the contents of this forthcoming number will induce many to take up work with the magazine. The issue is timely, and our workers will find the people interested in the topics which it discusses.

French Family Reaches Freetown

PROF. T. M. FRENCH and wife have safely reached their new field of labor — Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa. They are now comfortably settled in the mission house, and have entered upon their service in this needy field.

Changes in This Issue

By Editor

In order to make room for the large amount of matter furnished by the statistical secretary for this issue of the REVIEW, we have had to omit the Home Department, and give considerably less space than usual to some of the other departments. For this reason, also, the continued article on religious liberty, which has been appearing in the Editorial Department, is omitted from this issue, but the series will be resumed next week.

Terrific Typhoon at Canton

A TERRIFIC typhoon recently visited Canton, China, resulting in much damage to shipping, as well as to property on shore. A number of lives were lost, principally those of people aboard the vessels wrecked along the coast, the river, and in the harbor. Brother and Sister Anderson had just left Canton for Amoy, so escaped the storm; but, in common with many other buildings, one of the girls’ school buildings occupied by Miss Thompson was completely wrecked. Miss Thompson and three Chinese women left the building and reached a place of safety just as the walls gave way, letting the tile roof fall. We rejoice that the Lord preserved the lives of the workers in the midst of this, one of the most terrific storms ever experienced in this section of China.