We have had many fears that students who attend Battle Creek College will fail to receive all
the benefit they might, in the way of religious culture, from the families that furnish them rooms.
Some families do not enjoy the sweet influences of the religion of Christ, although they are
professed Christians. The influence which this class of persons exert over the students is more
objectionable than that of those who make no pretensions to godliness. These irreligious,
irresponsible formalists may stand forth before the world in pretentious leaves, while, like the
barren fig-tree they are wholly destitute of that which alone our Saviour values,--fruit to His
glory. The work wrought on the heart by the grace of God, they know nothing about. These
persons exert an influence which is detrimental to all with whom they associate. There should be
committees, to see that the homes provided for the students are not with mere formalists, who
have no burden for the souls of the dear youth.
Very much may be done for those who are deprived of the softening, subduing influences of
the home circle. The spirit manifested by many shows that the language of the heart is, "'Am I my
brother's keeper?' I have no burden or responsibility aside from my own family. I have no special
burden or interest for the students who occupy rooms in my house." I would ask these persons if
they have burdens and feel responsibilities for their own children. I am sorry to see so little
anxiety on the part of some parents that all the influences surrounding their children should be
favorable to the formation of Christian character; but those who do have soul-burdens for their
own loved ones should not selfishly confine their interest to their own family. Jesus is our
example in all things; but He has given us no example of such selfishness as we see manifested
by many who profess to be His followers. If we abide in Christ, and His love abides in us, we shall love those for whom Christ died; for He
has commanded His followers to love one another as He has loved them. Do we who profess His
name obey this injunction? If we fail in this point we shall in others also. Had Christ studied His
own profit, convenience, and pleasure, the world would have been left to perish in its sin and
corruption.
A strange indifference in reference to the salvation of souls seems to have taken possession of
many professed Christians. Sinners may be perishing all around them, and they have no
particular burden in the matter. Will Christ say to these indifferent ones, "Well done, good and
faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"? The joy of Christ consists in seeing souls
redeemed through the sacrifice He has made for them.
Young men and women who are not under home influences need some one to look after them,
and to manifest some interest for them; and those who do this are supplying a great lack, and are
as verily doing a work for God and the salvation of souls as the minister in the pulpit. This work
of disinterested benevolence in laboring for the good of the youth is no more than God requires
of every one of us. How earnestly should the experienced Christian work to prevent the
formation of those habits that indelibly mar the character. Let the followers of Christ make the
word of God attractive to the youth. Let your own characters, softened and subdued by the
beauties of holiness, be a daily, hourly sermon to the youth. Manifest no spirit of grumbling; but
win them to holiness of life and obedience to God. Some professors, by their sourness, repel the
young. The hearts of youth are now like impressible wax, and you may lead them to admire the
Christian character; but in a few years the wax may become granite.
I call upon the professed Christians of Battle Creek as a church and as individuals, take up
your God-given responsibilities. Walk with God yourselves; and exert an influence
over the young which shall preserve them from falling under the manifold temptations made
attractive to seduce the young of this generation. Satan is getting the start of God's professed
people. They seem to be asleep to the dangers of the young, and the ruin that threatens them.
Satan exultingly displays his victories gained over the youth; and those who profess to be
soldiers of the cross allow him to take his victims from under the very rooftree, and appear
wonderfully reconciled.
The cases of many are looked upon as hopeless by those who did not reach out a helping hand
to save them. Some of these might have been saved; and even now, if proper interest was
manifested in them, they could be reached. What have any of us that we did not receive? We are
debtors to Christ for every ability, every grace, every good thought, and every proper action. Of
ourselves we have nothing of which to boast. In lowliness and humility, let us bow at the foot of
the cross; and let all our words and acts be such as shall win others to Christ, and not drive them
farther from Him.
I address you who reside at the great center of the work. You cannot be careless, irreverent
formalists all to yourselves. Many witnesses are looking upon you, and many pattern after your
course. An irreligious life not only seals your own condemnation, but ruins others also. You who
live where such weighty interests are to be maintained, should be minute men, faithful sentinels,
never off guard. One incautious moment spent in selfish ease or in self-gratification may give the
enemy an advantage which years of hard labor may not recover. Those who choose Battle Creek
for their home should be men and women of faith and prayer, true to the interests of those around
them. There is no safety only as they walk with God.
There will be diversity of character among the youth who attend the College at Battle Creek.
They have been differently educated and trained. Many have been left to follow the bent of their
own inexperienced minds. The parents have
thought they loved their children, but have proved themselves their worst enemies. They have let
evil go unrestrained. They have allowed their children to cherish sin, which is like cherishing and
petting a viper, that will not only sting the victim who cherishes it, but all with whom he is
connected.
Some of these petted children are among the students who attend our College. Teachers, and
all who are interested in the students and would help them, have an unenviable task in seeking to
benefit this class of untamed youth. They have not been in subjection to their parents at home,
and have no idea of having a head at school or in the homes where they board. What faith, and
patience, and grace, and wisdom are required to deal with these neglected, much-to-be-pitied
youth. The deceived parents may even take sides with the children against school and home
discipline. They would restrain others from doing the duty God requires of them, and which they
have grossly neglected. What wisdom from God is needed to deal justly and love mercy under
these trying circumstances. How difficult to balance in the right direction minds that have been
warped by this mismanagement. While some have been unrestrained, others have been governed
too much; and when away from the vigilant hands that held the reins of control harshly, leaving
love and mercy out of the question, they have felt that they would not be dictated to by any one.
They despise the very thought of restraint.
Should not those who have the difficult task of educating these young people and molding
their characters have the faithful prayers of the children of God? Care, burdens, and weighty
responsibilities must fall to the lot of the conscientious, God-fearing teacher, as well as that of
the burden-bearing fathers and mothers in Israel who reside in Battle Creek. All sincere
Christians, who value souls for whom Christ died, will make earnest efforts to do all in their
power to correct even the wrongs and neglects of the natural parents. The teachers will feel that
they have a duty devolving upon them
to present their pupils before the world and before God with symmetrical characters and
well-balanced minds. But the teachers cannot bear all this burden, and should not be expected to
be alone responsible for the good manners and elevated morals of their pupils. Every family that
provides rooms for them should have rules to which they must conform. It will not be doing them
or their parents a kindness to allow them to form lawless habits and break or deface furniture. If
they have exuberant spirits and pent-up energy, let them do vigorous manual labor, until
weariness prepares them to appreciate rest in their rooms.
The rooms of some of the students last year bore an unfavorable record of the roomers. If
students are coarse and rude, their rooms frequently make this fact apparent. Reckless sport,
boisterous laughter, and late hours should not be tolerated by those who rent rooms. If they allow
this conduct in the students, they do them a serious wrong, and make themselves, in a great
degree, responsible for the misconduct. The rooms of students should be frequently visited, to see
if they are favorable to health and comfort, and to ascertain if all are living in accordance with the
rules of the school. Any remissness should be pointed out, and the students should be faithfully
labored with. If they are insubordinate and will not be controlled, they are better off at home, and
the school is better off without them. Our College should not become depraved for the sake of a
few lawless students. The colleges in our land are many of them places where the youth are in
danger of becoming immoral and depraved through these evil associations.
The associations of our students is an important matter, and should not be neglected. Many
who come to our College are professed Christians. Especial interest should be manifested in
these, and they should be encouraged in their endeavors to live a Christian life. They should be
guarded, as far as possible, from the temptations that meet the youth
whichever way they may turn. To those who have had years of experience, the temptations which
overcome these young people may seem so light and trivial that they will withdraw their
sympathies from the tempted and tried ones. This is wrong. Their own life and early experience
may have been even more varying than those of the youth they would censure for their weakness.
Many who profess to be followers of Christ are weak in moral power. They have never been
heroes of the cross, and are easily attracted from their allegiance to God by selfish pleasures or
amusements. These persons should be helped. They should not be left to chance in choosing their
companions and roommates. Those who love and fear God should bear the burden of these cases
upon their souls, and should move discreetly in changing unfavorable associations. Christian
youth who are inclined to be influenced by irreligious associates should have for companions
those who will strengthen good resolutions and religious inclinations. A well-disposed,
religiously inclined youth, and even a professor of religion, may lose his religious impressions by
association with one who speaks lightly of sacred and religious things, and perhaps ridicules
them, and who lacks reverence and conscientiousness. A little leaven may leaven the lump. Some
are weak in faith; but if placed with proper roommates, whose influence is strong for the right,
they may be balanced in the right direction, obtain a valuable religious experience, and be
successful in the formation of Christian character.
I would that our brethren and sisters would watch for souls as they that must give an account.
My mind has been deeply exercised upon this subject. I would urge upon those who profess
Christ the necessity of putting on the whole armor; then work for our youth who attend Battle
Creek College. They may not need sermons and long censorious lectures as much as they need
genuine interest. Let them know by your works that you love them and have a care for their souls.
If you would manifest for the tender youth now coming to Battle Creek, who are thrown into the
very arms of the church, one half the care you have for your temporal interests, you might bind
them to you by the strongest bonds of sympathy; and your influence over them would be a power
for good.--Review and Herald, February 21, 1878.