I have a very deep interest in the educational institution at Battle Creek. For years my husband
and myself were greatly exercised in reference to establishing a school in which our youth and
children should have advantages of a superior character to those found in the common public
schools, or in the colleges of the world. The Lord plainly specified what should be the character
of the influence and instruction the school should maintain, in order that the important work
might be accomplished for which the school was designed. As the knowledge and fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom, it was necessary that the study of the Bible should have a
prominent place among the various branches of scientific education. The standard of the school
was to be of high order, and the principles of vital godliness were ever to be kept before the
students as a most essential feature of education. "And this is life eternal, that they might know
Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." The youth were to be instructed
in regard to the times in which we live, and to be made to understand that which will come to
pass before the closing up of the world's history.
One reason why it was necessary to establish institutions of our own was the fact that parents
were not able to counteract the influence of the teaching their children were receiving in the
public schools, and the error there taught was leading the youth into false paths. No stronger
influence could be brought to bear upon the minds of the youth and children than that of those
who were educating them in principles of science. For this reason it was evident that schools
must be established in which our children should be instructed in the way of truth. In our schools
it was specified that the youth were to be taught in the principles of Bible temperance, and every
influence was to be brought to bear upon them that would tend to help them to shun the follies of
this degenerate age, which were fast making the world as a second Sodom.
In our institutions of learning there was to be exerted an influence that would counteract the
influence of the world, and give no encouragement to indulgence in appetite, in selfish
gratification of the senses, in pride, ambition, love of dress and display, love of praise and
flattery, and strife for high rewards and honors as a recompense for good scholarship. All this
was to be discouraged in our schools. It would be impossible to avoid these things, and yet send
them to the public schools, where they would daily be brought in contact with that which would
contaminate their morals. All through the world there was so great a neglect of proper home
training that the children found at the public schools, for the most part, were profligate, and
steeped in vice.
The work that we as a people were to do in this matter, was to establish a school, and do the
work that Jesus Christ, from the pillar of cloud, had directed as the work of His people,-- to train
and educate our children and youth to regard the commandments of God. The manifest disregard
of the world for the law of God was contaminating the morals of those who professed to be
keeping the law of God. But we are called upon to follow the example of Abraham. Of him the
Lord has said, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and
they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment."
Abraham had to leave his country and his father's house, and sojourn in a strange land, in
order to introduce successfully the new order of things in his household. The providence of God
was ever to open up new methods, and progress was to be made from generation to generation, in
order to preserve in the world a knowledge of the true God, of His laws and commandments.
This could be done only by cultivating home religion. But it was not possible for Abraham to do
this while
he was surrounded by his idolatrous kinsfolk and friends. He must at God's command go out
alone, and listen to the voice of Christ, the leader of the children of Israel. Jesus was on the earth
to instruct and educate the chosen people of God. Abraham decided to obey the law of God, and
the Lord knew that there would be no betrayal of sacred trust on his part, no yielding to any other
guide than Him whom he felt under responsibility to obey. He recognized that he was
accountable for the instruction of his household and his children, and commanded them after him
to do justice and judgment. In teaching them the laws of God, he taught them that the Lord is our
judge, our lawgiver and king, and that parents and children were to be ruled by Him; that on the
part of parents there was to be no oppression, and on the part of children no unfilial
disobedience.
The Lord commanded Moses to go and speak unto Pharaoh, bidding him to allow Israel to
leave Egypt. For four hundred years they had been in Egypt, and had been in slavery to the
Egyptians. They had been corrupted by idolatry, and the time came when God called them forth
from Egypt, in order that they might obey His laws and keep His Sabbath, which He had
instituted in Eden. He spoke the ten commandments to them in awful grandeur from Mount
Sinai, that they might understand the sacred and enduring character of the law, and build up the
foundation of many generations, by teaching their children the binding claims of God's holy
precepts.
This is the work that we are called upon to do. From the pulpits of the popular churches it is
proclaimed that the first day of the week is the Sabbath of the Lord; but God has given us light,
showing us that the fourth precept of the decalogue is as verily binding as are the other nine
moral precepts. It is our work to make plain to our children that the first day of the week is not
the true Sabbath, and that its observance after light has come to us as to what is the true Sabbath,
is idolatry, and in plain contradiction to the law of
God. In order to give them instruction in regard to the claims of the law of Jehovah, it is
necessary that we separate our children from worldly associations and influences, and keep
before them the Scriptures of truth, by educating them line upon line, and precept upon precept,
that they may not prove disloyal to God.
The Protestants have accepted the spurious Sabbath, the child of the papacy, and have exalted
it above God's holy, sanctified day; and our institutions of learning have been established for the
express purpose of counteracting the influence of those who do not follow the word of God.
These are sufficient reasons to show the necessity of having educational institutions of our own;
for we must teach truth rather than fiction and falsehood. The school is to supplement the home
training, and both at home and at school, simplicity of dress, diet, and amusement must be
maintained. An atmosphere must be created that will not be deleterious to the moral nature. Line
upon line, precept upon precept, our children and households must be educated to keep the way
of the Lord, to stand firmly for truth and righteousness. We must maintain a position against
every species of sophistry that bewilders in this degenerate age, when error is glossed over, and
so mingled with truth that it is almost impossible for those who are not familiar with the
distinctions that the Scriptures make between the traditions of men and the word of God, to
distinguish truth from error. It has been plainly stated that in this age "some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."
As the truth is brought into practical life, the standard is to be elevated higher and higher, to
meet the requirements of the Bible. This will necessitate opposition to the fashions, customs,
practices, and maxims of the world. Worldly influences, like the waves of the sea, beat against
the followers of Christ to sweep them away from the true principles of the meekness and grace of
Christ; but they are to stand as firm
as a rock to principle. It will require moral courage to do this, and those whose souls are not
riveted to the eternal Rock, will be swept away by the worldly current. We can stand firm only as
our life is hid with Christ in God. Moral independence will be wholly in place when opposing the
world. By conforming entirely to the will of God, we shall be placed upon vantage ground, and
shall see the necessity of decided separation from the customs and practices of the world. We are
not to elevate our standard just a little above the world's standard; but we are to make the line of
demarcation decidedly apparent.
There are many in the church who at heart belong to the world, but God calls upon those who
claim to believe the advanced truth, to rise above the present attitude of the popular churches of
today. Where is the self-denial, where is the cross-bearing that Christ has said should characterize
His followers? The reason we have had so little influence upon unbelieving relatives and
associates is that we have manifested little decided difference in our practices from those of the
world. Parents need to awake, and purify their souls by practicing the truth in their home life.
When we reach the standard that the Lord would have us reach, worldlings will regard
Seventh-day Adventists as odd, singular, strait-laced extremists. "We are made a spectacle unto
the world, and to angels, and to men."
We are under solemn, sacred covenant to God to bring up our children, not for the world, not
to put their hands into the hands of the world, but to love and fear God, and to keep His
commandments. We are to instruct them to work intelligently in Christ's lines, to present a noble,
elevated Christian character to those with whom they associate. For this reason our schools have
been established, that youth and children may be so educated as to exert an influence for God in
the world. Then shall our schools become converted to the world, and follow its customs and
fashions? "I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect, will of God."
When those who have reached the years of youth and manhood see no difference between our
schools and the colleges of the world, and have no preference as to which they attend, though
error is taught by precept and example in the schools of the world, then there is need of closely
examining the reasons that lead to such a conclusion. Our institutions of learning may swing into
worldly conformity. Step by step they may advance to the world; but they are prisoners of hope,
and God will correct and enlighten them, and bring them back to their upright position of
distinction from the world. I am watching with intense interest, hoping to see our schools
thoroughly imbued with the spirit of true and undefiled religion. When the students are thus
imbued, they will see that there is a great work to be done in the lines in which Christ worked,
and the time they have given to amusements will be given up to doing earnest missionary work.
They will endeavor to do good to all about them, to lift up souls that are bowed down in
discouragement, and to enlighten those who are in the darkness of error. They will put on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.-- Review and
Herald, Jan. 9, 1894.