Passion, Purpose & Power

VI. Educational Institutions

37. Avondale College

Our work began in Australia in 1885, when Pastors [Stephen N.] Haskell, [John O.] Corliss, and [M. C.] Israel, also Brethren Henry Scott and William Arnold, came to this field. Mrs. Daniells and I¹²⁸ arrived in New Zealand in November, 1885. Sister White, her son W. C. White, and a number of other workers came here in the latter part of 1891. PPP 186.1

By that time we must have had nearly a thousand Sabbath-keepers in Australia and New Zealand. Among them was a large number of fine young people. They had a great desire to take part in the proclamation of our message. But they were without the education and training which they felt they needed, and we had no educational facilities here with which to help them. So great was their burden to obtain the needed preparation for service, that they began crossing the Pacific to attend our schools in America. By the time Sister White came, some twenty or thirty had left us for the schools in the States. That was a large undertaking for our people financially. It was estimated that by the time these young people had returned to Australia, their expenses would have amounted to six or eight thousand pounds sterling. But we felt we must continue that expensive programme, for we saw no possibility of establishing a school in this country in the very near future. PPP 186.2

I was elected president of the Australian Conference on the first day of January, 1892, and before the year was half gone a message came from Sister White stating that the Lord would have us establish a school for the education of our Australasian youth. This message was most welcome, but at that time it gave us most serious perplexity, for it demanded great things from a constituency small in numbers and poor in this world’s goods. After a great deal of study and counsel we decided to start an “Australasian Bible School” in the city of Melbourne. We rented two houses in St. George’s Terrace, on St. Kilda Road. We then notified all our people regarding our plans for the school, and suggested that all who desired to avail themselves of its advantages should begin immediately to prepare for entrance. PPP 187.1

The first term of this school was held in the year 1892. As I recall, there were between twenty-five and fifty students present. Their ages ranged from about fifteen to fifty years. Sister White was present at the opening service and gave us an inspiring address. After speaking to us in a very direct way regarding the occasion, she seemed to lose sight of her immediate surroundings and directed our attention to the great mission fields to the north and east and west of us—China, India, South America, and Africa. Some of these great fields we had not yet entered, while in some of them we were just making a beginning. She told us most clearly and forcibly that a great work would yet be carried on in ALL these fields. To our amazement she assured us that what had been developed in North America would be repeated in all those lands. She astonished us more than ever by saying that young people who received their training in the Australasian school would be sent as missionaries to the lands mentioned. Personally, I was overwhelmed by the great scope of activity and development revealed to us. . . . My poor mind was too narrow and my vision too short to follow such a great sweep of advance. But I have lived to see those staggering predictions fulfilled in every detail. . . . PPP 187.2

The school proved so helpful and satisfactory to the students during the first year, that they sent out encouraging reports to parents and friends, which led so many others to decide to attend the next year that we found it necessary to rent another house in St. George’s Terrace. Thus we were making progress in our new undertaking. But all the time we were being counselled through the Spirit of Prophecy that this was not the kind of school that was to be permanently established in Australia. The permanent school was to be located in a rural district away from the cities. . . . PPP 188.1

We reminded Sister White of what it would mean to a small constituency, few ofwhom owned their homes, to purchase high-priced land, erect necessary buildings, and establish and equip manual trades departments. We told her that the task seemed utterly impossible. But she seemed blind and deaf to our representations, and steadily pointed to the “blue-print” of the school that had been shown her. PPP 188.2

This led to the appointment of a committee to make diligent search for a suitable location in the country away from the large cities. There was much searching and much disappointment. Good land was found in suitable places, but the cost was absolutely prohibitive to us. We had no land owners to make us good offers. No community in all the country had any interest in our proposal to establish a school on the land. Everywhere we faced cold, high prices. PPP 188.3

In our searching, we ran across a block of 1,500 acres¹²⁹ at Cooranbong, New South Wales, being offered at a very low price—about fourteen shillings¹³⁰ per acre. The price was surely alluring to men in our financial situation. In other places we had visited, land was priced at £15¹³¹ and more per acre. But when we saw the low-priced place, and inspected the soil, we met with considerable disappointment. Much of the block was poor, sandy, hungry land. However, some of it seemed fairly good. Some members of our committee favoured the purchase of this land, but other members did not believe that the soil was good enough for our needs. But with all of us the price had great influence. Still we were divided in our views. PPP 188.4

In this state of uncertainty and perplexity we invited Sister White to visit the place. We took bedding and food with us for camping, and on arrival took possession of two or three fishermen’s huts near the land. After spending quite a full day going over the place, examining the soil, tracing the creeks, and studying the best points for the location of our buildings, we returned to the huts for the night. We made fires, partook of some food, and then gathered in one of the huts for counsel. PPP 188.5

There was much discussion and decided difference of views regarding the suitability of the place. To all that was said, Sister White listened with interest and in silence. Finally we requested her to tell us her impressions. Her reply was, “I think, brethren, that we would better kneel down and ask the Lord to give us light and understanding. I see no need of any more discussion. If this is the place we should select for our school, let us ask the Lord to give us evidence of some kind, that will give us assurance that this is the right location.” PPP 189.1

This suggestion appealed to all of us, and we knelt down and prayed most earnestly for divine guidance and for assurance. Sister White was led to pray most fervently. In her supplication the burden came upon her to pray for the healing of one of our members present who seemed to be going down rapidly with tuberculosis. PPP 189.2

When we arose from prayer this brother¹³² told us that while Sister White was praying, there passed through his body something like an electric wave, and he felt himself healed. That occurred in the year 1894—thirty-four years ago. That man is alive and well today. He has never had a trace of tuberculosis since that night of prayer in the fisherman’s hut. PPP 189.3

Sister White said, “Brethren, God is here with us. Why did He come so near and grant us this signal blessing? I accept it as evidence that we are in the right place.” We all felt the same, and we agreed to take that property. We went on, made the contract for it, paid a deposit, and arranged for the transfer of the title. PPP 189.4

But later some of us began to weaken and feel uneasy about the quality of the soil. In our perplexity it was proposed that we get the Government land expert in Sydney to examine the land and give us an expert analysis. The expert came out and gave the land a careful examination. When he had finished we took him to dinner without asking for an expression of his opinion. When dinner was over, we gathered on the verandah to hear what he had to say. His statement in brief was this: Gentlemen, I am sorry to have to tell you that this soil is worthless. It won’t support a bandicoot (a large field rat). The wisest thing for you to do is to abandon all thought of making this place your school farm. To forfeit your deposit will be a small loss in comparison with what you will have if you locate on this block of land. PPP 189.5

He returned to Sydney, wrote out a full analysis, placed one copy in the Government files and placed another copy in our hands. PPP 190.1

It is needless to say that this report from a man who was supposed to know the value of soils in Australia, revived and increased our perplexity. After receiving this report the committee requested Brother [W. C.] White and me to lay it before Sister White. This was a painful and embarrassing task. When we had finished our statement, she calmly asked: Is there no God in Israel to inquire of, that ye have gone to the god of Ekron for counsel? Then she reminded us of that night of prayer and healing in the fisherman’s hut. She told us that from that night she had felt no anxiety about the location, that her mind was at rest. But she said, “You may go on looking for a better place, and when you find one that satisfies you, I shall be glad to go with you to see it. But my spirit is at rest now.” What could we say to this? PPP 190.2

After reporting our interview to our brethren, we all decided to look no farther, but to go on with the place we had selected and hope for the best.—Excerpt from part two of Elder A. G. Daniells’ address, Monday night, June 25, 1928, at the New South Wales Ministerial Institute, printed in the Australasian Record, August 20, 1928, pp. 1,2. PPP 190.3

Our next problem was to pay for the land that we had secured at Cooranbong, for our school. We had no money. As president of the Conference, it fell to me to lead out in raising it. My courage was at a low ebb. I seemed unable to interest the brethren and persuade them to give toward the enterprise. But after months had passed with nothing done, I learned that Sister White had borrowed £1,000¹ and paid for the land. Somehow that made a powerful impression upon my heart. I felt condemned, and I knelt down and confessed my sin in allowing my unbelief and dallying course to increase the burden and perplexity and heart sorrow of the Lord’s servant. From that day my faith, courage, and zeal in that school never wavered. I was able to throw all my energies into the enterprise. PPP 190.4

The problem of erecting buildings and providing the furniture and equipment required for the sort of school we were undertaking to establish, was very great for the small number of members we had in Australasia. We were obliged to begin in a very small and inexpensive way. PPP 191.1

Our first unit consisted of a small dormitory and a dining hall and kitchen. We were so short of funds that in finishing the dormitory we were obliged to call for volunteers to give free labour. Among others who responded were Pastor [Stephen] Haskell and his wife [Hetty]. At the night work one would hold a lighted candle while the other drove the nails. Only those who were on the ground and passed through the struggle can realise how great it was. PPP 191.2

When those two buildings were finished and furnished, the first term of what was to be known as the Australasian Missionary College was begun. The first day of our new school (April 28, 1897) led us to realise that we were not to “despise the day of small things,” for we opened the term with four teachers and ten students. Because of the long delay, the perplexities and the discouragements in getting the location and providing the buildings and equipment, our people had nearly lost heart. But when it was known that the school had really opened, a new interest was awakened, and before the term closed there were fifty or sixty students in attendance. PPP 191.3

Thus far we had endeavoured to pull through without calling upon the General Conference for assistance, but we found the grade so steep and so long that we finally appealed to the brethren in America for help. They promptly responded by offering to appropriate a sum equal to the amount we would raise within a reasonable limit. This gave us great encouragement, and with good heart our people in Australasia undertook to raise their share. PPP 191.4

In the meantime we went on with our building operations, paying our share and running in debt for theirs, expecting that when they heard what we had raised, they would promptly send their share. We gave our carpenters and plasterers, and the business men from whom we purchased material, assurance that we would be receiving money from America to meet our obligations. We fully expected to receive this money by a certain mail from America. But we were doomed to a terrible disappointment. Instead of receiving a draft, we were notified that owing to financial depression, they were unable to send their part, and advised us to delay building operations until the financial situation had improved in America. But we had already gone on with our building, and we had no money to meet our obligations. PPP 192.1

This disappointment was terrible. We knew not what to do. The members of the School Board were depressed. Naturally we blamed ourselves for going ahead [and building] without the money. After a long, fruitless discussion we adjourned in discouragement until the next morning. I went to my room, but I could not sleep. I rolled and tossed and perspired. I was in agony of mind. I rose and went out in the bush where I could be alone. I had to have help from some source. It seemed to me that my nerves would go to pieces. I had to have help to find a way out of this situation we were in. PPP 192.2

There in the dark I prayed and cried to God to send us help. I prayed on and on until the morning light began to appear. With all my heart, I cried to the Lord to send me an answer; to give me some light. And there came to me a most positive answer: “I have delivered thee. I will meet this situation. Be of good cheer.” The presence of God was so powerful that I could not stay on my knees, I could only lie on the ground and thank and praise God for deliverance. Something was going to be done by the Almighty, and I knew it as well as I knew that I lived. PPP 192.3

I went back to my room, washed, and went down to the committee room. The brethren were there looking very sombre and heavy. I went in smiling and said, Brethren, be of good cheer. We are delivered. Our obligations are met. PPP 192.4

They could not understand what I meant, and I could not tell all. But I told them that if they would allow me to go to Sydney and Melbourne and Adelaide, I was sure that in about two weeks I could send them every pound required to meet our obligations. They consented, and I was on the train at eight o’clock that morning. PPP 193.1

And at once God began to do wonderful things for our deliverance. While I was on the train that day, a cable came from a brother in New Zealand, addressed to me, asking if I could make use of five hundred pounds. ¹³⁴. . . I had not asked him for the money. Why did he do this? I know why. The Lord moved him to do it. He sent the money at once. PPP 193.2

On my arrival in Melbourne, I was thrown into a new perplexity. I met one of our sisters there from whom we [earlier] had borrowed £300¹³⁵ to use in our building operations. This money was due in three days. I did not want to fail to meet this payment. I endeavoured to get her to renew the loan for another year. But she declined with a firm statement that she would expect payment day after tomorrow. PPP 193.3

I was being entertained by Brother W. D. Salisbury. I went to my bed that night greatly troubled. The next morning while I was praying, and reminding the Lord of His promise that He had delivered us, there came to me a very clear impression to get an answer from the Bible. Then I did what I had never done before, and I do not know that I have ever done it since. I put my finger on the margin and opened the Book. The very first words I read were these: PPP 193.4

“Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.” Dan. 6:16. I wrote in the margin of my Bible, “Salisbury’s room, 7:20 a.m., 5/4/99.” ¹³⁶ That evening at five o’clock, I wrote, “Fulfilled 5 p.m., 5/4/99.” I seldom tell the marvellous [sic.] way in which it was fulfilled, but I shall do so on this occasion. PPP 193.5

I went to the Echo Office [our publishing house] that morning and waited to see what would occur. After the noon hour, I called Brethren [N. D.] Faulkhead and Salisbury together and told them that three hundred pounds must be delivered to that sister the next day. Brother Faulkhead told us of a man who had recently offered to lend the Echo Office a large sum of money. We went at once to see this man. But he had disposed of the money in another way. PPP 193.6

Brother Faulkhead next suggested that we might be able to get it from our Echo Office bank. But it was then 4 p.m. and the bank was closed. He suggested that we should go to the banker’s home and see him privately. I confess that that looked very uncertain to me. But we decided to make the effort. The bank was on a corner, and we had to pass the door on the way to the banker’s house. As we were hurrying past the door of the bank, we saw that it was open about the width of a man. Brother Faulkhead rushed in and I after him as fast as we could move. We found the banker and his assistant with the contents of the vault spread out on the counters. They were getting affairs in shape for the visit of a London bank inspector. ¹³⁷ The banker looked up at us in amazement and said, “Faulkhead, how did you get into this bank?” PPP 194.1

“We walked in,” was the reply. PPP 194.2

“Yes, I know, but how did you get the door open?” said the banker, “for I shut, bolted, locked, and chained that door myself. How did you get it open?” PPP 194.3

“We did not touch it, it was open,” was all we could say. PPP 194.4

Well, brethren, we knew right then that an angel opened that door. The banker was so shocked that he looked pale. When he could compose himself, he asked what we wanted. Brother Faulkhead said, “We want to see you in your private office.” As soon as we were seated, we told him that we wanted three hundred pounds to meet an obligation the next morning. “What security can you give?” “Only our word tonight, but we will give something more later.” PPP 194.5

Then and there that banker counted out three hundred shining [gold] sovereigns and placed them in our hands. The next morning I went to our sister with this money and met our obligation. PPP 194.6

These experiences, I can assure you, made a deep impression on my mind—that assurance under the tree at Cooranbong, the assurance in Brother Salisbury’s room that morning, the open door of the bank, and the money in my hands that evening, and that is why I wrote “Fulfilled” in the margin of my Bible. PPP 194.7

On Sabbath, two days later, I went over to the Prahan church to preach. I was so overcome, and so moved by my experiences I was passing through, that I could scarcely control my feelings. The audience was greatly moved. The sister to whom I had paid the £300 was present. I saw that she was greatly moved. When the meeting was out, she came up to me and said, “Brother Daniells, will you meet me in the bank Monday morning at nine o’clock?” When I met her she said, “I have not had a minute’s peace since I took that money from you. I will give it back to you, and I will give you £75¹³⁸ extra as penalty for taking it.” I accepted it, and she never, I understand, withdrew it from the school. PPP 194.8

Then I went to Adelaide, and while looking for help, I had an impression that I ought to go to a certain family for money. This sister’s husband was not a member of the church, consequently I felt reluctant about asking for his money. I kept trying to tell them what I was after, but I seemed unable to do so. Finally, the sister said, “Brother Daniells, I think my husband ought to make our cause his banker, don’t you?” That was the help I needed, and I placed before them what I had come to see them about. The result was that this man placed in my hands £400¹³⁹ as a loan. PPP 195.1

Next I went to see a brother while he was working at his carpenter’s bench. I ventured to ask for one hundred pounds. ¹⁴⁰ He said, “Come around at two o’clock and I will have it ready for you.” When I called he said, “I have been thinking about this and feel that you can do with another hundred.” I surely could. “Well,” he said, “let me think about it until tomorrow morning.” I went over to see him the next morning and he said, “I had decided to let you have the two hundred pounds, ¹⁴¹ but I do not feel quite satisfied. I think I will make it three hundred pounds.” ¹⁴² PPP 195.2

Thus the money came in from all quarters, and in two weeks from the night the Lord gave me the assurance that He had delivered us, I had sent the school enough money to pay all our bills.—Excerpt from part three of Elder A. G. Daniells’ address, Monday night, June 25, 1928, at the New South Wales Ministerial Institute, printed in the Australasian Record, August 27, 1928, pp. 1,2. PPP 195.3