General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

SOUTH LANCASTER ACADEMY

During the time since the last General Conference, the work of South Lancaster Academy, the central school of District 1, has been progressing favorably, and we trust has been keeping pace with the message. At the close of the General Conference at South Lancaster two years ago, revival meetings were held in connection with the church and school. This move seemed to be in the order of the Lord, and since this revival a healthy spiritual condition has existed in the school. We do not feel, however, that the spiritual condition of the school is all that the Lord would have it, and are conscious of the fact that there is need of a deeper work of grace to be done in the hearts of students and teachers in order to have the school come to the position that was occupied by the schools of the prophets during the most prosperous years of their existence. GCB April 4, 1901, page 58.11

Financially, the school has been prospered. At the board meeting first held after the General Conference, the teaching force was reduced, the salaries of the teachers were lowered, and every possible avenue of expense was curtailed, so as to bring the expenses of the school within its income. Our Conferences in the district are all contributing liberally to the support of the school, and are assisting in the payment of the teachers from the tithe, as directed by Spirit of Prophecy. The school has been enabled to pay all its running expenses, with a small surplus. The sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” in the district has been the means of relieving the financial embarrassment of the school to a great extent. If it had not been for this avenue of meeting the indebtedness of the school, we should no doubt have seen some very trying times during these two years, from which God has thus in mercy delivered us. GCB April 4, 1901, page 58.12

The attendance of the school has been increasing steadily during this time. We have this year a total enrollment of one hundred and sixty-four as against one hundred and forty last year. Nearly all of these students are preparing for some line of work in the cause. GCB April 4, 1901, page 58.13

During this biennial period fifteen have gone out into the canvassing work, one into the ministry, seventeen into church-school work, one to a foreign field, twelve into the nurses training courses, and seven into other branches of distinctive gospel work. GCB April 4, 1901, page 58.14

Last year the school graduated nine persons from its courses, all of whom have gone into various branches of the work. The year before there were four in the graduating class. The class this year will be small. We do not, however, estimate our work by the size of our graduating classes, for we do not endeavor to hold our students here until graduation, but instead to give them just such a preparation as will fit them for work in the cause at the earliest possible moment consistent with a good preparation. GCB April 4, 1901, page 58.15

Missionary societies have been maintained among the students in the school during this time, from which much good has resulted. During the school year our students are doing some work, such as Christian Help work, canvassing, colporteur work, etc. GCB April 4, 1901, page 59.1

In our industrial lines we have farming, broom-making, sewing, and cooking. These are the means of not only educating the students, but also of assisting them in getting through school. We are endeavoring to put all these departments upon a self-supporting basis, as we believe it is possible for them to be maintained on such a foundation. The greater portion of the students are assisting themselves in one way or another through school, and are doing manual work in connection with their studies. GCB April 4, 1901, page 59.2

The church-school work in the district has been progressing favorably. It has been the policy of the Conferences not to start schools any faster than they could be reasonably confident of their support. There have been twenty-six schools started during the past biennial period. There are twenty-four schools this year, employing twenty-four teachers, with two hundred and seventy-two pupils. GCB April 4, 1901, page 59.3

I have endeavored in this report to set forth the facts as they exist. It has been the aim of the management of the school to have the work upon a healthy, growing basis. While I have endeavored to be conservative in my statements respecting all features of the work, yet during these months intervening from the time of the last General Conference, we who have been closely connected with the work can not but feel to say that the Lord has wonderfully blessed and prospered us. GCB April 4, 1901, page 59.4

It is the constant endeavor of the instructors not to lose sight of the purpose for which the school is organized; namely, that of preparing workers for the cause of truth. We would also continually realize that in order to do this work acceptably, there must be the living presence of the Spirit of God in the school. He has drawn very near to us many times, often in a very marked manner, for which we feel to thank him. FREDERICK GRIGGS, Pres. GCB April 4, 1901, page 59.5

“BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” GCB April 4, 1901, page 59.6