General Conference Bulletin, vol. 2

OUR WORK

G. A. IRWIN

BY reference to “Rise and Progress,” we find that more than a decade had passed before our people seemed to realize the necessity of a formal organization, and even then it required nearly three years agitation of the subject before a name was chosen and a conference (viz., Michigan, Oct. 6, 1861) finally organized. As the work progressed and Sabbath-keepers were raised up in new fields, other conferences were organized from time to time, until now we have conferences in nearly every State in the Union, besides quite a number in other lands. GCB July 1, 1897, page 85.6

The constant enlargement of the work seemed to make it necessary that other divisions be made, and consequently the United States was divided into six districts, and a member of the General Conference Committee placed in charge as superintendent. The duty of these superintendents was to have a general oversight of the work, attend general meetings in the conferences composing his district, to counsel and assist in making plans for the advancement of the work, etc. Along with the growth in numbers and expansion of work came the establishing of institutions, such as publishing houses, sanitariums, and schools. There was a time when the only institutions of this kind among us were found in Battle Creek, but now we have such institutions, or a branch thereof, in every district. GCB July 1, 1897, page 86.1

The General Conference has been largely instrumental in establishing these institutions, and still has a fatherly care over them; but to insure more direct management, and divide the burden of responsibility, local boards of management have been formed, and certain boundaries have been established, for their jurisdiction and constituency. This is especially true of our schools; and it is of these I wish more especially to speak at this time, since we have been told that “of all institutions in our world, the school is the most important.” It has been the aim to unify the general plans of work and courses of study in all our educational institutions, so that equally good advantages will be offered in each, so far as the grade of these respective institutions will permit. GCB July 1, 1897, page 86.2

In view of these facts, it is strongly urged that each school district should patronize its own school, and that no special effort be made to draw students from other districts. If this should not be observed, it would result in weakening some institutions, and in the aggregate there would be fewer students in the schools. The very object of establishing schools in different parts of the country, at great expense, was that educational privileges might be brought in reach of as many as possible, hence the indiscretion in any movement that might defeat this purpose. The foregoing is not intended to establish a rigid policy which can not be violated, as there might be specific cases in which it would be desirable and advisable for a student in one school district to attend school in another district. But in order that all our work may move harmoniously, and for the best interests of the work in general, discretion would favor each district patronizing its own institutions. GCB July 1, 1897, page 86.3

Moreover, we have been repeatedly warned against centering too many interests in one place, thereby robbing other portions of the field of facilities they should have had. So, instead of any one school or locality seeking to so plan its work as to draw largely from the general field and thus defeat this instruction, let each respect the right of the other, and labor earnestly to increase the attendance and interest in the school work in its district. It has just been decided to proceed at once with the publication of the educational journal, The Christian Educator. Professor F. W. Howe has been appointed editor, with an advisory board of five competent persons. It is the design to have the journal general in its character, and not the organ of any one school or locality, although arrangements may be made for space in special numbers to the amount each district may think it can use to advantage, in setting forth the interests of its respective schools. By being general in its character, and an exponent of the true principles of education, it is believed it will receive the support and hearty cooperation of all our teachers and students, and thus become a medium of communication between the different schools through which knowledge of progress along the line of true higher education may be disseminated. GCB July 1, 1897, page 86.4

Let us so relate ourselves to the Lord, to each other, and to the work in the place where we are assigned to labor, that the Lord may bless our work in future with a greater measure of success than he has ever done in the past. GCB July 1, 1897, page 86.5

G. A. IRWIN.