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es in every place should feel the deepest interest in the tract and missionary work.

"We now have great facilities for spreading the truth, but our people are not coming up to the privileges given them. They do not see and sense the necessity in every church of using their abilities in saving souls. They do not realize their duty to obtain subscribers for our periodicals, including our health journal, and to introduce our books and pamphlets. Men should be at work who are willing to be taught as to the best way of approaching individuals and families. Their dress should be neat, but not foppish, and their manners such as not to disgust the people. There is a great want of true politeness among us as a people. This should be cultivated by all those who take hold of the missionary work.

"Our publishing houses should show marked prosperity. Our people can sustain them if they will show a decided interest to work our publications into the market. But, should as little interest be manifested in the year to come as has been shown in the year past, there will be but small margin to work upon.

"The wider the circulation of our publications, the greater will be the demand for books that make plain the Scriptures of truth. Many are becoming disgusted with the inconsistencies, errors, and apostasy of the churches, and with the festivals, fairs, lotteries, and numerous inventions to extort money for church purposes. There are many who are seeking for light in the darkness. If our papers, tracts, and books, expressing the truth in plain Bible language, could be widely circulated, many would find that they are just what they want."

Since the foregoing extract appeared in print, favorable changes have taken place in book matters. More books have been shipped from this Office during the past six months than were shipped during the previous eighteen months. New works are in the press, and still others; of very great importance, are being prepared. Here is a good field of usefulness for young men who contemplate entering the ministry at some future time. The canvasser, in coming in contact with a great variety of minds, has a good op portunity to study human nature. He learns to come near the people, and adapt himself to changing circumstances, and hold on till he has accomplished his object. This is the self-training he needs to qualify him for the work of the last message, illustrated by the last urgent call in the parable of the great supper of Luke 14:16-24, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in."

CHAPTER XIII.

BATTLE CREEK COLLEGE.

THE subject of education, and the necessity of founding a denominational school, were brought before our people by Mrs. W. and the writer, in the early part of the year 1872, and several meetings were held at Battle Creek to consider these important matters. A committee was then chosen to take steps for the immediate establishment of a school, and to act in reference to the organization of an Educational Society at as early a date as it could be brought about. At a meeting held May 11, 1872, the matter was

placed in the hands of the General Conference Committee.

April 16, 1873, a committee was appointed to solicit means, and by its vigorous action a sum of over $54,000 was pledged, and a sufficient amount was paid to render the organization of a legal society possible. March, 1874, the society was organized under the statutes of the State of Michigan, with full charter to grant such literary honors as are usually granted by colleges, and to give suitable diplomas in testimony thereof.

In 1874 grounds were purchased in the city of Battle Creek at a cost of $16,278. The grounds originally consisted of twelve acres. Since the purchase, tiers of building lots have been separated by West College Street and South College Street. It is the most beautiful site for a schoolbuilding in this vicinity. The grounds are tastefully adorned with a large number of evergreen and other ornamental trees.

The College building, represented on page 368, was erected in the autumn of 1874, at a cost of $27,858.20. It is situated on the west side of Washington Street, which runs nearly north and south. The building is 175 feet from this street on the east, and the same distance from West College Street on the west. It is 300 feet from Manchester Street on the north, and 200 feet from South College Street on the south.

The building is 72 feet from east to west, and the same distance from north to south. But there are at each of the four corners indentures of 17 feet. The building is of brick, and has three stories besides the basement. The ceiling of the basement is 9 feet from the floor. The ceilings of the first and second stories are 14 feet each. The third story is 17 feet from ceiling to

floor. The College bell is the finest we have heard. It is of size and pitch to send forth a full and pleasant tone, delightful to the student's

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ear. The building is heated by steam. A considerable portion of the basement is occupied by the philosophical and chemical laboratory and lecture-room. Here daily lectures are delivered on the subjects of philosophy, chemistry, and. geology, during the terms when these sciences

are taught. The first and second stories are each divided into two spacious rooms, in which students are seated during school hours. The third story constitutes a fine, large lecture hall capable of seating 350 persons.

From the observatory there is a most delightful view of the surrounding country for several miles. Wooded hillsides, winding rivers, and fertile fields, together with the shaded streets and pleasant cottages of the city, in the suburbs of which the College is located, combine to make a varied and inviting prospect. Besides this central building, nine dwellings have been erected on the west and south.

Like most religious denominations, Seventhday Adventists early felt the need of a school in which to educate young men and women to labor in the various departments of missionary work. They also felt a rapidly increasing demand for an institution where our youth might receive a thorough mental training, united with a high order of moral discipline, to secure the best preparation possible for the duties of manhood and womanhood.

This need was manifest in the demand for the special preparation of young men for ministerial and missionary work, and in the reluctance on the part of many parents to send their children to schools where a constant contact with corrupt youth cannot be avoided. In these schools there is a growing laxity of morals and a corresponding increase of crime. There was a deep conviction upon the minds of the friends of education among our people that at such a school much better mental and moral discipline could be attained in a given time than in most of the schools and colleges in the land, and that a wise and effective discipline could be better main

Life Sketches. 24

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