Chapter 2—Our College
The education and training of the youth is an important and solemn
work. The great object to be secured should be the proper development
of character, that the individual may be fitted to rightly discharge the
duties of the present life, and to enter at last upon the future, immortal
life. Eternity will reveal the manner in which the work has been
performed. If ministers and teachers could have a full sense of their
responsibility, we should see a different state of things in the world
today. But they are too narrow in their views and purposes. They do
not realize the importance of their work, or its results.
All connected with our College must be men and women who have
the fear of God before them, and his love in their hearts. They should
make their religion attractive to the youth who come within the sphere
of their influence. The professors and teachers should constantly feel
their dependence upon God. Their work is in this world, but the
Source of wisdom and knowledge from which they must continually
draw, is above. Self must not obtain the mastery. The Spirit of God
must control. They must walk humbly with God, and they should
feel their responsibility, which is not less than that of the minister.
The influence which professors and teachers exert upon the youth in
our College, will be carried wherever these youth may go. A sacred
influence should go forth from that College to meet the moral darkness
existing everywhere. When I was shown by the angel of God that an
institution should be established for the education of our youth, I saw
that it would be one of the greatest means ordained of God for the
salvation of souls.
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Those who would make a success in the education of the youth
must take them as they are, not as they ought to be, nor as they will
be when they come from under their training. With dull scholars they
have a trial, and they must bear patiently with their ignorance. With
sensitive, nervous students they must deal tenderly and very kindly,
remembering that they are hereafter to meet their students before the
judgment seat of Christ. A sense of their own imperfections should
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