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Fundamentals of Christian Education
For this scripture is appropriate to all our schools established as God
designed they should be, after the order or example of the schools of
the prophets, imparting a higher class of knowledge—mingling not
dross with the silver, and wine with water—which is a representation
of precious principles. False ideas and unsound practices are leavening
the pure, and corrupting that which should ever be kept pure, and
looked upon by the world, by angels, and by men, as the Lord’s
institution—schools where the education to love and fear God is made
first. “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” “Neither as being lords
over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
Let the teachers who claim to be Christians be learning daily in
the school of Christ His lessons. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn
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of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto
your souls.” I ask you, Is every educator in the school wearing the
yoke of Christ, or manufacturing yokes of his own to place upon the
necks of others, yokes which they themselves will not wear, sharp,
severe, exacting; and this, too, while they are carrying themselves very
loosely toward God, offending every day in little and larger matters,
and making it evident in words, in spirit, and in actions, that they are
not a proper example for the students, and are not having a sense that
they are under discipline to the greatest Teacher the world ever knew?
There needs to be a higher, holier mold on the school in Battle Creek,
and on other schools which have taken their mold from it. The customs
and practices of the Battle Creek school go forth to all the churches,
and the pulse heartbeats of that school are felt throughout the body of
believers.
It is not in God’s order that thousands of dollars shall be expended
in enlargements and additions in institutions in Battle Creek. There is
altogether too much there now. Take that extra means and establish
the work in suffering portions of other fields, to give character to the
work. I have spoken the word of God upon this point. There are
reasons many do not see, that I have no liberty to open before you
now; but I tell you in the name of the Lord, you will make a mistake in
your adding building to building; for there are being centered in Battle
Creek responsibilities that are altogether too much for one location.
If these responsibilities were divided and placed in other localities, it
would be far better than crowding so much into Battle Creek, robbing