Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

Page 20 text:

18 THE BETHEL HERALD Just (lien (he minister says, says lie, “And now I’ve conic to the fellers Who'vc lost this shower by usin’ (heir fricml As a sort, of moral umbrellas. (Jo home,” says he, “and find your faults, Instead of huntin' your brothers, (Jo home,” says he, “and wear the coats You've (ried to fit for others.” illy wife she nudged, and Brown lie winked. And there was lots o' smilin', And lots o' lookin’ at our pew, It sot my blood ubilln'. Says I to myself, our minister Is geftin' a little bitter. I’ll tell him. when the meetin's out, I Ain’t at all that kind of a critter. —Selected. THE GOVERNMENT AM) EDUCATION By (J. Arvid Hagstrom, 3). 1). There is a prevailing element of uncertainty these days in various departments of human thought and activity, and it is but natural that education shall also he affected. Young people are wondering about the best course to pursue with respect to their education, especially when the call to the colors comes so strong these days. It may, therefore, be of some help to know the attitude of our government upon these matters and so we bring our renders, both present and prospective students, as well as all friends of education, the following information on this important matter. School officials in air parts of the country are asking the Commissioner of Education and others for advice as to what the schools should do to render the utmost service of which they are capable during the war emergency. They desire to know specifically whether they can be most helpful by shortening the daily or weekly or annual school session, by closing down entirely, by continuing as in the part, or by increasing school activities in various ways. With admirable loyalty and patriotism, the schools stand ready and eager to do their full duty, whatever that may be. The greatest need at the present time is for some authoritative statement which shall make the path of duty and service plain. It may be noted that in 1915-16, the latest year for which figures arc available, there were in public and private high schools in the United States 733.856 hoys and 877,340 girls, total 1,611,196. (Rapport Com. of Ed. 1917, Vol. II, Table 1, p. 513, Table 15. p. 527.) Of the 733,000 boys, it has been estimated that approximately 500,000 were 16 years of age and over. The Administration The entire spirit of the Administration in Washington is, and has been from the beginning, that the war should in no way bo used as an excuse for giving the children of the country any less education, in quantity or quality, that they otherwise would have had, but on the contrary that the schools should do everything possible to increase their efficiency, to the end that the children now in schools may at the conclusion of their course be even better qualified than ever before, to take up the duties and responsibilities of life. Both the present demands of the was emergency and the prospective demands of the necessary readjustments inevitably to follow emphasize the need of providing in full measure for the education of all the people. The President has repeatedly called the attention of the nation to the urgent necessity of this special form of conservation. He lias particularly urged young people graduating from high schools to avail themselves of the opportunties offered by the college and technical schools, “to the end that the country may not lack an adequate supply of trained men and women,” and he assures young people who are not called to active military service that “by pursuing their courses in school with earnestness and diligence, they also are preparing themselves for valuable service to the nation.” Later the President again expressed his “very urgent concern that none of the educational processes of the country should be interrupted any more than is absolutely unavoidable (luring the war.” We make extracts herewith from a statement signed by the following:

Page 19 text:

THE BETHEL HERALD 17 work. And we cannot help but believe, that after the war we will also have a worthy task. Thousands will long for the heart-healing gospel of Jesus Christ. It will be our privilege to tell the Story. In an editorial in the “Louisville Courier-Journal” by Henry Watterson, we find in part this striking passage: (We quote “The Christian Workers’ Magazine ) “Surely, the future looks black enough, yet it holds a hope, a single hope. One, and one power only, can arrest the descent and save us. That is the Christian religion. Democracy is but a side issue. The paramount issue underlying the issue of Democracy, is the religion of Christ, and Him crucified; the bedrock of civilization, the source and resource ol‘ all that is worth having in the world that is, that gives promise in the world to come; not as an abstraction; not as a huddle of sects and factions; but as a mighty force and principle of being. The Word of God. delivered by the gentle Naza-rene upon the hillsides of Judea, sanctified by the Cross of Calvary, has survived every assault. It is now arrayed upon land and sea to meet the deadliest of all assaults, Satan turned loose for one last, final struggle. If the world is to be saved from destruction—physical no less than spiritual destruction—it will be saved alone by the Christian religion. That eliminated leaves the earth to eternal war. For fifty years Germany has been organizing and laboring to supplant it with ‘Kultur,’ the genius of infidelity. Her college professors have been obsessed with it. Iler universities have seethed with it. In acclaiming ‘Myself and God,’ the Kaiser has put the imperial seal upon it. When our armies have run it to its lair—when they have crushed it—naught will have been gained unless the glorious banner of the Cross is hoisted even as Moses liftted up the serpent in the wilderness— and the misled masses of Germany are bade to gather about it and beneath it as sadly as they collect the debris of their ruin for the reconstruction of the Fatherland. So in spite of the dark clouds we go out, not expecting to be defeated, but to conquer in the name of the great Commander, Jesus Christ, who sends us on. OIK MINISTER’S SERMON The minister said last night, said he, Don’t be afraid of grlvin’; If your life ain’t worth nothin’ to other folks, Why, what’s the use of livin’?” And that’s what I say to my wife, says I, There’s Brown, the mis’rable sinner, He’d sooner a beggar would starve than give A cent toward huyin’ a dinner. 1 tell you our minister is prime, lie is, But I couldn’t quite determine, When I heard him a-givin’ it right and left, ..Just who was hit by his sermon. Of course there couldn’t be no mistake When lie talked of long-winded prayin’. For Peters and Johnson they sat and scowled At every word he was sayin’. And Hie minister lie went on to say, “There’s various kinds of cheatin’, And religion’s as good for every day As it is to bring it to meetin’. I don’t think much of the man that gives The loud aniens at the preach in’. And spends his time the followin’ week In cheatin’ and ovcrreachin’.” 1 guess that dose was hitter enough For a man like Jones to swallcr. But I noticed he didn’t open his month But once after that to holler. Hurrah, says I, for the minister— Of course I said it quiet-— Give us some more of this open talk. It’s very rofreshin’ diet. The minister hit ’em every time, And when he spoke of fashion, And riggin’ out in bows and things, As woman’s rulin’ passion. And coining to church to see the styles, I couldn’t, help a-wliikin’ And nudgin’ my w ife, and says I, That’s you, And 1 guess it sot her tliinkiii’. Says 1 to myself, the sermon’s pat, But man is a queer creation, And I’m much afraid that most of the folks Won’t take the application. Now, if lie had said a word about My personal mode of shinin’, I’d have gone to work to right, myself, And not set tlier a-grinnin’.

Page 21 text:

THE BETHEL HERALD 19 For the War Department, Newton D. Baker, Secretary, For the Navy Department, Josephus Danielson, Secretary, For the Department of Agriculture, David F. Houston, Secretary, For the Department of Labor, William B. Wilson. Secretary, For the U. S. Civil Service Commission, John Mcllhenny, Chairman, For the Department of the Interior, Franklin K. Lane, Secretary, P. P. Claxton, Commissioner of Education, Washington, D. C., April 5, 1918, being a result of several conferences called by Secretary Lane early in February. The statement includes a brief outline of the most pressing needs as seen by each depart-mnt concerned, followed by a summary of conclusions and recommendations from which we make our extracts: “There is urgent need today on the farms for boys for chores and field work, as well as for capable women in the household duties, without which additional help could not be taken on the farm. The army and navy has no use for boys under eighteen years of age, nor boys nor men of any age who are not strong and well-developed physically, hence, so far as the army and navy are concerned, there is nothing more important that the schools can do than to keep them going at full capacity. High school boys will render the best service of which they are capable by remaining in school until the completion of the high school course. “There is a strong demand for clerks, stenographers and typewriters, but the places cannot be filleil by boys and girls under eighteen years of age, hence, even here no advantage would accrue to the civil service in any way by shutting down the schools or curtailing school facilities. Many civil service positions have been filled by drawing workers from commercial and industrial houses, and also by drawing teachers from the schools. All of the positions thus made vacant, must be filled from some source. Therefore, schools could undoubtedly render a much needed service by organizing classes to train stenographers, typewriters, clerks and secretaries. “Many industries and commercial establishments could use capable boys and girls for various kinds of service, but the government officials maintain that no emergency exists which justifies proposing any relaxation of the laws safeguarding the working conditions of the young people. “Still more serious labor shortage in industry are anticipated, but boys and girls under eighteen years of age should not be used to make up these shortages any more than can possibly be helped. Conditions in different sections of the country are so diverse that no detailed policy will he uniformly applicable. Only general policies and principles may he adopted for the country as a whole. One of the places in which there appears to bo immediate demand for modifications of the high school program is in respect to the need for agricultural labor. In no case can justification be found for the general shortening of the school term in the expectation that some students may find places of useful service. “In response to definite requests from government agencies, schools should be used from time to time for specific preparation of individuals for immediate service. Boys and girls should be urged, as a patriotic duty, to remain in school to the completion of the high school course, and in increasing numbers to enter upon college and university lines, and normal school courses, to meet the great need for trained men and women.” It is plainly evident from the foregoing that the government does not intend to curtail or in any way interfere with the educational processes of the land, but rather to emphasize the education of the boys and girls who are not in draft age. It is, therefore, also self-evident that a Christian school like Bethel Academy and Theological Seminary is one which in every way should be patronized and supported. When Colonel House returned from Europe the last time lie told President Wilson he was convinced that no peace would be adequate except based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ. How significant this is in our turbulent age. Thus empasizing again, not alone the need of education, but also Christian education. We would urge our young people to seek the opportunities offered in Bethel Academy and Theological Seminary in the various de-