THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS.

Waikato Independent, Volume VII, Issue 462, 18 January 1908, Page 6

THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS.

WHAT THEY ARB DOING IN CAMBRIDGE. A sect that is carrying on a quiet and steady work in- many parts of the world and meeting with much success, is the Seventh Day Adventists. This body, which differs in several respects from the general run of religious organisations, has been operating in New Zealand for the past twenty years, and it has now quite a large number of followers scattered over the Dominion. The Adventists have lately been attracting considerable prominence in this district, owing to the large and important nature of their undertakings here. At the beginning of last year, they purchased a farm at Pukekura, and upon this property, a handsome three-storeyed training school has been erected. The farm, of 170 acres, 50 acres of which are flat, and the remainder undulating country, is situated four miles south-west of Cambridge, in the beautiful Waikato Valley. In the background are the picturesque Pukekura hills; to the west, north, and north-east lie well-cultivated fields, dotted here and there with woodings and clumps of trees, which shelter homesteads and decorate the landscape, while beyond these, blue and purple mountain ranges girdle the distant horizon. Messrs S. M. Cobb (President), S. H. Amyes and Joseph Hare, who wore authorised by the Conference to purchase a suitable property on which to erect the school (which by the way is the only one of its kind in New Zealand), spent some time in travelling all over the Dominion in search of their object. They inspected over 100 farms before finally selecting the present property, which was formerly owned by Mr W. P. Read, From the very inception of this enterprise. its promoters' have kept in mind the value of manual training as an important factor in education, and it was planned to have all the buildings erected by teachers and prospective students.

An invitation was extended to a limited number of young men of tbe denomination in New Zealand, asking them to come and assist in the work. As many responded to this as the situation demanded, and about one month from the .time possession was taken of the farm, the work of excavating a basement for the main school building was begun by the principal and six students. Later on, other students arrived, and the work has moved steadily forward until at the present the building is nearing completion, and it is hoped will be in readiness for the opening on February 4th. The building in its present form will serve the purpose of dormitories, school building, and boarding hall, and will accommodate about fifty boarding students. The ultimate plan is to build another wmg on the left, similar to the right wing, and thus greatly increase the student capacity. One wing will be occupied by the young men students, the other by the young ladies. The main building contains the kitchen, storerooms, dining-room, chapel, class-room, offices, and several rooms for students. Due care is being taken that the lighting and ventilation, and sanitary arrangements of the school shall be above reproach. A plentiful supply of water is pumped into the six 800 gal. tanks and

the two lOOOgal. tanks with which the

building is provided, from an adjacent 'spring. Hot and cold water will be laid on all over the building, and nothing will be left wanting to ensure the comfort of the students. For the first year the industries will consist of the" following: Agriculture, horticulture, fruit-growing, dairying, carpentering, tinsmithing, cooking, sewing, and domestic economy. Poultry-raising and bee-keeping will also be gone in for, and other industries will be added as time goes on. The faculty of the school will consist

of the following : Professor F. L. Chaney, - Principal; Mr W. J. Smith, Preceptor and Bible Teacher; Mrs Bertha S. Chaney, Physiology and Language; Miss . Mabel Piper, Music and Drawing; Mrs H, M. Higgins, Matron ; Mr J. Higgins, Carpentry. In harmony with the progressive missionary spirit which is inspiring the educators and educational institutions of the Seventh-day Adventist people, it will be the endeavor of the managers to keep before the students the pressing need of soundly educated and thoroughly converted workers in all missionary fields, and the sublime opportunity which may be theirs of preparing themselves for efficient service. A few days ago a representative of the Independent paid a visit to the school - farm, and was very kindly shown over the buildings and grounds by the President (Mr S. M. Cobb). Although the Adventists have only been in possession of the property a few months, it is really wonderful the vast amount of work that has been accomplished in such a short time. In addition to the erection of the school and residences for the teachers, a considerable area has been cultivated and sown in oats, turnips, potatoes, maize and vegetables, and all the crops were in a forward state and looking in fine condition. A well-selected dairy herd is . kept on the farm, at present numbering 84 cows, milk also being supplied to the creamery in the neighbourhood.

The barn consists of a building sixty by thirty feet, with hay-loft. This building is divided into two apartments, one thirty by twenty-four feet, and the other thirty-six by thirty feet; and those divi-

sicns will accommodate the farm for storage of all the farm implements and machinery, wagons, fertilizer, chaff and grain, as well as many tons of bay for the horses and stock. The other apartment will be used for the horses and harness, and the light wagon or buggy for the school. To the back of the barn there is attached a cow-shed, the same length as the barn, and thirty-four feet wide, which is devoted exclusively to the dairy, or for sheltering the cows in cold and stormy weather, and for bailing them up while milking. This shed will • hold twenty-eight cows at one time, with fourfeet stalls for each cow, and they can be fed from the loft of the barn while in the stalls. The floor of the cow-shed is of concrete, and there is water supplied with hose attached for making the floor sweet and clean.

The orchard consists of about two acres of ground, upon which is standing a goodly number of apple-trees, which Have been in bearing, but not heavily, though sufficiently to be of substantial help to the school. This old orchard has been well primed, and will be given care to increase its production. In addition to the old orchard, there has been set a small young orchard of 550 trees of various kinds of fruit, including the apple, peach, pear, nectarine, plum, apricot, quince, prune, walnut, orange, and lemon. To this beginning will be added such trees, and in such quantities, as may seem best and most profitable to the home, and for the welfare of the school.

A short distance from the school, it is proposed to erect a manufactory for the making of health foods. Besides supplying the cafe, which they own in the chief centres of the Dominion, the Adventists expect to do a big trade in cereal and nut foods, large quantities of which are at present imported from America. Attached to the factory, will be a carpenter’s shop. Those .students who are not in a position to pay for their tuition in the school, will have the option of making it up by working a certain number of hours a week in the factory. In this way they will be afforded the opportunity of receiving a sound education.

The total cost of the school building will be about JG2OOO. The farm was purchased for £2300. During the week, the annual conference of the Adventists has been held at the farm. This conference, which is being attended by numerous delegates from Australia and various parts of New Zealand, will conclude to-morrow. Twenty-two tents were pitched in rows for the accommodation of the delegates and their families. Two large marquees were also erected for meeting purposes. The representative delegates include the following Pastor Olsen, President of the Australasian Union Conference; Pastor Henning, and Messrs J. M. Johansen and A. G. McKenzie, who are associated with the Adventists’ literary and publishing departments. The meetings have been largely attended, and many visitors have been present from Cambridge who have listened with evident interest to the earnest and practical addresses delivered by the prominent delegates present. There is a tent fitted up on the ground for the sale of religions publications and medical works. The Adventists issue a quantity of literature from their printing works at Warburton, Victoria, and they also print a monthly in Cambridge called “The N.Z. Messenger,” and a paper published in the Maori language. Tbe Adventists are keen students of the Scriptures, and they impress one as being very enthusiastic and zealous in their work. The selection of Cambridge as a place at which to cairy on such an important venture is certainly an excellent advertisement for the district, and should do much to make its many advantages more widely known.