Park College for Christian Workers FOR CHjc^Qi ^LTON ^ST.LOUIS^AWRJ INDIAN T/ER TENN AU3TIM- N EBRASKA V 1 DENVER COLO RADO NEBRASKA CS:\o \ NEW MEXICO CHRISTIAN WORKERS. LOCATION. Situated in the immediate vicinity of Kansas City, Mo., the great railroad center, and connected with this city by the river and frequent railroad trains, it is easy of access from all ]>arts of the country. Near the geographical center of the United States, in the midst of those thriving cities of the Mis.souri Valley, and in one of the most fertile, wide-spreading regions of the world, it is a point of great interest to Christians and patriots. ORIGIN. Experienced necessity>nd pressing want has given birth to this enterprise. The founder, Hon. Geo, S. Park, now of Magnolia, Ills., was one of the first settlers of the Missouri Valley. A Christian philanthropist and an earnest Sunday School worker, he has, in business and other relations, frequently traveled over and become familiar with the country between Chicago and the Gulf of Mexico. Believing that the very life of this nation is intimately connected with the future of this wonderful country, he has vratched with painful interest the great struggle which has been going on amid the rushing tide of population. He has marked the insidious but giant efforts, the strong footings, deep rootings and wide spreadings of Catholicism, infidelity and irreligion. And notwithstanding the loud appeals for endowing institutions of learning, the almost superhuman efforts to maintain a preached gospel, sustain churches, plant Sabbath Schools and distribute the Bible and religious literature, he finds the education of the country almost secularized, family religious training almost entirely neglected, a great and alarming des- titution of persons in the rural districts qualified or willing to conduct Sabbath School or other religious services. Deeply impressed with the fact that the ministry are not reaching the masses, and vdth firm belief that under existing circumstances they, however faithful, cannot meet the wants of the church in the onward rush of population, fraught as it is with the secular spirit of the age, he has offered a large and .well arranged building, erected for a hotel at a cost of thirty thousand dollars, one hundred acres of land and other gifts, for the establishment of an institution of Christian learning and discipline. OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTION. 1. The education and training of youth of both sexes with special reference to Christian activity as laymen and women, and then the preparation of successful laymen, who desire it, for the gospel ministry. 2. Provisions for the maintenance and development of some of the many excellent, earn- est youth of the working classes, who, eager and longing for preparation for usefulness, are with- out the means to pursue a liberal course of study. pecul:iarities. 1. God has promised the Holy Spirit to those who, in faith, ask for it. In the prayerful use of the means of God’s appointment, he does and will grant us a continual baptism of the Spirit. Hence we begin, as first in time and importance, with devotional Bible study and training in the methods of Christian work and activity. We blend with this, as of secondary importance , phy.sical and mental training and discipline. Religion, the active, joyful service of God, first of all, and this service based alone upon diligent and prayerful Bible study, and as handmaids to this service, and as necessary helpers in this service, physical and mental educa- tion and developement. 2. The institution is operated mainly upon the mutual co-operative principle. The students present themselves for training as Christian workers. The college becomes their home (Hufford Home). The entire physical work of the college home is performed by the students; the house- keeping, cooking, sewing, &c., &c., is distributed among the young ladies. The young men are, according to their experience and ability, put to carpentering, painting, fruit growing, vegetable raising, wood-chopping, &c., &c. Some act as stewards and providing for all the harder and out door work, assist the young ladies. The teaching is also in some measure mutual, thus making a practical normal, Christian school. Active, sprightly youth, eager for an education, are often better than the old, well paid Professor for the purposes of faithful drill. Under the superintend- ance of devoted principals this Normal work becomes truly effective. 3. The International Sabbath School lesson is studied one hour each day through the week, and in some of its phases made the subject of remark at each noon-day prayer meeting. Sab- bath morning we have a model Sabbath school, a sermon, and the students scatter to spend the remainder of the day, far and near, for Sabbath school and other forms of Christian work. In this they are being wonderfully blessed. 4 In the training of these Christian workers, we attempt at each step knowledge, expend- ence and practice. The knowledge commenced and attained in each department is made to minister to a complete Christian experience, and the knowledge and experience are reduced to practice in the institution as a Christian family, in the class room and in public labors. A por. tion of each day, except the Sabbath, is spent in Physical, Mental and Spiritual^exercise and development. 5 - Our students, except such as are necessary for home work, are expected to spend at least three months each year in teaching or some form of public service. Teach notfor hire but for such remuneration as may be given, that they may plant and maintain the standard of the Cross m localities where it is not maintained ; They must seek out and strive to develop such as may be able to carry on the work when they have returned to their studies; That our students may thus accommodate themselves to the wants of the country, there is a special Summer term of the insti- tution for the special benefit of the teachers ; Thus the Class rooms of the “ Home ” are never closed. 6. Our Savior himself sought the working classes. He trained them and made them the messengers of Salvation to their own classes. He did not lift them up to high worldly hopes of riches and renown. He did not strain them day and night in literary efforts to the entire neglect of the spiritual or the heavenly knowledge. He did not so strain His followers as to cause them to neglect their own homes and their own society. Let us awake and closely examine results, then let us begin to follow more closely His example, and send these working classes trained for Christian work to their own classes, to the nooks and corners, to the wide wastes, and thus devel- op a substratum for the founding and successful establishment of churches and institutions. RELIGIOUS TRAINING. The institution is neither sectarian nor denominational. It would incuclate the idea and spirit of denominational unity. Each student truly loyal and faithful to his own denomination, but a type of that larger Christian manhood which can work harmoniously with all who truly love the Master and His cause. In devotional Bible study, and upon the principles of the Evan- gelical Alliance, we would give such a course of Biblical literature, outlines of theology, church history, organization and methods of Christian work as shall perfect lay workers in all denomi- nations thus represented. When practical and successful workers have completed the Classical course, we would turn them over to the respective denominational Theological Seminaries for special training. SECULAR TRAINING. This is general and special. We would perfect the student in Englishjanguage and Liter- ature, with special reference to Christian activity. Special Courses are designed for those seek- ing the gospel ministry and other professions, embracing full Classical, Scientific, Mathematical and Commercial courses, any parts of which the practical lay workers may elect and pursue. RESULTS TO BE ATTAINED. 1. We will gather and put into efficient service the native frontier talent of the working classes, blending an education with immediate service upon the frontier. 2. We take those inured to hardships and privation, and train them for the hardships and privations of frontier work, the want of which is now so staying the progress of the church. 3. We develop in our, students, amid their training, a knowledge and experience of human nature and the various struggles and trials of life. Going forth to struggle in teaching and working, they return to be specially trained and trimmed, and thus prepared for another and better effort. 4. The efficient and successful may be pressed forward to still higher attainments, to be- come lay evangelists and lay missionaries, to render efficient help to the regular ministry. From these ranks the different denominations may obtain a ministry, and thus be saved the expense of educating, and the misfortune of ordaining those who will not be efficient laborers. 5. We will raise up a band of trained workers to go at small expense to those destitute local- ities, which offer no inducement to the ministry, and give the gospel to many, mnay places where the regular ministry cannot at present be sustained. 6. As a rule, natives must do the work to be done in any land. Western men and women must be raised up for western work. They must have a training suited to that work. We would train Colporteurs, S. S. workers, lay workers and ministers, those suited to these missions, and thus gain those ends which must be realized, if the pressing wants and necessities of the Evangelical churches of the west are met. NECESSITIES. Published statistics reveal the sad fact, that only about one-sixth of the children and youth of Missouri are in Sabbath School. Couple this fact with another, the almost entire destitution of family Christian training, and those in the S. S.. are those who have that training, then let Christians and patriots see the results of secularized education. If this be true of Mo., what shall be said of that vast population West and South ? Kansas may be, and doubtless is an ex- ception, for the people of that State are newer and fresher from the East. The situation has been far better in Missouri. The S. S. Union has industriously and faithfully organized schools all over the country, the Counties have been organized by the State convention workers, but alas ! the people do not sustain, and all this work is in a measure fruitless. It has been confi- dently asserted that the population of Western Kansas is now much better supplied with S. S. instruction than the older portion. What then are the hopes of the lovers of Christ’s Kingdom, and of our common beloved country, when the very heart of the country, in that richest valley, and the great South-west is thus yielding to Catholicism, infidelity, and irreligion. And after all the efiforts'for endowments of institutions, for means to sustain Christian work, shall we, seeing failure, give up in dejipair or relax our energies ? Let the heavens answer and let every Christian heart answer, no. There is power in Bible truth. There is power with God. Let us face about. Let us raise up an institution which shall make the blessed Bible the text book. Enjoying and glorifing God, the chief end of man. Let us make the expenses as small as possible, not by endowment, but by self help and activity, and open wide its doors to the working classes. God will bless such an effort. He will clothe us with a continual baptism of His Spirit, and we shall have abundant cause to praise His glorious name. GOVERNMENT AND MANAGEMENT. The entire control and management of the interests of the institution are committed to the President. An Advisory Board of Trustees, consisting of the founder undone or more representatives of each denomination of evangelical Christians in that .section of the Country will constitute a corpor- ate body to hold the property. This Board will meet statedly to discuss questions pertaining tO' the welfare of the institution, and advise with the Pre.sident and Faculty, grant diplomas and confer degrees upon the recommendation of the Faculty. At the death or resignation of the present President this Board will assume the entire control of the institution. No Visionary, no Experimental Scheme. The founder, alaboring man, then a practical, successful business man, has been for forty years a close observer of the wants, the successes and the failures of the Church in the West. He noiv begins the crowning work of his /zy-, determined by the grace of God to bestow his. best efforts for the cause of his blessed Savior, whose service has been to him such a delight. The President is a child of the frontier, of poor, but faithful,' pious ancestry, for twenty years nured to the hardships of farming life, amid the exigencies and struggles of the first settling of Missouri. Eight years of hard struggling for a college education, and sixteen years of Jonah- like wanderings, striving against the conviction of duty, and of a special call of God to the very- work which is now opening upon him, he no\y gives his life and energies to this work, assured that God has called, and through these years of discipline, in teaching and struggling ami d op- position and clashings which have prevented the successful blending of this idea with oth er in- stitutions, has been disciplining him, and his most faithful and prayerful wife, for the great work now before them. WANTS. We do not now ask for endowments nor splendid equipments, fine clothing nor costly vi- ands. The school is now in successful operation and more than a score of most worthy youth are members of the College family, besides others who are with us daily for recitation and train- ing. By working the institution upon the principles already enunciated it is evident that the expense of educating these workers is reduced to a minimum. They are without means, and these limited expenses must be met. We must not and can not be involved in debt in doing the Lord’s work. Should all God’s people find other, and what may appear to them better, ways- of devoting the Lord’s portion of their means, and should no philanthropists appear to help u.s on in this work, we can and will, with the blessing of God, go forward, teaching, working and succeeding. But we have entered upon our work with faith in Israel’s God, who has already turned the hearts of some of his dear people toward us, and we feel constrained to let the work and the want be known far and wide, because the appeals are so numerous, both youth applying, earn- estly asking for the preparation for the work of the Master, and the demand increasing for such trained workers. This Circular comes to you, kind reader, asking you, in the name of the Master and in love for precious souls, whether you have a mite, a willing heart and a prayer to God for us. Year can help us with money, even if it be but a small amount; with clothing, books, provisions, or anything that will make a plain home happy. Though in the midst of the terrible scourge this spring, all our vegetables, etc., swept away, and our ground kept bare until the middle of June, yet we are not discouraged, trusting in God, who sends the scourge and provides the grace and the alternative to those who trust him. We have been fed so far and are happy. Our hope i.s. in the generosity and kindness of God’s people. We do greatly desire to extend our work. Applications are coming to us almost daily. The general and special depression of the timeSy the peculiar mission of the institution, the great numbers of the best talent and natural qualifi- cations brought to light by these times, give us peculiar opportunities for selections. The cry comes to us from Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Indian Territory, Colo- rado and New Mexico. Our facilities for doing a grand and glorious work are limited only by the limited amount of means needful for the support of youth while we give them the preparation for the beginning and carrying forward of this lay evangelism, and from this to more extended forms of usefulness. We send forth this Circular in the fond hope that it will reach, here and there, those who- will be interested to give us material help, sympathy and prayer. Who will help? JOHN A. McAFEE, President Park College for Christian Workers, Parkville, Mo.