Spirit of Prophecy Courses in Our Schools.—It is a pleasure to report that the percentage of academies presenting formal courses in the Spirit of prophecy is much higher today than it was six years ago. Conference administrators and responsible men in the educational field are realizing more and more that our young people need to secure a well-rounded-out understanding of the place of the Spirit of prophecy in our work, and the fundamental teachings of this gift.
We have been confronted for decades with what seemed to be the lack of an adequate textbook for this course. Now this lack is, in a good degree, filled by a work entitled, "Lessons on the Spirit of Prophecy," prepared under the direction of the department of education of the Pacific Union Conference, by two of our able Bible teachers, Robert Kitto and H. Lyle Wallace. Just issued in preliminary form, this text will be revised in harmoily with suggestions and criticisms which come from other able teachers, and it is hoped that it will find a permanent place in our schoolwork.
Field Work.—During the last two years a line of work has been developed in response to earnest requests from the field, which has led members of the office staff to extended itineraries in several of the unions in North America, in presenting to our young people in academies and colleges a well-developed series of talks on the Spirit of prophecy, its place in the advent movement, how it operated, its influence, and our attitude toward it.
From three days to a week have been spent at each of the various institutions visited, during which time five to eight general presentations have been made and classroom work has been carried on. Reports from students, faculty members, and educational superintendents make it very clear that this type of work is helping to build in the hearts of our young people a sound basis for confidence in the Spirit of prophecy, which is indeed well worthwhile.
Growing Dangers.—The encouraging omens must not blind us to the presence of influences designed to nullify the effectiveness of the Spirit of prophecy. Can we expect that the great adversary of light and truth will not employ the same strategy to counteract the influence of instruction indicated by God in the Spirit of prophecy counsels as has been employed in destroying confidence in the word of God? Failing to destroy the Bible or to circumscribe its circulation, he cunningly thwarted its influence by undermining confidence in its authenticity and weakening the binding nature of its claims. While today we rejoice in the greatly expanding distribution of the Spirit of prophecy books, we may be called upon to meet intensified attempts to weaken confidence in God's special gift to the remnant church.
