Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-04-07
NoRrHFIELD TRAINING SCHOOL.
Closing OF the 9th Year OF Work---Stu-
dents Experience In Country Home
---Dr. Gray's Admirable Address.


dents Experience In u Country Home
---Dr. Gray's Admirable Address.
The closing of the 9th year of the North
field Training school was the occasion of
some interesting services. The first hour
was devoted to a review of the years work
in the different departments and classes,
with papers by the students.
An address by Rev. James NJ. Gray, D.
D., of Boston followed, after which the
company were invited to a social reception,
and an examination of the practical work
in art, dressmaking and cooking.
A most important part of the work
could not be represented in any exhibit.
Each week a number OF the students have
gone into the different districts around
Mortified, finding themselves face to face
with the essential features of all the
Country Problem isolation, loneliness
poverty, indifference, suffering and sin
One is reminded of the words of an emf
nent home missionary, who, describing the
beauty of many of these country sides,
said, "but yet, green fields and white farm
houses do not make white saints"
One incident may serve as an illustra-
tion:-ln one home, far up on a mountain,
the visitor found young woman, who, for
In another room, the father lies, crippled
and helpless, weeping like a child, as he
told the student-"How hard it was to
lie there, and not be able to help his fam
iIy," for the mother was far from strong,
just recovering from grip" The girl
was unable to use her eyes, so was debar-
red from reading. She asked, "Would you
mind taking my hand? get so lonely ly-
ing here, wondering how long | have to
live" Reading Gods word to her, and
offering prayer, brought the comforting
tears of relief, and with deep sigh. she
said, You do not know how much this
has meant to me-" This district work is
not only working out the solution of the
problem of "moral christianity in this
part of the country, but is giving an ex-
perience to those engaged in it which will
prove increasingly valuable as the import
ance OF this work is more and more appre-
Grated. Even now, one writes "My eXpe-
Renee in leading meetings, and especially
i'll the calling, is proving invaluable to
me-"
The outlook for another year is bright.
The Bible course, which is the foundations
work of the school, is extended and arrang
ed so that while distinctly progressive,
each terms program shall be complete in
lisilf giving opportunity for those who
cannot remain throughout the entire course,
to gain as much as possible in the shorter
time
Through this and its other departments
the school will continue, as heretofore. and
offer an "all round" training for Christian
service to young women.
Dr. Gray took as the subject of his ad-
dress "The Secret of Devine Guidance
from the Human Side" He spoke of the
| great interest taken in the subject, and its
great Importance, especially to young Chris
tians just starting forth on their life wor k
for God. There were two mistakes, he said.
into which they were likely to fall. One
tended toward Deism and the other toward
fanaticism. Some were disposed to disbe-
| lieve in any Divine superintendent of the
affairs of men, and others TO over-estimate
it to the extent of supposing that having
surrendered to God they were absolutely TO
do nothing on their own account.
He would consider the subject, he said.
not from an abstract but concrete point
OF view. 1t was not question as to
whether God guided Christians by His
Word and His Spirit, but how, or in what
way that guidance became operative in
their lives? The second missionary Jour
ney of Paul, as narrated In Acts WI, fur
nlshed basis for determining the ques-
ton.
From this we see that God sometimes
| guides us in connection with our own
plans. 1t is not wrong for Christians to
make plans, if only they are always kept
subservient to Gods plans. God guides
| Paul and his fellow. laborers in this in
stance by frustrating their plans more than
once or twice.
He guides us again in the line of our
own judgment and intelligence. Reason
was the first revelation He gave man and
no subsequent one was intended to entire
| ly supersede it. He has called us to n
sound mind" and we are expected to ex-
ercise it in the determination of his call
and thus avoid vagaries and eXcrescences.
There was such thing as a presumptous
trust in God, as is illustrated in Satan's
temptation of Christ, which was as wrong
and harmful as no trust at all
But sometimes God guides us by special
providences, as they are called, which we
see indicated in the vision Paul received at
Troas calling him to Macedonia. A spe-
cial need is met by special provision.
Here DR.. Gray illumined the subject by
other Illustrations from missionary annals
and current affairs, showing how God en-
ploys such things as dream, the reading
OF book, the visit of friend, a gift of
money, or promise from His Word flashed
into the mind, as particular indication of
His will in given instance.
The absolute prerequisite for such guild
ance was that we were genuine believers in
Jesus Christ, regenerated and indwelt by
His Spirit. In that event, by the conscious
and definite yielding of ourselves to Him.
lie would work in us those dispositions
and desires out of which right conduct
would flow.
The address concluded with the relation
OF an incident as showing the difference
between a Christian who has the HOLY
Spirit in him and one who is filled with
the Spirit.
The opinion is axnrassad in off;oioI 81.