Spalding and Magan's Unpublished Manuscript Testimonies - Ellen G. White

students to form symmetrical characters and to
become useful workers in the cause. They desired
that their school should be approved by God for the
excellence of its work and for the exalted standard
that it maintained. Their effort was at first largely
experimental--an attempt to answer the question,
"How shall our training schools for Christian
workers be established and carried on?"
In this pioneer effort our brethren advanced not
inch by inch, but in sweeping strides, in the right
direction. Some tried to discourage them; others
criticized and condemned; but God blessed their
efforts.
Not the least discouraging feature of this
pioneer work was the question of finances. A
heavy debt rested on the old Battle Creek College
property. Those in charge of the institution at the
time the school work was removed to Berrien
Springs, were not responsible for incurring this
debt. The buildings and grounds were worth
considerable more than the debts, and if the
property could have been sold for its full value,
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