Australasian Record and AdventWorld Survey Publication of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Australasian Division VOL. 87, NO. 5 February 1, 1982 DEAR WORLD, My young son starts school today. It's all going to be sort of strange and new for him for a while, and I wish you would sort of treat him gently. You see, up to now he's been king of the roost. He's been boss of the backyard. His mother has always been near to soothe his wounds and repair his feelings. But now things are going to be different. This morning he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start out on the great adventure. It is an adventure that might take him across continents, across oceans. It's an adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow. To live his life in the world he will have to live in, will require faith and love and courage. So, World, I wish you would sort of look after him. Take him by the hand and teach him things he will have to know. But, do it gently, if you can. He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, hat for every crooked politician there is a great and dedicated leader. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. It will take time, World, I know. But teach him, if you can, that a -cent earned is of far more value than a dollar found. Teach him to learn to lose, so he'll enjoy winning that much more. Steer him away from envy if you can, and teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that bullies are the easiest people to whip in the school-yard. Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books. But also let him ponder the eternal mystery of birds on the wing, and bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill. In school, World, teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to -cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone says t hey are wrong. Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen to all men, but teach him also to filter all he hears on the screen of truth and take just t he good that siphons through. Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he's sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success. Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness. Teach him to sell his brains and brawn to the highest bidder, but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul. Teach him how to close his ears to a howling mob, but to stand and fight if he thinks he's right. Treat him gently, World, if you can. But -don't coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient. Let him have the patience to be brave. Let him be a man's man. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind. This is quite an order, World, but see what you can do. He's such a mice little fellow, my son! Dan Valentine. SUPPORT THE RECORD ON FEBRUARY 13 2 :: AUSTRALASIAN RECORD :: February 1, 1982 Orphan Care WINDOW ON THE WORLD NEWS BRIEFS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Home in Jordan BISHARA AZIZ, Director, Adventist Care Home, Jordan at Hayward's Heath Market, forty miles south of London, claimed to be Seventh-day FOLLOWING the 1967 war, the Middle Seminary Dedicated Adventists. Suddenly it became popular to be a East Union organised the Seventh-day Adven- Sabbath-keeping Adventist. Insofar as most of tist Care Home in Amman, Jordan, to support in Philippines these claimants were heavy smokers and heavy and care for the needs of orphans. Today, drinkers, the local authorities became suspici- besides serving as a refuge for these children, it NELSON S. PALLASA, Public Relations Director, Philippine Union College ous. is also a means of providing Christian education THE Seventh-day Adventist Theological To be sure the traders were complying with and spiritual growth. Seminary (Far East) and the Ellen G. White the Shops Act they checked with the local This year twenty-three boys, aged eight to Research Centre, Philippines, were dedicated conference office and church pastors in the sixteen, have been cared for during the school year. Besides the director, Bishara Aziz, and on May 24, 1981, in ceremonies highlighted by district, and in no instance could bona fide the presence of Division, union, and mission membership of the church be established. his wife, the staff is made up of a cook, a cleaning woman, and a maintenance man. Each leaders. This led to most of the Sunday stall holders Since the late 1960s the Graduate School of withdrawing their original claim about being year two student missionaries have come from Philippine Union College has offered Master of Seventh-day Adventists. However, fourteen the United States to help with certain aspects of Arts degrees in religion and religious educa- individuals took an entrenched position, and the programme, especially with improving the tion. Full accreditation has since been extended even made affidavits to the effect that they were children's knowledge of English. to the seminary's Master of Arts and Master of members of the church. Although few of the children are members of Divinity programmes by the Association of As a final court of appeal, the British union the Adventist Church, the Care Home strives to Theological Schools of South-East Asia, and was forced to set up a Sunday Trading Tribunal teach the boys responsibility and better living later by the General Conference of Seventh-day and to commission the fourteen traders to habits. Wholesome activities are planned for Adventists. attend, with individual legal representation, if their enjoyment—swimming, picnics, nature "The future of the seminary seems necessary. A date was fixed, and the church's walks, excursions to interesting places such as eminently bright," said Ottis C. Edwards, representatives in no way looked forward to the Dead Sea, and youth meetings and religious Education director of the Far Eastern Division. what could be a day of wrangling. services to help with their spiritual growth. He further announced that funds for construct- "Not surprisingly," states John Arthur, During part of the summer these children attend ing the seminary chapel are already available. executive secretary of the British Isles youth camp. Leslie G. Hardinge, seminary president and headquarters of the church, "none of the The Care Home works with the government dean, said that the seminary has students not traders bothered to attend. The message must in locating and taking care of these needy only from the Far East, but from Africa, India, have gotten through that the church cannot be of children. It is our wish to provide services for Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, and assistance to any pseudo Adventists in respect more children so that God's work may be Pacific islands. to Sunday trading." ## finished soon. ## After the dedication of the building, the research centre, the only one in the Far East, situated in the basement of the seminary, was opened to the public, with Esmiraldo de Leon, New Plymouth School Opened director, as guide. The research centre now houses 50,000 ELSIE HITCHCOCK pages of letters and manuscripts in chronologi- THE HISTORY of Adventist schools in New the school. In March 1976 the present property cal order, 30,000 reference cards, microfiche Plymouth, north New Zealand, began in 1908 was donated by Sister E. Hitchcock, a former records to thousands of pages of periodicals and when a school with six pupils was opened in a teacher in the old back-room school in Buller articles, and 600 early pamphlets. The sorting lean-to at the back of the old church, with Alice Street. and filing of these materials was made possible Ward as teacher. In 1942 Sylvia Hall opened The new school complex, located in twenty through the help of Mrs. Hedwig N. Jemison, acres of farmland and valued at $150,000, was school in the back room of the church, with General Conference assistant secretary of the ready for use in 1981, with an opening Ellen G. White Estate. ## nineteen pupils. In 1964 property was acquired enrolment of fifteen. The number of pupils has next to the new church, and a two-room school since increased to twenty. built, but declining enrolment forced its closure The official opening was late in 1981, and we in 1966. A total of 213 pupils and fifteen praise God for the present facilities, and trust teachers had been associated with it till then. that the school will continue to grow as our It was not till 1975 that Pastor Jim Veld children find blessings in learning the way God British Merchants raised enthusiasm and a building fund to reopen has appointed. ## Claim to Be SDAs VALERIE PEARCE, Communication New Plymouth school- Department, British Union children make use of the playground facilities FOR SOME MONTHS it has appeared that which are part of the Adventism has been gaining ground among the new school complex business people in the south of England.