VII. Educator Bell-Produces Systematic Lessons on Prophecies

The last comprehensive early exposition we shall note is by GOODLOE HARPER BELL (1832-1899), ^{34Obituary, Review and Herald, Jan. 24, 1899; J. C. Barthold, Youth’s Instructor, Feb. 9, 1889, pp. 101-106; M. E. Olsen, Origin and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists, pp. 331-337; Spalding, Captains, pp. 389-449.} educational pioneer and founder of the first Seventh-day Adventist college. He was of New England ancestry, both parents descending from Revolutionary stock. He was born in Watertown, New York, his parents later moving to Oberlin, Ohio, in the stream of westward migration. Here he studied at the well-known Oberlin College, noted for its early educational reforms. And here Bell evidently imbibed some of its wholesome principles. Moving with his parents to Michigan, he was soon filling important educational posts in the public school system of the State.PFF4 1131.1

In 1866, at the age of thirty-four, Bell came to Battle Creek to seek medical help at the Western Health Institute (forerunner of the Battle Creek Sanitarium), conducted by the Adventists. In church affiliation he had first been a member of the Baptist denomination, later joining the Disciples when he came to believe them to be in possession of certain advanced truths. And now, in Battle Creek, he was led to investigate the various points of the Seventh-day Adventist faith, checking them carefully with the Bible, and soon cast in his lot wholeheartedly with them.PFF4 1131.2

As a teacher Bell was regarded as somewhat of a genius. He had a concept of Christian education far in advance of his time. He was no mere pedagogue of the conventional classical pattern of the day, but was avowedly an educational reformer. He was, in turn, much impressed by the principles of education advocated by Mrs. E. G. White. And as he had already demonstrated his teaching ability, he was asked to aid in starting a school for the church. So the Seventh-day Adventist Educational Society was founded, and in 1873 the new institution was opened. It was a success from the beginning, growing rapidly and soon blossoming into a college. Professor Bell remained as head of the English department, and his influence had much to do in fulfilling the dream of church leaders for an institution of adequate proportions for the training of their Christian workers. ^{35George I. Butler, “Our School at Battle Creek,” Review and Herald, June 4, 1872, pp. 196, 197; see also General Conference Proceedings, Review and Herald, March 18, 1873.}PFF4 1131.3

Bell was a strong, sound, and progressive thinker, simplicity and precision characterizing his writing style. He was author of a series in English language and literature textbooks, as well as of Sabbath school lessons. Through the latter medium he put a definite mold on the Sabbath schools of the church, as did his textbooks for the day school and college. In 1869 he furnished the Youth’s Instructor, of which he became editor, a series of lessons for youth on the book of Daniel—thus entering the field of prophetic exposition. Later these lessons were expanded into a complete series of graduated Bible lessons, in small book form, for the Sabbath school.PFF4 1132.1

For fifteen years he was superintendent of the Battle Creek Sabbath school. By 1878, some six hundred Sabbath schools formed a General Sabbath School Association, with Bell serving first as recording secretary. In 1880 he became its president. He was also the first head of the South Lancaster Academy (1882-1885), which in turn became the Atlantic Union College. And for three years he was editor of Fireside Monthly, an educational journal. Here is a summary of his lessons on the prophecies, which likewise exemplify the now, well-established pattern.PFF4 1132.2