Occupy Till I Come: The Origins of Aurora University in Mendota, Illinois, 1893-1912. A review by Dr. Mark Woolfington.

“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”
- Luke 19:13, KJV

 “Occupy till I come” was an important catch-phrase among the leaders of the early Adventist movement, as it reflected their belief that since Christ’s return was imminent, the people of God should occupy themselves with the task of sharing the Gospel and other important work.  This mind-set stood in contrast to the popular (and largely debunked) image of the Millerites abandoning their daily work and possessions to await Christ’s return.

In her book, "Occupy till I Come": The Origins of Aurora University in Mendota, Illinois, 1893-1912, Dr. Susan L. Palmer,  Professor Emerita of History describes the founding of one of the Advent Christian Church’s two Bible Colleges, Mendota Seminary.  Palmer is uniquely qualified to tell this story.   After a 37 year teaching career at both Aurora College and Aurora University, she wrote this book during her tenure as the curator of the Jenks Collection of Adventual Materials at Aurora University.  The Jenks collection is one of the largest deposits of Advent Christian artifacts in the world.  It includes personal effects and correspondence of William Miller, early Adventist publications and 37 prophetic charts, which were used during camp meetings and revivals across the United States and Canada.

After earning her bachelor’s degree at Aurora College, Palmer went on to earn both a Master’s degree and the PhD. from Northern Illinois University.  She is a fourth-generation Advent Christian, and Palmer and her husband (also a retired Aurora University professor) spend their summers at the Alton Bay Christian Conference Center. 

Palmer provides the reader with an overview of the Millerite movement, and a summary of the state of American higher education in the late 19th century.  In the decades following the “Great Disappointment” when Christ did not return as expected, the movement developed into a denomination, despite William Miller’s opposition to the founding of a new denomination.

The book begins with a forward written by Dr. Rebecca Sherrick, President of Aurora University also a historian.  Palmer includes dozens of rarely seen photographs, including views of the building and grounds in Mendota, portraits of the supporters of Mendota College, along with the students, faculty and staff.

In 471 pages, along with extensive notes and a large bibliography, Palmer describes the struggles of “Mendota Seminary”, as the school was known for the first few months of its existence.  The struggles were many; finances were always tenuous, attracting students to a small, rural town with limited opportunities for employment prevented many potential students from attending due to cost, and many Advent Christians still questioned the need for theological education, in light of their belief that Christ’s return was imminent.  Many students began their studies, but Palmer describes how many left without obtaining a degree to return to the family farm, or to begin serving in Advent Christian churches.  Further challenges included the shortage of space on campus, and a tornado that damaged the college building, along with a portion of the town. 

Under the leadership of Orrin Roe Jenks, an Advent Christian pastor and the President of Mendota College, plans were made to relocate, with two possible destinations emerging: Aurora, and Zion, Illinois.  Dr. Palmer describes the political maneuvering that led to the decision to move to Aurora under Jenk’s leadership.  Jenks served as Aurora College’s first President for the next 20 years following the move to Aurora.

In addition to telling the story of Mendota College, Palmer provides the reader with a description of the school’s curriculum, student body, and faculty.  Mendota was part of a larger movement in American history which led to the founding of many small, liberal arts colleges with a religious affiliation in the late 19th century. Many of these schools did not survive the Great Depression, and many, like Aurora, remain with a limited connection to the denomination that founded them.  Aurora College survived, in large part, because of the move to Aurora, now the second largest city in Illinois, and the leadership and fortitude of President Jenks, who traveled frequently to promote (and raise funds for) the college, while serving as President, in addition to serving one of the Advent Christian Churches in Chicago, 40 miles to the east.  Orrin Roe Jenks is an unsung hero of the Advent Christian Church in the early 20th century.

Occupy Till I Come will be of interest to not only alumni of Aurora College/University, but also Advent Christians who are concerned about the leadership crisis facing the denomination.  Palmer writes as a historian, with a connection to her subject matter, and not as an expert on church renewal or revitalization.  Readers looking for solutions will be disappointed.

The book provides some background which is relevant to the crisis today, and describes how Advent Christians of the past answered important questions, such as: where will the next generation of Advent Christian clergy come from?  How much education should be required of pastors, missionaries and other workers? How will this education be funded?  What, if any, denominational structure should be in place for a people who believe that Christ will soon appear?

The answers to these questions will be found in the coming decades, should the Lord tarry.  Let us hope that Advent Christians will be found faithful to the admonition to “Occupy till I come.”