Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-03-07
From the Vt. Chronicle
INCIDENTAL CLAIMS OF THE COL
LICE UPON THE CHURCH..


1t is not the purpose of this paper to dwell
on the value Of the College in it's more i'm
mediate relation to the church and the work
OF missions-but rather to call attention to
sumo points oftenest overlooked
l. The colleges represent large amount
OF funded Christian benevolence They owe
their origin and continued existence in
great measure to the gifts Of Christian men
and women, who have placed proper esti-
mate on them as means Of promoting the
kingdom OF Christ, and realized the indis-
pensabie connection Of religion with cduca-
ton, and that the gospel is for man in the
largest, most comprehensive sense, and to be
made the central power in all human culture.
Christians OF to-day ought to remel ,ber
these benetactions as a living power entrust-
ed to the church, to be employed like other
agencies by the Spirit of God in answer to
the prayer Of faith in their behalf.
=. The college is essentially charitable
institution. By virtue of the funds gwen
to found 1t and sustain it, it is able to offer
to the youth Of the land opportunities of
intellectual and religious culture, at a rate
falling far below their actual cost. The
charge for tuition at our Vermont colleges
does not cover more than third, if it does
a fourth part, Of the actual expense If our
colleges were made to pay expenses, by
charges for tuition, that is, to pay interest
on investments in buildings, library. appa-
ratus, and the salaries OF Professors, thew
would drive from their doors more than halt
the students, and blast the hopes of still
larger number Iu our academies and high
schools. More than half of the young mtn
in Vermont who seek collegiate education,
are dependent upon their own resources for
the most if not for all of their means. How
many Of this clas5-and the most important
class, too, IN their future relations TO the
church and 10 sOciety-wOuld think OF en-
tering on college course that would cost
them from one hundred 10 one hundred and
twenty five dollars year for tuitiOn2 The
college. then, is charitable institution. and
and the only regret Is, that the pecuniary
necessities OF any should require tuition
fee at all. If no such fee were required, the
college might stand forth in its true light,
as purely Christian institution, cousecra-
ted to Christ and His church, to the spirit
ual culture and elevation Of humanity. But
US the case now stands, no other institution
IN sociesy has larger claim 20 the watch
and prayers Of the church.
3. The college expresses, fosters, and per-
potuates the spirit of the gospel in regard to
the distinctions of social life. Ii recognizes
no prerogatiyes Of birth OF wealth. The sons
of the rich aud poor meet together and COM
pete for hOnors, and for those distinctions
which worth and culture give. Ii prepares
them alike for royal service Of God In their
generation, and grants an equal benediction
as they leave its halls. True to the spirit Of
the Master whom 1t serves, 1t knows only man
as man, and the essential worth of the indI-
vidual soul The young man at college STU
dies languages aud mathematics, philosophy
and lterature,-and many a parent. and
many a student too, for that matter, sup
poses that is all but far more comes from
the higher intellectual atmosphere he breathe,
from the higher hopes, the truer aims of
life, the nobler purposes, the generous,
worthy mbltlons, with which that atmos-
phere is filed. And he goes forth, If fwortby
Of the name and true to his opportunities, to
be center Of the same generous influences
wherever he goes, quietly elevating the aims
and sentiments OF the community IN which
his lot is cast.
The college is great lsvoller, but it levels
upward not downward. Ii is thoroughly
Democratic, in the only true sense in the
only sense in which democratic institutions,
can exists. The college. then, has a claim |
upon the regard of the Christian patriot and I
statesmen. The first men to shed their blood |
in the first, and now in the second war of |
freedom, were from the State that was the |
irst to rear and always the most liberal. by /
State enactment and private beneyOlence, to |
support and foster the college.
The college. then, is not less essential to
he true well-being Of FREQ people in its So
,ial and political life, than it is to the church
IS means of educating its ministry and Of |
the world. {.
l. VI