The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-07

to provoke other brethren in the Southwest
to faith and to good works; and if the Church
prospers, you will have another and still
another, budding out into the same proper
ton, and doing the same glorious work.
As to such Institutions superseding and
degrading existing colleges, l have read the
history of this country in exactly the opposite
direction. Experiences is very safe teacher ;
and let me without an appearance of egotism
refer to the history of these things in my
own State. The Legislature of Virginia
established its great University; and between
1926 and 1860 that Institution, fostered bythe
wealth and power of the State grew up from
$50 to $50 students, multiplying its means
of instruction from the original faculty OF
arts, law and medicine, until they were spread
out into great emporium of science. Did
that choke down the colleges like big oak
tree dwarfng all shrubs beneath its shade
Why, during that process of the develop
ment of the University, Washington College,
which was then only college, grew up from
the rank of highly respectable grammar
school unto a well-equipped college with
12O or $50 students. Hampden Sidney
grew up from poor little crippled col
lege, with number of students ranging from
q to As. to an active useful institution with
135 students. William and Mary increased
its patronage and means of instruction in
the same proportion. Randolph Macon and
Emory and Henry grew from their eggs
into hourishing institutions. the latter with
$50 students. The effect of the University
was to develop the colleges in numbers and
excellence, so that collegiate education by
the reflex influence of this State institution
was developed more than University educa
ton; and the reflex work of the State Uni
versity was greater than its direct work. |
am perfectly willing to trust that precedent
that lesson of history. If Iwere Brother
Shearer, or Brother Wills, 1 would rely with
implicit confidence on the lessons of that ex-
perience, as to the interests of my own par
ticular college. 1 feel moral certainty
that if this experiment lit is only an expert
ment) results in the Improvement of some
one existing institution into school of most
superior grade, the other colleges in the
South will all experience its advantages.
They will receive more patronage; they will
deserve more. They will have more power
just in proportion as this one superior insti-
tuition gains power. | fully sympathize with
every conviction DR.. kirkpatrick has utter
ed with reference to the dangers of such an
overshadowing Capitalization; but the differ.
ence between him and me is that | believe
the thing will work exactly the other way.
And therefore am willing that the Assem-
bly, should, in its mere advisory capacity,
recommend such an experiment to those of
its ministers, elders and laity who are willing
to commit themselves to it and take the re-
sponsibility. | would not have the Assem-
bly, take the responsibility further than to
invite the experiment.
Rev. Dr.. P,.yoy-If the, design of this
paper is to promote education at large, |
sympathize with it; but if it is to inaugu-
rate measures for the establishment of one
great Southern University, am against it.
My Presbytery at its last session with but
one dissenting voice, adopted this resolution:
"That the question Of the establishment of
one central University be indefinitely post.
poned If so much of the resolution as
looks to the establishment of such an Uni
versity could be stricken out, so far as | can
see, | could vote con ansore for the rest. l
am opposed to committing the Assembly in
any shape or form to the patronage or en-
couragement of plan to establish one cen
tral University; and l am opposed to it
none the less because of the covert manner
in which it is suggested If that lies con-
cealed-not designedly, but from the imper
fection of human language, or some other
cause-as the grand principle, the great
thing sought to be accomplished, cannot
vote for it. should be recreant to what |
regard as the instructions of my Presbytery,
expressing as they do my own conscientious
convictions. But to recommend to all the
Presbyterians throug hout the broad land in
which we live, to put forth more strenuous
efforts to promote and advance the cause OF
education, for that I could vote er intimo
amino; with my inmost mind and soul.
The history of Pennsylvania University
presents the strongest objection in my mind
to this plan. 1t was once under good, sound
religious principles. How did it get from
under them? 1t was established with all the
prestige, sanction and patronage that the
large State of neutrality-suspicious.,
generous and noble-could give it. But the
same patronage and influence was given it in
its apostate condition as in its normal and
rightful state. And there lies my objection
to the establishment of these great universi-
ties. The mind of man has never yet been
able to devise any methods by which such
institutions can be saved from the intrusion
of unworthy men, and the influence of
wrong principles. Whilst great central
institution for few years Will attract large
number of students, it will be apt, in the
long run, to fail in securing the object sought
to be accomplished.
Ny worthy brother, Dr. Dabney, who is
an alumnus of the University, a most noble
one. and always advocates it, referred to
Hampden Sidney College and its prosperity
after the University was established. |
went to Hampden Sidney in 1925 when it
had $50 students. In less than five years
after the University went into operation, it
came down to 1OO 1 speak what 1 know,
because l was at both those Institutions l
believe that the influence of large Univer
sity is good in that it trains up properly
qualified teachers to supply these very Col
leges; but it draws off the students to a
large extent, for time at any rate. be-
lieve it best to establish independent Col
leges rather than this one great University.
1 saw it stated in the papers sometime ago
that one object is to arrest the tide of emf.
grafton to Germany and Europe. AS was
we'll remarked by DR.. kirkpatrick, it will
not have that affect l believe that the
grade of scholarship in the University, re-
II La...L-. c.. e .Lo hant ~, 4k q