The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-25
THE BAPTISTS.
Western Baptist Educational Con-
VentiOn.

vention met this morning In the First
Baptist Church. Rev Ebenezer Thrcsh-
or, of Ohio, was elected President; Hens.
Caleb Vanduzen and ]. NJ. Gregory, Vice
Presidents, and Rev, DR., Mitchell, Secre.
tAry, The aim Of the Convention Is to
promote and maintain revivals and active
interest In the education Oi the ministry
and Of the youth Of the Baptist cOngre.
cations, In the discussion, the time was
limited to 10 minutes for each speaker
Prof j. W. Stevens, Of the University of
Chicago, read lengthy and able paper
on academies in the scheme Of higher cd.
uCatlOn, including that of the preparatory
department In our colleges, and bearing
upon the question of the existence OF
public high schools; that there were TWEEN.
ty.One colleges in Illinois, all but two of
which have preparatory departments
-Four years ago there were fourteen col
legcs in the State, all having preparatory
departments, yet the average number Of
graduates was only IL to each college.
These colleges were mostly no better than
local schools This was the reason for
the small number of graduates. lie ad-
vOCated better and more systematic
organization Of the. academies, and de.
parlment ~ he something more than pre-.
paratOry institutions for colleges. Fur.
ther that the colleges In this State had
furnished to the university only 1 grad
uates during the past year. High schools
could not take the place Of academies.
They were doing but little towards sus-
tanning the academies, nor could the high
schools accomplish much In the way of
shaping the morals and religion Of society.
The pupils Of these institutions lived at
home and were under the influence Of
such religious training as their parents
and guardians saw III TO give them.
Whether tho Bible was excluded from
the schools or not, 1t was certain they
were not religious institutions, nor could
they become so. Public schools could
not take the place of academies. The
latter institutions should be permanent,
well organized and instructive to their
pupils. Too much importance was at.
taChed to certain material aCcesslons,
such ms extensive libraries, splendid halls,
etc These things were not Of 80 much
real value rs practical, living teachers.
1t was through these instrumentalltics
rather than by ponderous libraries and
costly buildings that the character was
to be nodded. In the discussion of this
followed many speakers, who expressed dl.
verse opinions, Mr.. Stevens, Of Ohio, fully
endorsing the paper. Prof Berk, ofIowa,
entered his protest against every sentiment
therein expressed, while Prof Tenbrock,
OF Ann Harbor, thought the public schools
competent To prepare scholars for demon.
national colleges.
Rev. Owen, Of Detroit, argued that
experience was daily demonstrating that
secular education must be discarded from
religious influences.
Rev. p. A. Patterson, Of Illinois thought
one thing certain that denominations
must have moro college students. lie
know no better plan than the well con.
Quoted academies.
Rev. Schofeld, Of Des Moines was con.
vincCd Of the necessity Of academies I'm.
der the Baptist control.
Mr.. Gasten, Of Illinois, Superintendent
of Public Schools ut Decatur, indOrsed
the same ideas contained in the report
lie thought II would be inpractlcabo to
establish and maintain an academy in any
town where public schools werenOt prop.
erly sustained. There was no town In
the State where Baptlsts was 50 numerous
as to have these educational matters all
their own way.
Rev. Stone, Of Marietta said the Bap.
lists Of Ohio had tried in vain to obtain
the control over common schools so rs N
prepare pupils for higher education in the
interests Of the denomination. lie was In
favor of academies.
The Committee on Academies appoint.
cd X. NJ. Mott, of Illinois, chairman.
Rev. II. T. Wayland, President oI
. Franklin College, Indiana, read paper
Un the question OF the education Of ihC
women Of the West, including that Of the
admission Of both sexes to the same insti
tutiOns Of higher learning lie took
strong grounds In favor OF giving women
all the opportunities and facilities for edu.
cation that man embraced. Women as n
class were not fully appreciated, nor was
the proper estimate placed upon thelI
mental powers and capabilities. lie saw
no reason why women should not be ad
milted TO all higher institutions Of learn.
ing on a perfect equality with the men
, but gave many reasons why rs lie thought
they should be thus admitted. Woman
was a human being and as such was Just
| ly entitled TO the same rights and privil
eges Of other human beings. The pres
ent condition Of woman was one Of a6joc
dependence She was dependent belor
marriage upon her father; dependent al
ter marriage upon her husband; depahd
ent in the parlOr upon Mrs. Grundy. ant
In the kitchen upon Bridget for her dali
bread II was time for her to becom
more independent She should resolv
and be able to support herself whethe
she found her husband or not On th
4th OI July, l77G, our forelathers declare,
: their independency Of England. What
glorious thing II would be II on the 4th O
} July, 1871, their grand daughters woult
declare their independence from Ireland
f. If any discrimination should be made
=; woman's education should be the mos
favored, because her many disabilities re
: quiie compensatlng advantages, whiCl
should be educational powers rather thai
accomplishments; character rather thai
, requirements, an education that will b
! carried forward through life; that vii
produce independence rather thmn de
: pendence. CO-education Of the sexes
!. commended as being in conformity wit
. nature; in accordance with true economy
because the desire Of each sex 10 excel |
I ! the presence ol the other would be an ID
, , telleCiual stimulus; because the dcierenc
shown to each other would produce
? cultivation OF manners; because the know
: edge Of each other thus induced wi
produce happiness in the future relation
OF life, This should be the Christian cdr
cation. Adjourned to afternoon.
D Wm. s. Parmley, President Of the Fir: