Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-04

lance OF beginning ut the bottom.
Rev. Or. Gardner of Charlestown did not believe
in letting the idea go out as it naturally would
from things that had been said thatAndover and Ex
ter were the only places where an academcal course
could be had he was opposed to belittiing the Bap
fist denomination and advertising Others He
hoped the logic of the essayist in relation to retro
grade in scholarship in the last forty years would
not prevail; he thought young men were better
taught than they were them even Ii they could not
talk so much Latin and Greek, perhaps they could
d ~ bseSa sdpng rSe 81 eaE agS cGas nS
as of that which was and that which is hoped for;
and, furthermore, did not altogether believe in
measuring the ability of teachers by the salary ask
ed.
After remarks from Rev Drs Cutting and Cow
on the necessity of endowments to the success of
academies, the convention adjourned until haltpast
two In the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At halfpast two O'Clock the convention was
called to order in the audience room of the church,
the increase of members present rendering 1t neces
sary to give them more room.
Rev. Mr.. Kicker of Augusta, Me-, opened the ex-
ercises with prayer after which the president an
0narrangements-Re George b. Cow, Prof H.
NJ Willard, and Rev. IL. c. Graves.
On enrollment--Rev. H. Archibald, Prof. E.
Knight, Rev. DR.. Bosworth, Mr.. j. H. Henson, Mr..
Merrick Lyon. and Prof. Hall.
On academies-Rev Dr. S. w. Gardner, Prof s.
5. Greene Rev. DIR. Ives, Rev. X. S. Hall, Prof Ly-
ford.
On Newton Theological institution-Rev. DIR. r.
Q. Mills. Rev. David Weston, Rev. DR.. Alvord,
REV. +. d. 1OWer, Mi. i. ID. Bromley.
On increase of the minIstry-Rev. DR.. b. F. Bron-
son, Rev. S. S. Abbott, Rev. George L. Hartman,
Rev. DR.. ID. B. Cheney, and Rev. VIM. Howe.
On UNCONVENTIONAL work in education-Rev DR.
S. L. Caldwell, Rev. DIR. w. Ii. Smaller, Mr.. j. III.
Walker Mr. james L. Howard, and Rev. DR.. S. X.
Mason.
On colleges-Prof. J. L. Lincoln, Rev. j. Kicker,
Rev. H. X. Pervear, Prof. II. L. Chase and Rev. S.
Whiting.
By way ofresuming the discussion on academies,
Rev. Mr.. Cow arose and expressed desire to hear
Prof Hanson. of the WatprVilp classical institute
Waterville, Me.
Pro-. Hanson thereupon gave statement of facts
relating to academcal work in the state of Maine,
speaking especially of the institution under his
charge. He said that some six years ago he was
called by the faculty of Watervile college to take
charge of the institute, which was and an unen-
dowed academy. There was not dime of funds at
the time he took charge, the conditions of his
going there were that he should run 1t, and get
living out of 1t 1t he could and so he had gone for
ward ever since, hoping for an endowment and bet
ter things for the FUTURE but things still remain the
same. He was not in sympathy with the idea that
certain facts should not be published in relation to
our academies because they may tell against them
The facts must be known in order that din culties
may be met; and the facts in relation to the Water
vile institute were certainly not very encouraging
He had under him tour female teachers, the funds
of the institute would not admit ofemploying nigh
prosperity had been enjoyed; from 100 to l75 have
been in attendance generally The feeling, he said,
was now very strong that the enterprise had
gone about as far as it could go, unless money
NSAiS
academies he did not know; it was a hard ied TO
work in, for the ground had been pretty well gone
over, and wherever any one had given money it was
IN the condition that they should not be called on
again.
Prof Greene said that as delegate from the truss
tees of Worcester academy, he spoke for 1t as one
that was greatly needed and one which he hoped to
see endowed and made model. He was not OPP
posed to holding up Exeter academy as the best
now IN New England, but would wish to see the
one here in Worcester brought up to a standing
that should make it talked about in the same way.
For several years back there has been great fall
mg-oH In the number of youth going from this sec
ton to Brown university and therefore this acad-
envy needed as feeder to that college, he hoped
it would be most literally endowed, and made
Rev Mr.. Abbott of watertown said he did not
consider that the only or principal need of acad-
emies lay IN the tact that the colleges must be nlled
from them; 1t is demand of the hour for the
youth of New England and he regarded it as q
gratuitous suggestion by the essayist when he
that the academies should send away such as show
ed lack of intellect; give all the youth the benefit
of the academies, even if they never see college.
The academies should cover the need for all walks
of life.
DIR. Champlin, president Of Waterville college,
said that, notwithstanding the lack of funds, the
Watervie institute had been of great service to the
college. He complimented the ability of Prof Han
son, who had given statement in relation to the
institute. He felt the Importance of maintaining
this, he said, since it was the only college in the
state of its character; there was at time five
six others, but they have now subsidized. He had
Observed he said that about one.seventh of those
who entered the college were from the public
schools, which, however, are not so numerous and
efficient in Maine as in this state hence, academies
are of more importance there than here. There was
need enough surely, for several academies in the
state, but he would be very well satisfied if this one
at Waterville could be endowed. He regarded this
question of academies the most important that
the whole community. StiIl something besides en-
dowments are needed; men are needed to care for
them-such men as pr. Ives of Suffield whose SER
vices have been invaluable to the academy under
his care.
Prof. Chase of Brown said he did not believe in
taking SO diseouraging view of public schools as
had been done in some of the remarks; he did not
believe they had declined in the matter Of turning
out scholars in the last forty years In the matter
of the grade OF scholarship, ne considered that the
college should make higher standard and abide
by it-shculd lift up academies as well as be raised
up by them. Too much attention seemed to be
given to the number of names in the college cata-
tanned. He had rather have the credit of educating
ten men thoroughly, that they should go out
upon the world able and prepared to distinguish
themselves, than to simply graduate hundred.
On motion of Rev. DIR. Cutting the paper on aoad-
emies was referred to the committee on academies.
Prof, Hamlin's paper, 'Frhe proper attitude of
our Christian teachers with respect to science"
was mastery production, to which no brief state
ments do any justice. he pointed out the extent to
winch prevailing theories in chemistry and geology
are being shaken by recent discoveries, lie dis
cussed the questions Of the antiquity of man. and
the development theory in the light Of the most ad-
vanced science, showing that revealed religion has
nothing to fear from these theories. He urged up
on Christian teachers confidence, both in the
Scriptures and the harmony of true science with
them.
Prof. Chase of Brown university came forward in
response to general call, and spoke upon the
ognzed importance of scientific knowledge In
winch facts must be used, and not mere theories.
Facts he said, are of Cod theories are the jnyen-
hon of man, and may prove correct or wholly rot
ten as they do in nine out of ten. He was lis
tened to with close attention and great interest.
pleasure 1t had given him to listen to the paper read
6y Prof Hamlin, and also the remarks OF Prof
Chase. He thought no men should be holder
in searching after the facts and great principles of
science than ministers Of tine gospel,
Rev. DIR. Caswell of Brown university was glad
to feel that the light was dawning upon us that
should relieve all fears of science and the antago-
nism growing out of ignorance He thought that
men who could believe some of these scientific re.
suits, without thorough knowledge of the manner
in which they were arrived at, would have small
reason for doubling the truth of divine revelation
EVENING SESSION.
After prayer by Rev. DIR. Anderson of Newton
theological seminary, Rev. alexis Caswell, d. H.,
president of Brown university, delivered an essay
on "The requirements of educational institutions
for the Baptists of New England and the duties of
the denomination to such institutions" He dis
cussed the question of what was required to meet
the demands OF moral and religious culture among
us, New demands had arisen which must be re-
spOnded to by the adequate means, He replied to
the statement that this education should be dissem-
mated without reference to ecclesiastical relations
by saying that each denomination had its own
epeClhl WITH W wv tdEH lusilluIiun LlSub
tend to every other, Of whatever religious faith cor
dial sympathy and cooperation, while preserving
its own denominational individuality. But the
standard of study for those contemplating entrance
upon the ministry must be elevated, to correspond
with the advanced stage of scientific Investigation
so as to afford Ethe defenders of religion the
ability to cope with the advocates of the
speculative theories, claiming reason and science
for their basis, now rife in the land. He spoke,
first, of what kind of education we wanted The
public schools taught every child the rudiments of
knowledge, the elementary principles of religion,
and morality, But to keep the community from
drifting on the one hand to the extreme of radical
ism and unbelef on religious matters, to the ex.
treme ofspperstitiop (RomanIsm &c,l on the other,
UNCONVENTIONAL institutions should be organized
and literally endowed, to keep alive and make
potent the faith oEce delivered to the saints.
Esl ecialy was this necessary in the imminent dam
ger Of the removal of the Bible as text book from
our public schools. The highest order of talent
should be secured for professors in our academies
colleges and theological seminaries, The chief de-
maud was for the more liberal endowment Of our
aoademical institutions for this educational work
The academies, besides being the feeders of the col
leges sent forth into the world the mass of those
qualified by high business education to become en-
gineers and fill other responsible positions In prac.
ticall life, The range of studies in the colleges had
been greatly enlarged within the last forty years.
owing to the progress of science and knowledge SO
That IN Orslar 10 a.,