The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-17
!. 9Y,a,,el 3, far IN, ~ Uniyersity.

A chapel for ihe Uniyersity.
Editors Dispatch: I have watched with
much interest the movement TO secure the
Mccormick telescope for the State Unlyer-
,itv. I hone it Will be- successful. But l
to see acbapel built at the
This is o necessity to the reli-
gious work of the institution.
The University has no chapel. The place
called chapel, and used for that purpose,
IL one OF the lecture-rocms fanking the ro-
tunda. 1t is unsuited to religious uses. it
is too small, not being able to seat pleasantly
more than ESQ persons. 1t Is partly Dase-
ment. It Ii situated between the two main
entrances to the lawn, and subject TO una
yoidable disturbance from the incessant
passing OF people. In winter it is too cold,
in summer too hot; and it Is impossible to
control its temperature. Its acoustic pro-
perties are bad for public speaking. These
disadvantages would ruin church; but
the chief disadvantage Of this "chapel" is
that 1t is not church. 1t has none OF
the associations OF q church to help de-
votion, and all the associations OF
lccture-room to hinder it. On extra occa-
sions the Public Hall is used. But the as
sociations OF this place are still more unfa-
vorable to worship. While living ut the
University felt-and think everybody
else felt-that one great hindrance to the
moral culture OF the institution was the
want Of place consecrated to divine Wor-
ship. suppose there can hardly be TWO
opinions about this.
The people OF Virginia ought to build a
chapel at the University at once. 1t should
cost not less than $4,000. Its appearance
and finish. without being extravagant,
should be attractive and in keeping with
its surroundings. It is perfectly practica.
Bile, even in these hard times. to do this.
The University is fountain OF trench
dous influence. The men who go out from
it 60 prepared to control the thought OF he
country. Its relation TO the social and in
telectual future Of the State is immediate
and vital. It's alumni are in almost every
institution, shaping the culture OF the land.
II they are bad men they can do immense
mischief. We ought to put Christianity on
q footing OF the best possible advantage
there. by the side OF the Brooke museum.
dedicated to science, we ought 10 build q
church dedicated to religion. In this way
we might vastly augment the moral and
spiritual force Of the institution, and di-
minish the dangers which attend student
life at the University. The University CT
Virginia is very friendly to Christianity.
The greatest scientific defender OF Chris
tianitv in this age, Dr.. Southall, is to dell
yer the address at the opening OF the Brooke
museum. Surely we ought to be prompt to
furnish the institution with all that is ne
cesSary to the success OF the gospel.
Every denomination ought TO cheerfully
cooperate in an enterprise Of this kind, and
I have Just that sort Of faith in the intelll-
gence and goodness OF our people which
leads me to believe they would do so. Here
and there, of course, people would De iound
unable to appreciate such noble WORK, put
they would be too few to defeat It. All our
denominations find a welcome at the Uni
versity, within whose precincts church dis
tinclions disappear. Each in their turn
supply its pulpit, and they ought to vie with
each other in trying to promote its pros
perity.
It may be said we have our own colleges
to provide for. True, and we ought not to
neglect them. But we al have common
interest in the University. We are all
equally concerned to see religion prosper
in its walls. We all feel the influence OF It's
life, and cannot help regarding it with IL
degree OF solicitude: Even our colleges
give their chairs to IFS men. and thus bring
them into q vital relation to our educational
systems. Denominational belief and prin-
ciples ought to be, and in every well-regu-
lated mind will be. immovabIy fixed; but
they rapidly develop into perniciouS bigotry
il they limit the range OF their beneVolence
to the confines Of 4 creed.
1t is very easy for us all, without divert
ing aid from our own institutions, to unite
and build church at the University dedi-
Gated only to the worship OF the God Of the
Bible. 1t would be perpetual monument
to the fact that beneath all creeds there is q
common ground OF truth, and amidst the
conflict of opinions harmony divine.
We cannot expect the alumni alone to do
this. They have undertaken to get the tel
escopc. Doubtless they would cordially re-
spond to any effort in this direction; for
they know personally how very desirable
a church at the University is. 1t is the
work properly of the Christian people OF
Virginia.
1t ought to start in Richmond. We are
the metroltan city OF the State, and ought
to lead in these good works. II we could
get $4,000 here, we might easily get the
rest in other places. Baltimore and New
York would probably aid us some.
1t is due the University for me to say that
T write this on my own motion. ! have not
been there recently, and may not correctly
represent Tue present. SeHllihelit ou thiS SUI
iect have felt a deep interest in this mat
ter for several years; and as the eyes OF our
people are now turning to the Uni.
versity to witness its final exercises,
thought it rot inappropriate to call atten-
ton to this particular need. There are diff
ticulties in the way, it is true; but they are
trifling. Ten men in Richmond or any
where else can sweep them away at once
bv oipintr ,1e 81 000 pech tn start thn work
hope the matter will receive attention at
the University. Let us put some plan on
foot and 90 about the business without de-
law. Very truly, s. a. STEEL.
Richmond, Va., June ID, 1878.