Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-06-26

endowment will be necessary: an,
the figure fixed in the mind OF III
projectors as indispensable tOtssuref
and permanent success, waa moth
ing short Of half a million of dolll.r
-one-fifth of which we already pcs
sess. The directors of the Univer
sity are not, however, visionary en-.
ough TO expect this large amount to
be realized at once by any single
munificent donation. They rec0g.
nize the law of growth as being
that under which institutions, no less
than men, are placed; and that, all
things considered, those institutions
are the healthiest which are built
INTO the affections and prayers OF
Gods people, through the toll and
sacrifice with which they are reared
IRON turret to foundation stone. -
More than one generation may pass
away before these grand eXpecta-
tions are fulfilled unless il should
please God to enlarge some princely
heart to become nursing father"
to 1t, as in the case of a sister Uni
versity at Nashville. What / de-
sire to suggest is a more immediate
method Of accomplishing partially
our end whilst we are waiting for
the endowment which is hereafter
to make the University great and
prosperous. Let IL receive at once
the patronage of the Presbyterian
church in this valley Of the south
west, from the border of Kentucky
to the waters Of the gulf, and it will
Instantly possess resources for ex-
panding into the proportions which
we desire. Surely, this Is not too
much to ask of the six synOds which
are united in the projection and
maintenance of this University.
We give them an institution which,
upon trial, proves itself eminently
worthy of their patronage; and
then, we say, if you cannot imme-
diately endOw it with wealth, at
least send your sons to its halls;
and we will undertake, through the
fees which accrue, TO bring IL nearer
and nearer-according to the meas
ure OF your support, to the ideal OF
a great University.
Can this pledge be redeemed in
figures which do not deceive? Let
us see. With seventy pdViR0 stu
dents (there being an unusual num-
ber at Clarksville to whom free tut
tion is extended, by terms of agree
ment which cannot be canceled),
the present faculty of six professors
can be supported at a salary OF ST.
500 each. With one hundred pay
ing students, we could increase the
teaching force by the addition of
one professor. With one hundred
and fifty paying students, we could
roll up the number of professors TO
nine. With two hundred and ten
such students, they would be I'M
creaseed to eleven. IL is easy TO
see how, at the same rate of COM
the faculty might be i'm
enforced, and the institu-
tion be indefinitely enlarged, by
simple increase of patronage indie
of the endowment, which
Is chiefly valuable as securing Il
from the fluctuations to which all
things human are exposed. With
but moderate increase of its pres
ant patronage, the wishes of those
would be soon realized who desire
the creation of theological depart
ment-which, with the interlacing
Of departments already established,
would afford ample facilities for the
of ministers so much need
ed in our southwestern valley, and
who are lost to us when sent to the
schools Of the east.
This suggestion Is therefore sub
nitted to the consideration OF our
Presbyterian people i'm the south
west. What is wanted throughout
his great valley Is hearty co-opera-
ion In works of Christian enterprise.
We can accomplish everything up-
)n which we concentrate affection
md effort. Unless Presbyterians IA
he southwest intend 70 remit the
higher education to the other de-
nominations, who are before them
n the field, let them rally round
his University and make il the Joy
Ind pride of their hearts. "If the
ky should fall, ]" says an old prov
srb, ''then we should catch larks ~
)ut what If the sky should not fall?
We may catch larks still. Without
for large gifts to fall into
,ur lap from the hands Of million
Iires, let us, by the mere aggrcgn-
ion Of tuition fees, begin the de-
ired expansion of our Universally
md the rich endowment will como
n due time to secure the result aid
make ii permanent forever.
B. M. PALMER.