Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-12
HOUSE OF HOPE.

Union Meeting Addresses by Rev. Mr..
Rice.
The House of Hope was crowded last even
ing with large audience, brought together by
the announcement that union meeting of the
Presbyterian churches would be held in the
interests of Christian Education"
After the usual devotional exercises, the
pastor, Rev. DR.. Breed, an
noupced that the committee,
consisting of Rev. Daniel Rice, Rev. s. Conn
and Rev. r. f. Maclaren, appointed at the
last meeting of the Presbyterian synod, in re-
gard to establishing an educational
institution, were present and would address
the audience.
In few Introductory remarks
he alluded to the great need of a Presbyterian
educational institution where not only the
Presby terians of Minnesota and Dakota, but
the people in general, could have their children
educated.
Rev. Daniel Rice was then INTRODUCED and
commenced his remarks by calling attention to
the great question of Christian education. He
gave detailed account of the founding of the
universities at Oxford and Cambridge and the
establishment of the parish schools in Scot
land by John Knox, in 1861 These schools
were better to-day than any Of the public in
situations in existence, owing to the higher
moral tone surrounding them. Great Britain
owes her advancement in a great measure to
the part she has taken in Christian education
and her present position shows the value of
establishing Christian colleges.
The Roman Catholic church has the strong
est ecclesiastical strength Of any church on the
earth, which is due to the fact that it pays
strict attention to the training of its people.
The Romish church is endeavoring to gain
and keep the control of the schools in this as
they have in other countries. The church is
struggling for the control of the schools in
Boston, st. Louis, Chicago and all the large
cities, knowing that If she can get the great
cities she will finally succeed in her endeavors.
The following statistics show that the Romish
church is getting to be power: In 17S5 the
church had no schools, monastaries or converts;
now there are 700 Colleges, 500 converts and
over 9, 600 parish schools, and with remark
able oversight it is now establishing schools for
the education of young ladies of Protestant
families The Romish church is wiser than
the Protestant church, for it understands the
value of education and the power controlled
by it.
The tide of infdelism which swept over the
country has reached its highest point, and is
| now rolling back because trained minds have
| shown the sandy foundation on which it Stood
and Christianity goes ON conquerlng and to
conquer. The educational institutions of the
country were reviewed and the fact pointed out
that Minnesota, which was destined in few
years to be the empire State, had no colleges to
speak of as compared with other States. The
college at Mortified founded by the
Congregationalists, and the Baptist
and Episcopal institutions in the
State were alluded to and the good work they
were doing dwelt upo7. The speaker closed by
| saying that although the Presbyterians had
wealth and enterprise equal to any other de-
nomination, and a record in the past of being
the foremost in the work of Christian educa-
ton, they had been for the past twenty
years talking about establishing a college in
this State, and yet up to the present time had
not taken the first step.
Rev. DR.. Conn and Rev. DR.. Msclaren fol-
lowed with few remarks on the same sub
iect, and the exercises closed with the bene-
diction by Rey. DR.. Breed.