Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-06-11

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est in the classical authors of Greece
and Rome, whether treated phiIo-
sophically or from literary point
of view.
The mathematical department
is so conducted by Prof. Massey as
to form a firm basis, not only for
the exact treatment of the physical
sciences, but for the training of the
youthful mind in that purest form
of logical analysis, which is only to
be found in the mathematical forms
of induction.
The natural sciences, including
physics, chemistry, geology, etc.,
are demonstrated by Prof. Caldwell,
unsurpassed as practical and theo-
retical scientist. In these onerOus
duties, ne is aided by the extensive
cabinet, museum and library, OF
which the unique collection of Prof.
VIM. M. Stewart formed the
nucleus. In addition to these duties,
Prof. G. undertakes the commercial
school, with the aid of Prof. Massie,
in which arithmetical calculation is
applied to the transactions of the
counting room, insurance Office,
etc.
Prof. Coffman, who is an accom-
plished linguist, takes the depart
ment of modern languages, in adj
dltion to which, he undertakes GER
tain preparatory and intermediate
studies, in which those scholars are
grounded who are not sufficiently
advanced on their arrival to enter
the collegiate classes.
The revered chancellor, DIR. J. N.
Waddell, respected IS their precept-
or by more than one generation OF
scholars, statesmen and divines,
has also his departments in moral
and ethical philosophy, and politi-
cal economy, but his influence is
felt throughout all the departments,
both morally and intellectually. 1t
is an influence which can only be
exercised by one of elevated intel
Iect, whose moral nature is at once
pure and manly. 1t is an influence
based upon the profound acceptance
of Christianity as the foundation of
all that is honorable, pure and ear
nest in the human character. The
happy effects of this imperceptible,
though irresistible, influence are
evident in the greatly improved
bearing of the students; manifest to
all who come in contact with them.
They have not the air of the aver
age student, who looks upon his
college career as an opportunity fol
fun and frolic, but that of young
men engaged in business, the mo-
mentous business, that is, of laying
firm foundation for the develop
ment of sound moral and intel
lectual character.
1t has not been without purpose
that we have thus dwelt, however
imperfectly, upon the educational
system of the S. w. Presbyterian
University, and now for that pur.
pose:
The patronage of the University
has not been such as its educational
advantages entitle it to expect. Its
numbers are steadily, but very
slowly, increasing. A result SO IN
expected leads one to look IOI
causes adequate to account for it;
we propose to consider one which
we believe to have been operative,
and, if possible, to neutralize it, by
showing that it originated in an er.
roneous impression. The impress
sion certainly exists, or has existed,
that this institution is handled by
those who control it solely for the
advancement of the Presbyterian
Church, and especially with view
to the training of Presbyterian
preachers, and it is asked, by those
who entertain this view, why mem
bers of other denominations should
be expected to contribute to SC
purely sectarian purpose. Know
ing that such ideas have been both
entertained and expressed in this
community, we do not consider il
/ expedient to throw veil over the
subject and cover it from the public
view, but rather by bringing it out
into the broad daylight, and dem
onstrating its baselessness by a scru'
tiny openly conducted, to dispel al
once an erroneous and injurious i'm.
preston.
The brief conspectus we have
given of the course and method Of
studies is itself an answer to this
hypothesis, a proof that, if the in.
stitution has ever been conducted
on such a narrow basis, it is certain.
~ not so now. But we are disposed
to go further, and to demonstrate
that the cramped sectarianism thus
attributed to the University not on
ly is not in existence, but is an i'm
possibility. The theological stu
dents receive their education gra tu-
itously; this department, therefore,
of the University, can never be self
supporting, and the faculty has to
rely upon the general patronage OF
the public for the means of carry
ing ON their enterprise, and it is
with the purpose of doing justice to
the general patronage they need,
that vast recent Improvements in
the curriculum have been made,
and we defy the production of a
broader system of teaching in any
institution of the sort North or
South. 1t is true that some of the
professors are Presbyterian minis