, 1881-01-09
DENOMINATIONAL ENDOW-
49, MENTS.
4 FLEA FoR THEM By THE REV. T. J. NOR
GAN.

4 FLEA FOE THEM BIZ THE REV. T. J. NOR
: GAN. 49,
To The Editor Of The Chicago TFIbu,ss-
MORGAN PARK, ILL.,, Jan. 6.--I have been
for many years a constant reader Of HE
TRIBUNE, have great admiration for its abilt-
ty. keen appreciation Of its vast influence
in noldmg public opinion, and find much
more satisfaction in agreeing with the views
presented in its columns than in differing
from them. may therefore, perhaps, beg
leave to supplement your brief article in the
issue for Tuesday, Jan 1, on princely dona-
hons to educational and religious 1nstttu-
tons.
The subject Is one Of far-reachtng import,
involves millions Of dollars. concerns espe-
cially every Christian in the land, and Is con-
seauently worthy Of more than passing
notice. :...
Understand you to intend to discourage
large gifts to educational institutions under
denominationa1 control. / wish to offer some
reasons why we think that large gifts for
such purposes should be encouraged, and
why we deprecate any discouragemens from
SO influential q source as THE TRIBUNE. /
speak not for myself or for the denom1na-
ton that I represent, but for the Christian
public. The policy Of all denominations in
One Of the most distinctive traits in the
history OF Protestanfsnl is the zeal with
which it has ever founded and fostefed
Christian schools.
thon, ZwfngIi. Calvin, Knox, Cranmer, and
others-were uniyersity-bred men, They
lent the weight Of their authority. to the es-
Enlistment and maintenance OF Christian
schools. Professionalism has everywhere and
aiways been the friend and promoter OF cult
ure. Professionalism and learning are well
nigh synonymous. In America especially
the church and the scho0l-house have been
inseparabe Whis eart!y 3 hyo5G 59'nE w' of
the public veal in maintaining system or
public schools for all, Christians OF every de-
nomination in this country have songht TO
establish and sustain on ailoeral nas1s lnSlltn-
tions OF higher learning distinet1yely Chris
tIan, The very existence of Professionalism,
llumanly speaking, is dependent upon Prot
estant schools. .,.,.
These academies, colleges, ;cf universities, ahss
is solicited are exponents Of Christianity, OF
Professionalism. They are the fruits OF frUtr
estantisnn they are its support Il thelr
endowment Is dangerous to the pubnc wei
of Of note | tllat ali Of our great institutions Of
learning in this country, such as', aS HarVata,
Yale. Brown, Princeton, Union. " llliams, and
Amherst were founded as Christian scnools
by private bene1lcence, and nave neeh ett>
GUNGN W jRSL StkG!2 E5A4%1 @' :-..Fnf
and discouraged in your arncle; 1tls sale
to say that without such gifts IN tne pasI our
educational history as Nation afid our Pses-
ent educational status would rave Qeen
wholly different. Under this policy Wnlcn
has been steadily prosecuted tor more than
two aud half centuries, the Eastern STATES
have become supplied with large hnmpef
of strong colleges, universities, ana m1ev
logical seminarits, with ample erounus'
buildings, libraries, apparatus, ana eilaYms g ~
ments. They are ably manned, arg 1nit y.
powerfully to the public good BY the nun, etu,s
ber Of WeiltraiIed men who go out IRON
them. The policy, which has supple supplied an9 tng
older Eastern States with such 6cnools. anu
has planted Christian schools every Hngto tae
through the South for the benefit q Ihe
freedmen, is just beginning to supply u;e
great West with similar schools. Ineze - y
not wcll-eQuipped Christian school West VI
the A,leghenies- There are toundauons
laid, and multitudes Of Struggling insl.tu
t1ons, Here at Chicago, Evanston, Mo1gan
Park. and Lake Forest are acadeMies, "
leges, universities, and theologlcal sent
na1its under control of Baptists, Gong5eega- geaa
nonalists, Presbyterians and 4elnQ2oasAs.
around which gather the hopes or 1Cs.1e H. 1ncus'
siderable partof the readers OF LIE - thn
The same methods that have bulit W slinna55 an15
INSTITUTIONS elsewhere will II unh1noeIsu
soon make these the equals OF any ~ aa9 u,G
land. Certainly nothing short OF crave i41 aHa
imminent peril to the public good eau JnstltEs
anr disconraeement Of thfs 3f''4A 1'