Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-03-20
EThe REPUBLICAN gives al
yortisers articulation equal 10 any
two Of the city papers.
The wesleyan Fem Ale College.

There still fingers desire amongst
the many friends of the Wesleyan Fe'
male College to retain that Famous
Methodist Institution and keep 1t open
despite the embarrassment under which
IL has labored, aud the fact that the
building has passed from the control OF
the trustees, to whom it was committed,
into other but not unfriendly hands.
A communication in another column,
from a friend of the college, succinctly
sets forth the difficulties under which
the institution has been struggling, and
from it, it seems that there never was a
time when the college was much nearer
clear of debt than when it was sold and
had it not been for the intercessions of
President Wilson, backed by William
Bright, it would have been sold long be-
fore. One of the principal things to
bring on the financial troubles was the
selling of scholarships too low and the
admission of the children of ministers
Mt reduced rates in consideration Of the
influence of the Wilmington Conference
being exerted in favor Of the college.
As our correspondent says, this filled
the school with scholars but was poor
assistance to the Treasury. 1t is not
creditable to the management of the
Wilmington Conference that this, the
only Female College in the country, be
longing ex lusively to the Methodist de-
nomination, should have been allowed
to run down and all but the charter
pass out of their hands Had its fnan-
cial affairs been entrusted to board of
Trustees composed of laymen, it might
have weathered the storm and have
still been retained an honored institu-
ton Of learning in the future as it has
been in the past. Minister'S are not the
best financiers in the world as general
thing, though there are some who excel
In that line. Their mission is to preach
the gospel and attend to the spirit
ual req uirements of the church. In the
case of the Wesleyan College it seems
that $500 year was deducted from the
usual charges in favor of ministers chill.
dren, for which these same ministers
were expected to use their influence in
aid of the College. This looks little
like financial dicker that did not car
ry with it favorable aspect for those
who were not ministers and who were
expected to pay for the tuition of their
own children aud at the same time to
make up the def cheney in the tuition
of ministers children.
But the college building has been
sold, and though still held by friend
and member of the Methodist Church,
it is no longer the property of the Con,
ference. It will be- gratifying news to
many to know the College will be OPP
ened again about the first of September
in charge of former President, Rev.
John Wilson, and with an entire new
corps of teachers. An amended char,
ter, it is said, will also be applied for
at the next session of the Delaware
Legislature, and if granted. which it
will be, no doubt, an effort will be made
to procure other buildings in a more
elevated and picturesque part of thecity.
There are certainly enough friends OF
superior education within the bounds
OF the Wilmington Conference who will
contribute money sufficient to erect new
college buildings and place the enter
prise upon a paying basis. The mis-
takes and errors Of the past can be
avoided and the Wesleyan Female Col.
lege will still live not only in name, but
in fact.