Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-12-29
TO THE PREsBYTERIANs OF KAN
SAS CITY AND OF WESTERN
MISSOURI.

~
MISSOURI.
BRErHRsN:-Thc trustees of the Elizabeth
| Aull Female Seminary, located at Lexington,
i Mo-, desire 10 cal! your AFTER lion to the follow
ing facts:
There are now in Missouri, and have been for
many years, three schools for the higher educa-
| ton of girls, under the management Of the Pres
byterian church: Underwood ct St. Charles the
Synodlcal Female College at Fulton. and the
seminary at this place. Beside these there are
at least nine others in the slate managed by
Presbyterlans, where girls can he boarded and
educated.
i These schools, especially those three first
named, ere Of the highest order Of excellence
known in the west, with good buildings and
grounds. large ami COMPETENT faculties, and Of
wide spread popularity.
The f. Aull Seminary was bequeathed and
decided to the Presbyterian church OF lexington;
it is managed by trustees chosen by the congre-
CATION Its property cannot be alienated or d.
verted from the use of u Presbyterian Female
Seminary at Lexington; 1t has been IN continu-
GUS and successful operation since 1850; 1t has
commanded patronage from all sections Of Mis-
Souri,, from every contiguous and from several
distant states, the past year it enrolled l52
students, IS Of whom were from without Lex
inxton, representing Ii counties of Missouri. the
states OF Kansas. Nebraska. Iowa, Illinois and
Virginia, and the Indian Territory; its standard
Of scholarship is SO high that, with an average
annual attendance of over one hunLred it has
graduated an everage OF only one pupil q year !;
employs u faculty OF twelve teachers: it teaches
not only the Bible as a daily text book, but the
Westminster Shorter Catechism as we'll; and Its
| locnlinn ia ranlrHl in Wpsfprn Missouri and has
proven 40 healthy that only one boarding pupil
has ever died within its walls, and she suddenly
of heart disease.
About twelve years ago IN effort was made to
establish another Presbyterian school at our
neigLboring townorI independence. Grounds weke
bought. a building erected. and the most d,.tin-
gulshed Presbyterian teacher IN Missouri.
the Rev. NJ. NJ. Fisher, d. d., LII. ID , was
called to its presidency. The school has not
prospered and has been compelled to suspend.
Under these circumstance is 1t wise to at
tempt 10 resuscitate this Independence school ?
Do We need another Presby terrain school for
girls In the neighborhood of Kansas City I 1t
WAS thought by those attending the late confer
ence held ut the Coates House in Kansas City,
that a real college. definitely above anything
now found in the Mississippi valley, WAS an ed
ucational need. We think this doubtful, from
| TIC 1dCl Iu6t tl0 Whole InlteV StUteS Is 4Dle 10
support only three auch cyl!eges, and from the
further fac: that we cannot fad moe III al one
pupil q car who is abe 10 master the course
prescribed in cur seminary. But grant that
such an Institution is needed, can i: be secured
without An adequate endowment? A real COL
iege requires large funds to main,a;n 1t. MS seen
at Vasssr, WELLESLEY III d Smiia. l. i. IN n ex-
pedicnt 70 revive the Suspended scln ii 81 indie
| uenienCc- with M nrIvisiOn ior Nm pndnWrnpnt
which will ralse it above the other Presbyterian
semin aries OF the state. already established and
in successful operation?
A proposition was submitted to the late con-
ference above referred to. that the Independence
school should not be revived until $40, 600 were
raised in addition to the buildings already erect
ed. This is certainly the minimum for Q begin
ming to Is real college. II this had been adopted
and realized. the enterprise would have had our
approval and cooperation. The proposition
was rejected BY the Independence brethren,
who declared themselves satisfied II only $780,
900 should be raised; although it was stated that
such II sum would not lift the school above the
other Presbyterian institutions Of the state.
1t is manIfe>t. therefore, that II the Independ-
ence school is raised from its present condition,
1t will be simply as q rival to the other PresbJ =
terrain schools of missouri. Do you wish to aid
in this? Events have shown that the school was
not needed, because 1t could not be sustained.
II 1t is now successful, it will probably be at the
expense Of the other schools. Do you wish to
aid it In its hitherto unsuccessful competition ?
If go. then. cfc curse You will do 80.
But again we ask. is this iraternal? The In
dependence choo! was started when ours-only
80 miles distant-had been in efficient operation
for ten years; and it has failed while ours has
prospered Is it brotherly for it to ask you to
aid it in it's unsuccessful rivalry Two Presby-
terrain schools for girls and OF the salpe grade,
cannot be maintained in the neighborhood of
Kansas City. One or the other. or both must
fail. We now 1--we. hold the ground, are pros
porous. Moreover, our school must be contin-
ued. We have no alternative. 1t cam 1T be
diverted or abandoned. Is it f~rate1nal then for
an effort to be insugurated which will preju-
dice our enterprise. and. it may be, put it into the
Condition in which the independence school is
nowf
Ours is a southern church in a southern COM
munlty, but our pastor, the president of our
school, we trustees. and our people are In favor
OF the fullest fraternity, even to the eccleslasti-
cal union Of the Presbytsrians of Missouri, on
terms mutually satisfactory and honorable. We
invite You 10 q participation In the benefits Of
our school. and, if you desire it, to u share IN its
MANAGEMENT. Although not yet authorized by
the congregation to make q formal Offer. there
will be. in our opinion. no real difficulty, legal
or other. in the way of transferring the E. A.
Seminary to the joint control Of the PresbYte-
rians Tor the Presbyteries) north and south, in
this part OF the state, upon terms agreeable to
all parties.
Furthermore. we believe that, with a few
needed changes. land by using the pres
ent institution as q preparatory department, q
real, ftst-class college could be established
here. in a shorter time. at less expense, and
with better prospects Of permanent success and
steady growth. than In any other locality men,
toned.
Convinced as We are that only one Presbyte-
rlan Female school is needed, or can be main
tanned with credit. IN this section, and that this
proposed enterprise at independence, in its
present shape. Wall result only in raising up a
rival to US. not superior, We ask you, IN the
name of expediency and of our common Pres
byterianlsm. to unite with US in making the
Elizabeth Aull Female Seminary the Presbyte-
rian college for girls IN western Missouri.
In conclusion, We do not wish to be consider
ed as hostile to the independence enterprise,
though the present schems, if successful, will
certainly prove hurtful to our own seminary.
We only desire that all the facts shall be known,
and shall have their due weight, so that those
interested, and especially those asked to con-
tribute. may act inteiilgently and wisely and for
the best Interests OF the great cause of 1.-THE
higher education OF our daughters" II only
these interests he secured and promoted whether
We be losers or gamers thereby, We shall be
quite content.
By order vi tho Bouri.
S. G. WENTWORTH, President.
p. II. CHAMBERS, Secretary,
LAFAYETTE COUNTY THOROUGH.
BRED ASSOCIATION.