The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-10-27
The Attitude OF the Methodist
Church Toward Ed acation I'm
West Virginia.

At the Annual Conference OF the
NJ. K. Church, which sat at Wheeling
on the 10 inst, steps we're taken to
raise funds for the purpose of build
ing and founding a distinctivcly
Methodist College in West Virginia.
We see no objection to the Meth
odist Church establishing denomi-
national institution iu the State, II
it has the means. We see no objec-
ton to that,or any other.church, build
ing as many educational institutions
as 1t or they can put to good use in
promoting the cause Of education.
We are in favor Of offering the widest
facilities to the young men Of the
State in this regard, and we believe
that the more institutions of learn
ing we have, the more liberal and
general will be the patronage which
all of them will receive.
But what need has the Methodist
Church for a Methodist College in
West Virginia.
What would 1t do with IL II it
had it?
The Methodist denomination in
West Virginia, although numerous,
is not rich. 1t has no surplus of
means. Its pastors are poorly paid.
Many Of its church buildings are
dilapidated and in debt. There are
but few members OF large wealth, and
none, that we know Of who are anx-
iohs to endow a college. 1t needs
better church buildings, better sala-
ries for its preachers, and better
equipment generally for its religious
work, more than it needs colleges.
The establishment of a college is
no mere breakfast spell. 1t will cost
money. 1t will cost a great deal of
money. 1t would be a heavy draft
upon the church. 1t would rob the
church Of resources that are very
much needed in more essential direc-
tions.
Moreover, the draft upon the church
would not cease with the building OF
college. 1t would just begin. A
college is not run without money.
If it took any standing as a college
it would require much money. 1t
would be necessary to support a
large corps of Professors whose quail
ifications would command first class
salaries. To prevent it becoming a
mere weakling and beggar on the
charities of the church, it would re-
quire contingent fund larger than
the cost of the buildings, to put it
on its feet.
The fact is that we do not antici-
pate that the Methodist Church in
West Virginia is going to build a
college very soon, but the proposition
itself, presents phase Of Mcthodism
in West Virginia about which we
have something to say.
Does it ever occur to our good
Methodist brethren of West Virginia
that as a denomination, they are
drifting into a little too much clan
nishness and exclusiyeness? Does
it ever occur to them that this clan
nishness and exclusiveness in mat
ters foreign to the proper work-the
religious work-of the Church is mar
rowing and curtailing its influence as
q religious denominations? Are they
not, for example, little too ready to
sing the doxology over mere parti-
san victory; TO present the cold
shoulder Of the church to any phase
Of political sentiment that trains
outside the prevailing party lines
inside the church; to magnify, in
deed, the UNCONVENTIONAL predilec-
tions in secular affairs above the
spiritual aims and ends of the church.
What is this proposition for a
Methodist College but an out-crop-
ping Of this growing tendency to ex-
Not that a Methodist
College would not be good thing in
West Virginia il it were needed, or
if it were demanded by the condi-
tions of Methodism or the cause of
education in the State. It is all right
and proper that there should be a
firm maintenance Of and devotion to
the peculiar tenets and policy Of the
and that the membership of
any denomination should be found
shoulder to shoulder in promoting
the success and efficiency of the
church in its legitimate sphere, and
indeed, of promoting the individual