The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-18


door Of the college) at price much below
our rates for tuition. The college is held
for the pound OF flesh TO be cut nearest It's
heart and by those who are OF our own
communion.
A judicious system of scholarship can be
established. the funds OF which should be
used for the purpose indicated and Tor no
other.
IL It not also time to begin to think se-
riously OF the endowment OF professor
ships in the college? Generous Christian
men in some sections have already done
noble work in this direction. and there is
still ample room for more OF such work.
Twenty-Five thousand dollars safely in
vested, and with conditions securing the
proceeds to a given professorship, would
be so much help to give the college char
acter and permanence. There are men in
our Church of large wealth who might set
an example Of such liberalty, and the di-
vine blessing would surely follow their
gifts, for God loveth cheerful giver, and
promises fatness to the liberal soul. And
In addition to such special donations may
we not hope that the free-will offerings OF
all the people In near centennial year viii
place our colleges above all financial trou-
Bile for the future, and give them stabil-
i!y heretofore unknown?
The college needs and should receive the
generous patronage OF all our people. But
IL Is a sad fact that so few among us really
think Of the need OF higher education for
their children. Most OF them, II they feel
moved to go beyond the common schools,
seek for those institutions that offer cheap
education, which is generally like cheap
clothing, made OF shoddy that soon trays
out. Others are caught by higb-sounding
advertisements, and send their children OF
both sexes to institutions In which
they are educated out OF all SYM
pathies with the Church OF their plain
old fathers and mothers, and are soon
lost to Methodism. OF all Churches
the Methodist is most unwisely liberal OF
such gifts to sister Churches. This is
growing evil among them that should be
arrested. But how can it be arrested? /
answer by the ministers Of our Church,
both by precept and example. II those, who
by character. talents, and position are lead
ers, fail to bestow favor on our colleges in
the form OF kindly words and patronage.
can the people whom they lead be expect
ed to go beyond the example 2
Can. any one who reflects at all doubt
that 400 travelling preachers, eXerting
powerful influence over 10000 Methodist
people, can keep Randolph-Macon amply
supplied with students, or that the whole
body OF preachers in our Church, with
nearly 100000 members, can keep every
Methodist college full to oyertlowing?
There is general error to which Iwould
direct attention. refer to that tendency
among all classes TO send the boys TO mere
business schools, where they are rushed
through few months course in penman-
ship and business arithmetic, and are then
at once thrust into commercial life. There
can be in such cases no general develop
ment OF mind, no careful training OF the
higher faculties, and consequently the vie
Tins OF such vicious course Of so-called
education are fitted only for the tread-mill
round OF The merchants desk.
The true theory Of education is to give
boy all he will take OF mental culture, no
matter what may be his life business. Give
HIM large resources OF knowledge and he
will be benefited for other duties and for
other pleasures besides those OF his narrow
business path.
In no country is general culture so much
needed as in this, where the roads to high
offices are open to all. And no investment
can be made for young American citizen
even remotely approaching in value pres
ent and prospective general and thorough
Christian education. But great numbers
OF our people who are able to educate
their children do not see this, and until
they do they will not patrOniZe schools OF
high grade. They can be made to see this
by the earnest efforts OF the preachers in
sermons. addresses, tireside conversations,
and by The circulation among them OF lite
erature bearing directly on this point.
And now let me urge upon the Church
the importance-nay, the absolute neces-
sity-of advancing our educational work.
Not to advance is to give up the field,
which other churches will at once move to
occupy, and which they ought to occupy
Il we will not. The whole history OF Ran
dolph- Macon should stimulate us to still
greater efforts on its behalf. As TO the
present condition Of the college, | think we
should feel encouraged to 90 forward.
The old debt has been largely reduced, and
what we still owe has been funded in a
loan at 6 per cent, while we have as the
nucleus an endowment OF some $4,000,
Welding per cent, thus giving balance
OF several hundred dollars in our favor.
regret to say that many OF the pledges
OF help in paying OIL the old debt have not
been redeemed, and it seems impossible by
any form OF appeal to obtain what is still
due.
II to these subscriptions paid we could
add few thousand more the entire debt
could be cancelled. As a Church we are
fully able to do this and whatever else Is
needed TO give the college full scope and
power for its work.
/ do hope that we shall at this session
inaugurate movement which shall result
i'm the amplest endowment OF the college,
and the first step in this movement should
be a subscription before this Conference
closes in aid OF the improvements in
grounds and buildings, which have been
going on for several months. This work
cannot be deferred. and we hope the Con-
ference and the many members and friends
OF the Church will say we will give the
needed help.
Respectfully submitted.
W. W. Bennett, President.
Appointments for To-Day.
METHODIST CHURCHES.
Broad-Street-11 A. NJ, Bishop III. III.
Eoyonauob. T.20 ID NJ Dir Il & Kelley