The Russellville Democrat., 1883-08-02

Iiieve any such stuff as that" What
does this show? 1t shows that, not-
withstanding my room-mate had been
under the instruction Of the president
| in Moral Science, he had never learned
that the president is Calvinist.
i Your Fayetteville correspondent
would have the readers Of the DEMO
GRAF to understand that Gen. Hill
stands up before the class and delivers
lectures on Moral Science. This we
would understand from his "Universi-
ty Itcms.' This, however, is not the
case. Gen. Hill uses textbook, and
the class is questioned on the text. To
be sure, the text is made secondary to
his own views; yet he confines himself
strictly to subjects discussedIn the text.
Now, OF all the subjects treated of in
the text used at the University, not one
has any bearing whatever OH either
Calvinism or Armenianism. These sub
jects-C Calvinism and Armenianism-do
not belong to Moral Science.
Our friend attempts to get before the
reader the fact that the president of the
Arkansas Industrial University is a CAL
whist, and that he SHOULD BE an Arme-
nian. This shows bit OF perverted
human nature, good share Of which
we all possess. But, for the sake Of ar
gument, let us lock fairly and squarely
at the subject our friend brings before
US. Let us say that all church mem-
bers are either Calvinists or Armenians.
Non-church members are either or nei-
ther. 1t is fair to presume that the Ar
menian will teach his doctrine, as
would the Calvinist. Now, the presi-
dent and professors of the University
must be either church members or nom
church members. Next. ask our friend
whether he would prefer the president
be church member? He answers,
Yes. What next? If he be church
member, he is, as we have said, either
Calvinist or Armenian. Which has the
better right to the presidency, the Gals
whist or the Armenian? "Neither has
the better right" says our friend
Then, il one gets in, should the other
grumble? "No.v Why do you object
to the president now occupying the
chair? Silence reigns. Each denom-
ination claims representation on the
Board of Trustees, and each will claim
. representative in the Faculty." says
our friend. l am sorry that our friend
has SO sadly neglected the study Of his
tory. III he has ever read history, it is
y sad fact that he failed to observe the
facts which should most have impressed
him. He failed TO get the philosophy
with which history is so repletc. /
would suggest that he attend the Uni
versity aud take a course in history
under our accomplished professor, who
will teach him facts as we'll as philoso-
ply. He will learn that in the Dark
and Middle Ages and in the beginning
OF the modern era, the Church in Eu-
rope had supreme authority. 1t con-
trolled the affairs of state, both political
and civil. Shall we go back to that un-
civilized period for models after which
to pattern, Government by the Church
was failure in that day, it would be
farce in this. Government of civil In
sttutions by the Church is in the back
ground of civilization; it is thing Of
the past. An institution of this kind.
with which the Church is continually
tampering, cannot stand. Church and
State must remain separate in their
spheres, The Church and Government,
though existing together and mutually
strengthening each other, are yet dis
tinct organizations. So the public in
stitutions of education are separate and
distinct from the Church, and must
govern themselves. The Church has
no part in their government. The
Board of Trustees, the Board of Visit
ors, and the Faculty should be selected,
or appointed, as the case may be, with
out thought Of Church. They should
be elected, or appointed, with reference
to their qualifications. respectively, as
Trustee, President, Professor aud Visit
or, and not with reference to their reli-
gious views.
Our friend says: "That which most
seriously threatens the University is a
wrangle in the churches" Did such a
wrangle really exist, it would be time
for the pedagogue aud the friend OF ed
ucation to put on the badge Of moura-
ing; but it is comfort and consolation
to them to know that this "wrangle, !"
this being of imagination, was born in
the brain OF our Athenian freind, when
he was carried from the world of reali-
ty into the land OF dreams, where fancy
unlocks the gates of imagination-th
habitat of his imaginary being. Oh !.
for pair of those glasses through
which he scrutinIzed the workings OF
the University! They are made for
the foresighted; how, then, could we
expect the nearsighted to see clearly
through them! Try on another pair.
Respectfully,
Il. r. OATEs.
Russeilville, Ark, July 26, 1888.