Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-09-08
HONORARY DISTINCTIONS.
To the Chronicle:

HONORARY DISTINCTIONS.
To the Chronicle:
1t seems to have been unfortunate
and in bad taste that / mentioned
this subject in the CHRONICLE at
the time and in the connection that
/ did. ut takes n rogue to catch
rogue" and 1 have been overtaken
in my neanness.
A great shower of these meaning
less distinctions had just falleE from
our American Colleges upon men
of note, and | was minded to drop
a word in favor of thorough train
ing In our schools as opposed to
mere sham work and electioneer-
ing devices. l had information at
hand when | wrote concerning only
the number of natriculates in the
four institutions that ! named, NAMED. az:
Of them chartered, Mr.. Spread Ea-
gle, the two smallest engaged in
this complimentary little business,
and the two largest ignoring their
facilities for such like. There is no
strife nor competition among these
institutions, but rs they were by
accident just then associated in my
mind In such striking contrast, L
would have checked ifI had kept
my mouth shut, albeit my son was
connected with one of the institu-
tions that was commended. This
gave my Lord Chesterfield the hys-
terics. TO men of common sense
l will say that writing to the
CHRONICLE is like writing to home
folks, we may say some things with
freedom that we would not say if
writing to strangers. Now if l have
given just cause of personal offense
to any one it is of course to be re-
GREETED.
But as touching this honorary lie
gree business, whether engaged in
by King SoloInon's "Alma Mater"
or any other institution, nothing
can be said in its favor, as it is done
up by most of the Colleges in Amer
lea which are engaged in it. The
whole performance is simply alb
surd, the parties handling the jugs
not being possessed themselves of
the qualifications which the degrees
represent, and bestowing honors
upon persons of whose merits they
know nothing except from hearsay.
Read the following from the pen of
old DIR. McAnally, one of the great
est men in America, himselfa ID.
d:
"a friend desires to know why 1t is that
SO many colleges are of late comforting the
| degree of Doctor of Divinity on so many
| preachers, and asks; Are the preachers
so much more learned now than heretofore
or what is the reason ?'
Perhaps that suggested, may be the reas-
on ; or possible it may be, that the colleges
l have become aware that the "divinity" or
| theology, of some of the preachers stand in
| great need OF being doctored, and thinking
| the preachers themselves had better doctor
| it-tnan have Others do so-they confer the
degree that the work may be done. Secun-
| dunn drteH.
times candidates for the doctorate were
| quired to appear at the university, and I'M
| dergo an examination, and case of this
| kind was reported. The candidate was
before the Board of Examiners who pro-
| ceeded thus;
| Q. Quid est ereare?
| A. tx nihIl fdcere.
| Q. Ergo te doctorem creamus.
| You see the point.
An Agricultural College in Ala
bama recently manufactured two
Doctors of DIGNITY! Now let the
Bi6Lic0 department of Vanderbilt
make Bill Wick, Doctor of Agricul-
awe. Take the whole chapter
through, and it is all about in this
lineof things. | have no apology
to make to any man who takes
personal offense at my expression of
opinion onthis subject and he is en-
gagged in "A very poor business who
is trying to stir up strife on account
of it.
Above all things else let there be
no sham nor huna6u9ge1y in connec-
lion with our institutions of learn
| ing and those that resort to such
things ought to he buried out of
sight quickly. What the country
needs most is honest unpretentious.
Training schools, ana not one-hOrse
Colleges. That McTyeire Institute
has ignored its charter privileges,
and fallen into line with such
schools is particularly crafty
ing TO me-. inasmuch as "bone OF
my bone and flesh of my flesh" is
connected with it, be ii good or bad
taste to say so.
Love to all the world and the bal
ance OF mankind-and j. NJ.
| Sharpe. A. II. GOODLOE.