The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-07
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Asbury University and the DePauw bona



Asbury University and the DePauw Dona-
ton.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal
The writer of late criticism on the De
PAW donation to Asbury University Is no
doubt IAN esteemed and thoroughly honor
able gentleman" and he may have taken
much stock, heretofore, in the enterprise of
building a first-class university under the
control of the Methodists of Indiana; but he
does not reflect the sentiments of any con-
siderable number of the original or later
| contributors nor of many of the alumni Of
that institution. Very few if any, of the
men who gave literally, forty or fifty years
ago, or even much later, had any sentiment
il their donation beyond the purpose of
building frst-class university that should
be distinctively denominational, yet abso-
lutely non-sectarian, whose doors should be
open alike to every faith. The name of AS
bury was given to it arbitrarily, and only
in Difference to custom of that
age which has long since disappeared
in Methodism. In Indianapolis alone it
gave us Wesley Chapel, Roberts Chapel,
Strange Chapel ana an Asbury Chapel all
of which have long since disappeared, though
organization been lost nor mas anyone ever
thought of impugnng the motives of those
who, for reasons that were satisfactory to
themselves, suggested the changes. The
work of the fathers not to build a mon
ument to Asbury, but 70 build a university.
What if their conceptions of the wants of
the future were wholly inadequate? Fifty
years ago the State of Indiana built State
house which was TO answer for all time, but
long ago it was torn down to make room for
larger structure, which, in its turn, must
be enlarged and supplemented by the gener-
atoms to follow.
1t is not strange that the trustees of AS
bury University struggling with the prob
lem before them. and feeling the
utter insufficiency of every material
provision, hearing of Mr.. DePauws
praiseworthy purpose to give million dol
lars to some institution somewhere which
might bear his name, and remembering the
love he had shown Asburv by many NUM-
ficent gift, should at once say. Here. take
this unfinished enterprise, with its history
and its prestige to date, and let us join our
funds and our experience with your money,
and let us build university that shall be
up with the times on Indiana soil" How
utterly insignificant the mere accident of a
name, accidentally appropriated fifty years
ago, is, when compared with the substantial
fact of buildings and grounds and funds, and
consequently with teachers and students
worthy the increasing demand upon the
university!
AS the matter stands. the appeal for money
enough to secure this million to Indiana
should interest every citizen of the
State Though the control is to be i'll the
hands OF the Methodist Church il is to be for
the people of Indiana. And though million
is now to be added it will only he to be fol-
lowed by other millions within the lifetime
OF many now living. 1t is not merely ques-
ton whether the Methodsts of Indiana will
permit this million to go into another State,
but whether the people of Indiana will see
it depart. The American colleges and uni
versities of to-day are but the ruclei of the
future colleges and universities of this coun-
try. This appeal is to State pride no less than
to denominatlona enterprise and surely it
must not fail, least of all must it fail by
carpng about name. U. L. SEE.
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug g.