Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-09-19

part OF us, Will Overpower us with bar
barism, unless we multiply christian
colleges. There is need for them all,
room for all. As we'll think of supply.
ing information to the whole country
with one newspaper, or as efficiently de.
fend the Pacific coast with one we'll
equipped fort on the Atlantic, as to think
OF doing the higher educational work of
this land with one or two or twenty col.
leRes. Their numbers are to multiply
and still increase.
1t is of the highest Importance then,
since they are to be, to find how best to
establish, and how to conduct them. To
answer the last question first. Willie
the range OF study has enlarged, and is
all the time widening, the principles of
study, the laws of mind BY which an
education is gained remain from the
nature of things unchanged. Therefore
1t ls surprising TO hear men OF education
discuss the methods Of getting it, on the
narrow basis of the utility OF this or
that study. No matter il every study in
college curriculum should fail in this
respect, of being practical, still the value
OF the course would remain. Knowl.
edge is not education. A man may
know all mysteries and all knowledge
and yet be only a tinkling cymbal.
Facts may fill but never develop man.
1t is the manner of getting and Of using
knowledge that makes man. When
Edward Everett graduated from
Harvard he had less required
knowledge of Latin and Greek and
mathematics than would admit him to
the Freshman class of the same college
to.day-unless they have decided to
make everything elective, and nothing
compulsory even for Freshmen. But
no one would have the ha1dlhood to
aver that his education was on par
with that of the present average Fresh.
man. It is ever quality and not quantity
that rules the world and pushes it
further and higher SO that the old Per.
sian standard of an educated man de.
manding that he should know how to
ride, to shoot and to speak the truth
might produce better results than come
modern systems.
The old saints prayer. II ask not Lord
to serve thee much, but please thee per-
fectl y" might ty small change of terms
apply to systems of education. What
ever will help man to find and use him.
self is an education. Long experience
cannot safely be discarded at the de-
mand OF upstart utility, and those plans
OF study that haye helped generations of
the past to find and use their powers.
will do the same for generations now.
The world may find q better basis for
developing growing minds, than study
of language, which is the means and the
proof of growth. And when modern
languages have in some sense ceased to
be modern and becomes fixed, then they
may be better for this purpose than the
Latin and Greek. But no method has
been found that is better, and no
amount of study of any modern tongue
can begin to have the educating value
given by study OF the classics. This IA
not to say that they are to displace the
tongues of to-day. They are to furnish
basis on which to build and when We
know how to build, then add the super.
structure as good sense shall dictate
Least of all, can western colleges af.
ford to lower the standard and let the
clamor for something practical make
them reject the ancient standards. Not
for the sake OF being as good as eastern
| colleges, least of all to tamely copy
them. but for the sake of sterling hon.
esty, to build up genuine character. to
stand in the breach against the trading,
mercantile spirit to develop a race Of
men that are willing to work, and wait
and having done all, to stand, must We
have an ideal that is hard, not easy tc
reach. Everything is raw and crude
Our towns run wild. It was not mayk
ish sentiment that made Matthew Arm
old say that America dreadfully needed
some old ruins. He felt that oul
intense life in the present needed
to be balanced by looking into the past
If he saw that of the east what words
could he have found to tell the wants oi
the west. We have no ruins and can have
none either east or west, but We can lis.
ten to the past, and hear the ancientf
tell how they won their way, and thus
listening We can get their calm spirit
as antidote to our tumultuous haste
that is fast driving US into frivoIlty 4
not insanity. We of the west are quick
to learn. Why not take note of the
elder world and gain the poise and dig
nifty which is the sign of having attained
Then let the course of study thus firm
ly based be permeated and inspired will
the fervent christian spirit and we have
an ideal education as the result.
All the knowledge, all the develop
ment of power, all the enlarging of sci
is that We may have the more to brinf
into Christs service. He is the one
moving the world along so fast. It il
he who is building these new states, WHIT
is pushing the empire of civilization t,
the westward. He is behind the rail
way and the telegraph. He gives steam
Its life, and electricity its swiftness. fo
all of these. are his messengers to do hi
bidding.
i When he comes to take the earth TO
his, he means that it shal! be developed
in beauty and in strength, and by thes
agents he is hasting on his day. ia
the men who stand in this bright light
and handle these agencies be taught 4
see Christ and have his voice in their al
and it will not be long before Christ vii
be crowned king of US all.
| The motto of the college, whic
quivers with every stroke OF our bell
has already been our anchor in days o
perplexity. It will be our growing glad
ness, inspiring all our life to come {
ever sing as we go about our daily worl
Christ for the World"
And now, how are these christian CO.
leges to be established.
II Always by the churches; this will b
J, granted without argument. How ar
the churches to do it is q question no
80 easily answered.
It all the churches could see thi
, golden time of power which Christ i
bringing within their reach there woul
be no delay, colleges aud acad
emies would spring. up alonI
our frontiers, keeping pace with th
rush Of immigration. and give no tim
4 for evil to plant its citadels. The mex
9 | ten veara can be made daciaiva for nm