New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-15
MILLIONS FOR EDUCATION.
JOHN d. ROCKEFELLER NEARLY READY TO
FOUND A NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER NEARLY READY TO
FOUND A NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE STANDARD OIL TRUST
COMPANY FAvoRs DIR. MACARTHURS PLAN
OF HAVING THE GREAT BAPTIST INSTI-
TUITION HERE-wILL PROFESSOR
HARPER DE IT'S PRESIDENT
For more than half century there has been
an earnest desire the part of the friends of
higher education TO have true university estab !
lished in this city. The University of the City
Of Ncw-York was founded to meet the demand
that was beginning to he felt sixty years ago.
II was Intended that the new institution should
have as students only those who had already
received n college degree but it was dis
covered that the idea Of the founders far
in advance Of the age, ard academic depart
mcnt added. At various times since then
the university idea has found able advocates.
The friends of Columbia have tried to secure
an endowment that would Justify that college
in adding postgraduate departments TO the sew
eral schools, and the friends of the University
have been no less active.
Just now however. there Is a movement on
foot which, if carried out on the lines proposed,
will eclipse all former plans and give 10 NewYork
an institution without "A rival in this country.
The scheme is nothing less than the
establishment of a national university in this
city. with an endowment n the outset of $20,-
100000. John D. Rockefeller. president of the
Standard oil Trust Company, and the Rev. DIR.
K. y. Macarthur. pastor of the Calvary Baptist
Church in this city. the two men most interested
,,I, Ittt from
a friend Of one of them it was learned yesterday
that DR. MacArhur's dream of great Baptist
University in this city seems about to be realized.
THE PLAN NOT WHOLLY A NEW ONE
Two years AGO Dr. Macarthur in an address
before the Manhattan Social Union urccd the
BAPTIST denomination to take the step which it
is said is now under considerations He pre-
,cn,ed the need of a BAPTIST University, It's re-
lation 10 the existing academies and coll
Icgc> Of the denomination. and its loca-
tion After tracing with considerable fulnc'S
Of detail the origin and growth of university
rducat!on Lc said that in the true under,t ,ndInS
Of the word there was not a university IN
America lie admitted that there were many
inst tutions Of learning which are rmarkable
only for pauclty Of llnowlcl-c and poverty oi
resources which bear the name of universities.
but ad icI thot many Of them are nothing more
| than frsf-caes academies, Neither Yale.
Harvard. Princeton nor Columbia Is a university
according TO his Standard Johns Hopkins Of
Baltimore comes nearer than any other instltu-
tion in America 10 rightful possession of this
great name.
The university which DR.. MacSr'hur desires
the Baptist denomination TO have in this city Is
| one into which no one shall be matrirulnted VINO
has not already been graduated from some
n nft.rfr p q a.
rcliriousy and patrioticolly that many young
Americans have been obliged to 20 IL Germany,
| Austria. France and other foreign countries. The
smaller colleges he believes would be- stimu atci
! bv the new institution young men would be
| induced ~ enter the academies and Dc graduated
from the colleges IN order TO matrculatc IN the
| university.
| wHIRE SHOULD THE UNIVERSITY BE-
Tn to this point Baptsis in all parts of The
| country applaud DR.. Macarthur. bnt his next
point that the national university should b" IN
Ncw-York-has not met with the same hearty APP
proyal Western men want II in Chicago, and
considerable number favor Washington. Inc
| needs Of the West and the advantages of the
National Capital are both admitted by the New
! York pastor but the needs Of the denomination,
the wclinre OF the students and the advantages oi
! New York more than outweigh. in hls mind. all
the arguments that are prcrenied IN iaVpr on tie
smaller cities. President Nelllng, oi th'
Columbian University Of washington, has been
! actiyclr al work In behalf of his institution and
! has enlisted tie powerful support of Or. George
| Dana lioardnan. OF Philadelphia.
| Mr Rockefeller. II is said, agrees with pr
| Macarthur that New-YOrk is the proper place for
. national university. While fhr detail J, are not
perfected II is said that the promoters nave
| agrccd that the man who should be their preSl
| dent Is Professor Harper of Yale, who mas at
ready been selected to guide the affairs Of the
| Chicago University. II Is proposed 10 nave ~"
ablcs professors in every department That can j."
| obtained in this country and ~ Europe. me
| rpc~t scholars in science and art ana IA" aplrst
| professor, In theology will be- secured II possible
| II IS the purposc of those Interested IN the under
TAX iu,, tn ma kc the attr1ctious numerous that
| college graduates from New England from lie
West and the South and from Europe and ASIA
will come here 10 perfect themselves III me
studies TO which they propose to devote th'ir
| lives.
MR. RocKEFELLEE's OTHER GIFTS TO EDUcA'
For many years Mr. Rockefeller has been n
generous friend of educational institutions. Not
long ago he sent 100000 80 the American Bop
tst Education Socicty or this amount S'O.9oO
WIS distributed among thirteen colleges ANA
academies on condition that a specified sum should
be- rti.ed bv each ustitutiGn. The S1Of"Mo bp2iGnt
| in SiT.'G2J additional. which pleased Mt k"cIt'-
fcllor so much that hc soon after hand'4 ""
secretary Of the society SGOO.0OO toward lld
! Chicago. ard since then has sent him another
~ 90 400 for the sucirtys work. Brown nNersItN
has also been rcmcmhcrcd by him recently, nf
his friends say tfat the idea OF new university
in NcwY is receiving his carcfnl cohsdcra'i0n,
and rs soon as the details can be perfected his
favorable decision will 10 announced.
"