The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-11-05
The Removal of Erskine College.

Certain enterprising persons have set In
motion an effort to take Erskine college from
Its foundatlons:and set:it.down at almost any
other place which may be willing to give
money for 1t.
For fifty years the church has sustained the
institution at Due West and the people there
and elsewhere in Abbeyille county have for
that length of time contributed literally to It's
support TO both It's first and second enoow-
ment funds.
Very much OF the present endowment funu
was raised from people In Abbeville county
who contributed to 1t for the sole reason that
II was an Abbeville county Institution IN
which our youth might be educated In let
ters aud morals.
The people of the town have always had a
pride In the welfare Of the college. and many
lifts citizens settled then for the reason OF the
advantage to be derived from the colleges at
that place.
The repairs, improvements, endowments,
society halls, libraries, and Incidental DE
mands have constantly made heavy drafts on
the people, who have always responded WIN
that honest pride which is begotten OF the
consciousness Of o duty we'll performed.
After the people of this section have con-
trlbuted largely to its endowment, simply be-
cause 1t is Due West institution, and since
our people after the war contributed so lioer-
ally te keep it in existence, 1T and the enaoW-
nient Is to be taken from u.s. in the hour oI
its greatest prosperity, unless we now contri-
butte more additional money to keep our own
institution than others are willing TO give lor
@ college already established.
We do not know the legal status OF the en-
dowment funds, but we are Induced 10 oe'
ileve that the Synod will have legal questions
to answer before that gift 1t may be taken
away from Dne West. 1t will no doubt be
contended to erect and endow college
at Due West cannot be forcibly taken from
us to build up another college at another
town, In another part OF the country. IL VIII
likely be contended by those who contributed
the money, or their represen tatives, that the
Synod has no legal right to tear down ana
dismantle the very college which our people
have contributed to build. In equity the
Synod has no right TO despoil our college.
Mercenary gain is no excuse Tor gross
wrong to this confiding people.
That college was built for high and noble
purposes Can II then be that our rights are
to be trampled under foot, and our institu'
tion taken from US, while justice and equity
Is strangled by the promise of gold from those
who would trade upon 1t and upon
u.s. as sheep in the shambles?
1.-THE enterprislng gentlemen at Rock Hill,
and other places, want q college, let them
build It. Let them lay Its foundations broad
and deep. Let them with their boosted gold'
build magnificent halls, and decorate them
with sculpture and purple. Let them rear its
spires and domes until they "meet the sun In
its coming" but let them not lay sacreil-
gious hands on the temple which the united
efforts OF this people have built, and which by
the prayers and supplications OF the sainteo
dead, has been dedicated to the education OF
our youth and to the glory of Him who rules
the universe.