The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-03-01
The Methodist University.

well known not only here but abroad.
His TRANSACTIONS, especially of standard
German works on moral and religious
works, have combined to give him high
place in the field of letters. He has
travelled extensively, and is widely known
personally. In pursuance of his episco-
pal duties he has visited every section OF
this country, aud has also spent much
time abroad among mission stations and
conferences in almost every country in
Europe as well as in India.
John Fletcher Hurst was born "A little
more than fifty-five years ago in Dor
chester County, Md. He graduated at
Dickinson College at the age of nineteen.
and then remained there teaching for
two years. He went abroad and studied
theology at the German universities of
Halle and Heidelberg. On his return
home in 1858 he at once entered on the
work of the ministry in the Newark con-
ference. In 1856 he returned to Germany
where he remained for three years as
teacher of theology in the Methodist Mis-
sion Institute at Bremen.
Syria and Egypt, he returned to this
country il 1871 to fill the chair of histor
ical theology in the Drew Theological
Seminary at Madison, N. Y. In 1878 he
was made president of that Institution
and served with great success, entirely
freeing the seminary from all the tinan-
ness failure of Mr. Drew. and by his own
executive ability placed the institution
on a successful basis. At the General
Conference of the Methodist Church, held
in Cincinnati in 1880, he was elected and
ordained bishop. Bishop Hurst, while
an able and brilliant pulpit orator, is still
better known as a student and Tor his
wonderful abilities as an organizer.
When asked by the reporter if there
was anything new in the condition of
affairs, Bishop Hurst said: I'VE are
more than pleased by the enthusiasm
that has been aroused everywhere over
the project. 1t is the greatest encourage
ment possible to us, The matter seems
10 be discussed freely all over the coun-
try, and the idea is meeting with a most
hospitable reception everywhere. As
vet, Of course, all our plans are too indie
finite to MAKE it possible to give out
much information, but when there is
more it will be forth, coming, you may be
sure. may say, though, that we have
met with much encouragement from
mem bers of all denominations and sects.
They seem to realize that our scheme is
a broad and generous one. We mean to
erect an institution of which the whole
country shall be proud and in which
every one will be glad TO take an inter-
est"
"Have many contributions been re.
ceived as yet?'' asked the reporter.
Yes, more than could have expected
under the circumstances. We have not
issued a general appeal for funds yet, and
do not expect much until that is done.
1t is our wish to purchase the ground for
the site before We make any public ap
peal. We prefer to have the 500, 600 for
the land subscribed in Washington and
the immediate vicinity, so that when we
come before the people we can show
something that has been done by the
near neighbors OF the proposed institu-
ton. You readily see that this would be
a far better plan than to make public
appeal before we have accomplished any
thing ourselves. l can say that there is
scarcely any doubt that this plan will be
readily carried into effect.
~ have already received numbers OF
letters from people in every section OF the
country, expressing their interest in the
project aud their desire to contribute. |
had one letter from man in a remote
village in Kentucky, saying that he wish
ed to do what he could, although that
was not much, and asking me how small
contribution we would be willing TO re-
ceive. Another was from a woman i'll
small town in Connecticut, telling of her
interest in the matter and saying thai she
hoped clubs would be formed in every
church in the country for the purpose OF
raising funds to aid the proposed univer-
sity. These two sample letters give an
IDEA of how rapidly the news of our plan
has flown, and how general is the enthu
sii.sm that it has excited.
"Have you adopted any plan or method
of raising funds for the endowment ?"
ono, not yet said Bishop Hurst Gan
organized effort will, of course, be made,
but OF just what kind we have not de-
cided. The question will probably not
pe brought officially to the attention OF
the church until the spring conference,
when it will evoke general discussion,
and something definite is likely to be done
then. The next general conference of
the church will be held in 1892, but we
hope long before then to have some Or
ganized scheme of raising the necessary
endowment. Such an institution as we
propose will need very large endowment
to make 1t a success. 1t would be al
most fatal to it's proper development were
we to feel cramped for means. We want
to make it truly great institution of the
whole church. 1t will not be in the con-
troll of any section or locality. 1t will be
too broad and general for that"