Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-23
THE UNIVERSITY
Rev. w. A. Mackey Writes an Earnest
Article on the Subject

Article on the Subject
Ed. HERALD-Heartily thanking you
for your many earnest words in further
ance OF the proposed university, permit
me to join you In this laudable effort.
Certainly no more important project
has yet been proposed to this community
none so varied in It's benefits. nor so rich
In its results.
AS yet, there Is NJ first-class institution
for higher education In the whole Pacific
Northwest; not a single well-equipped
college or university In all this vast re-
gion, in which our children can secure
that high and broad training necessary TO
III them for the best spheres OF usefulness
la life. Now, Therefore, Is our opp0rtua-
ity, an opportunity which must soon pass,
for somewhere and by some body OF peo-
Pile this lack will certainly, before many
days, he supplied.
But let us not hope TO succeed In estab-
fishing this iirst-class Institution on Bell
iagham bay except by large endowment.
Small gifts might have done In the days
OF our fathers, but not in this Cay and
generation. Conditions have changed.
Emigrant wagons and stage coaches are
OF the past; now II Is electricity aud
steam. States leap into being; every
thing is done on gigantic scale. Colleges
and universities which propose to grow
gradually from small beginnings, as In
former times, IN this day will not succeed.
However high sounding their titles, In
reality they will be bat academies or sec
ond rate colleges. In order to get the
necessary buildings, equipment and com
petent faculty, money Is essential. That
we may rise to the magnitude Of the un-
dertaking let US call to mind what Is be-
ing done elsewhere Think Of the prncely
sum with which Senator Stanford en-
dowed his university; OF ROckefeller's
% = fga a. sN.s
of Chicago; and 10000 which Chicago
Presbyterians have pledged to Lake For
est university. Now IL the Pacific North
west IS TO have the Institution II needs,
there must be giving on an equally gigan-
tic scale. 1t takes big money to make a
big college.
Is there the big college within our
reach? UnhesitatIngy We reply, yes.
With our possible large land donations,
soon TO be greatly increased in value by
the certain growth Of the Bellingham bay
cities, we have conditions for success af-
forded to but few communities. Now also
Is a golden hour for ayailing ourselves Of
this advantage. Only let the land hold
ers give with large hearted llberality in
proportion to their holdings and the uni
versity will be assured. Upon a good
foundation Of this kind cash In large
amounts will be levied both by loan and
by gifts from friends east and west, aud
as Ihpluly as necessary lnt lnOIOuHhIy
equipped Institution will rise.
In my intercourse with the pc pile find
a disposition TO clrcumscrbe the benefits
to accrue TO the immediate neighb0rhood
Of the site Of the building. This Is GER
tainly a mistake. Wherever the location,
whether In East or South Fairhaven, or
in or near New Whatcom, the
whole community will be bene-
fitted more equally than is sup
posed by many. Very little difference
will there be even In the enhancement of
real estate, whether contiguous or remote,
while equally the whole community will
be improved In manners, the low aud
base rebuked, people OF wealth, taste and
culture attracted, the volume OF business
increased, aud this city made renowned
for intelligence as evidently it will be for
commerce, but best OF all, equally, by its
very presence, II viii create within our
children a hunger for education and at
the same time afford satisfaction Of that
hunger, thus fitting them for the highest
spheres Of activity IN life.
About the 10th Of June Drs. McQuillan
aud Laidlaw, OF New York, will arrive TO
consider the inducements we have TO offer.
But IL we are apathetic or hold back, or
fail TO rise 20 the importance Of The pro
ject, we need not expect them TO aid In the
undertaking. Now, therefore, let every
one act promptly and with large handed
enthusiasm, Let us prove ourselves as
enterprising In this as In other things.
w. A. MACKEY.