The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-06-29
ERSKINE COLLEGE.
The Error Into Which the Associate
Reformed Synod Was UnGuardcd-
6k,yn MiStnIteSb

Many years ago, when the friends OF the
institution determined upon the effort To es.
tabliSh ErSklnc College, the AsSociate DE
formed PrcSbyterians disclaimed any idea
that il was exclusively Il denominations col
lege, but announced that IL was Il literary col
le.e under the care of the church, which col
lege was intended To be Il blessing alike to all
the citizens OF the State.
Good men of whatever religious faith were
invited TO cooperate with the Associate Re
formed PreShy terians in establishing college
with such noble aims and high purposes, ant!
they gladly accepted the invitation.
They contributed literally OF their money.
and in many instances sent their sons To the
college.
on The part of the church. others than Asso.
c!ate Reformed preSby terianS were elected IT,
prOiesSorshIpS. and Others than Associate Re
formed PreSpytcrians were elected members
of the Board Of Trustees
The college grew and prospered, the people
loved the Institution, and hundreds enjoyed
II personal pride in the fact that they had con
tributed something for the establishment OF q
college of which Abbeville county and the
state Of South Carolina Will ever Ue proud.
Finally, as the college grew stronger. aud as
its endowment fund increased, the lines were
were more closely drawn between the AS<Oci-
a,e Reformed Presby terian church and those
gentlemen who were merely friends and con-
tributOrs TO It's growth and prosperity, and IL
may be said that the breach of more or less
importance between those "within the vail, !"
and those who are not admitted within the
purple walls has begun TO widen, and If 1t is
not closed up, alienation and something of
enlargement may follow.
The first conspicuous step toward with.
drawing from the great mass OF the friends Of
education was in the exclusion OF all nom
commandments OF that church from the Fac
ulty.
Then came the election OF almost the entire
faculty from among the kindred OF one or
two families.
Then came the dropping from the Board OF
Trustees, quite nImoer OF life long friends
SNr
other preteNt or excuse, so far as the public
are able to see, than 10 yield 10 the deep laid
plan Of removing the college building itself
from its very fOundtl ions.
The Board Of Trustees having been reduced
to fifteen, and the members from this section
having been chosen almost exclusively from
one family connection, IL would seem that the
college is being reduced:
lSt. From Il college in which all the people
may be interested.
I'd. To college exclusively for the As>ocl-
ate Reformed Presby yterians.
3D. To college " Hhich is nomnally in the
hands OF the Associate Reformed church, bui
which in fact. Is controlled by single family
connection In the communion Of that church.
Let it be understood. speaking Tor the great
number who are "outside," that we do not
pretend 10 say or to intimate, nor do we be-
iieve that the standard OF education, or the
ability TO be useful To the public Is impal red
by the policy OF contraction by which the COL
lege is placed into the hands of the few ana
by which the great public are excluded from
any interest or participation in the affairs o!
But if the public have no other Interest in
the college than 10 contribute money 10 it,
and if the college denies to the public any
representation on the Board Of Trustees, and
If the Trustees and the Faculty are to be
chosen from one or two family connections,
then we submit that the usefulness Of the col
lepe will be circumscribed, and that its pres
ent number of "outSide" friends will be great
ly reduced.
for the friendship or lukewarmness OF any in-
dividual, yet we submit that more liberal
policy toward those who might be friends
would he more satisfactory in more ways
than one.
The college has had thousand evidences of
the valuable friendship OF 'outSide" citizens.
This, We presume, will uoI be denied.
The college AT hest has poor OppOrluniiie les
of showing its friendship. the chief of which
is perhaps TO confer the title of ID. D. on some
preacher who has liberally supported the col
lego with his prayers and heuedictiOns, while
the man who gave of the sweat OF his brow,
or who may have denied his family some.
thing OF the luNures and necessaries OF life,
or who may have given Of his abundance,
will get no recognition. The college has
many friends upon whom neither ID. ID. nor
any Of the literary degrees would sit well. but
whose patronage or practical experience, or
liberal gifts in money, would make them use
full members of the Board OF Trustees and val.
liable friends OF the college. But under the
"eXcluSlon act and "the contraction policy
all such friends are denied recognition
Let ii be underSt oOd. that the "outsiders''
are not yearning and thirs,ing for the honors
OF the college,
What we are talking about is the iliberal
,olicy of the church towards the friends OF
their CHIEF Institution.
If the church persists in its narrowneSS and
It's eXclusiNeness, then the public ought Il
know it. and hen the public may cease tu
take more Interest in Erskine College Than
they take in other colleges.
The furefa hers OF the church, in their day
were wise. Will their descendants, after reap
ing the reward OF outside" liberaliry. be un,
grateful?
II may be that the college now has all the
money 1t needs, and Synod may snap its fin
gers IN the faces OF It's friends. but we hardly
believe they will continue To do it.
II they would restore the college TO It's for
mer place in The hearts OF the people, then lei
1t restore the people TO the confidence of thl
church.
While the honor Of being a member of III,
Board is n mere nothing.ye great is the prn
ciple Of asking the pubic for aid and then re
fuSing them any recognition in the councils
Of the institution whic. they have helped to
build.
Let Synod restore the old and honorec
names which il erased from the Board o
,Trustees. l., / IL elect others to tax @ the pac,
of those who have gone lp their reward lie
VI not act from q short sighted policy, but le
let IL act wisely and from That enlarged >c fiSl
standpoint which will bring good To all
Justice will he done. Recent wrong will Civ,
place To right. And all Will be we'll.