Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-05
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION.
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was not attended by all the citizens Of Pitts
eburg. Some 25o,o people were conspicuous
by their absence. The Hobbies of the Fifth
avenue theaters were crowded as came
by. But che space about the doors OF the
chapel of the First Presbyterian Church
was quite clear, and inside even the latest
conner had the choice of the best seats.
The 200, 900 absentees ought to have felt
tingling in all their $4,000 left ears that
night for the remarks which were made
about them were not of complimentary
character.
Nevertheless. believe in Pittsourg. The
probability is TINT the people of Pittsburg
read over the names of the eminent gen
tleu1en who were in charge Of this educa-
tional movement and felt so entirely sure
OF the success of 1t that they deemed them
selves justified in staying away from the
meeting. Everybody knows about the good
woman who always went to sleep during the
sermon because of her confidence in the
preacher. She knew that he would preach
good orthodox sermon; there WAS no need
ofw watching him.
We arc alI interested in this University
Extension scheme. 1t would perhaps be
too much to promise that the whole $50 900
OF us will pay over IS apiece in aid of this
good work this week. But there is another
week after this. I am not aware ofany really
excellent proposal that ever failed to find
seconders in Pittsburg.
What University Extension Means.
WHAT is this scheme? What is it for?
What is it meant to dot and will 1t do itf
There is no asking for countenance or
contributions in this town for any project
which cannot return honest and satisfactory
answers to this catechisn of common sense.
1 am sure of the success of this movement
in this community, because / know that IL
can pass this critical examination.
The University Extension movement Is
not thing of yesterday. 1t is at least
century older than American civilization.
1t got its first good start when William OF
Wykeham, in the fourteenth century, estab-
lished his public school ut Winchester. Be-
lore that all learning was conferred OF the
universities. Williams idea was to extend
the work of the universities by setting up
branch colleges where the young men of Il
neighborhood could be educated without a
residence at Oxford or Cambridge. 1t was
the first step Of the university toward the
people.
Then came the distribution of cheap
books, made possible by the new art OF
printing. Men could now learn even at
their own firesides. The great teachers put
their lessons into type and every humble
cottage became university lecture room.
That was the second stage of progress-first
the local school, then the printed book.
But all men could not go to school. Nor
did the book quite take the place Of the
teacher. There is an influence resident in
personality which makes any impr ession
which can never be given by an page of
silent type. There is no danger that the
press will crowd the pul pit out. Men will
always listen with attention to the voices of
living men, and will learn from what they
hear more than from what they read. The
university lecturer, to make the extension
of his work complete, must come himself
And then, when this truth was recognized,
somebody put two iron rails side by side in
parallel lines and ran an engine over them,
and the engine took the place of the old
slow horses, and the whole world was
brought into tie compass of one community,
and men could go easily and quickly from
one place to another, and the problem was
fully solved.
The Fathers of the Movement
THE man who organized the first public
school, and the man who invented the print
ing press, and the man who made the rail
way and started the first train of cars, were
the fathers of University Extension.
For good while the lecturer came out OF
his study and gave one lecture and went
back again. That was the case in the famous
old lecture bureaus OF New England, when
Emerson taught transcendental philosophy
in red schoolhouses to Massachusetts farm
ers. Gradually, however, 1t came to be felt
that this instruction was but fragmentary.
People who were genuinely in earnest about
learning desired more than the one lecture.
They petitioned for courses. They ask ed
not only for entertainment, but Tor honest
instruction, such as is given in the college
classrooms.
There is always q supply for almost any
demand. There was a speedy answer to
this excellent petition. In this country the
Chautauqua system of general education
came into existence. IL provided courses
of study; it conducted great classes of COR
respondence, and 1t met the desire which
people have for seeing their teachers face
to fnce by organizing q huge summer meet
ing at which the wise and the unwise, che
men who had been blessed with the prfvi-
leges of culture and the men who had
lacked that blessing, came together.
In the meantime, on the other side of the
water, the idea was growing that bright men
from the universities might 60 out into the
great towns, into the villages. into the re-
gions of the mills and OF the mines and carry
with them the treasures which they had
gathered and there distribute them to all
who were willing to share with them. They
gathered classes to whom they gave instrnc-
rions, with opportunity for questions, and
with provision for examinations, And this
was called the University Extension move-
ment, and an association was organized to
support and direct it called the University
Extension Society.
Its Advent in America.
AND these two significant movements,
the American and the English, borrowed
each from the other. The English liked
that great general meeting at Chatauqua,
and they arranged ON their side of the ocean
a great general meeting at oxford. While
we recognized the value of the element of
personality upon which the English laid
emphasis no letter, we came to see, can do
as much good as q man. And just two years
ago the first center of the University Ex-
tension work was established In this coun-
try, in Philadelphia.
A few months age this movement invaded
Pittsburg. A society was formed, officers
were chosen, lecturers were found willing
to enlishten the community: and the work
began. 1t was in furtherance of this good
work that that very select company of citi-
zens met in the chapel OF the First Presby-
terian Church while their neighbors went
to tho theater or stayed ut home.
This movement is bound to succeed in
this town, because it comes at an opportune
time. We are becoming aware here just
now that we need for the good or the town
to emphasize the intellectual side of life.
We have gone on for now these many years,
with conspicuous success, emphasizing the
material interests of the city. We have
devoted ourselves to the manufacture of
money. We have strivcn after wealth as
the saints strive after salvation. We have