The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-13
ERSKINE COLLEGE.
A Strong Endorsement of the Press
and Banner-A Vigorous Protest
Against the Contraction Policy.

Mr.. Hugh Wilson, Editor Press and Banner
My Dear Sir-The friends OF Erskine College
recognize In you q faithful and devoted friend
70 that Institution, and they viii be SLOW IT: to
atty OF your friendship has been manifested
In times past.
Ungrateful would be the people Of Due West
and or Abbeville county, and OF the Associate
| forget the gallant and vigorous fight you
| made less than two years ago against the evil
and darl1ly planned scheme to remove old
Erskine College from the foundations where
she came into life and from the seat OF her
glory and usefulness. Largely by your efforts
| those ambitious and selEseeking manipu.
lators were foiled in their attempts on the
very llie OF the College, and their selfish and
TO the world. and doubtless the revelation
shocked some people who would not have
looked under the cloak of protesting follow
er of Christ for hypocrisy and deceit and inor.
dinate ambition.
The people, the laymen, and as we believe
the greater part OF the clergy OF the church,
were with you In that fight, and in the one
you have wisely undertaken now they again
stand ready to give their support and encour.
agement
The article In the Press and Banner of June
18th, on "Erskine College, has been widely
and favorably. commented on. Hundreds
there saw In print what they had often heard
spoken. and had often spoken themselves.
They rejoice that an agitation has publicly
the errors and faults into which the College
has been led, and TO which You have directed
attention so clearly and truth fully.
The contraction" policy, the tortoise plan,
few years, and as result the College has suf-
fered in several particulars as friends OF the
College have reason TO believe.
The family affair" has seriously crippled
and the Board OF Trustees could do no wiser
act than to take steps to remedy this glaring
error com mitted In the past.
They should be slow to repeat the blunder
Of looking to one family connection for the
filling Of q professorship In the future.
1t ia a short-sighted policy to elect TO pro-
fessorship a man who at best exerts but
slight influence anywhere, or man whose IN
fluence Is overshadowed SO completely by 9th.
er members OF the family connected with the
College as to make II doubtful II he can bring
one iota Of influence or patronage with him
to the College. The above Is not theory
but an actual condition." and the friends Of
the College everywhere know 1t and lament
1t.
Other friends of the College gladly take up
the cry with you, Mr.. Editor, and call for 9
broad and liberal policy on the part OF the
management Of the College. They repudiate
the contraction policy. They desire Board
Of Trustees like unto the one in the former
days Of the College.
Your suggestions and utterances demand
the most serious attention and consideration
at the hands OF those who have the present
and future welfare of the College at heart. II
the narrow and one-family policy is to be con-
tinued, the people OF the Synod may well ask
whether the College belongs to them, OF
whether 1t has fallen as an Inheritance into
the hands OF few divinely appointed lndl'
viduals?
Let us not be misunderstood, Mr. Editor.
The people have no grievance of a later date
than 1887 or 1888. Until then no manner OF
dissatisfaction was heard. Action Of about
that date and present possibilities haye hleo
them with the gravest alarm, however. and
made them anxious about the future welfare
OF the College.
apparent, Mr. Editor, alike to yourself and
every Observer.