The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-07
AT THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY.
Progress Noted BY Visitor. Who Had Not
Seen the Institution for Many Years.

AiVe'eeS NVeeu W fteltOI, we HaQ NOT
Seen the Institution for Many Years.
Rev. DR.. J. NJ. Worrell writes from Dan
Vile, KY. TO the New York Mail and Ex-
press giving some impressions of a recen,
visit TO the State University at Blooming
ton. Ind. He says:
But have lately been in another dlreo-
tion, To the often abused Hoosier state.
and was equally struck with the evidences
of advancement there. My visit specially
took me 10 the old university town OF
Bloomington. in Monroe county. Ii lad
been many years since was there. and so
great were the changes and the growth Of
the place that could not identify my old
visiting places Many of the houses are
quite new and built In the most modern
style. The ornamentation of pretty homes
was abundant. but chaSte and appropriate.
something seems to have awakened n new
spirit. full of energy and enterprise, and 10
have brought new life and cultivated
taste TO people that used TO seem content
ed with ali things very plain.
lhle is the seat of the state University,
an old Institution of which the famous Dr.
Wylie was almost the founder aud so long
the honored president And IL Is from this
same university Mr.. Stanford got his presi-
dent for the great Stanford University in
California.
This institution at blooming ton has now
something over four hundred students OF
both sexes, and q very full and line faculty.
part of my business in this PLACE was TO
give q lecture before the students of the
university, and so had good opportunity
to meet and know its excellent president
DIR. Coulter. and several of the members OF
the faculty, as well as large BODY of the
students.
The class OF students attending appeared
older and more mature than we often sec
In our literary institutions in the under
graduate classes. and they impressed me as
hos rsf n ltr sr.eA ali
gent young men and women. The Iectures,
of which i was to deliver one are given by
men OF different professions from other
cities and colleges on Sunday afternoon in
their large chapel. usually on moral and
religious topics. The college. being State
institution, has no regular religious in
struction. Since was there before they
have secured O fine campus In n different
part of the city from where the old college
stands. and In much more beautiful and
attractive location. On this they have be-
gun to rear q series of separate buildings OF
very handsome character for the various
uses of the college They are proceeding
on the theory that il is safer. more
convenient and every way better 60 have
separate building for each distinctive
department of the college, rather than one
great building for the whole service. In
this they can get variety and adaptation
as they construct such building for its
special purposes, secure greater safety TO
the buildings from fire. and have both
more room and better air in the daily work
of the college. They have already one
main building for the classical department.,
very fine library building and one Tor
the modern languages aud astronomy.
And they are about to commence the build
ing for scientific uses. These buildings,
constructed in part or In whole OF fine
Indiana stone, and scattered among old
forest trees. covering a beautifully I'M
duiating campus. just left as nature made
It, gives very line effect. Then. being sup
nOrtad " 0f frOn AL al IN
look after money except to keep on good
terms with the LEGISLATURE; and so they
can give the more undivided attention to
their main work. These State institutions
have the adv entage / have Just named. but
the offset of all this is that they not al
lowed to teach the great lessons that at last
lie at the foundation of all strong charac-
ter and solid usefulness. the lessons of the
religion of Jesus Christ Think of having
four hundred earnest students together 10
be trained, TO stand before them daily TO
give them lessons that are TO make up their
force Of life, and yet he silenced as TO the
grandest OF all teaching. and the greatest
element of all LIES forces. While. too,
there seems to be no equal restraint on
skeptical teachers. There seems TO be IN
these institutions no positive restraint on
such teaching as leads TO skepticism or
downright unbellef.
1t is q very striking evidence of the earn
estness with which our Western youth are
seeking higher education, that this institu-
ton has more than four hundred students,
and the College of the Methodist Church.
formerly Indiana Asbury University, now
DePauw University. only about forty
miles away, has as many or more, and be-
sides these Indiana has several other very
hourishing colleges. two belonging TO the
Presby terrain people, and all well attended.
Indeed, this Is the only way 10 secure college
education, education of the higher and
better sort-to place the institutions
within the easy reach or the people
who need them and are TO use them. IL
these institutions, with their hundreds OF
students, were taken away, perhaps not
one tenth of these students would or could
60 East to the great colleges, there TO be
educated. The slightest reflection Will
show mon of sense and hopefulness for our
country how important il is 10 keep no and
bring to the highest usefulness these small
er colleges all over the country. IL - these
colleges ut last that give us our greatest
number, and. may say our most efficient
men in church and state, in the pulpit, az
the bar and In the halls of lie gislation.
While had gone TO Bloomington for the
purpose of lecturipg in the university.
had also another. and. 10 me, Tar tendofer,
mission TO that place. My only living
brother resides there, and now, At the age
of almost seventy years. be had given bis
heart to the Savior of men. and wished To
make an open profession OF his devotion 10
his Savior. His son. lawyer OF that city.
with his wife. had just preceded him In that
beautiful conservation. Now the brother
desired most earnestly that should como
and baptize him. Glad OF so pleasant
service, went, and on Sabbath morning.
before o large and tenderly sympathetic
audience. / performed that solemn rite,
while the interest OF his many friends and
neigh bors of long standing was mRnifest by
smiles and tears all over the house. such
an event occurs not often TO men IN this
world, and OF course, / am sure IL will not
be inappropriate to share the thought and
the Joy of the rich scene with my many
friends who read your paper.