The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-11
TEACHERS IN CONVENTION.
American Institute of instruction in Ses-
sion at Bethlehem-Address by Presi-
dent Whitman.

Bethlehem, NH, July 10, 1894. The
evening session OF the Ameri can Insti-
tute was held in the spacious and elegant
Casino at Maplewood. G. II. Martin, in a
few appropriate remarks, introduced the
speaker of the evening, Rev. B. L. Whit
man, DID,, president of Colby Univer-
sity. His subject was: "The American
College as Moral Force"
The speaker first referred to the mis-
conceptions and false ideals of college
work. College conditions are not always
rightly conceived even by workers. 1t
is not strange, therefore, that they are
misconceived by onlookers. Student life
is thus made to appear different from
what it is. Perlls there are in it, but
nothing like the perils often pictured
Safeguards are provided at every point
possible. Body, mind and heart are pro-
tected not less securely than in other
lines of action. For many magical
quality inheres in the name of College
Mere association of students is regarded
as in some way changing man, so that
the dullard may become philosopher
| merely by looking at books and seeing
others use them. Frequently the mis-
take is made of regarding the gathering
of facts as the chief function of college
work. This is part, important. but sub
ordinate to the function of developing
power. TO be added is a false ideal of
| liberty. Too much for individual and
general good, student life has been con-
ceived as exempt from the regulation
which controls the life of other citizens
AT the opposite extreme is the picture of
the student as book worm. Man was
made for better purpose than to serve
as bookmark. knowledge always has
reference to use. Possibly the common
est misconception of all regards the end
of student work realized in diletanteism,
kind of elegant, useless performance of
elegant, useless tasks Nothing could be
farther from truth.
If such conceptions were not miscon-
ceptions, college life would be non-moral
if not positively immoral. Happily there
are offsetting conditions which meet
even the sem blance of truth involved in
them. These are found in
IL. Ends and aims OF student endeav-
or. There are at least four
l. Power. Every man to the extent
that he is man can say" l am able"
That which thus finds expression is
power and the consciousness OF 1t. 10
increase power is a college aim. 1t in
wolves development, capacity, inspira-
tion, persistence, intensity.
2. Method. The trained man has i'm
mense advantages over sJhe unframed.
He knows himself and his work. He
knows, too, how to bring himself to bear
upon his work at least cost of energy.
g. Culture. This is practical acquain-
tance with the best in the worlds life.
In the spirit of culture all callings are
unified, all power increased, all life
ennobled.
4. Character. All training issues in
this. The man is more than the student
always Education is seriously defective
which stops short of better life. The
wisest courses lay stress upon the things
suggested in these four aims. Power,
method, culture and character cover
pretty nearly the whole of life.
Ill. The practical test. Educational
history is in part written by the special
histories of societies and States The
fiber of mani God is then tested on
large scale. Our own civil war bears
important Witness There is food for
thought in the history of the college in
the war. Innumerable memorial tablets
is told by monuments raised by grateful
communities.
A futher important element is in the
distinctively religious work of the col
lege. A larger proportion than is gen
orally supposed OF college students are
Christian men and live like Christians
There are few towns that are not better
morally for being college communities
There are few colleges that lack organ
lied religious effort Conversions are
rot less frequent on the avera ge among
students than among our regular church
congregations.
But the browning test lies in leader
ship. In professional lines educational
influence is undisputed. In practical
lines, too, which educated men have
entered, great advantage is found in COM
| pleteness of mastery made possible by
discipline already undergone. In the
sphere of moral influence the college can
claim worthy part. The leaders of
Christian thought today are trained men
| and it is the college that has made them
what they are.
| The discussion of the subject was con-
| tinued by William L. Sedgwick, Phi. D.
professor of biology, Massachusetts In
| stitute of Technology. Prof. Sedgwick
| IoJ tha 20 oI hot 10 A ,a,.ioo