The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-19
CHURCH UNIVERSITY.
THE AUTHORITIES DECIDE TX
CLOSE THAT INSTITUTION.
First Presidency to the Members
of the Church as to the Reasons.

OF the Church as TO tne Eeasohs'
The following official announce
ment from the first presidency is
made:
To the officers and Members of the
Church of Jesus Christ OF Latter
day Saints.
Dear Brethren and Sisters-For sew
eral years past the presiding authori-
ties of the church, acting in conjunc
ton with the general board of educa
ton, have operated toward the estab-
lishment of church university, this
institution to become the head of our
church school system, and to be
equipped for the work of higher in
struction. During the past two years
steps were taken toward founding and
endowing such an institution as would
meet the needs of the people of Utah,
and particularly of the Latter-day
Saints, as a UNCONVENTIONAL school of
high grade; and on the Sth of Sep
TENDER, 1898. a circular was issued an
nouncing the opening of the Church
University. The work of the institu-
ton was conducted during the acad-
emic year 1S9394 with abundant proofs
of success, and all connected with the
management of the Church University
had reason to anticipate for the school
brilliant future. There was no in
tention on the part of the promoters
of the Church University to arouse
any unfair competition or rivalry be-
tween that school and the University
of Utah; nevertheless, the existence of
two institutions in the same city with
many courses in common rendered the
paralleling of work and the consequent
duplication of expenditure, abso-
lutely unavoidable. Time has
very plainly demonstrated the
fact that Utah, while abundantly
able under present conditions to main
tain one we'll equipped institution for
higher instruction, cannot adequately
support many such, either in material
supplies of means or in students pre-
pared for university courses of study.
After due consideration of the present
conditions and future prospects of edu-
cational affairs in Utah, the presiding
quorums of the church have deemed
it wise to bring the work of the church
university to a close, that greater
energy, resulting from concentration OF
effort, may be devoted to the develop
ment of our territorial university. To-
ward the University of Utah our peo-
pie may properly indulge a feeling of
pride; the institution was esta blished
/ y
was incorporated, indeed, under the
name of the University of Deseret with
in less than three years after the first
settlement of this region. 1t has grown
in spite of the numerous difficulties in
cident to pioneer existence, to its pres
ent fair proportions, and to the attain
ment of its forty-fifth year. with a
steady and healthful progress which
inspires strong confidence for its future.
Utah has need of such an institution
of learning; indeed there appears no
reason why our university should not
become the great inter-mountain centre
for the diffusion of knowledge in ad-
vanced and specialized branches. We
hope that the day is not far distant
when the youth of Utah will not longer
need to journey afar in search of pro-
fessional instruction; but that our own
state will offer her sons and daughters
ample facilities in all departments of
/ Intellectual progress.
We recommend to the Latter-day
/ Saints that they faithfully devote their
! influence and energy, such as might
have been claimed by the university of
the church, had wisdom dictated the
continuance of that institution. t. the
University of Utah. We trust that our
people will sustain the Territorial Uni
versity by their good words and works,
and particularly by their patronage in
sending thither their sons and daugh-
ters who are prepared to become stu
dents in the institution, which by law
| is constituted as the head of the public
school system of Utah.
] The officers of the university are men
in whom the people have learned to re-
pose their confidence; the chancellor
and the regents need no encomiums
from US in their responsible and honor
able stations. The president and
e ,-a1 1xy
of recognized abilities in their profess
sions, and of steadfast devotion to the
educational advancement of the people;
they are entitled TO the fullest conf
denee of Utah's citizens without dis
tinction.
We feel assured that the moral in
! fluence of the 'univercity will prove of
salutary effect, and that all due atten-
ton will be paid to the training of stu
dents in the duties of true moral citizen
snip as we'll as in the subjects of pure
ly secular instruction. However, as the
university is a public possession, the
property of people of many sects and
creeds, it would be manifestly improper
to allow any species of sectarian
religious instruction to be impaired
within its walls, or under its auspices
In View of these facts, and, knowing
as we do, that many of the Latter-day
Saints are imbued with strong desire
to have their youth instructed in
theological tenets co-ordinately with
secular training, we call your attention
to the fact that the Latter-day Saints
college, an institution which stands
among the foremost of our church
schools, is conducted in close proximity
to the university, and that the very
full courses of daily instruction in
theology will be offered at such hours
and under such conditions that Latter
day Saint students who are attending
the university, and others not regularly
attending the college, may pursue in
the latter such of these sacred studies
as their ability and opportunities will
permit. 1t is the aim of our local and
general educational boards to
strengthen the theological department
of the college. increasing and augment
ing the courses, to meet all require
! ments.
We request that presidents of stakes,
bishops of wards and other presiding
officers. will cause this letter to be read
in their places of public gathering; and
that they will use their influence in
otherwise bringing this subject before
the people.
Respectfully your brethren,
MILFORD WOODRUFF,
GEORGE Q. CANNON,
JOSEPH F. SMITH,
tn. ;lo,, - In ~