The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-03-28
A SMALL MATTER.
"Onry one Student Left. and he was
Dismlssed.''


was dismissed" are SO unlike DIR. Grier. who
Is usually SO kind and so considerate even OF
the feelings Of the erring, that we are slow to
believe that he uttered them nnqSaliIiedly:
they appear in print. The Young Worker OF
Charlotte, says:
IA CoRREcT1oN.-In our last issue we copied
a statement from The Observer. which had
been sent from Spartanburg, relative TO the
trouble in Erskine College. substantially
the.same report was had from private sources,
We are glad to be able to state that DR.. GrIer
says the report Is not true. Only one student
has lett, and he was dismissed. No one re-
Joices more than we that quiet is at "Ihe
Hub" Peace and prosperity TO Erskine
Shame and confusion TO the originators OF
false reports!
There is thrust. too, in the concluding sem
tences, which, coming as they do; from news
paper in the communion OF the Church 10
which, Erskine belongs, is full OF meaning.
The very existence OF the Young, Worker
itself has O meaning with the dull lorce OF
which we are not acquainted. the strange
part of it is, that there is evidence Of jealous
iy of Due West.
Several years ago, preparatory TO the pro.
trustees was reduced to minimum. Old and
honored names we're dropped from the roll
While those whose names were erased from
the Board of Trustees, were stili sInarting
by Synod, the effort to move the college from
Due West was made-not In the Interest OF
any particular locality or town; but IL SEEM
ed that the chief object was simply to move
the college-from Due west 10 almost any
other spot.
We have heard of no explanation OF the
grounds for objection TO Due West, bnt as
there can be no effect without cause. there
must be either. imaginative or a real cause
Then, If there is cause, why not seek TO flnd
II out, and remedy the detection? 1t Is only
and as truth and Justice always demand In.
yestigation, if q shadow has been cast over
them, 1t would seem that thorough lnVestl-
gatlon Of the existing differences or JealouSies
of the church should be had, when all grounds
of dissatisfaction could be removed, and the
church again become. unit. with q single
ness OF purpose.
Young Worker: "Only one student left, and
he was dismissed" Besides the imputation
contained in The words. we think greater
wrong was COMMITTEE IN the OMISSION ,, SION OF ia
President OF the College pronouncing the Sc
yerest known penalty on student, the Inter-
ence is plain that he had committed some
disgraceiul penalty implies disgraceiul
Now, the whole truth has not been tod,
and for this reason the statement that "only
one student left, and he was dismissed" is
peculiarly painful TO US. The Press and Ban
ner had heard something Of the difficulty re-
ferred TO, and we had hoped that our Due
West Sor1espohdeh s sSaa Sas not done so but we
have however heard. from source, whose
authenticity we do not doubt, that there was
trouble at Due West, and some SIX or eight
students temporarily withdrew from the
college because Of their dlsapproval Of the
manner in which their dismissed colleague
had been treated.
have returned 10 their classes, except for the
fact, upon consulting with their guardians or
parents, they were required 10 40 SO. we De-
lieve, therefore, that there are now some SIX
tn ErcCyi
compusion.
AS to the cause of the dismissal OF the one
student. He Joined secret society and wore
he he was dismissed. We have it from good au-
thority that the dismissed student carried
away with him, from some OF the best men IN
Due West certificates of the best character.
The cause Of his dismissal was made clear TO
the Faculty of Wofford College, and he was
most cordially welcomed within It's walls
1t Is rule Of Ersk inc College, by whom Or
belong to any secret society, end the dismiss.
ed" young man. either knowingly or un-
knowingly, violated that rule. and, as con-
The fact is that the dismissed" young man
by the above publication has had an unneces.
sary wound inflicted, and If he IL OF the ordl-
nary mold he may In the future resent II.
The half dozen young men who are there un-
willingly will, in all probability go away
from Erskine less dutiful and less faithful TO
their alma mater, than they otherwise would
The result is. that the usefulness Of Erskine
College has been more or less Injured.
This difficulty arose because OF the rule, the
wisdom OF which, we thinK, ls, 70 say tne
least, of very doubtful expediency, and for
the existence OF which we see no necessity at
all.
Other colleges allow these secret societies,
and we are not informed If they ever Destroy
ed college or even did 1t serious injury.
Whether combinations on the part OF Col
lege Faculties to enforce distasteful laws
Ieges than the existence OF the secret societies
among the students, Is the question to be an
swered.
take this matter in hand. The college has
q splendid endowment, magnificent build
ing has just been erected. which together
with the society halls, furnish all that Is
needed to equip first class college. Let
SYNOD enquire the cause Of the continued de-
crease In attendance upon It's class rooms. IL
Sy nod has been narrow and contracted, let IL
enlarge It's ideas and conform more 10 the re-
QuirementS OF the Times ana DeLter answer
public demand.
Is there any reason for the number Of stu.
dents To decline as the endowment increases
and the buildings enlarge and multiply
If 1t were proper for the Press and Banner
To do so, we would suggest that the College
show itself more friendly to the outside
world, and that 1t abandon those require
ments and practices which contract and In
lure the usefulness OF the institution. There
are some very respectable gentlemen VINO
have been members Of college societies, and
some very good colleges do not concern them.
selves whether the boys organize themselves
into societies or not. Such interference seems
too near the inquisitorial
II the boys are treated right neither the
Synod, nor the Trustees, nor the Faculty
need be afraid OF them. 1t is not neces-
sary 10 crush the manhood out Of a boy TO
secure obedience to proper laws.
Would II not be better II the Co llege was
placed abreast of the times and put on an
even footing with other Colleges that are
progressive and prosperous?
The small attendance In its class rooms Is
the personel OF the professors, and the Synod
owes IL TO itself, the Church, and the people
who have contributed money TO its upbuild.
ing, TO enquire Into the cause OF the reduced
usefulness OF the College.
The number Of Professors seems out Of pro-
portion to the number OF students.
II Erskine College would do the larger
good 1t must seek the larger fsd
| It's policy OF contraction and adopt methods
OF expansion. by elevating It's ethics so that 1t
may receive benefit from that enlarged self
| ishness which brings individual good and
collective usefulness.
With ali the outfit necessary for the
conduct OF first class college, why
be recognized and encouraged to enter its
walls, and TO participate in The inestimable
blessing which college may confer? Why
make the rules and The requirements so gal
ling that even the young men Of the church
to which 1t and they belong, should object?
II Is better TO have college, with students
In It, than TO have one without them. The
presence of life and animation Is better
than empty rooms and echoing walls.
| Even II the college looks only to its ow re-
ligious faith for support II Is not the wisest
policy to breed dissatisfaction among the
students TO whose fealty and loyalty that in
stitution Is entitled.
| II it seeks to be public benefactor and
blessing to our young men, It's rules should
not be 30 exacting as to prevent any young