The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-18

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4.-Consecratiop.
5.-More Ministers.
6.-Holy Spirit.
Papers were read from three persons Of 9th
or denominations, who gave the following
suggestions as to our needs:
I.-Need Union.
2.-More Volunteers, and good Reserve
Force for Foreign Missions.
8. Cooperation In all Church Enterprises.
The above article is copied into the Press
and Banner from the Young Worker, aud will
thinking, Prof. Kennedy, DR.. Latham and DR..
Pressly came nearer solving the question than
'O Among doctors of divinity the Press and
Banner would not assume TO speak OF spir-
ltual matters, but as the church Is established
by business methods, and as salvation Is at
tanned by practical work, II may not be amiss
for one who is interested In the welfare OF the
college, 10 talk on the money question.
Just now the Associate Reformed Church ap-
pears To be In need Of much money TO forward
its various great Enterprises, namely: The
extension of the church, the payment OF the
mitory and the foundir OF an orphan asy-
lum.
QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THERE IS A DEBT
AGAINST ERsKINE COLLEGE.
We are not sure that we understand the ex-
act status OF the college debt. Ii 1t Is really
a debt, for which the college is placed in Jeop-
ardy, the payment OF that oebt Ia OF the first
Importance. But II the synod used its own Nv
amount that was raised for that specific pur-
pose, then there Is really no debt at al over
the college. We presume that Synod simply
after the money which had been paid for that
purpose had been exhausted. II we are cor.
rect In this suppostlOn, then the considera.
tion of that debt might be dismissed from our
1 To- llxv, 1aht
amounting to $50, 500, against the college. then
most serious difficulty is presented. The
Interest on this large amount being some
s., 800 year, the church woul Id be sorely taxed
to meet II, 10 say nothing about reducing tue
principle debt. The large amount Of indebt-
edness would discourage the friends of the
college from the giving OF money for the SLIM
pie payment of terest.
WHAT SHOULD RE DONE IF COLLEGE DEBT
EXISTS.
Synod never had, at any time of Its
existence, more important issues present
ed for Its consideration, but the people
have lately had so many calls upon then
that 1t would be ill.advised at this Time to
20 out soliciting individual subscriptions from
either the public or the church membership. II
this debt has to be paid. and recognizing the
fact that the college is of the first importance
to the church. IL might be well for the church
to abandon, temporarily. some OF It's enter
pseses-namely, all mission work. and give
up for the present. all idea Of building an or.
phanaee or dormitory. II misht oe well
duclng the number of pro essors In the college
or even by closing the doors the institution
for q period of, say, five years. more or less.
If this was done, the Interest on the endow-
ment could be appropriated to the liquida-
tiOn Of the debt.
Another matter. Suitable and proper ef
fort should be made 10 induce persons to r.
member the college in their Wills. In The
church and out of the church. are public spi--
tied men VINO would be willing TO make pro-
vision for liberal gifts at their death.
A PRACTICAL QUESTION FOR SYNOD.
Another matter. Let the Synod have and
hold ever SO pronounced views as TO the ru les
by which the students should be governed,
the question Of the eXpediency OF enforcing
them on an unwilling constitn, ncy shoul d be
considered. All things which are lawful are
not expedIent 1t might he well enough not To
en- force cast iron ruieS to thn great injury nl
the collese and to the serious hurt OF The
church.
SHOULD ARBITRARY AND UNwISE RULES RE
ALLOWED TO DRIVE STUDENTS AWAY"
The college is In one sense Il business Inter
prise, and any unnecessary rules which har
| out students, or are oppressive or have ten
dency 10 drive 81 udents away from the college
or keep others from coming, should be abOi'
ished. Rather make the college attractive
! than otherwise. Don't let the doors stand
4
| may choose TO come.
Every college In all this land. excepting
only Erskne, we believe, permits the stu
dents 10 organize societies among themselves,
| and IT seems to be bad management, bad
rules. bad policy, or bad business methods
which would drive students away. VINO are
more than welcomed ut other colleges. i
Erskine College had five hundred students
and the place was ubout to be overrun with
boys, IL might be well enough to shut onl
some OF them, but ut present no such condi
tion exists, and the mistake of driving away
some who are already there, and OF alternating
others, must be apparent 10 every reasonable
! man.
no INSTITUTION SUCCEEDS WHICH GOVERNS
roo MECH.
Admit that the Faculty, tho Trustees, and
the Synod are all consclentiOusly opposed
! in principle to such societies. and then admit
| the other fact that no college, or other popu
| lar institution, as fur as We know, has evet
succeeded which governed the boys too much
! IL wonld be safe to say that II Is better 10 hav,
! a college full OF boys with such societies than
! to have slim attendance without them?
! CONSIDERATION CANNOT TAKE THE PLACE OF
BUSINESS METHODS.
| UwOuld Take great deal Of consecration