The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-11
AN ATTACK ON X. [
Rev. Mr.. Waggener's Sermon on
Denominations Schools
CAUSING MUCH TALK IN TOWN.

He Snys Citizens Who support See
tartan Colleges should OF BeAslxed
to Contribute Toward the state I'm
iversity.
An unusual amount of talk is going on
just now among the members of the
English Lutheran church over sermon
preached by the church's new pastor on
UNCONVENTIONAL schools.
The board of education of this church
had requested their pastors to preach
sermon upon the subject, and Rev. A. E.
Waggener, pastor of the English Luth
eran church of Topeka complied with
the request and condemned in severest
terms the upbuilding of the Kansas state
university at the expense of demonina-
tional colleges.
Mr.. Waggener assumed that the de-
nominational schools were the pioneers
from whence the church received their
ministry and that the church should up
hold their colleges. He stated that he
could readily see why a church member,
who was interested in UNCONVENTIONAL
schools, objected to being taxed for the
purpose of supporting a state university.
MIR. Waggener is a minister, new TO
some extent, to Topeka people. In part
he said, in his sermon
''It might seem, at first thought. an I'M
necessary task to speak of education 10
an American audience, so general and so
profound seems to be our appreciation of
education.
sit may be well for us. however, to
look at some of the facts bearing on the
question.
"a few years ago I found that not more
than two thirds of the children of school
age of Missouri were enrolled in the
public schools, and that the average
daily attendance did not equal half the
children of school age.
IAN examination of the last report of
the state superintendent of Kansas shows
no better-hardly so good.
with less than half of our children of
school age actually in school, education
will not be as general as it should be-
However we should feel proud of our
public schools, as they stand without a
peer among the nations of the earth.
'There are two classes of educational
colleges. Those supported, controlled
and owned by different religious
denominations and those built
endowed and sustained by the state.
The former denominational college,
was the pioneer in this country and the
state university was made possible by
the denominational. Higher education
over this country owes debt of graft
tude to the Christian colleges. They
have furnished presidents and professors
for large number of universities.
1t would seem that the friends of the
state universities ought to look kindly
upon the denominational schools. But
the debt of gratitude is often paid by the
statement that there is no longer any
need of denominational colleges, let all
/ of our young people go to our state uni
versities.'
TO my mind no man ID quite so pitt
| able as the one who attempts to wipo
away with one single declaration the
/ great institutions which tho best men Of
nation have for centuries been build
/ ing.
"While there are a few who would get
as far away from the influences of Chris
tian education as possible, the great ma
j jority OF people Interested in education
! prefer that their children shall
! be educated under Christian in
| fuences that are best secured at d Chris
/ tian college.
"DuTing last wear there were enrolled
| in the state university at Lawrence S75
/ students. During the same year there
were enrolled in the UNCONVENTIONAL
colleges of Kansas 3.0S2 students, col
! leges doing the same work as the uni
versity. The total property of the state
! university amounts to nearly nine hun
| dred thousand dollars. the total pro-
! perty OF the various denomin ationaI col
| reyes AMOUNTS 10 81 ,O1V,UUO. ms o.
! $4,000 has been contrib uted by the
wisest business men of the state, bankers,
! lawyers, physicians and merchants.
! Men of sagacitv and sound judgment
they have endowed these colleges be-
cause they believe in Christian educa-
tion. Having done this, they do not
think the state ought to tax them to sup
port state university which they can
not use.
fo-h0 81, =,
ate or university education, is always de-
sirable but not necessity. In the year
1892 there were in the schools of this
land 1904, 933 pupils. OF less than
20 per cent of our population.
Out of this number there were in col
leges and universities a little less than
one per cent of the entire number of
persons in all the schools of all grades.
| Of this number nearly two-thirds are
| being educated in UNCONVENTIONAL
schools.
"This fact suggests two considerations:
| First, that it Is the religious element
that most largely fosters higher learn
ing. The second consideration is that if
So per cent of those who receive higher
education have the same provided for by
private means why should not the other
30 per cent if they will not go to these
| UNCONVENTIONAL schools, provide their
own schools and not ask the state to
furnish it for them.
"The religious denominations furnish
educational facilities to 50 per cent of
the young men and women who are re
ceiving a higher education. Having
done this why should they be required
to pay taxes to duplicate these facilities
for the sake of IS per cent who
prefer another kind of college. If they
prefer another kind of education it is
| THAR T,riviIarn but LAT than nav for II a
other people do.
"One pupil in 800 is educated in the
state university. Now why should the
| families of the othar 300 ,nnriIs be re-