The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-28
PRESIDENT CONES RESIGNATION.

the PRESIDENT Oh DucnIel COlleSe
was accepted by the Trustees at the
special meeting held last week. 1t
has for some time been an open Sc
cret that the resignation was impend-
ing and to those we'll informed of the
Akron situation it caused no surprise.
1t would be ungenerous to refer in
this place to many of the reasons
which have operated to cause the re-
tirement of the President after six
teen years service in the institution.
In Justice to our readers and the de-
nomination, we are, however, obliged
to say, and most unwillingly, that the
reasons assigned by President Cone
for his retirement have grieved many
of his friends. They are of such a
character as to raise an entirely new
issue touching the management of
the College, and are calculated to in
jure its future as an educational in
stitution, if not promptly and SUBJ
stantially corrected.
DR.. Cone gives as the reason for his
retirement that he is not in sympathy
with the UNCONVENTIONAL control of
the College and regards with disfavor
any movement to bring it into closer
relation with the church; that while
its policy from the beginning has
been undenominational in accordance
with Mr.. Buchtel's wishes, it is &C
tually under sectarian control; that
the church is divided on this policy
and the financial outlook not fatter-
ing on this account; that "sectarian
program" is suggested for the future
of the institution, etc. "The natural
course of things" says DIR. Cone, ''will
tend toward a more distinctively de-
nominational management of the
College in the near future. AS l am
not in sympathy with this policy, and
deem it certain to be disastrous,
l think it proper to tender my resig-
nation"
This statement, given to the Akron
papers and Immediately telegraphed
throughout the country, has already
given rise to damaging misapprehen-
sions as to the future of the College.
1t is very generally regarded as a
cruel and unwarranted stroke at the
very existence of the institution which
has nourished DR.. Cone for sixteen
years. 1t also ungenerously reaches
out to the future and anticipates dis
aster for anyone who is to assume
the position thus vacated. 1t again
creates the impression that there is
to be a change in the future policy of
the institution, which is not founded
in fact. Buchtel College is by its
organization a UNCONVENTIONAL insti
tuition, its Board of Trustees created
by the Ohio State Convention which
founded it, and has received through
the Universalists of that constituency
its largest financial support. While
UNCONVENTIONAL in its inception, its
policy remains and will remain unsec-
tartan in the sense that its instruction
will not pertain to any theological
creed nor be influenced by the dogmas
of any particular church. There is no
effort being made in any direction to
change this policy. At the same time
there are many directions in which
the institution may be made helpful
to the church without interfering at
all with the undenominational policy
SO far pursued. 1t is the right of the
church to avail itself of every con-
sistent help from an institution
founded by itself and thus far main
tanned by large sacrifices and gen
erous outlay of consecrated money.
DIR. Cones statements in regard to
Mr.. Buchtel's relation to the institu
ton are also highly misleading and
serve to create an injurious impress
sion. Mr.. Buchtel had no desire to
separate the College from denomina-
tional control On the contrary he
was shrewd enough to see from the
very first that the College would be
stronger with the denomination back
of it in a sympathetic and helpful
relation, and assisting in its nurture
and support. He became a member
of the Universalist Church in order
that he might consecrate himself
more directly to IFS work in the di-
rection of Christian education. To
represent Mr.. Buchtel as desiring
what DIR. Cone desires, separation
from the control of denominational
body for the institution which bears
his name, is a virtual offense against
his honored memory. We sincerely