The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-22
COMMUNICATIONS.
FROM THRoOP INSTITUTE.

DEAR SIR:-Referring to the editorial
and accompanying correspondence upon
the subject of the Throop offer to Cali
fornia in THE UNIvERsAL1sT of Jan. %,
the undersigned officials of Throop Poly
technic Institute desire to submit few
remarks and to correct some statements
which are doubtless inadvertently made
therein. We refer, particularly, to the
three following statements:
First. DR.. Sawyer says referring to
the proposal to pay the Throop $4,000,
and the $4,000 to be raised among
members of the Universalist Church, to
Stanford University: 81 learn that the
great Stan ford University is willing to
admit and establish such professor in
their institution on condition that his
salary is thus provided for"
Second. DR.. Hanson says: "Of course
$4,000 would not go far in establishing
a theological school, but the plan is to
make the professorship an adjunct to the
LELAND Stanford Jr. University, with it's
hundred professors and endowment of
millions. Thus reinforced it would be
as powerful an educational agency for
our church as though millions had been
bequeathed to found a theological
school,
Third. DR.. Hanson further says of
this fund that sit will practically estab
q IIn in, e L
Universalist Church with millions of en-
dowment. a university larger and better
equipped than Tufts, ST. Lawrence,
Buchtel or Lombard All of these
statements are, of course, made in hon
est misrepresentation of the facts. Con-
corning them President David Starr
Jordan. of Stanford University, under
date of Feb. 3. 1896, says:
"Some three years ago had some correspond
ence with Mr.. Andrews of Santa Paula and Mr..
Goodenough of Oakland, regarding such pro-
fessorship. In answer to an inquiry suggested
that we would be willing to have the Universal
ISIS endow professorship in the University pro-
vided the professor was chosen by the Unver-
sity authorities and the University authorities
had the usual entire control over the question of
his retention" (Tns would be absolutely i'm
possible under the terms of the WILL II sug-
gested as an alternative that the UDiversalsts
might establish a professor at Palo Alto who
could have private classes, his students being
enrolled, If he chose, in the University under
the usual terms and conditions for such studies
as we have to offer bearing on his special work.
81 am not quite sure that the first arrange
ment could be carried out even if the Universal
lists we're satisfied with it, 1t was thought by the
persons with whom had the correspondence
that the terms of the will would not permit of
such an arrangement. tits possible also that we
might not be free to accept the plan even with
the various limitations placed uponit.
"My last letter. which supposed had closed
the matter up, was one advising those having
the trust in charge to let the amount revert to
the Throop School; that $4,000 there seemed to
me likely to be more valuable than $40 OCO in
the direction indicated
"The statement that the chair in question will
practically establish university in the int ests
of the UniversaliSt church, with millions of en-
dowHent, Is certainly untrue and unwarranted.
Any professor no matter how appointed, who at
tempted to commit the University to the interest
OF any church organization would open the way
for his immediate removal. The university is
committed to the interests of truth, not of any
denomination or coalition of denominations.
The University is not committed even to the
interests of Christianity as distinguished from
other religious forms. If truth interests the
Universalists or any other sect, our in erests and
theirs would naturally join"
(Signed) DAVID S. JORDAN.
We are further advised that the can
vass for this money proceeds on basis
of statement that the withdrawal of
$4,000 from the available resources of
Throop Polytechnic Institute which is
the truest monument to the memory of
the Father of Universalism upon the
Pacific Coast would not work any seri-
GUS injury to the institution" Upon
this score we desire to say that the pre-.
sent year is probably the most critical in
the history of the institution and that
this $4,000 would mean more for Throop
than could any 100000 at later time.
The institution having been absolutely
without dollar of revenue from the
Throop estate for now nearly two years
and the growth of it's work in accord
ance with the plans projected before Mr..
TROOPS death and endorsed by him has
necessarily taxed it's resources to the
utmost. With the sum named it can go
on doing the great work which has al
ready won it high standing on the Pa
cific Coast as we'll as whenever manual
training and industrial education are
known. If it loses this sum it's work
must necessarily be curtailed, lif not seri-
ously crippled.
Father Throop died with these words
upon his lips: What will become of my
school when l am gomez" We feel that
it is due his friends In the Universalist
Church as we'll as out of it to know that
the school which is the highest express
sion of his devotion to humanity will
have its success jeopardized by the with
drawal of the $4,000. which will go from
it if the sum mentioned is raised, and we
feel that nobody more than the gentle
men in charge of the canvass would de-
plore the securing of a single dollar
under misstatement of these vital
facts, which seem to be made the most
cogent feature Of the appeal for money
H.. II a