The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-16
CHURCHES AND STATE AID TO
HIGHER EDUCATION.

All the churches in the State have
held their conventions, synods, confer
ences. classes and conyocations for the
year. In none of them except three was
the auestion of State aid to higher edu-
cation brought up for consideration or
action. The Christian, Disciple, Presby-
terrain, Episcopal, Free Will Baptist,
Primitive Baptist, Methodist Protestant,
Friends, German Reformed and Luther
an bodies made no declaration in regard
to the question agitated first by the late
DIR. Durham, and later by Dr. Taylor, DR..
Kilgo and others.
In three religious bodies, representing
the churches having the largest member
ship, the question of the right or proprie-
ty of State aid for higher education was
considered, and in two of them at least
there was long and earnest discussion.
The Baptist State Convention, which
met at Morganton, Nov. 11th-15th., rep
resents all the Missionary Baptist church
es East of the mountains. That conven-
ton adopted the following resolution:
"Whereas, The State aid to higher
education by taxation is wrong, I'M
lust and unwise-a wrong against the
whole people, who cannot receive the
benefit of such appropriations; unjust
to the private and corporate and de-
nominational institutions voluntarily
supported; unwise, because the peo-
pie of North Carolina are now made
quately provided with public schools
for their children and need every cent
of their taxes that can be spared for
this purpose: therefore,
Resolved, That the Baptist State
Convention of North Carolina reaf-
firm its opposition to State aid by
taxation to higher education.
The week following the Western North
Carolina Methodist conference, embrac-
ing all the NJ e. churches West of and
including Greensboro, held its session
in Salisbury. Long resolutions taking
strong ground against any free scholar
ships at the University and Of hostility
to the present arrangement along
which the the higher educational insti-
tutions OF the State are conducted were
defeated after discussion and advocacy
by DIR. Kilgo and others, by a large ma
jority, thus declaring that Conference
opposed to bringing matter for the
Legislature into the sacred precincts of
the church, and involving it in an agita-
ton outside the pale of the Methodist
societies. as the early church organi-
cations were called.
The Methodist Conference, embracing
all the churches East of Guilford coun-
ty, met in Kinston last week. DIR. Kilgo
and those who entertain views in har-
mony with those advocated by him had
given notice that resolutions embody-
ing those views would be pressed at that
Conference. After long discussion, in
which three of the foremost presiding
elders and others took strong grounds
against any action by the Conference,
paper was adopted expressive Of the
sense of a majority of the Conference. In
view of the Importance of the question
We print below the resolutions as adopted:
among the many vital questions
appealing to the church for solution
none is of greater Importance than
education. The principles Of our reli-
gion inspire the largest intellectual
aspiration as well as the greatest
spiritual development. The church
has, therefore, always defended edu-
cation and through the cesSt ,srles been
the source of our educational pro-
gress. Should the church cease 10 be
interested in education Ignorance
would multiply and all real education
al progress would be at an end. But
besides the history Of the church in
education, it is bound by the highest
interests Of our individual and social
life to maintain an aggressive educa-
tional policy. Infidelity has hid
nself In science and enthroned itself
in colleges and universities, and by
a distorted and incomplete idea Of
education has wrought great harm.
Along with all education must go
a purpose to build up faith in God
the only secure foundation for ma
tional or individual life, otherwise
the worst results are to be expected
from education. In our own State
as well as in other States there is
q conflict between the State and
church in educational work, and es-
pecially in the work Of higher educa-
ton. In many ways this want Of
sympathy is manifest and the church
is forced to carry forward its educa-
tfonal work in the face of this opposi-
ton. Many of our people do not I'M
derstand the position Of the church IN
education and there are many sincere
people outside of the church who do
not understand it.
1.-THE time has come for this Con
ference to define its position on an
educational policy that it will defend
and develop. Therefore be it resoly-
ed,
list, That we commit ourselves
uncompromisingly to Christian educa-
ton and insist that our people in
: their homes teach their children the
doctrines Of Christ and patronize
those common schools whose intiu