The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-19

bard University
BRETHREN: l. Since my official
term began with December, 1891
the University has suffered serious
loss in the deaths OF two9-ot It's
staunchest friends and ablest sup
porters. both members of the Board OF
Trustees, Mr.J. H. S van, of Chicago,
AMI Hon. T. J. Hale, of Galesburg.
Suitable recognition of the valued
services of these noble men has al
ready been made by your honorable
Board, but the loss to the University
by their demise will long continue to
be felt. We have been exceedingly
fortunate, however, in securing, as
their successors, those who cherish
like regard for the college and have
already rendered important services
in it's behalf
2. The Ladies' Hall, begun in the
late autumn of 1895, was opened for
occupancy with the beginning of the
present college year. 1t has we'll
indicated its utility, both in the sat
isfaction the students have derived
from its use, and in the favorable
comment its convenient arrangement,
its skillful management and its
handsome proportions have evoked
from the large number OF visitors
who have inspected it. During the
past term every nonresident lady
student, save one, has made her
home in the hall, and from twelve to
fifteen of the gentlemen students have
regularly taken their meals there. In
order to encourage the fullest pos
sible utilization of the hall, new
rule has been suggested by the fac
ulty and approved by the Executive
Committee, making it compulsory
upon all nonresident lady students,
unless specially excused by the presi-
dent, to live in the hall. 1t is be-
lieved that this rule will conduce to
the benefits of the student life, while
also tending to keep the hall self
supporting from financial stand
point.
3. In response to petitions signed
by considerable number of Western
Universalist pastors, and in con-
formity with a resolution passed by
your honorable Board one year ago,
advantage was taken of the with
drawal from the faculty of Prof. j.
c.. Lee, to divide the salary which had
been paid him and to apply por-
ton of that sum towards the main
tenance of a Chair of Applied Chris
tianity and Pastoral Theology. Upon
this plan it seemed practicable, with
out much, if any increase of the ex-
penses of the University, to call to
the new chair the Rev. E. II. Chaplin,
of Lincoln, Nebraska, an A. B. and
A. NJ, of this University, and b.
D., of Tufts College. 1t was expected
that he would be able to secure
portion of his salary by preaching on
Sundays; and the personal support
of the petitioning pastors, as we'll as
others, was relied upon to provide
still further income for the new chair.
AS contemplated, Prof. Chaplin has
now entered into engagements with
two parishes for their regular supply,
so that nearly or quite one-half his
salary will be procured from that
quarter. An appeal to the pastors
for three-year pledges will soon be
sent out. 1t is evident, however, that
these arrangements must necessarily
be temporary, since neither the
strength of the professor, nor the de-
mands of the department will per-
NIT so large subtraction of force
from the immediate needs of the
school work, except for relatively
brief period. In the near future, if
the chair is to be sustained, the
Board must contemplate some more
stable provision for its support. AS
tol the utility of the chair and the
urgent need for it there cannot be
two opinions. No college can pre-
tend to be abreast of the age which
does not give generous recognition to
the pursuit of sociological studies.
The divinity students especially need
training on the practical phases of
their professional work. As the
growth of the University must de-
pend largely upon the prosperity of
the parishes to which these divinity
students will minister, to economic
on the equipment of the coming
pastors is simply to choke off our
sources of future supply.
Therefore, the maintenance of this
chair should be primary considera-
ton with the board. If rightly pre-
scented and emphasized it may be
that we can find some loyal patron
who will endow the chair, and thus
earn the honor of attaching his name