The times., 1898-01-27
BISHOP HURST IN ST LOUIS.
He Talks Interestingly of the New
American UuiYersity.

ent he said
The federation commission, repre-
senting the Methodist Episcopal Church
and the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, which closed it's meeting in
Washington, ID. c., two weeks ago,
adopted resolutions calling for both
branches of the Methodist denomina-
ton to give financial aid in building
the American University This is not
supposed TO interfere with the financial
support of the Methodist colleges and
universities in the various Methodist
conferences throughout the country.
The federation commission also recon-
mended one hymnbOok for both
branches of the Methodist Church. but
before the one book can be adopted uni
versally the report of the commission
must be ratified by the two general
conferences. There Is no talk at present
looking forward TO the complete unfit
cation of the two branches of the Meth
odist Church.
.The American University" con-
tinued the bishop, "is TO be a great in
stitution of learning, supported by
American Professionalism. 1t is a rep
resentative Christian university. To-
day there is q new era in education
There is nov a demand for high-grade
work along professional lines, for better
facilities for training specialties in all
branches of teaching and work, and
for opportunities for original research
in the unknown. The American Uni
versity is planned and is being endowed
for the special purpose of carrying out
this threefold work. Some institutions
are attempting to do this special work,
but they are hampered by the fact that
their endoWmentS are specified for
other purposes This latest need Of
American educational life can best be
met by new university. with no col.
lege work, and with buildings and en-
dowments for this threefold purpose.
Washington, d. c., was selected as
the location of the American Univer-
sity. because that city is an intellectual
center whose influences reach 10 all
parts of the nation. Then the national
capital provides many unparalleled op
portunities for scientific and literary
investigation through the collections Of
the various departments of the United
States Government. These collections
cost $35 900 GOO. and their maintenance
costs the Government s., 3,5G0,00o an
nually, but their literary and Selentihc
value is not to be estimated in dollars
and cents These collections excel
those of any other city in the country.
the material and facilities needed Tor
the threefoId work of the American
University. If the university were 10
Gated elsewhere these collections could
not be used, and similar ones would
have to be purchased.
The American University is not sup
ported exclusively by Meth0dists,' con-
tinued the Bishop. 1t is not simply
a Methodist institution. Over score
of denominations have contributed
money for this educational enterprise
/ 1t is planned on broad lines, so far as
religious denominations are concerned
and is a national Institution for the
Professionalism of America. OF course.
the plan of the American University re-
quires vast financial resources Twenty
or more buildings win be erected and
equipped for work along special lines.
The endoWments must necessarily be
of sufficient proportions to obtain the
services of competent specialists as
professors and lecturers. 1t was first
estimated that $10.000.000 would be re-
quired to carry this enterprise to a
successful operation, but now there is
little doubt that much more than that
will be finally raised when the Prot
! estants Of America fully understand
{ the untold value of such a Protestant
institution of learning. The equipment
: and support of this university Will be
secured only by the voluntary gifts of
( the American people There is no sec
/ tarianiSm in this university. but at the
/ same time the intellectual life of the
/ institution will GO hand in hand with
a true Christian spirit.
| only one building has been COM
/ pleted. and that is the Hall of History
1 II is 176 feet long. from 30 to % feet
+! wide and virtually three stories high
( 1t is in the classical style of the Ionic
order and is of white marble Ths
entire cost of the building is S175. 600
/ While the building will ultimately be
used exclusively by the department OF
/ history. for a time il may serve two
/ or three other allied departments oi
( study 1t will include an historical Ii
/ brary and d museum. besides rooms
/ for professors, for seminarists and foI
( lectures Besides this building. it is
intended to erect series of colleges
for language and literature. phil
( osophy, the several sciences tech
/ nology, sociology and economics. law
/ civicS, medicine, scientific temper
/ ance, art, religion and many other de-
( partmentS of study. all of which viii
I require the bachelors degree as the
/ standard of admission All these col.
! leges viii devote their time TO original
/ research and to the training of speciaI-
| lists.
THE American University now has
! the following assets: Site and other real
! estate, s2o00Oo' building funds in hand
I and pledged. s340 900: endowment
! pledged. $3.50, total, 5000 600. can
/ ada has ais6 become interested in the
/ institut on, and some time ago the uni
/ verStty received bequest of $50 O6G
/ from Hon. Hart A. Massey. of Toronto
] to aid in the erection of Il building to
represent Canadian Methodism. |
would now be pleased to see st. Louis
! construct Il building and endow it for
/ 800 0G0''
The American University must not be
! eOnfounded with another movement tC
! found a national university at Wash
ington to be supported by the United
States Government The American
! University does not receive dollar
| from the Government. There has no
been a dollar raised. so far. for the
new scheme of a national university
/ although school children throughout hs
country will be asked to contribute
/ money on Washington birthday ami
yersary this year.
The annual agitation tC, university
/ to be supported entit ely by the Gov
ernment has begun again in Washing
/ ton city. No action has Eepn taken
/ however. either in the Senate o: the
| House. 1t is said that the r1ajprity >o
| tnn committee before whi:.n the mat.
ter must go, if a bill should be intro
| duced in the Senate, is unfriendly To tn,
enterprise. The scheme found LITTLE
| favor in the last House, and tn. com
! mittee on education did not dt-em Il o
sufficient Importance to ..e made tn
subject % a report. The argument bc
ing made against university suppoi {
| ed by the Government is tbTt II woul,