Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-08

US rich men can be Christians, Presi-
dent Gates would give us the advan-
tage OF big needle with q big eye. OF
President Gates ability 1t goes without
saying that he is the peer of anything
in the west. An old neighbor of the
president thus expresses 1t: Hes all
right If he'd let that darn foolishness
4 of Herron's alone"
4 Mrs. Rand, whose motives none have
ever questioned, and whose latest ac-
/ ton proves that she is a real friend to
Iowa College, adds much to her reputa-
ton as such by leaving this endowment
intact, only providing that Applied
4 Christianity must be taught and the
interest of the fund devoted to that
purpose.
Professor Heron himself comes OFF
with flying colors. His letter OF resig-
nation is manly, and he does not take
back thing. Not every one has read
his letter in full. There is SO much in
1t that can have general application
to all cases of this kind that the writer
4 will pick out a few of the strongest
statements To the trustees he says:
None the less, your position Is trus-
4 tees is made more serious and difficult
each year by the recurring demands
for the removal OF the chair of Applied
4 christianity and its occupant These
demands come not only from the press
) and from public men who feel indig-
|nant at my teachings concerning prop
erty, but from old and sincere friends
i of the college, who feel that its we'll
being is being jeopardized because of
4 the lack Of support from men of fnan-
cial means and of influence among the
i churches. The self-sacrifice and devo-
ton of these old friends of the college
demand full and sympathetic consider
|'ation. Whether they be mistaken or
not, it seems to be the now generally
accepted opinions of yours constituent
cy that men who have money will not
4 give to the college while remain in
it's faculty; that the churches will not
support the college because of my in
4 Interpretation of the teachings of Jesus. "
4 That is much better stated than
when in this column sometime ago the
same ideas We're brought out.
And here is an extract that shows
4 Professor Heron is above petty spite
and revenge. No one doubts that his
influence could have been used detri-
iuelldl 10 1OWd SOlleSe.
by the terms of the endowment the
department of Applied ristianity
can remain in the college only by my
voluntary retirement from the chair or
by my removal by the three special
trustees of the endowment To this vol
g untary retirement Mrs. e. D. Rand has
finally consented. 1 am entirely un-
! willing to take this endowment of $685.
~ NJ N,
be able TO leave it, through Mrs. Rand's
generosity. Upon my retirement the
endowment will be so changed as to be
turned over TO the college, without any
conditions attached thereto. l would
only ask that the faculty and trustees.
in selecting my successor, give the gra-
cous consideration due to Mrs. Rand's
wishes in such selection. l trust that,
; under more conservative teaching the
department may have noble and
abiding history in the minds and ideals
of the generations of the students who
shall come and go. And pray that
my nearly seven years relation to
Iowa College may count for something
in the services and memories of the
college"
And in closing he makes some gen
who proposed to keep him in the fac
2 nifty regardless of results would do well
to commit TO memory:
"Out OF justice to you as trustees, ]
t feel that l ought to say to you that ]
: lam not sure bur that those who refuse
10 support my presence and freedom to
teach in the college may have a right
Ito refuse such support Anyhow, with
nyIf rap n "a r-iphf Of either of
controversy is not a good influence to
be about a college or university. And,
g aside from controversy. question
9 whether an existing college or univer-
q Esity is any place for the sort of work
. am trying to do. do not know that a
. Hpresent-day educational institution car
rightly make place for the mere apostle
! of an ideal, whether he be right o,
9 wrong Institutional education has
q ichiehy to do with what has been sale
y and done rather than with what. is t.
d be said and done in the future. Any
proposed change of institutions, any
Ideal of a new mode of society or life
q or industry has always been a subtec
. of conflict and dispute. The truth is al
ways iudeiy and imperfectly stated BY
its earlier apostles. The imperfector
9 and conflict have been as unavoidable
{ las the truth. But educational institu
tions. as now organized and supported
dependent as they are on gifts o
d money from the existing social order
afford no place for the teaching of dis
turbing social ideals though 1t can no
e be that human truths that are new vii
j. always be outcast and vagabond upol
is the earth even when rudely spoken
i. until accepted and made a part of tn
past. AS college education Is now or
ganized, however l question any man
:. right TO teach that which the colleg
constituency does not want. He may a
as individual teach the people VIII
% care to hear him. but not as a membe
II of an educational institution which
I'd does not represent"
IS The last two sentences cover tn
whole issue so satisfactorily al
ranged and brought to a close