New-York tribune., 1900-04-21
SETH LOW AT COLGATE.
AN ADDRESS ON COLLEGES AND UNIVERSE
TIES BY coIuMBIA's PRESIDENT.

Hamilton " V April 20 (SpeciaD.-To-day was
patrons day at Colgate University. Seth Low
president OF Columbia University. was the prih-
cipal speaker. The faculty and students OF the
university met at Colgate Academy, and marched
to Shelton Opera House. where seats had been re-
served for them Among the persons who occupied
seats on the platform James c. Colgate ana
Austin Colgate. of New York. President Merrill IN
troduced DR.. Low. He said In part:
The American college az an historic institution
calls for no definition at this moment. But what
is an American university, and how does IL difier
American university 1n simply large college. is
II only complex institution having sexers suggest
the necessity of formulating as clearly as PsoS pos
This is the more important because hardly any two
of the American universities have the same organ. gar
and simple; others have been founded by private
and other 10 bsys oe anp ahsbd and are main
tanned by various States in the Union as the S t3p
those States. Is there any common factor that cah
be found beneath all this difference of organl5a MA
tion and control which will enable us TO say Wna, wa
the American university is as distinguishes "''
The aim of the American college. as conceive
IT, Is to give liberal education or II YOU, you peoi i
versity, on the ether hand, is to make specialist
1t may be in one of the professions or as an MS
caS and Ideally the uniVersity ought to be found
broadened before he begins to specialize: but prac
ticay this is not necessity OF the t sdt"h1oH bH
1t must be said that wherever the aim OF tralning
specialists is distinctly recognized, an INSTITUTION
that unites with this aim the conduct of college Is
still properly called university, for the name UNI
versity is evidently a name Of wide comprehen-
America needs broadly trained men as much as
il ever needed them. and the age In which that
liberal training ought TO he obtained Is from SIX
Just as II used to be. / think small colleges that
would be content q make the old college tendet,
ability and would make it available at the former
college age. would find demand which would De
persistent and growing for just this educatlon'
Such colleges cannot hope TO compete WITH the UNI,
versities I'm the matter of training specialists. and
they will do injustice their own students VINO
purpose specialize If they try to. II each college
proper aim. the means for carrying out that aim
will be clear enough. In point of view OF breadth
with college which ia part of university; but In
point of view of quality Of work within tts own
range the small college can challenge the colnpe-
tttion OF the large and OF colleges connected
with universities, without fear. A denomina attonal
university is contradiction In terms; unless, as
here Colgate, the only direction which II aims
to specialize Is In preparation for the ministry But
for the training of men and for the development
o character the American people must change
importantly before the denominatiOnal college Will
have lost its place. Such college viii be valuable.
perhaps. one should say. not so much because OF
because the iOftiness of ideal the earnestness OF
purpose and the qualities of character that spring
from the religious impulse factors in the edu-
cation of men which are In no danger Of losing
their power.
A dinner held at O'Clock In the gymnasium.
President Merrill toast master. and those who
responded toasts Seth Low. James c. Col
gate. "a, The University and the Trustees
Eugene A Rowland "a. of Rome, The Uni
versity and the Alumni: Professor r. s. Cook. of
leges and the Secondary Schools. Other speakers
We're Austin Colgate. DR.. w. S. Ford and F, H.
promenade took place In the gymnasium. Many
guests were present.