The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-15
UNITE IN A LEAGUE.
host Important Action Yesterday by the
Educational Conference

The Educational Conference met at 4
o'clock in the afternoon in the main als
ditorium of Grace-street Church. Judge
W. r. Barksdale occupied the chair and
DR.. w. R. L. Smith led in prayer. The
minutes of the meeting held on July 18th
were read by the secretary, the Rev f.
-. Hening, and were approved.
On behalf of the special committee APP
pointed at the former meeting to draft
a plan for the uni1ication of the various
educational institutions in the State IN
der Baptist control, Dr. w. E. Hatcher
submitted a report recommending the fol-
lowing as the fitting action to be taken
and to be sent to the General Association
as a response: to its action taken at Bris-
toll last year, when it requested the rep-
resentatives of the various schools to
meet in conference amt consider the ques-
ton of co-education:
Il While highly commencing the high
service which our people have rendered
in the cause of Christian and denorai-
national education, we feel constrained
to report that the educational situation
among the Baptists of Virginia is in SOME
respects seriously unsatisfactory and
calls loudly for the correct attention Of
all our people. We find that we have no
endowed schools in the State except Rici1-
mond College. and even that institution
is by no means sufficiently equipped or
endowed. Our chartered schools are in
most cases overlooking with patronage
but utterly lacking in capacity for :tc-
compnoda tons. defective in equipment,
without endowment and more or less in
debt These schools are doing earnest
work. but they all feel profoundly that
they are not fully prepared to do the
work required at their hands.
% It is our. profound conviction that
this condition of things will not be bet
tered so long as a policy so in1pulsive &C.
centric and independent is pursued In our
educational enterprises as now prevails
We believe that our schools ought to be
brought unoer denomina tional control
and that ample money ought to be given
by our people for their equipment and
support.
IS. While notsventuring to suggest any
schedule of unification. we do express the
conviction that the united wisdom OF our
people can devise a system OF co-orfina-
tion for our schools suited to the princts
pies and genius of our 6enominat ion-a
system that will suppress rivalries. es-S
tahlish better standards, hold and guard
our school property from loss, and yet
neither destroy the autonomy Of the sew
era! schools or disturb their local man
agement.
"4 We suggest also that this body
create an education commission, to which
these arecOnl1leilutittoiiS5 q III SUGGESTIONS
be referred, with instructions to study
the subject in every aspect and formulate
Z a scheme of coordination forsour schools
and present it to this body next year for
its final action. This commission. We
further suggest. shall consist O. fifteen
brethren.
zsss...;5, We would further ask that the COM
mission be authorized to inform itself as
( to the condition.. needs and pertls OF those
schools which may indicate their purpose
to unite IN the cor-ordination system, and.
81 far as it is ablesto do so. to lend Its
best influence in supporting any well-con-
certeI movement which may be made for
relieving any of these schools from debts
which imperiI their propertv."
s The report was discussed at length by
the Rcvs. w E. Hatcher D. De- X. II. =