The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-01
Editor Of The Times:

Editor Of The Times:
SRI find in Richmond a prevalent
misconception concerning Richmond Col
lese. Many OF our citizens have the no
ton that it is q sectaiian institution. IN
some objectionable or even offensive sense.
1 beg OF you sufficient space to make a
few statements by way OF removing any
such misconception.
Tho institution is baptist" only in
this sense. viz: 1t is owned by q Board of
Trustees a majority OF whom are llsh.-
bers of the Baptist denomination. ara It
represents the contributions OF Bapt1sls
(rr1ainly, but not exclusively to- higher
Christian education. That is all the sec
tarianism found there.
1t is purely a collegiate institution, nav
ing no theological course whatever. s.ts
benefactions are bestowed without tAe
slightest distinction as to religious te-
uefs. A student for the ministry from
any other denomination has precisely fhe
same privileges and advantages as q SUI
dent for the Baptist ministry. The matter
Of religious faith does not come under re-
view at ALL There are representatives OIL
con,n111nions other than the Baptists on
the trustees, i'll the faculty and among
the alumni. This has been true prlctl-
cally throughout its history.
In Virginia higher education. for men
IL.
In the case of Richmond College, reck-
oning the value of buildings and plant
and income from endowment, instruction
is furnished at about one-third of actuat
cost to all students, except students LOT
the ministry Of all denominations. and 10
these without any charge for tuition. / ne
college is able to do this because gen
erous and philanua1opc persons IN ,1lch-
1nond Virginia and from other portions Oh
the country have helped to build and
endow it, and the interest from sttle en-
dowmont helps to pay the salaries of pro-
fessors and other current expenses, ana
thus reduces the cost OF tuition.
The college is IL great advantage 10
the entire community i'll commercial
wav Within the past two years some
s5a5 600 were spent in new buildings. Pro
fessors, students and employees OF Varl-
Gus sorts spend in the neighborhood OF
SO, 900 annually. All of this is spent a.
rectly in Richmond. Indirectly. such an
institution brings other manifest com
merciaI advantages!
These are the plain facts and they are
significant In the light of them. the
movement to increase the endowment OIL
the college, Tow in hand, ought to nave
the substantial sympathy and support OIL
our broad-,ninded and philosophical cit
liens. without respect to denomlnatlohal
utilization. II it.were 81 question OF pllhS
irs such an institution TO the city, there
would ne no difficulty in raising tEE
s1oo, 600 right here in Richmond. Now that
We have the college. with three-fourths
OF a. century Of useful and eVer-lliust1lolts
history behind it, shall our good people,
,.ho are nor jBartists, look upon its work
with Indifference?
This final word ought to be said for
the information OF any business man
under whose eye these lines may ian.
The funds of the college. Inadequate as
they are for the necessities OF its great
mission, have been invested with great
wisdom, and the losses have been mere
trines But a number Of the pest secur-
tiles are about to mature and cannot pc
,onvestcd at the Same interest. III a
few years, therefore. tho income from
this source will be greatly REDUCED, anu
the necessity of enlarged endowment. IS
thus urgent and immediate
bichnond. Va, Nov. ESD.