The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-10-26
North Dakota Presbyterians TAKE
Stenu Toward Securing One.

North DAkOt0 EreSOyterAsas~
steps Toward Securing One.
one Of the last acts of the North Da-
kota synod, which met at Forks
last week. was the appointment OF =
committee to ascertain the sentiment
among the. Presbyterians In the state
with reference to the establishing OF q
Presbyterian college in North DaKota.
There are few people In the state VINO
are aware that there was at one time
a Presbyterian college in this state
and that the building erected for thfs
purpose still stands.
A good many years ago the church
started a college at jamestown ana
erected a building which cost about
$25, 600. The college was opened for a
few years, but it was not a success.
For thing it was & long way from
the Presbyterian center Of the state.
Then the number of Presbyterians In
the state was not large, and after a
college was closed. 1t is now under
stood that the people of Jamestown arc
willing to repair the building, put ! n a
heating and lighting plant, and make
other concessions If the college an be
ce-estanliShed there. u
At the meeting of the synod the ques
zion of location was not discussed, but
there was quite a strong sentiment ex-
pressed in favor Of a Presbyterian COL
lege somewhere in the state. The Pres
byterian population has grown rapidly
within the past two or three years, and
there is a feeling that the church
should have some institution where its
young people can be educated while
surrounded by the influences of their
own church. The committee appointed
will anvas the state and report at
the spring. meeting of the synod. II
the report and the action of the synod
are favorable the subject will then be
submitted for final action to the four
presbyteries which constitute the
synod. The sentiment w.,s against the
establishment Of a college unless funds
sufficient to maintain the college for at
east five years could be guaranteed.
While no official action was taken OIL
the question of location, the prevailing
sentiment among the delegates who ex-
pressed themselves privately seemed te
be that the college, If established,
should be located somewhere In the.
northern part of the state. The reason
for this is principally the fact that IT
is in the northern half of the state that
the greatest number Of Presbyterians.
live. The northern counties are peo-
pied largely by Canadians Of Scotch
and Irish descent, and among these
people the Presbyterian element pre-.
dominates.
In the southern and western counties
there is more of the Lutheran element.
This being the case, the establishment
of the college in the northern half OF
the state is considered by many to be
the proper thing. Grand Forks would,
therefore, seem to be the most natural
place for the college, but that city Will
have no monopoly of the matter, as
there are north Of that city several
places which are eligible.
It is understood that Park Rive
stands ready to make an offer for the
college, and that city will have many
friends in the race, as it is situated IN
the center of a strong community Of
wealthy Presbyterians, and it Is ad-
mitted to be one Of the most beautiful
and best-kept cities Of the state. Graf
ton is another place that is considered
eligible, and there r several others.
Further action on the matter will be
awaited with great interest.