Smyrna times., 1902-06-04
PASTOR COLLINS STRIKES
At BOGUS DEGREE MILLS
VIGOROUS ADDRESS AT CHILDRENS DAY
EXERCISES AT ASBURY CHURCH.
Mentions a New Degree, the "a. S. s." which
Served in Happy Vein to Explain His Posi-.
ton on "hOnOrary Degree" Getting.

During the children's Day services
at Asbury NJ. E. Church on Sunday
last, the pastor, Rev. Vaughan S. Col
Inns, in speaking of the so-called ''hOn-
orary' degrees that some men so
greedlly crave, mentioned one that
was entirely new to many of his audi
ence. The ga. B., ga. NJ. d. d. 3"
"Ph. D." and several others were fa-
millar; but the ga. $. S." was evil
IDENTIFY one that was new to many of
the audience
The remarks of Pastor Collins re-
called vigorous stand the TINES took
some time ago against the Bogus
Degree Mills" Pastor Collins was in
tervlewed regarding the new degree
spoken of, and in reply said as follows:
''These initials stand for Associated
Society of Simple tons" The society
has no written constitution and no
written roll of members; nor is there
any college that uses this exact for
mula In comforting the degree. New
ertheless the society is in a fourishing
condition, with large membership
and the list of members constantly in
creasing by the aid of scores of col
leges all over this fair land This
commencement month of June will see
hundreds of additions to the society
What is meant by the term?
Honorary Degrees Once Represented Much.
Primarily, anyone who obtains a
degree representing mental develop
ment and literary culture which he
has not earned by the scholastic train
ing necessary is entitled to member
IN the Associated Society of Simple
tons" With intelligent men diplomas
are more meaningle than ever before
In the days when the Colleges thought
more OF the quality of work done than
they did OF the size of the graduating
ana entrance classes, a diploma meant
something. 1t was virtually a oertif-
cate OF intellectual development.
Now, when classes are so large that
the Professors have little or no knowl-
edge OF the individual men composing
the classes so much is taken for gran
ted that scores of students every wear
receive diplomas as having completed
curricula that by strict examination in
private would be found grossly ignor-
ant of the subjects they are supposed
to have mastered. Every such grad
uate who goes forth from Alma
Mater. be it noble old Yale or grand
old Harvard, expecting his diploma to
open all places of honor and trust and
influence to him, is entitled to mem
mership in the society-he is a "sim-
pleton." Time that ought to have
been spent in mental application he
has squandered on athletics, or loaf
ing, or gaming; and while his diploma
reads "a. B., it ought to read "a.
s., Associated Simpleton.
Bogus Degree Mills" DO Thriving Business
'If this be true of men who have
spent four years in college, still more
true is it of men who have never been
to college at all and yet think the
mere appendage of title will convey
the magic power to make them the
kind of men the degree" declares
them to be. A teacher who has never
had the advantage of higher education,
and who thinks ga. NJ" or "Ph. D."
after his name will help him to secure
a school of higher grade, learns of a
school, (and there are a number of
them) where such degrees can be OBJ
tanned with a little learning and some
cash. SO out of his small salary, a
months pay, or less, is saved, and for
warded to the designated place; and in
return comes the new parchment with
the title in old English or Gothic let
ters. But that diploma ought to read
"a. s. s., for that teacher has en-
rolled himself in the new Organiza-
tion.
The Society Of Associated SimpIetOus.
linen Jnere Is Jue ululsIor VI OOus
continued Rev. Collins in forcible terms,
"who claims he is called by His Master
to preach the gospel in His name
He hears many of his brethren called
by the honored name of doctor" and
he covets such distinction. He in
quires of some good, scholarly brother
what's necessary in order to be a "Doc
! tor in Divinity" He is told that one
lifted to use that honOred title
os.. oi CO.. to be at least graduate of some
itb n Il le college; to be able to read
CorIhoyy Latin and Hebrew with
!, stroots ought to be quite familiar
.oIors Il }blical and ecclesiastical history; |
,Dv all means G ~ to be so ac-