The Owosso times., 1902-01-31

an insult to every student that does
any thinking. The department of POI
htical economy is not the place for
partisan or religious instruction. There
are good many others who feel just
as l do. President Royce, you are
provoking storm of protest from all
quarters that will prove disastrous
10 the welfare of the college. | am not
alone in this matter. There are a good
many men who have heretofore helped
The college financially who will not
give it cent in the future until the
teaching in the department OF political
economy is different from what it now
| is."
"Wil you answer me one question.
Mr.. Rankln|' the president asked
after a pause, while Edward. as much
excited in his way as Mr.. Rankin was
! in his, turned over a leaf and waited
! for the next word.
do you candidly think that Pro-
fessor Clark has s'been right in his con-
/ clusions as to the moral aspect of GER
! tain business methods? Entirely aside
from the question as to his right to
advocate such teachings in his depart
ment, is the teaching itself true? Do
the methods of the business firms that
he mentions in his lecture square with
| the sermon on the mount and the
! golden rule or not?'
THAT has nothing to do with the
| question: retorted Mr.. Rankin, as his
face grew redder than ever under the
of l,n hot
Of political economy and history is not
the place for the discussion of religious
questions. The economic questions of
the mercantile world are separate and
apart from religion. You cannot mix
the two"
81 know they very often are not mix
ed in any great quantity" replied the
president calmly, but l was of the
| opinion that the world is just waking
up to the tremendous fact that all eco
nomic questions are in reality moral
questions and that to leave morality
and religion out of the discussion of
them is really to fail TO discuss them at
all. II Professor Clark in his lectures
has shown. as think he has, that GER
tain transactions in the mercantile
world are contrary to the moral laws
of Gods universe, then it seems to me
that he is teaching In the department.
of political economy just the truth that
has always needed to be taught, and if
it had been taught by professors of po-
litical economy years ago we might
have different business world from
the one we have now"
II do not understand the matter as
you do at all, SIR replied Mr.. Rankin,
land it is no use TO discuss it. Our fail
ure to agree in our correspondence
shows me plainly that we never can
agree in this interview. | understand
plainly that it IS your intention to do
nothing in the matter, or the board of
trustees?"
81 do not know what action the board
of trustees may take" replied the pres
ident slowly, but |, for my part, shall
never attempt to interfere with Profess
or Clark as long as he teaches what he
is teaching now | may say in fact.
that | rejoice in the work he is doing.
and / shall uphold him in it for the
good of the students and the college
generally"
"Then the college can look to scme
one else for funds to build up it's en-
dowment,"' replied Mr.. Rankin stiffly
II do not give cent to the institution
as long as the present method of in
struction is employed by the professor
of political economy. AS | said be-
fore"-Mr. Rankin rose and rnoved
across the study-T am not the only
man who feels this way. Hope college
will lose thousands of dollars as long
as Clark is allowed to teach his doc
trines."
The president rose and stood calmly
by his desk. He looked thoughtfully
at Rankin. but did not speak.
81 shall inform the trustees of my
determination. sir. 1t is possible they
may have different views from yours,
sir"
"It is altogether possible they may"
said the president quietly.
Mr.. Rankin had reached the door.
81 bid you good day, sir" he said
coldly and went out.
The president remained standing for
= with iOOh Ou lllS llCc tnut
Edward understood. In part at least.
In the intense stiffness that followed
Mr.. Rankin's departure q good deal of
thinking was going on In that little
room.
Finally the president broke the ST. |
lence by saying:
"The time will come. Blake, when 1t
will not be believed that such scene
as we have just witnessed could occur
In America. 1t Is simply one mani
festation out Of good many that you
and | may live to witness of the anger
and opposition reused by the greed of
wealth and acquisition when brought
face TO face with the teachings of |
Jesus. 1t is the same spirit that he
faced and rebukcd in his own age when
be said, How hardly shall they that
trust IN riches enter into the kingdom I
OF heaven .
Edward hesitaied 70 ask any cues
tious but from bis experience with she
president be had. come 60 love niniI
mere thln he feared him. rWlat effcctl
viii this have on you elr?7 be yenturod |
to ask.