The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-04
THE CHURCHES AND EDUCATION.
What Religious
m North Carolina.


During the whole history of North Car
olina the church has played an important
part in shaping the social and intellect
ual life. During the seventeenth CEN
fury and practically all of the eighteenth
the churches, and individuals directly or
indirectly connected with the churches
looked after the educational needs. The
colonial government did in reality moth
ing, though it made several attempts. The
early State government did very little
until the nineteenth century. A charter
was granted to university in 1889, but
this did not open until 1895. Since this
date the State has rendered some aid
10 education, by it's university, by pub
lie school system, which was in a chaotic
condition from 1926 to 1852, by it's assist
ance to study in the agricultural and
mechanic arts, by its normal and indus
trial college for women, which has been
in successful operation since 1892, and by
a few local normal schools. Along with
this educational movement by the State
have come great movements and aids by
the denominations; throughout our his
tory, therefore, the churches have had q
large part in our educational life.
The Established (EpiscopaD church
sent missionaries, parish libraries and
preachers, who also served as teachers,
as early as 1905 These ministers, or
teachers under the church. had entire
control of the educational life of the
eastern part of the colony and State
throughout most of the eighteenth CEN
tury, the schools of New Bern and Eden
ton being the most important. In 1884
theological and classical school was
established at Raleigh, but had very
short life. closing in 1898. st. Mary's.
at Raleigh has been one of the famous
schools of the State. Though a private
school until 1895, when it became a do
cesar school, it was from its opening in
1912 owned and managed by member of
the Episcopal church.
The Presbyterians were the leaders in
religious and intellectual activity in the
western part of the colony and State dur
ing the latter half of the eighteenth CEN
fury. They organized many churches in
this section, and in almost every case a
school was attached. These schools were
long famous in middle North Carolina.
Crowfield Caldwell's Log College, Clos
Nursery and Science Hall, and Zion
Parnassus. are all we'll known. These and
several other academies were among the
greatest educational forces of North Car
DINA from 1850 to 1885: they were in
every case under the management of a
Presbyterian minister, though technically
private. in spirit Presbyterian academies.
In 1896 the Presbytery of Orange estab-
lished a classical school, known as Cald-
we'll Institute, which was in operation
for several years Floral College was an
other school of the Presbyterians, being
opened in 1S47 and continuing in opera
ton for almost forty years. Davidson
College is and has been their highest edu-
cational effort. This was opened in 1887,
and since that time it has been one
of the very best institutions of the State.
In 1854 it was given. by Maxwell Cham
hers. $250,000. though by it's charter 1T
could not hold more than 100000. Much
of this was destroyed by the war and to-
day the endowment is less than $4,000.
The Lutherans and Germans have done
something in the way of education. When
they first settled in North Carolina they
held their services together and had a
common school. Their first teacher came
in 1878. In TIA they began to have sep
arate churches, and since that time their
schools have also been separated. The
Germans (Reformed). though rather small
in numbers, have kept up considerable
educational interest. Catawba College is
their leading institution; it is their church
college. Claremont College and a few
academies are under their influence. Ca
tawba College, either as a college or high
school, has been in operation since 1851,
excepting 1S61-1S65 The Lutherans also
have several schools. some of which have
in,
Carolina College is their school for men,
and was opened as high school in 1856.
Their school for women is Mount Amoena
Seminary. Elizabeth College and several
academies are under their general infiu-
ence Lenoir College, which has been run
ming since 1891 is the property of the
Tennessee Synod.
The Moravians have done much for the