Evening journal., 1902-08-15


himself for a professorship, has passed
through the lower grades of instruct
ors. etc.. has been deemed worthy to
be made a full professor, and has re-
ceived what in college circles is re-
garded as a permanent appointment,
that is an appointment with no definite
time limit may fairly be regarded as
a seeker after truth. and not simply
a hireling whose chief aim is to draw
his pay and hold his chair Since
such man, so far at least as many of
the subjects of his investigation are
concerned. has no Bible to guide him,
to what standard must he bring his
ideas to test their truth or fallacy ?
To some book? What book other than
the Bible is regarded in the civilized
world as infallible? To man? What
man except the Pope, and he only in
religious matters, is regarded as in
fallible2 May he with perfect assur-
ance test his conclusions by public
opinion. Though we have a saying
with which | in the main agree that
the voice of the people is the voice of
God we know that public opinion is
in some instances frightfully wrong, as
the Puritans in their opinion and treat
ment of the sO-called witchcraft. And
worthy of respect and respected as is
board OF trustees they will them
selves disclaim infallibility for them
selves.
Some time since a gentleman who
has amassed about a million dollars,
said TO me, pointing to his head,
When a question as to a business
move comes up refer it to this and
do what it says" and he was right
We may seek all the information, all
the advice. all the authority we can
find and give it all due weight, but,
if we are men. we must in the last
analysis decide for ourselves as to what
is the truth. especially where truth
touches duty.
Imagine a professor searching for
truth through the most intricate pro-
cesses Of mathematics, or the most deli
cate tests of chemistry or physics, or
the prOfoundest reasoning processes
of metaphysics, or even through the
lun knowledge and large and varied
experience of the practical educator,
and then asking a board of trustees to
determine the truth for himl The
very statement of the case reveals the
absurdity Of such a proceeding. And
yet this is precisely what in few in
stances. but outside of religious mat
ters only a few be it said to the credit
CT the college world. boards of trus-
tees have demanded. The searcher
after truth must be free in his search,
and the discoverer Of truth must be
free IN its proclamation. A lack of this
l 4. 1..4raa
stopped the wheels of human progress.
Society has contempt and neglect for
the holder of really penicious opin-
ions: and the laws have fines and i'm
prisonments for the inciter TO wrong
deeds. The college only degrades itself
when it reaches back into the dark
ages for gags and proclamations OF
| hanishment for its professors.
The college is, and ought TO be, the
| last place where prejudice and intOl-
erance should be found The col
lege professor rightly viewed is in
part a teacher, in part a student OF
tho truth already known, in part q
searcher after truth with which tC
widen the circle of human knowledge
! When we regard the college as the
place where men perform those three
duties under the impulse of a broad
deep love of human progress, it is evi-
dent that the college should be looked
upon as it. is by the best-informed
clearest-sighted and noblest, as aftel
the home and in some senses more
than the home. the most commanding
fortress Of liberty the world has to Of
fer Any attack upon the liberty o.
that fortress. be it made unwittingly
or in a moment Of prejudice or pas
sion by d friend, or with malicious in