The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-03

great library, the head Of the library
system Of the State, great Beacon Light
of Letters, nItng its head far above the
horizon and sending its light into the ut
termost part Of the State to illumine the
homes Of all the people of every creed and
of every station, and show them the hid
den paths to the kindly fruits of earth and
to the eternal blessings of Heaven?.
We stand here today in Gerard Hall,
built half century ago from proceeds of
the sale of lands of Major Charles Ger
rard, bought with his blood in a war for
civil and religious liberty. Students and
professors are called to worship here, and
yet one-third of the persons summoned are
unable to find seats. Within five years
more two thirds of the students and pro-
lessons will be unable to find seats at these
morning prayers. The religious life of the
University is largely in the care of the
Young Mems Christian Association. over
sixty per cent. of the students and all the
professors are church members, and about
two hundred are members of the associa-
ton. Twice week evening prayers are
held by the association Four Sunday
schools in the nearby country are sup
ported by the association, and it maintains
also a weekly service in nearby cotton
mill Morning classes in Sunday school
with an attendance of from one to two
hundred are taught by the professors.
Says President VenabIe in his report
They have no suitable rooms for their
Bible class meetings No general assem-
lily hail. no reading room and no library"
Church people of North Carolina, let me
ask you if this is not the greatest stra-
getic point in the entire State for those
religious operations that seek to touch the
heart of higher life and quicken its beats
with the universal love of the Father?
Before closing, allow me to call the at
tention of this body, and so far as l may
be able, that of the whole State, to
another department of this University,
which from necessity has been sadly neg
lected, but which in the course of time
vii lprove its browning glory l refer TO
the graduate department, of which Pres
ident Venable in painful candor says:
mo special effort has been made to de-
velop this department, as the strength Of
the faculty is taxed by the large number
of undergraduates" 1t is in this direction
that the individual with moderate means
can wisely and with profit to the Univer-
sity and to its work in upbuilding the
State, give the smaller contributions in
keeping with the state of his exchequer
and along the lines in which he may be
strongly interested.
Fellow Alumni, and especially you
young men, we owe to this University
thousand times more than we can ever re-
pay.
Can we not start here today and appoint
a committee from this body to make dur
ing the coming year, thorough study of
the problems of education in North Caro-
lima with view to uniting our loyal sons
and daughters In the common hope and
upon the common purpose of upbuilding
this institution for the higher education
of the whole people? We can have this
committee report the results of its labors
to this body one year from today, at which
time further committee can be appointed
to memorable the General Assembly at its
next regular session for the purpose of |
securing its active cooperation in this
grand labor Of love which we have under |
taken.
~ siiS9S Sti1S' WI 4SoiuCnt, NOW dS-
sire to contribute permanently the yearly
income derived from four thousand dol
lars. And it is my wish that during the
coming year, this income be given to the
fund for the erection of a building, for
the religious needs of this institution and
thereafter to go toward the establishment |
of a fellowship in North Carolina History
in connection with the University, but
open to all students of all institutions for
higher education in the State That the |
selection Of the holder and the scope of this |
work shall be under the control and d- I
rection of the professor of History of the /
University; of Dr. John S. Bassett during
his professorship at Trinity College and
of the donor or a person to be hereafter I
designated by the donor.