The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-02


the boom of the early 7Os.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STATE
AND UNCONVENTIONAL EDUCA-
TON.
Biblical Recorder.
The Standard, Presbyterian, Charlotte,
produces a page and a half on Estate and
Church in Education" assuming to an
swer the Recorders editorial on THE
Future OF the Denominational College"
The Standard comedies that our estimate
OF adverse conditions is to degree ac-
curate and also recognizes their general
significance. But it relies upon the de-
nominational support of denominational
schools to save them. 1t offers no reason
at all for this support, however, saying:
when our State Institutions in
North Carolina have at their heads
and in their faculties just the same
sort of Christian men that our Church
Colleges have. the Standard would
feel a little hypocritical in talking
about State institutions as anti
Christian or even unchristian The
Churches should support their own
institutions as nobly as the Presby-
terrain church in North Carolina is
supporting Davidson and our five col
leges for women. And then, instead
of abusing State and the State insti-
buttons, they should see that those
Institutions from the public schools
up, should have thrown around them
all the influence of the Church and
OF the Chureh's ministry
We cannot reproduce the entire page
and a half from the Standard, but we
submit the foregoing as the substance of
the Standards position.
We concede that our State institutions
are manned largely by Christians. We
concede that their work is largely whole
some. We disavow any intention of
abusing those institutions or desire for
their injury in any way whatever But
we deny that their ideal is either directly
or indirectly Christian. There is religious
education and there is secular education
To be sure in certain instances the reli-
gious education presents secular aspect
and the secular presents religious
aspect But always there will be dis
tinction in degree. The UNCONVENTIONAL
college will promote distinctly religious
education. Its emphasis will be upon
the Christian content and the Christian
means of education; upon Christ as the
source of life and the guide of thought,
and the active motive and ideal in the
making of manhood. It's ideal will be
avowedly Christian; not UNCONVENTIONAL
but Christian. 1t will seek to make men
not by learning. but by Christ. The
State school may engage Christian teach
ers, but its emphasis will not be upon
the Christian content of education. It's
ideal will not be emphatically Christian
We do not say that the State school is
un-Christian. We repudiate the descrip-
ton of State schools as Goddess schools
They are not anti-Christian But at the
same time they are not religious institu-
tons; and religious education is the only
true and the only safe education. The
church is the organization for religion
and religious instruction-never the State.
We believe the Standard will recognize
this distinction. If not, what inducement
can it offer Presbyterians to support
Davidson so Loyalty? If the State, schools
do all that Davidson does, why go to the
expense of maintaining Davidson? 1t is not
matter of pride, surely. Nor is it
matter of getting rid of money There
is a difference. Let the Standard form
for us a statement of this difference, or
let it advocate the suspension of David
son. There must be a peculiar reason
for the existence of Davidson and for its
support by the Presbyterians.
The most significant trend in modern
education is the emphasis upon religion.
Christ is again to be set up as the Great
Teacher. He is the heart of education.
Religion is again to be recognized as the
centre of mans mind and heart and the
spring of his rise. 1t governs his life. To
a certain degree State institutions will
fall in with this trend. But they cannot
adequately meet the inherent demand
inherent in the nature of education and
IN the character of man-for instruction
on religious basis. Only the churches
can do this well and truly To this end
the denominations educate For this cause
the Christian colleges exist. And, could
we be persuaded that the state schools
can supply this demand we would not
hesitate to advocate the retirement of
the denominations from the domain of
education. We know of no other reason
for their existence. We utterly repudiate
the suggestion that they exist for the
denominations sake. They exist for man
kinds sake, as does the denomination.
The most and the best and the worst
we desire for the State schools is that
they shall be put ultimately upon the
Voluntary basis, and that so gradually
that they will gain all the advantage of
the Voluntary principle and suffer no in
jury from the transition. The most that
we contend for Immediately is an adjust
ment of the conditions now obtaining with
respect to~higher education in North
Carolina with a view to protecting the de-
nominational schools. Unless some such
adjustment shall be arrived at they viii
suffer, but the State will suffer more
than they. 1t is a matter of concern not
only to the denominations, but to every
patriotic citizen, every friend OF educa-
tiion
We submit that this position is reason
able and right from every point OF view.
What says the Standard?
ny