The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-19
CHURCH AND STATE WORKING
IN HARMONY ON THIS LINE
The Standard Finds No Conflict Between Them III
Pushing Forward the Cause of
Education.
presbyterian Standard.)


attitude on this question, but restate-
ment of principles seems to be called for.
The Biblical Recorder has an editorial IN
it's issue of last week on 1.-The Future OF
the Denominational College," which is
worthy of careful study and calls Tor
frank expression of agreement or disagree
ment 1t recites the conditions under
which the UNCONVENTIONAL colleges were
founded: when State Institutions were
weak, when the State Aid principle was
not firmly established, when denomlna-
tional fealty was strong, and when com
petition for students was not considerable.
Now. this would indicate that the Re-
corder is in somewhat pesslmistlc mood.
But it is not altogether justified by the
facts. In this State, for instance, the
University is older than any OF our col
leges and has always been supported by
State aid, though this has been very
meager throughout its history.
Then. are we willing to admit that de
nominational fealty, at least IN the South.
is weaker than it used to be? It's denomi-
nationalism is less fanatical. 1t does not
make the abuse of other denominations It's
principal stock in trade. But it is more
intelligent and it has gained by the ex-
change of sense for bigotry. The only con-
dition that we admit is the increasing
competition for students. And yet there
are those who still believe that competl-
ton is the life of education as well as OF
trade.
The Recorder notes among the changed
conditions the rise of technical institutions
such as the A. and M College in this
State, the increase of appropriations to
State universities, and the establishment
of State Institutions for women.
Well, if the Church Institutions have
failed to provide a technical education for
our young men, certainly it is the duty of
the State to provide it. We do not believe
that the Recorder would close the A. and
NJ. College at Raleigh this year if it could.
1t is doing too necessary work in edu-
eating for the industrial world the young
men who enter its doors. AS to the IN
crease in appropriations, every town UNI
derstands today that education, IN any
true sense of the word, is more expensive
now than formerly Unless education by
the State is to mortify every feeling OF
patriotism by inadequacy, the State has
TO provide the money for the equipment,
the laboratories and the various specialists
Of the several schools that are necessary
now. In this State we are getting ito be
a more prosperous people than we ever
we're. 1t is only fitting that the State
University should reflect something of the
improved conditions OF the homes of our
people. AS to the colleges for women es-
tablished by the State, which in North
Carolina is the state Normal let us
ask, What Church Institution was teach
ing its pupils how to teach in the public
schools, when it was founded? Has5lt not
already sent hundreds of teachers Trained
to teach, to these schools? Do we not
need good teachers for the schools in
North Carolina more than anything else?
Finally the tendency of gifts is to Che
great institutions" Well, as we have no
great institutions in North Carolina this
does not concern us. any more than the
talk of State Aid for Higher Education
means anything to those who know what
Higher Education really is and what we
have in North Carolina. We quote the
next paragraph:
Measure these conditions well, and
you will agree that the situation is
most grave. You will understand the
assurance with which we pointed out
that the State slew the Greensboro
Female College, whose death-cries con-
tinue to ring up and down our Com
monwealth. You will understand the
earnestness of the citizens who would
explain the matter away with soft
and soothing words
You will also understand why de-
nominational colleges have passed in
the North; why they have never had
chance in the West, and why they
are struggling for life in the South
the field of their last stand in all the
world. You will also understand with
what seriousness it has been urged
from the platform of one of our State
institutions that the UNCONVENTIONAL
colleges go out of existence as distinct
institutions and group themselves
about the State institutions You will
also understand why rising genera
ton of deadbeats and paupers have
besleged our colleges, State and de-
nominational demanding everything
free"
OF course the dead beats should be
one idea of education, whether by Church
or State, was to give the "pauper's" son
a chance to do better than his father did
Are our colleges for the rich only? It
may have been urged with seriousness
from the platform of one of the State In
stitutlons.' but it was serious folly all the
same and we suppose the Institution itself |
was not responsible
As to the passing of denominational col |
leges IN the North, Princeton University |
IN New Jersey is pretty fair type of
successful Presbyterian University, Just
as Washington and jefferson College in
Pennsylvaniion is of Presbyterian Col
lege. Yale is Congregational and Harvard
is Unitarian. These are not as sectarian
as they once may have been, but neither
are the UNCONVENTIONAL newspapers of that
section of the country. AS for the denomi-
national institutions never having had