The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-27
DIR. johnson on a
Sign of the Times.
Continued from First Page)

great universities, and the increase OF the
appropriations to the state Universities
Now, the denominational college is out
matched IN respect to the commercial,
technical, professional and special educa
ton In its own domain 1T IS IN direct
competition with the state universities
In my opinion, the state universities VIII
continue to grow Whatever else may be
said OF them, they are "a part OF American
life and civilization. They have the res
ources Of the State to draw upon, and IN
every State in the South their incomes
have been largely increased IN the last
ten years So far as I can see, the m
crease Of their incomes in the future will
be retarded not by consideration for the
ldenominationaI college, so much as by the
rivalry Of other State institutions. For
my own part, / would not advise the
friends Of the voluntary principle to yield
that principle, but | am ready to advise
that they cease to hope to bring about q
political revolution that will overthrow
the State-aid principle. Such change
viii come, if ever, in response to the
conviction that distinctlvely Christian
education is supremely to be desired; and
this conviction will come OF experience
rather than of argument. 1t Is true that
the growth of the State-aid principle will
hurt US, but let it hurt. There are pro
found reasons for the existence OF denomi-
national colleges, and in these reasons we
shall find our hope. Our task is to de
monstrate the superiority OF Christian
education, and to persuade men and wo-
men that it is the true edcation.
Now, such are the conditions that CON
front denominational colleges. Shall they
surrender the field?
This has been seriously recommended
from two points of view. Mr.. Walter
Page speaks from the standpoint Of an
advocate of education by the State. He
suggests that the denominations segregate
their institutions about the State univer
sites. Rev. A. ]. Dickinson, OF Birmlng
ham, Alabama, one of the most accom-
plished Baptist ministers in the South
represents this view from the Baptist
stanpoint. He declares that education is a
social, not a denominational function, and
that the denomination should retire from
the field and devote itself wholly to
preaching the gospel. In view Of these
conditions, / come to offer my concep-
ton OF the future of the denominational
college.
The denominational college has a future
because il has a mission. Chris
tian colleges do not rear men for the
church, but for mankind. The grand par
ticular object that leads Christianity on
at the present time is the redemption oil
the race and the bringing OF mankind into
the life that is in Christ Christianity
proposes to save the world by saving the
Individual It's plan is to make a servant
Of every individual that it saves. So it
moves at once upon the man and upon so
cety If you conceive of redemption as a
mere mechanical or judicial process, then
Mr. Dickinson's position is right. But if
you conceive of redemption as infinite
and progressive, elevation; if you con
ceive of God as having an ever-increas-
ing work in the world; if you conceive of
mankind as having infinite reaches to
make conquest Of, then you must reckon
upon the school This is the normal view
of education and of life.
Education is part of the process Of
God. 1t is the making of man in the i'm
lage Of God In this conception Chmstiani-
lty is education, and true education is
Christianity.
The future Of the demoninational coll
lege will be determined by the faithful
mess by which it shall follow this ideal of
4 Christian education. So far from ADAM
doning its mission, its call was never so
clear and insistent as it is today.
Following this ideal, the Christian col
lege win be saved by its fruits. 1t win
send forth men complete in knowledge and
training with the shadows and lights OF
the past; men who have all that scholar
ship can give; who have walked with
science, art, and letters; men who come
forth into the world with these proud pos
sessions, conscious Of their power, ana who
lput every gift and their heads and hearts
lat the disposal of Jesus of Nazareth, the
Master of the life of the world men who
add to all knowledge the love that trans
mutes the brass of knowledge, to the gold
OF service: men who come into the State,
not to rule, but to serve; into the market
not to bleed, but to help; into the great
world with a heart as wide as the world
men who live in time with visions III
leternity.
Our work is to pour into the streams Of
life, living waters fresh with the spirit of
Him who said: Il came that we might
have life. and that We might have it more
abundantly." We are not to produce citi-
zens, not merchants, not artisans. The
lproduct of Christianity wherever it works
is life, is men, Gods last resort is not
an army and not angels. 1t is a
man.
The forces that make against denomi-
national colleges at the present time are
great forces, but they are superficial, they
will pass away. The forces chat stand for
4 the denominational college are forces that
abide forever.