The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-04
GREENSBORO FEMALE COLLEGE
SHOULD NOT CLOSE IT'S
DOORS.

have Deen OHered $i5,UU0 Tor the proper
ty which they offered to Trinity College
for $4,000 If they had purchased the col
| lege as a business speculation, they would
of course, sell for $4,000, and pocket cool
profit of $4,000. But they did not buy the
property. when a disastrous fire embar-
raised the church. to make money. They
bought it not for profit, but to save the
college to their church. They have con-
Quoted it as a church college for twenty
years. Fortunately for them the property
has appreciated in value, and they now
have presented to them the alternative of
putting profit of 5000 in their pockets
or of giving the church the right to buy
it and continuing their college. Be it said
to their credit foregoing the temptation
to make a large sum, they offered it to the
trustees of Trinity College for $50, 900 less
than they can get for it. The trustees of
Trinity felt that it would not be wise for
them to undertake to conduct the college,
IcuONcu lIOm puc seat VI It's principal
work, and declined the Offer Thereupon
the owners of Greensboro Female College
announced that, inasmuch as the college
did not pay its expenses, it would be closed.
Except to a few, that announcement came
to the $50, 600 Methodists and all others in
the State like clap of thunder from a
clear sky.
Since the publication that Greensboro
Female College would be closed, there has
been a strong protest against this back
The Raleigh Methodist District Confer
ence unanimously adopted resolutions re-
questing the owners to give to the church
the same option that was given to Trinity
College. The Alumnae Association has
made the same request. The owners have
not given an answer, waiting, so it is said,
for definite offer from parties who have
the financial ability to buy. Close upon
the heels OF the announcement that
Greensboro Female College is to be closed
comes the news that Trinity College is to
establish at Durham department for wo-
men that will be the greatest step ever
taken in the South for the education OF
woman This step, some argue, will make
the continuance of Greensboro Female
College unnecessary. for the Durham Col
lege will do the work of that institution
and greater work.
There is room for great woman's de-
partment of Trinity College at Durham.
and it will be hailed with rejoicing as
another strong factor in the education of
women. But it cannot take the place of
Greensboro Female College. Right or
wrong. wise or unwise. the people of North
Carolina do not believe in o-education
in institutions for higher education. The
University and Trinity College have both
opened their doors to women. 1t is true
that they have not provided dormitory
accommodations, but there has been little
demand for them. Most parents prefer
to send their daughters to college where
only girls are admitted. II Trinity opens
a strong woman's department. and pro
vides accommodations equal to those Of
fered to young men, it will do great
work, but it cannot secure the army of
girls who will not go to a college where
men and women both are admitted.
Nobody blames the owners of Greensboro
Female College for their unwillingness to
continue to bear the burden alone of con-
Quoting that institution. They have borne
it for many years and won the gratitude
of all its friends and re church to which
they belong. They have made mistake
however, in closing the college, without
full notice to the Conference mistake
which we believe they will rectify before it'll
is too late. The only power in the Metho-
dist church competent to act is the annual
conference. 1t cannot act until December.
The college ought not to close until these
conferences have had an opportunity to
keep the institution for the church. The
announcement that the college would close
has hurt some, it would be serious blow
to close it before the conferences meet, and
without notice of such step to the only
church body empowered to act.
Knowing them to be sincerely interested
IN the welfare of their church this appeal
is made to the owners of Greensboro Fe-
male College: Call meeting, elect an act
i've head of the institution, publicly an
nounce that at the December session of
the Conferences the property will be offer
ed to the church at the sum at which the
Trinity trustees declined it, notify the
church that you cannot longer continue it,
and that unless others come to the rescue
the college must pass from the denomina
ton In the meantime continue the col
lege upon its high plane, keeping account
of any deficit, and ask the alumnae and