The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-05

grandson are both here-thrce generations
of good and true University men. You
viii have to travel further than | have
travelled to find better man that yours
forever" A. D. Belts. He is one of the
few surviving chaplains of the Confeder-
ate army, and then and ever since he has
been preaching the old-fashioned gospel,
OF Love. I have heard him in the pulpit
seldom, but he has practised the doc
trine he breaches for half a century. and
all who have seen him have felt the nfu-
ence of his pure life and simple faith
wonder sometimes if we will produce a
race of preachers by the newer theology
that will do for North Carolina what the
old circuit riders of the type of Rev. A.
d. Belts have done He looks as young
a, he did ten or twenty years ago, and his
heart is as young and his faith as fresh
and his zeal as undminished as when he
offered consolation to the dying Confed-
crate soldiers when shot and shell made
the only music around their rude beds of
death. May he live long and may all
choice blessings crown his useful old age,
made beautiful by his clear faith and
his allembracing love of his fellow men.
l was impressed by some statements
made in the report Of the Visiting Com
mlttee and President venable about the
moral tone of college life A very large
number OF the students belong to some
Christian church, many of them take in
terest in the Y NJ. G. A., and there is
spirit that does not tolerate dishonesty
or unworthy conduct. This was mani
tested by the voluntary action of the SC
Nor class-''the best class have known,
said President Venable. Two or three
students we're guilty Of unbccoming con
duct during the session. Without saying
a word to the faculty, the senior class
notified the unworthy boys that they could
not stay at Chapel Hill, packed their be-
longings, and compelled them 70 leave
college and the village. When it came
to the ears OF President yenable he was
proud of the spirit manifested, even if hc
would have preferred to do the expulsion
act
"Hazing has been abolished" said
member Of the faculty. 1 was glad to
hear it.
In 1885 President Battle. after a hard
tussle with a tough set of hazcrs. con
quered and they then agreed to quit haz
ing. It was then given out with much
qualification that "hazing is at an end"
President Winston had a hard expcr
fence. but finally was assured by the boys
in public meeting that there should be
no more hazing. 1t was then officially |
proclaimed that such thing as hazing |
at the University would be no more.
President Alderman had an easier time
and proclaimed that hazing had gone into
innocuous desuetude
And now President venable tells US
that, thanks chiefly to the spirit and ex
ample of the students, hazing is not prac-
tised.
All these college presidents have been
correct in their statements at the time
Trey were made. Unfortunately some OF
the boys, after their good resolutions,
would backslide, thing men and boys
will do, whether they believe in the doe
trine Of backsliding or not. But, while
there was some backsliding under each pres
ident, this is true: the progress has been
in the right direction. The hazing has been
Il ybter every year. the numbers engaging
in it get fewer, and the sentiment against
all hazing has grown stronger all the
time among the student body. The next
logical step is, of course, for it to wholly
cease. And, if it shall break out again
next fall, it seems reasonably certain that
i will be OF a mild character, and that
it viii soon remain only as tradition.
j. d.