The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-15
KILG0 WILL STAND
BY DIR. BASSETT.
Three Preachers Fail in Efforts to Secure
Meeting of Trustees of Trinity
College,

committea-one or both-to meet and for
mally disavow responsibility for Bassetts
views and to state that they did not
meet the approval of the other members
of the faculty or the executive commit
tee"
did that satisfy the three trustees?"
1 asked
Il think not" was the answer. zone OF
them is reported to have said that such
a procedure would be worse than moth
ing, and would further outrage public
sentiment. He said all this had caused
him, regretfully, to believe that the sue
cess of the college depended upon COM
plete change of management, and that he
wished President Kilgo and Dr. Bassett
would resign in the interest of harmony
and the good of the college"
What is President Ki,gos attitude to-
ward Prof. Bassett?' / next inquired.
CDR. Kilgo will stand by Prof. Bassett.
He refuses to make any statement, but
it is understood that he will say that,
while he does not approve of certain state
ments in Prof. Bassett's article, he will
stand by him and resist any attempt to
force him out of the faculty. This is
what might have been expected. Prof.
Bassett has been in close accord with
President 1<ilgo in his policy and has
followed him in sharing his views that
breadth and liberality of thought meant
to radically differ with the prevailing SEN
timent in church, in business, in politics.
They are two of kind, but, of course,
President Ki}go does not share Prof.
Bassetts views upon negro equality and
his comparison of Booker Washington
with the Souths great men. But that is
the only point of difference. Dr. <ilgo
and DR.. Bassett are both alien in their
thoughts to the old ideas of North Caro-
lima Methodism, and DR.. Kilgo does not
therefore keenly feel the magnitude of the
offense of Prof. Bassett, though he no
doubt regrets the publication ana els
agrees with the sentiment. But he is so
strenuous in his talk about the need for
breadth and liberalty and that sort of
thing, except about trusts and illegal
combinations to rob the tobacco farmers,
that he will stand by Bassett. They are,
except as to the negro utterances, 'tarred
with the same stick and think largely
alike. DR.. Kilgo could hardly do other
wise than stand by Bassett. The professor
has been a pupil of the president but has
gone further than his instructor and
further than his teacher intended
well. if Kilgo stands by Bassett, what
will be the RESULT" ventured to enquire.
LAS to the immediate result, / cannot
say" he answered. 1.-The board of truS
tees as the board is now composed is very
friendly to DR.. Kilgo. 1t may temporarily
stand by him and keep him in as presi-
dent of the college. They may let Bas-
sett stay, too. But if they do the fate of
Trinity College can be read in the history
of the University of North Carolina under
the presidency of Solomon Pool. There
was an able faculty and plenty of room,
but the campus was deserted and North
Carolina fathers sent their boys into other
States to be educated. AS to the ultimate
ending, it is clear. DIR. Kilgo will give
pace to some road-guaged, charitable,
loving scholar, who will avoid antagon-
lsns, be free from reckless assertions,
make no exhibition of spleen, attempt no
dictatorship. Under the presidency of
that large man, with faculty in accord
with the best American thought and in
spired by the broadcast and truest South
ern sentiment, Trinity College, with its
splendid equipment and large endowment,
will recover the confidence of the whole
church, and it will be the glory and pow
er of North Carolina Methodism."
The conductor, with his lantern, at that
moment came aboard and cried out: "All
off at x" and my friend said
good night" and took departure.
AS 1 reflected upon the news he had
communicated and the glowing prophecy
of a Trinity College-broad. liberal, toler-
ant, devoted to educating preachers,
teachers, professional men and business
men, who would, with veneration for the
old and lofty past ideals, make the college
a power In the New Day i'll North Carolina
II wondered if North Carolina Metho-
dism would have to wait long for the fol-
filsment of prophecy having SO much
of promise to North Carolina and to North
Carolina Methodism.