The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-08

CHICAGO, March TT congratulate
you that you went through a university
without being poisoned by the noxlous
drug Of athieticisn," was a statement
made by Rev. Russell J. Wilbur, who
was ordained to the priesthood in st.
Mark s. Episcopal church, Evanston, yes
terday morning, by Rev. Arthur W. Lit
tie, recter of the church, who preached
the ordination sermon
Athletics now bloom" continued the
rector, like the deadly nightshade in
the olive grove of Academic - Though his
criticisms formed but a small part of
the ordination sermon, they attracted the
attention of the congregation, among
which there were a number of North
western university students. The students
at once inferred that the speaker was
condemning by innuendo the athletic
spirit at the Methodist school, from which
Rev. Mr.. Wilbur graduated in 1899.
When asked for an explanation of his
statement, Rev. Mr.. Little said: 81 meant
exactly what 1 said. The football and
baseball craze has so diverted the stu
is not valued as it should be in the mod
ern university.
Il do not mean to imply that I con-
denim all college athletics, but 1 certainly
condemn the extremes to which they are
carried and the brutal games in which
college students indulge. Neither do 1
mean to imply that there is a total alb
sence Of real scholarship in the modern
university, but there is not as much as
there should be. There is not as much
scholarship as there was ten or fifteen
years ago. The decline in the value plac-
ed on scholarship 1 believe to be due in
part to the development of the athletic
craze
''Would you rule out football entirely 2"
was asked.
81 didn't say that, but would end the
brutal and demora1iZing way it is now
played. l am advancing no new theory.
College professors themselves admit that
athletics are carried too far, but they
have not the courage properly to control
them.
I'm fact, our modern system of univer-
sity education has become in large degree
superficial. Interest in the classics. the
study of which is essential to a liberal
of the classics has declined the interest
in athletics has increased. There may
be connection between the two. .
1.-The failure of the new system to meet
the demands of the time is shown by the
stupidity of college graduates who pre-
sent themselves for examination for en-
trance to the professional schools.
my idea of a university is that it
should be place where mental and moral
fiber Is developed, and not place where
pugilism, and brutality is taught. 1 re-
iterate that athletics have interfered with
scholasticism. Football champions are not
noted for their scholarship
Would you limit athletic contests to
the students of single college, thus ruI-
ing out intercollegiate contests?"
Il think intercollegiate contests should
be only in oratory and debate. I believe
there will soon be a reaction from the
present extreme to which the university
world has gone, that athletics will be min
imized, that scholarship will again find
it's place and that more attention will be
given to the classics.
I'm my sermon did not refer to North
western university in particular, as some
seem to think, for Northwestern has not
the athletic craze as bad as many col
leges.''