Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-21
THE CHURCH UNIVERSITIES


Salt Lake city, Utah, Jan. 20, 1904
Editor Deseret News;
4 large number of young people are
about to graduate from the eighth
grades OF the public schools, and pa
rents are confronted with the necessity
OF deciding ut once where these gradu-
ates Will BE- sent for the purpose OF con-
tinuing their schooling. Without de-
string TO cast the slightest reflection
upon the excellence Of our public school
system or upon the hlgh-mlnded and
competent principals and teachers
thereof fOr whom we all have great re.
specO, ] wish TO speak word In be.
half Of the latter-day Saints UniVer-
sity.
II goes without saying, take 1t, that
no Institution OF hlgh-schooi grade In
this city has corps Of teachers OF
higher educational on personal qualili-
cations than Joshua H. Paul John NJ.
Mills, Bryant ). Hinckley, Henry Pc
terson John T. Miller, Joseph l., Horne,
John ii. Evans, Benjamin Goddard,
NARROW Porter, H. s, Bowen, r. j.. Bird
mot to mention the long list Of other
competent teachers), ! have had oc-
CASTOR to investigate the workings OF
NillN NiitOlt anu billtNtf ul'l Nil'lhlUlt
unhesltAtingly express the opinion, that
its discipline and instruction are unex-
celled In any institution OF equal grade
In this city. Its pupils cover substan-
tally the same ground AS IL required
IN our public institutions and. what Is
vastly important to the Latter.day
Saint, make a systematic study of the
ology. If our children are to receive
thorough instruction In the superlative-
~ important subject OF religion, where
VIII they obtain II except In the schools
OF academic grade which are being
maintained, at tremendous cost, by the
Church?
II IL not the policy OF the Church, as
understand II, to duplicate the work OF
the graded schools or, TO any substan-
tial extent, OF the State University and
Agricultural College, but 10 confne It's
efforts, chiefly, to high school instruc-
ton, In conformity with this plan,
academies have been established and
are being maintained from Canada to
Mexico. II we would have our chill
dren versed In the principles Of Chris
tianity, az we understand them; II We
would have them acquire that devotion
al spirit and interest In the Gospel
which Is characteristic of these Church
schools; IL we would have them thor
oughly grounded In morality; II, In
short, we are anxious that they will not
DEPART from the way of the Gospel or
good morals, then should we carefully
train them In the days Of their youth
After all there Is so much Of opposition
10 "Mormonism," SO many influences
operating TO lead our members astray,
that no member Of the Church, II would
seem. viii be held gultless In neglect
Ing any means OF confirming the iaith
or morals OF his children particularly
such palpable and effective means as
are afforded by our Church Academies
and Colleges,
understand that tho Iatter'day
Saints University win begin classes In
each Of its courses at the commence
ment OF the second semester, within a
few DAYS.
Yours sincerely
RICHARD w YOUNG.
We give place on this page TO the
foregoing letter, as 1t touches on mat
ter OF special Importance to Latter-day
Saints. The advanced educational In
stItutlons that have been established
under the auspices OF the Church, de-
serve all the encomlums that can be
passed upon them They are specially
provided for the children Of our peo-
pie who have passed through the dis
trlct schools, including the eighth
grade, and are thus prepared for
higher education They should also re-
ceiyo instruction IN those principles Of
religion and morality that are taught
in the Church academies and unIver'
stiles.
Il should be known and understood
that TIE preceptors and their aids In
those institutions are competent as well
as exemplary men and women, Their
personal character Is OF the highest
and their scholastic learning and train
ed abilities for teaching qualify them
for the position they occupy.
The /. d, s.. University in this city Is
specially mentioned, just now, because
Of the graduating period from the city
district schools. This Is the time for
parents to consider the question,
whether they desire their children who
have passed the eighth grade TO con-
tnuo their studies further and If 80
where they viii send them 1t Is to
the Latter.day Saints that the appeal Is
addressed which Is presented In the let
ter We publish today, They should
ponder upon It's suggestions and take
steps accordingly. The advantages Of
The theological training, and the spirit
and influence and example to be had In
the institution named, are too great to
he Ignored and are beyond financial es-
innate.
This Is not intended to dccry other
schools and academies and universities