The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-02-24

nary by persons whose names ar
household words in the Synod.
With the college endowment Q
$98, ,SO3.13, the Theological Seminar.
endowments of $50, 1868, colleg
buildings of not less value than $73,
600, the Synod has for educationa
work q plant of about $220,000 be
sides adequate libraries and fin
laboratory.
INNER GROWTH.
The inner growth of the college ha
kept pace with its outer development
The improved exterior appearance il
an index of a new spirit infused int
it. In 1893 the Chair of English Lit
erature and Language was added u
the curriculum. This was tardJ
recognition of the value of the study
of literature "wider in its scope
sounder in its philosophy, purer ir
its morals, and immeasurably richer
ard more extensive than the frag
ments of all the dead tongues tha
remain in the world" of language
in force and copiousness, second tt
that of Greece alone. My partially
for this department Of study and my
consequent familiarity with the eff
cheney with which it is conducted in
Erskine will permit me to say of It,
without seeming to fail in the least tc
give due credit to the thoroughness oi
the work done in the other depart.
ments, that I would rather have the
instructions given in the English
course in Erskine than that given in
the same course in any other college
in the State.
The establishment of the Chair OF
English was followed by an enlarged
course In the natural sciences and the
arrangement Of studies leading to the
B. 8. degree. Education which had
so long been hellenized and roman
lied was invigorated with new life.
Some apprehended a loss of patrician
flavor in the plebeian touch of the
laboratory. It was the old and oft de-
bated question of the classics as
against science. The question has
been wisely and satisfactory settled
by leaving 1t to each student to settle
for himself. The studies changed
were less significant than the spirit of
the change. It was the triumph of
q protest older than Milton, who two
centuries ago contended for an educa-
ton which should be natural in
method and useful and noble in re-
suits. He advocated beginning with
things concrete and near and proceed
ing to those abstract and remote.
He protested against debasing noble
literatures to the making Of gramma-
rians and philologians. "Though a
linguist should pride himself to have
all the tongues that Babel cleft the
world into, yet, If he have not studied
the solid things in them as we'll as the
words and lexicons, he were nothing
80 much to be esteemed learned man
as any yeoman or tradesman compe-
tently wise in his mother.dialect
only" While Milton's first two ideas
Of education condemned in manner
the study of the classics, his third idea
of nobleness condemns no less what
seems to have come in with the study
of the sciences. In the opinion OF
Philips Brooks, there "is a decay OF
nobleness, q certain prosaical minute
ness, certain sordidness, a certain
dry economy in our day, when the
highest culture Is distrustful OF en-.
thusiasm, when eloquence is not In
favor in our schools, when the aver
age teacher Is more afraid Of exuber-
ance than of dryness in his pupil"
The classics have higher value In
ministering to this nobleness thar
science has. But higher than the
classics and science together is tht
value of what is called Christian ,edu
cation. Among the marked changes
of recent years Is the increased atten
ton given to the study Of the Engllsf
Bible in both the College and tn
Seminary. The Scriptures either will
regard to the principles they teach, tn
lives they record, the spirit the!
breathe, or the language in which al
is clothed, stand alone amidst al
|literatures, sacred or profane, ancien
or modern, for instruction in nobl
principles and inspiration to nobl
life.
CHANCELLOR MCCRACKEN ON CHRIS
TIAN, EDUCATION.
Chancellor MacCracken, of New
York University, said recently: Z"
wish we could require from ever.
freshman Sabbath school diplom'
that would certify he knew by hear
THE Ten Commandments, the Sermon
on the Mount, a church catechism o
some kind, and score ofthe Scriptur
Psalms and best classic hymns. Thi
university will join any association O
universities and colleges that will de
mand this as an entrance requirement
So much as in US lies, we will max
the college place for preserving an!
strengthening reverence for things dl
vine."
THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.
DIR. Gilman, for twenty-fiv
years President of John Hopkins Un
yersity, now says, that for literary
historical, rhetorical, and moral res
sons the Bible ought to be useful |
schools of every grade, public and pr
yate. Greece had her temples, Rom
had her tables, but Christian Statel
partly through unwarranted aasuml
tions of students previous familiarit.
neglect the study Of Christian liter'
|ture and Christian institutions. "
the church has its names as promineI
and potent in shaping the destinies
nations and individuals, its martyrs,
numerous and true, its councils
eventful, its thought as original, i
feelings as deep and and pure, as an
> nation or any literature on earth.
rears it's structure in every community
It permeates all society and Legislation
I believe its study is more profitab
than knowledge of the details of a d
funct and mummified civilization, t.