The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-02
as he dexlt on the scope ana purpose of

the inStltutiOH. pr. McIlwain discussed general educa-
 t,bn and It's relation to church work. He
 said the decision to establish a Presby-
 tcriari college for men in Alabama was
 not the result of impulse or of nasty action. The Synod of Alabama had reached the decision after deliberate study
 of the situation and Presbyterians were
 committed to 1t before God and men. It
 was not the plan of a faction, but was a
 decision unanimously reached ty minis ters and elders who entertain a well de- fined purpose and who offer a definite
 plan.
 "Is there need of a college for men in Alabama?" asked Dr. Mcllwain. If SO, money for it should not be grudged. We have public schools through all the grades up to high schools, we have normal schools and our grand system of public education supported by taxation, is crowned by a State University! Some say all this is enough. However, where does Alabama stand? What is her rank? In
 material development she is quoted hign in the markets of the world. Education- ally, she is next to last.'
 Illiteracy in Alabama. Then Dr. McIlwain dwelt upon the per | centage of illiteracy in Alabama alluding to the number of white boys and girls
 who cannot read or write. He showed that the percentage of Ignorance is not being lessened.
 Presenting statistics Dr. McIlwain l showed all government was directed by | educated men and. that tho Presbyterians l of Alabama were not doing their part in educating men. Tho church that edu- l cates would finally dictate, he declared. I He showed that comparatively few young men of Presbyterian families in Alabama l were at college and said that this was because there is no Presbyterian college near to Alabama and within the means of Alabama families.
 Dr. McIlwain gave interesting figures demonstrating the development in North Carolina, which, in a few years, had l multiplied school attendance and school appropriation by five; of South Carolina where the proportion is six times greater
 than it was a few years ago; and in Texas which is keeping step with these. In that State an "elect woman had given $S0,00o to establish a theological seminary.
 This revival of educational sentiment, he said, had reached Alabama and was demonstrated in the Synod of Alabama. The Synod which met at Bessemer re- solved to establish the college for men. Having provided for the Presbyterian Orphanage and for the Talladega Female College it proceeded with such resolutions
 and such subscriptions as could have been
 influenced only by Him who said Let there be light" and at whose word there was light.''
 He spoke of the enthusiasm with which preachers, churches and cities had sub scribed to the fund for the college until $400OO had already been raised. Character of School, Speaking of the manner of school to be establish pr. McIlwain said it was not to be theological, not turn out lawyers,
 doctors or any profession, but to give
 the best literary advantages, such as pre-.
 pare men for every walk in life. An
 Alabama school, on Alabama soil pre-
 sided over by Alabamians. its foundations
 in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, it's motto ''in Christ, for Christ |"
 every department for Gods glory. aligned with Christian faith and never separated
 non-sectarian, but Christian. Its standard
 shall be high as Davidson, Hampden-
 Sydney. and the best.
 '1n one respect" he said, it shall diff
 fer with these Southern colleges-in the
 cost of tuition. The expense shall not
 be prohibitive to those 1,500 families which
 now can afford to send only 100 of their
 young men to college. Through it's man.
 agement of ample grounds, expense to students will be reduced-feld. orchards,
 gardens and the industries these bring,
 will help to transmute little money into men with character.
 Such a college will make Montgon- cry a center of light and foremost men of the country will :Ie here on it's faculty"
 Dr. McIlwain said he would not un- dertake to discuss the value to Montgom- cry of the institution in dollars and cents. He said he would not be contented until 500 students had been enrolled. He re- minded his hearers that six Alabama cities were competing for the school. The Synod is to decide in which city the col lege Is to be located.
 Any city that allows this opportuni- ty to pass makes a mistake" he said in conclusion. "When the Synod selects the city the college will never be moved. The college will be here for centuries to come did not come here to invite you to ac- cept this invitation. as there are many other cities after it.. l came here at your request"
 Endorsed by Congregations.
 At the conclusion of pr. McIlwain's ad- dress, Mir. Glass said that he felt sure the eloquent words of the President of the institution had inspired the Presby- terians of Montgomery to renewed efforts. He believed, he said, that Montgomerians would meet the requirements to secure the college. If Prcsbyterians would do their part MT. Glass said he was quite sure the members of other dcnomina- tions in Montgomery would extend assist ance.
 In behalf of the congregation of the Central Presbyterian Church, G. W. Bar nett and Bradford Hardie assured the committee of sympathy and support. John w. Durr, Jr.. spoke for the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church and w. s. Thetford spoke for the Highland Park church. MT. Durr and Mir. Thetford en> dorsed the movement. for their respective congregations and expressed the belief that it would be successful.
 l.. L. Gilbert, Secretary of the Commer- cIal and Industrial Association. spoke of the industrial benefit to be derived from locating such an institution in Montgom- cry and of the support that might be ex- pected from the business community.
 Called on GIoSc GtakaIv