Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-13
is lNPRACTICABLE
DIR. CRAIG so REGARDS THE
PROPOSITION TO UNITE
METHODIST COLLEGES.
Plan for New System in Methodist
Education Was Suggested by Presi.
dent James of Northwestern Col.
lege to College Presidents.

II see no possibility of union of
the Methodist universities, colleges
and academies throughout the country,
as suggested by President E. j. James
OF the Northwestern university of Chi
cago, being effected" said DR.. A. E.
Craig, pastor of the First Methodist
church of this city. The plan for the
reorganization and enlargement of the
educational work of the Methodist
church was outlined by President
James several weeks ago. Re
Gently at a meeting held at North.
western university he laid the propo.
sal before the college presidents for
their consideration.
Regarding the plan to unite Rev.
Craig stated that while it might sound
well in theory he considered it very
impractical. aThe colleges are entire
ly separate institutions, each having
its own board of directors and endow.
ment wholly independent of the other"
said DR.. Craig. Each has conditions
to meet peculiar to the local field and
to unite the Methodist colleges of the
world, would, l believe, be an under
taking of far more magnitude than to
unite the same number of business
corporations. While such thing is
possible believe it highly improba-
ble."
The Proposition.
The proposition is that the terri.
tory occupied by the Methodist church
is to be divided for educational prlr-
poses into three kinds of districts to
be known as university districts, col
lege districts and academy or semin-
airy districts. A small number of in.
situations centrally located and best
endowed will be selected to serve as
universities. The districts are to be
subdivided into college districts, which
in turn will be subdivided into acad-
envy districts.
Would Include the World.
81 PROPOSE" declared DR.. James,
chat the entire territory of the church
and that is now synonymous with
the territory of the whole world. hav-
ing adopted in fact as we'll as in form
Wesley's motto that the world is our
parish, -that the whole territory of
the church shall be divided into a
number of university districts in each
of which shall be located an institution
which shall be fully equipped and de-
serve the name of university when
compared with the best institutions Of
the same kind under the charge of the
state or undenominational boards.
"Of course in organizing this work
existing institutions would be taken
as the starting point, and where they
have a strategic location should be
strengthened to the necessary point Of
complying with the condition indicated
above.
Time for Advance Is Here.
'My plea is for forward movement
on the part of the whole church on
behalf of the educational institutions
under its care. believe that there are
many signs that church institutions
are to become a more prominent factor
in the educational life of the country
than they have been for the past few
years.
Has not the time come for mark
ed advance in the field of Methodist
education? In many respects the Wes-
leyan movement has been one of the
most powerfuld educational agencies
at work in the world during the past
century,"
President James was followed by
Rev. L. M. Murlin, D. D., president Of
Baker university, Baldwin, Kansas. In
his address DR.. Murlin Endorsed the
proposal made by Dr. James and de-
clared that the power of the board Of
education of the Methodist church
should be enlarged.