The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-10
DIR. D. |. k|EHLE GOES
AFTER j. OF N. CRITIC.
Defends UNIVERSITY OF MINNIE
sofa AGAINST ATTACK.
Former Superintendent of Public In
struction and Himself Presbyterian
Minister Characterizes Sensational
Charge of "Godlessness' as In Bad
Taste and "Far From the Truth

In the last issue of The Interior, pub
lished at Chicago, DR.. D. L. Kiehle
takes energetic exception to state
ment by DIR. Dickson, secretary of the
board Of aid for colleges, who made an
attack on the University of Minnesota
as an institution (which deliberately
shuts out the gospel of Jesus Christ. =
DR.. Kiehle speaks very disparagingly of
trying to build up UNCONVENTIONAL in
stitutions of learning by attacking
other schools.
DR.. Kiehle is Presbyterian minister.
He was former superintendent Of pub
lie instruction of Minnesota, once a re-
gent of the Minnesota university, and
later a member of the university fac
ulty.
Professor Kiehle writes to The In
terror, in part, as follows:
1t is reported in our Minnesota pa
pers that in his Pittsburg address DR..
Dickson, secretary Of the Board Of
Aid for colleges, in explanation of the
ministry, singled out the University Of
Minnesota as a state institution which
deliberately shuts out the gospel of
Jesus Christ, and that this appears in
the fact that of the thousands of gradu-
ates but five have entered the ministry
OF the presbyterian church.
Now, as a loyal Presbyteria and a
| est of state and church, beg to pro-
test against this whole system of adj
vancing the interests of our own de-
nominational colleges, and for these
| reasons:
Is Not Good Taste.
First-It is not in good taste to make
public attacks even upon competing
/ institutions, and still less. to detract
from the standing of institutions that
are doing, within their limitations. the
same work with ourselves in uplifting
and improving the life Of our people.
Second--Mofe than that, it is unwise
and harmful to ourselves. It will surely
give the impression that we wish to
injure our neighbors to our own adj
vantage. It will beget prejudice and a
feeling that we are not loyal to the
school system of our state, and of which
! the university is the head and crown.
ence the Presbyterian laity-they can
influence no others-they will bring
about the very condition which is made
the occasion of this criticism.
Third-This arraignment of our uni
versity is wholly unwarranted and un-
just. AS regent, as state superintend-
ent Of public instruction and as pro-
lessor 1or over twenty years, pet now
wholly independent of the university,
[ have been familiar with its admins
tration, it's faculty and it's spirit, and
[ can affirm with positiveness that as
an institution it is administered IN the
spirit of our Christianity, that its pro-
fessors in largest proportion are Chris
tian men and women, and that a goodly
cupied in Christian work among the
Students The student. body meets
daily for chapel worship, and as oppor-
tunity offers listens to. addresses by rep
resentative Christian men, and every
facility and encouragement is offered
to Christian organizations to impress
their ideals of better life and higher
ideals upon the students.
'sFar From TRUTH
believe [ express the Judgment Of
the intelligent Christian men of our
state in saying that considering the linn
itations within which state institu-
ton must do its work, and considering
the mass of unchristian1zed youth OF
many nationalities and all classes who
gather at the university, all is done
that the faculty deserves support, kind
~ criticism and encouragement instead
of detraction.
Fourth-As to the number entering
the Presbyterian ministry from the uni
versity, if this were true that but five
have entered it in these forty years, it
would be because this sort of attack
has had influence with Presbyterian
families, and il continued will still fur
ther decrease the number. But the
statement is far from the truth. Our
secretary has been misled. Without re-
; viewing the records ] can easily count
twice the number.
When wes are ready to discuss the
!, problem of the decrease in the number
t of our students for the ministry, we
shall take a larger and more deliberate
view Of the contributing causes. But
, in this connection beg to suggest that
: it might be wise fol-, the Christian
putting themselves in closer contact
: with these great bodies of young mer