The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-15
RELIGION IN THE
STATE COLLEGES.
Subject to Be Discussed at I the
University Of illinois
This Week.
Special to The journal.

Special to The Journal
Champaign. ILL.,, Oct. 14.--It has been
decided to hold religious conferences
at the University of Illinois in connection
with the installation of Dr.. Edmund j.
James, as president Of the institution
This gathering. which win be- one Of the
\ important features Of the installations
will occur next Thursday, and viii con-
slider as Its subject, THE Religious and
Moral Education in State Universities
The general neglect OF religious in
struction in our entire school system is
causing much serious concern among edu-
ators today, and nowhere Is it so press
ing as in the state universities, where,
owing to our theory of the separation Of
church and state all specific religious In
struction Is done away with. This does
not mean, Of course, that the institutions
are in any sense irreligious At the Uni
versity of Illinois, for example, Is the
largest and best conducted college Y. NJ.
c. A. in the world and the large majority.
of it's members are members of the
church. On the other hand. however,
1T is a fact that there are thousands Of
young people for whose religious train
ing the representative religious; denomf-
nations arg doing next to nothing. ~ :
What is true Of Illinois is true, In q
general way, of all the state universities
in the middle west, and their rapid growth
makes the problem yearly more pressing.
To-day, the six largest state universities
In the Mississippi valley. according to
President Prichett's article In the last
number OF the Atlantic, have two thou
sand more students than the six most
prominent private institutions in the east.
What Has Been Done.
Attempts are already being made
among the state universities, to provide
for certain forms of religious Instruction
For example. at the state universities Of
Michigan, Kansas and Missouri, among
others, the church of Disciples maintains
Bible chairs or church houses. College
pastors are maintained in several insti
tutions, the latest instance being work
of this kind supported by the Presby-
terrain church in the University Of Kan
sas. In North Dakota it has been voted
to transfer the UNCONVENTIONAL school
bodily and affiliate it. Important plans
are being put into operation at the Uni
versity Of Illinois, Already the Illinois
synod of Presbyterian church has decided
to employ a college pastor, and the Epis-
copal church has established a guild
house for boys and a church home for
girls, putting a deaconess at the head OF
the latter.
In view of this general interest now
manifested the approaching conference
promises to be an occasion Of unusual
importance. Inc meetings OIs tine con
ference will be open to the public, and
all that are concerned in the question
will be cordially welcomed The Commit
ace have also invited educators and 9TH
ers interested, in case they desire to ex-
press an opinion, but are unable to- be
present in person, to send written COM
munication, notice Of which items will
be made in so far as time permits. It is
hoped that full stenographic report Of
the proceedings will be published.
Special reduced rates have been OBJ
tanned on the railroads from all stations
in the country, and already many pronni-
nent educators and clergymen of the
largest denominations have signified their
Those Who Viii Speak. r.s,Az.
. Professor Smaller Matthews, Of the Uni
versity Of Chicago, will serve as <presid-
ing officer. He is dean of the Divinity
school, and editor Of The World Today.
He is also well-known as an author of
several notable books on religious sub
jects. Among the: speakers, will, be, Pro-
fessor Kelsey Of the University of Michi-
gan, who, for more than ten years, has
been a student Of the problem of re-
lts1ous education In universities and col
aeges; President King of Oberlin college,
q scholar of Y international reputation;
President Bryan Of Indiana University,
a well-known educator and lecturer; and
the Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones, secretary
Of the World s. Parliament Of Religions,
and the leading clergyman Of his denomi-
nation in the middle west.