The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-21
CITY NEWS
DICKSON ATTACK
IS HELD UNJUST
MEMBERS OF UNIVERSITY FAC
ULTY ANSWER CRITIC. .
Minnesota Instructors Hasten to De-
fend Religious Interest of Institution.
Declsring Presbyterian Minister'S
Statements that Religious Training
Is Barred, Unfounded-Dr. Hubbard
Blames Churches.


Blames Churches.
According to members of the univer
sity faculty, DR.. James Stewart Dick,
Minnesota on the ground that religious
training is barred and students are not
encouraged to enter the ministry, is
entirely without foundation. The state
ments made by DR.. Dickson yesterday
at Pittsburg aroused deep interest at
the university, especially among the
members of the faculty, who are inter
ested in the Christian association and
other DELICIOUS work among the under
graduates.
Dean w. s. Pattee of the university
law school, one of the most active
church workers in the faculty, declared
that DR.. Dickson had spoken without
familiarizing himself with the situa-
tion.
1.-THE charges made by DR.. Dickson
are absurd,'' he said. In the first
place, of course the smaller denomina-
tional schools win out more candidates
universities. If a boy in Minnesota in
tends to enter the ministry it is natur-
al that his parents will send him to
Hamlin, Manchester, Carlton or some
other school which is denominational
in character and where he will get spe-
cial training in the teachings of his
church.
State School Broader.
GA state university, supported by
the taxpayers, cannot give a student
training in the special doctrines Of some
one denomination. This is impossible.
The charge that the state institutions
deliberately shut out the influences Of
the gospel shows that DR.. Dickson did
not know what he was talking about,
or he was misquoted. At the Mime
sofa state university chapel exercises,
religious in character are held every
day and the work Of the Christian as
sociations and other organizations of
this character is encouraged by every
member of the faculty. If any student
wishes to prepare for the ministry l
am sure he will receive the encourage
ment of the university authorities.
Dean Frederick S. Jones was equally
emphatic in his denial of DR.. Stewart 8
charges, but he said that DR.. Dickson
was Undoubtedly right in stating that
the number of university candidates for
the ministry was decreasing.
"The decrease is due, however, to
the tendency of the times, which is away
from classicism, said Dean Jones
"The universities cannot be blamed. A
man fitting himself for the ministry
wishes to study the classics and the
ancient languages. These are not taught
to any great exA tent in the universities
because there is little demand for them
A few years ago the university inaugu
rated a course in Sanskrit, but little in
terest was shown in it, and it wa:
abandoned. Technical subjects are tax
ing the place Of classical subjects, anC
the universities cannot be blamed. II
is the tendency of the age"
81 cannot see why DR.. Dickson
should pick out our university for
special attack Of this kind. Chapel ex
ercises are held regularly, all organiza
tions with a religious side are encour
aged, and I am sure no other western
university has moro churchgoers anc
workers among its faculty MEMBERS
Blames the Churches.
An examination of alumni records il
the registrars office at the university
this morning showed that ffty-nin'
university graduates are either minis
ters or missionaries. OF this numbe
eight are Presbyterians.
Rev. Charles F. Hubbard, DID,, pas
tor of the Andrew Presbyterian church
discussing DR.. Dickson's statements
said:
CDR. Dickson, if reported correctly
has made a very serious misstatemen
Of facts in saying that only five Min
: nesota university graduates have gon
into the Presbyterian ministry. From
my church alone, to my certain knowl
edge, seven or eight Minnesota gradu
ates, and considerably larger numbe
of special students, have gone into tn
Presbyterian ministry. DR.. dickson
statement is, therefore, contrary t
fact, and I cannot account for his mag
ing it.
sity is concerned, is the statement tina
| the influences Of the gospel are deli}
| erately shut out. Such Influences, o
| the contrary, are welcomed by the az
( must be said that the churches of Mil
nesota, of all denominations, have bee
very negligent in improving their OF
portunities. The admirable work Of tn
Christian associations receives it's final
cial support entirely from professor
and stsudents and some of the neig]
boring churches; but that support
still very inadequate.
Churches Negligent.
| "The churches at large give nothir
in aid of religious work at the unive
sity; and up to the present year,
! most Of the state religious bodies, tt
| subject has not even been regularly 7
| ported on. 1t will be time enough
| score the university management
| shutting out gospel influences when tt
churches generally show some zeal al
make some earnest effort to extend al
strengthen these influences. A begi
ming in this direction has, it is true,
last been made, but it only a begi
ing and the substantial response Of t
! churches is yet awaited.
"In any discussion of the questi,
of the university VS.. the denomin
tional college, it is always to be reme1
bered that far the larger proportion
university students Cin Minnesota abo
two-t thirds of the totaD are enrolled
| the technical, professional and gradua
schools. not in the academic depa
ment. In the general education
scheme Of the state the denomination
college has an assured place, and
our own state is bound to have a lare
place in the future than in the pa
It's a6vantaU within its anharo q