The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29
TIE UNCONVENTIONAL COLLEGE
President A. P. Montague of Howard College Strongly Argues for Its Maintenance and
 for Its Advantages.
BY rHEsIDHrr A. P. MONTAGUE

exhansion of the public school system In the lower grades.
 The president of a denominatlonal college does not have to be man who knows how 70 work the boys how to conduct a lobby at state cap ital. how to make a governor ''see things" ifs way. Ite trustees are not political engineers. who can pull leg islators and push governors, until the required sums are forthcoming. The cOmmeneeinents are not occasions for the gathering of politicians, large and email. mostly small. who have "axes to grind and who grind them to the music of bands, which move young men and young women to skip, jump, and eavoFt over waxed floors. Accounts of "hpps," Germans, and fraternity dances do not fill the Fapers that tell of the closing exercises of denomina- tlonaI college. When we are surfeited with stories of these things in cer nee tion with some secular institutions, wo wonder if they train the heels rather than the brain and send forth whiriins dervishes and leaders of Germans rath CT than men fitted for civic righteous ness.
 In the denonainational college honors arc not given. distinctions not confer red, for purposes that have a political flavor. RegaFding degrees in course and degrees honorary as rev ards for scholarship and generous culture. 1t endeaYors to put around those degrees safeguards which only merit may sur mount and obtain. We could not con- celve of such q college giving a high honorary degree to over two scores, of men. fit and unfit. at one commence ment and thns eheapenihg an honor which should be reserved for eminent scholarship. or high attainments in some one of the great professions.
 Such political movements result in no permanent benefit to an institution that would preserve and impart the arts and humanities, and would keep sacred and make rare rewards of in- tellectual endeavor and achievement. The depominatioDRi college in i.s simpler life and sterner practices levies
 no tribute upon State treasury, no
 taxes upon the whole people. willing or
 unwilling. bat lives by the nobler pros cess of Christian bene6eence and Chris
 tion sacrifice. Great hearts. touched by the needs and moved by the results
 of its training, stirred 10 give for the development of body. brain and soul,
 donate money that the college of Gods people may send forth men, who rear" ed in the school of sacrifice, sympe-
 thize with the spirit of plain living and high thinking and stand for all that is best in the home, the State and the | church.
 As to the Sfnte College.
 The State College draws annually from the public treasury from S30.o00 ] to $75.0o0. and it edueates men. mary | of whom are of vast service to society. | to the country, many true, noble, 1 worthy men. The denominational col lege from fees and donations reeeiV es from $10,0oo to S25,o0o year. II sends forth also its pen, some preachers,
 some eonseeratsd Christian lsymen. Can any one entertain reasonable doubt that the products of the t.AininS | in the denominational college are "f larger value to society, to our country,
 to the world at large. than those of the ! secular school? Where the State insti-