The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-06
Prof. Christenberry Re- views the Record,
From the Foundation of the Institu- tion to the Present Day He Recites
 the Chief Incidents of the 5 Schools Career.

Greensboro. June 6.-The principal feature of this mornings program of the commencement was the history of the Southern University from Its char tering in 1856, to the present day. by Professor of English D. P. Christenber- ry.
 He said.
 T wi shto thank the Alumni Associa- ton and the faculty for the honor con ferred upon me by their joint action in appointing me historian for our semi centennial occasion. assure you that while the work has been laborious 1t has been p1easant--a labor of love- am not the first to be asked to write our history. Several were asked to write it for Anscn Vests History Of Methodism in Alabama" but all who have read the short sketch therein know that no friend of the institution wrote 1t. Some colleges celebrate the charetring, some laying of the corner stone, some the opening. and some the first comm nencement. Most of them celebrate the occasion that we now are celebrating--the date of chartering. The sources consulted were the me- morial records of Alabama. The min utes of the trustees of the Alabama Conference Faculty and Alumni min utes, Anson Vests History of Ala bama, etc.
 until very recent times all educa- tion was religious. and under the con- trol of the priesthood. Secular eduea- tion, so-cafled, Is a modern product' an American product not having passed through the experimental stage. In all history. France and America are apou. the only examples of the divorcement of education and religion. The revo- lution was the result in France. vr- tually all Asia and Europe still cling to the idea that religious instruction is the essential part of education. !uus ing by the vast amount of blood ana treasure spent in America TOT ,ho founding of schools and colleges uhoS, religious auspices. the conviction IS slii- strong among us .,a
 "Roth vale and Harvard. now decid- edlv non-sectarian of not non-relig- ions, were founded by clergymen avow- adly in the interest of the church. 90 tt tvas- with most of the colleges. past as well as present. About two-thiros of the colleges in America are denon- national In the south. accoroihs to Henry Nelson Snyder, there are si'- oiae eS2 more invested in denomlna- tions1 colleges and their equipment. than in those of the State or forty- eight of these colleges as tabulateo py the educational board. fifteen are marked State attitude unfriendly! Ihis leads us to seek the genius and spirit that prompt the founding or ~schoois under control of the church. Tne ar ference in the aims of secular anu re- Ifeious schools may be seen py a com nsrison of their charters. Lands are anpropriated,' says the first charter or Alabama, for the support of semin- arv of learning for the promotion or arfs literature and sciences referring to the founding of our State uniyersi- ty. ., ry.,
 'In the charter of the southern Oni- versity. which is also part oi the con stitution of Alabama. are these words: sThe Alabaroa Conference has resolved to establish an institution O. learning for the promotion of literature. science morality and religion Further dis tirctive reasons are given for the exist