The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-21

I UNCONVENTIONAL requirements might be al
tered. Surely this is subject which can
be discussed with candor and fairness by
| all our alumni and friends. Every friend
| OF the university should insist that II the
complicated questions involved are TO he
Investigated, the whole temper OF the dis
cussion must be marked by patience
largeJmindedness and absolute loyalty TO
truth. <Any decision reached in haste af-
ter partial examination OF facts, or partial
understanding OF the issues involved, will
probably be a wrong decision.
QUOTES GOV. HIGGINS.
I'VE all know that there is no hint OF
sectarianism I'm the present atmosphere
instruction or administration OF the uni
versity. Never within my recollection
has the question OF UNCONVENTIONAL rela-
tion been raised regarding any teacher
or, any student on this point the words
spoken at the last Boston alumni dinner
by the governor OF Rhode Island, James
II. Higgins. OF the class OF '9s, are ex-
plicit and decisive: What pleases the
student greatly in his four wears at
Brown is the fairness and equality which
seem TO pervade the very atmosphere on
College hill. Nominally a Baptist lnsti-
tuition, IL is really stronghold Of liber-
ality. broad-mindedness and toleration. II
is the educational embodiment Of the
modern idea of the square deal Such
the Roman Catholic communion has pc
culiar force
III any change is to be made II should
not be for financial reasons. Never vet
mas BROWN university received any gift
ohanSed '',Tm sna tna. nsver It's ,b Organization be
VIII IL vary hairs breadth from its
chosen policy in order TO receive financial
aid.
I'VE must also all acknowledge that In
Interpreting the denominationai require
ments for trustees, the corporation In
their elections. and the alumni In their
nomlnations have shown most catho-
lie temper. This catholicity has indeed
sometimes been made a cause OF re-
proach. as II we were disingenuous in
eiectlng some men who are not in the
| tive churches
For myself can say I hope this
] broader Interpretation will prevail in the
| future as In the past IL is curious that
some or our friends who want a broader
| charter should blame us for making the
Lpresent charter as broad as the judicial
decision Of the courts will allow. Many
| times have our courts decided that the
| broader Interpretation OF the word Con-
gregationalist Is the true Interpretation.
Why should our corporation be mar
rover than the court decision? Nicholas
| Brown, for whom the university was
named, whose benefactions amounted TO
about $4,000 and whose influence was so
potent in our earlier history. was not, If
Il am CORRECTLY INFORMED, member or
any church. From his time 10 the pres
ent, there has been unbroken tradition I'm
favor OF the broadest interpretatio OF
our charter.
1--WE probably all agree that II any
change is to be made, il should not be
extorted from the denomination which
founded the college. but should be made
with the full and free consent OF that
communion. Sectarian prejudice. once
aroused is hard to combat. An attempt
TO wrest an institution vi ct armis from
| Its historic position would fail and de-
serves TO fail No man. / believe. desires
that.
But the present freedom from any
secrtarian bias In the administration OF
| the college Is a proof that no denomina-
| tion will stand in the way OF what can
| be shown To be wise and honorable How
| to keep faith with the past. and yet meet
! the needs OF the present is our problem.
How 10 recognize the toll and sacrifice
which went into the building OF our coll
| lege and honorably observe the obliga-
| tions involved. while at the same time we
| recognize that time makes ancient good
| uncouth-that is the question which now
demands patient consideration by men OF
| historic perspective and sympathetic and
! generous spirit"
DIR. Faunce then spoke OF the changes
In the facility during the year. He then
dealt with the work done in extension
courses for teachers, which enrolled more
than third Of the teachers in Providence
and many from adjoining towns. the to-
tai number being 6&. He also touched
upon the series OF Monday evening lee
lures and the meeting of learned society
on the campus during the Christmas holt