Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-12-24
now IT SOLVES A PROBLEM
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS STU
DENTS HAVE MANY oPPoR-
TuNITIEs FOR RELIGIOUS
DEVELOPMENT.
Among Al state Universities Proba
bly, Kansas Leads In Respect
to Such Activities.

Every year the Registrar Of the Uni
yersity OF Kansas collects and records
Information as to the religious affilia
tions and preferences Of the students
The report Tor this year, which was
issued only a short time ago. shows
that the students as q class have
most pronounced religious leaning. as
10 shown by the fact that 51.4 per cent
are active members OF churches. and
that about 1913 per cent In addition
lave decided church preferences
That Is to say that three-fourths Of
the students are either members oil
churches or are interested sufficiently
to form q decided preference in such
matters.
Further than these figures show, the
percentage OF church members among
The students is on the increase all the
time. Last year 40 per cent of the
students belonged to churches. II
would probably not be possible to Sc
iect q town or community OF 1000
anywhere In the state that would show
such q large percentage OF church
members. The denominational col
ieges Of the state, where students are
sent largely on account Of church at
citations, show but slightly higher
percentages, and In some cases the
number Is not SO large. Taking tine
figures Of last year as a basis, in one
instance leading denominational col
iege OF the state shows that % per
cent OF the students had no church
preference at all, while for the same
year only 20 per cent OF the students
Of the University were In the indiifer
emit column.
An important indication Of tire at
titude OF the students Is the growth
and activity of the two religious organ
izations. the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. w
C. A., for while they are wholly volun'
tary, the activity of the two associa'
lions requires great deal Of time and
effort on the part Of those who are
interested in keeping them up. The
associations hold regular meetings
once every week, as we'll as other
meetings OF both social and religious
character during the year. At the as
ISOLATION houses are found authentic
lists Of reputable rooming and board
Ing places, and II Is the chief object
TO get the freshmen who came in un
acquainted pleasantly placed in the
right associations in these early weeks
OF the term. Another practical need
that the mems association fills Is the
maintenance OF an Employment Blu
reau. This year the Y. M. c. A. found
permanent employment for SO boys
who are now making from one-fourtf
to all their expenses while in school
Owing to the fact that the Univer'
sity Is a State institution. supported
by the State, It is not possible for the
faculty to require or even offer regu
lar instruction in the Bible to the stu
dents. But the students themselves
have organized active classes In Bible
study under student leadership large
", and there Is a larger per cent of
the students here doing such work
every week than can be found In any
equal body anywhere else in the State
outside of an educational institution.
In the Y. M. C. A. courses this year,
twenty-five classes have already been
organized with an enrolment Of about
$50. Besides these classes, there Is
In each OF twelve fraternity and club
houses a regular course in Bible work.
including nearly 300 more. and It is
estimated that before the end Of the
year the total number, exclusive Of
church classes, will reach 700.
The girls association shows a SINH
lar interest, and about 225 girls are en-.
rolled IN the classes for the study o.
the Bible and mission work. These
statements OF the bare facts indicate
an exceptionally good moral tone In
the students. and when II Is consid
cred that more than half OF the Uni
versity faculty Is actively engaged ir
church work. there Is the inevitable
conclusion that conditions In the Uni
versity are far above the average
Three OF the most influential member
of the faculty are regularly ordained
ministers. and occasionally I'LL pulpiis
here and elsewhere In addition to thell
regular duties. Perhaps the most po-
tent influence IN the faculty Is the
Chancellor. for II Is due to his efforts
that the daily chapel exercises have
been made so successful. and all his
influence has been exercised In the
direction OF extending the religious
exercises Of the University. Every
year the Chancellor attends the. stu
dent bible study conventions, and Is
frequently cal'cd to speak to Y. NJ. G.