The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-01-16
PEDDLING DIPLOMAS.

+ "Our pulpit was filled last Sunday
morning by Prof. -, who at $50
o'clock conferred the degree Of D. d.
( upon our worthy pactor, Rev. -" is
, highly interesting bit of news The
Advocate conveyed to its readers last
, week, the names being omitted now
for reasons which will appear later
With one but exception, when this
same institution inaugurated the in
. novation no instance has come under
the observation of the writer in which
the college, though its representative,
went to the man upon whom it was TO
confer the highest honors in its pow
er; but, rather, the man, either in per-
son or by ploxy, had gone to the col
lege. AS representative Of the first is
cited The case of Mark Twain" who.
last summer, crossed the ocean TO re-
ceive an honorary degree from an
representative by Emperor William
to an American university illustrates
The second. In each instance thou
sands of miles had TO be travelled. but
such was the demand of custom.
In the case under consideration we
find the man and the college about 80
miles apart, but Mahomet would not
4or could not go TO the mountain, so
forsooth. the mountain went to Ma
homet
= Was there ever such a prostitution
of the privilege vested by the state in
an institution Of learning? The idea
Of school, whose curriculum is sur
passed by a good high school; a school
with less than 100 in attendance; a
school which has never conferred a
degree in course, scattering so promus
cuously the degree Of doctor of divin
lily, which reputable universities jeal
ously guard would be laughable, were
the practice not fraught with so much
injury to the giver. the recipient and
the race.
When during the state meeting Of q
" strong religious organization last sum
Z mer,' this same institution, through
its president, saw fit 10 honor two OIL
its co-rcligionists with the degree o.
doctor Of divinity, The Advocate was
B. approached by one Of the most intel
ligent members of the denomination
who, dcploring the course pursued
asked that some protest be made. Re
>alizing how easily and how quickly
anything appearing in a newspaper or
denominations matters is mscon
Strued to the disadvantage Of the pa
per, no notice was taken Of such
flagrant misuse Of power, but to re
main silent longe" would betokcn eth
cr ignorance or indifference on on
part to the educational interests o
our people.
Surely the trustees if the prcsiden
does not, must see that the institution
. contributes nothing to the cause it i
) supposed to represent by It's utter dis
I, regard, in at least one instance, Of tn
2 motives which actuate our leading CO.
{ leges in comforting their honors. r
.4Sbe doctorated presupposes the recip
= ent either man Of extraordinar
"a learning or one who. by exceptions
Z services, has added to the sum total G
Thurman knowledge along his particUla
~ line, whether it be letters, law, SC
fence or religion. The mere fact tina
+ n preacher is a good fnancie", an e,
n augelist above the average, or ha
spent two score years or more IN tn
81 ministry does not entitle him to a
}$bonoIary degree, and to confer it fc
''sSsany or all the above reasons bcspcal;
b aamentable ignorance
We are 1oath to believe that it is
d tftptter OF dollars and cents with tn
SStszsek131 r'' e. g . .