The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-21
ID PUT COLLEGE
 ON PRIMER BASIS Enthusiastic Meeting Is Held
 At OWenton DR. M'COY WILL REMAIN Laymen of Methodist Church Have Taken Up Work of Raising s25o,-
 900 Endowment for Br-
 mineham College.
DR. M'COY WILL REMAIN

The great wave for higher and better secular educational facilities which has swept through the south, and particu- larly through Alabama, during the last few years, is also exerting it's force upon the denominational colleges. Yesterday two meetings were held at Birmingham college, located at Owenton, which it is believed, will have deep and lasting inhu- ence upon Methodist education in Ala bama.
 The trustees Of Birmingham college con- vened early in the morning and later joint meeting of the executive committee of the laymen's missionary movement of the Birmingham district with the board of trustees of the college was held. In the second meeting many prominent min isters, laymen and business men who are members of neither of the first-named bodies gathered in the college chapel in informal discussion.
 George B. Tarrant was elected chairman and J. l.. Yancey secretary. MT. Tar rant on taking the chair, among other things urged liberal and broad plans for Methodist education in Alabama. w. H. Stockham said that the laymen's mis- sionary movement in the Birmingham dis trict, in looking around for some definite task that it might do, had decided that no greater work could be undertaken in this district at present in the work of the Master than the ,furtherance of Christian education. "rhe members of this lay mems organization he declared, 'have definitely taken upon themselves the task of placing Birmingham college upon a sound financial basis"
 Escar Floyd, in an enthusiastic address, advocated the plan of raising immediately $250,000 as basis for further endowment, and said that the city of Birmingham, even from selfish standpoint, was in duty bound to raise at once the larger part Of this amount
 z R. s. Munger, the president of the board of trustees, said that at the meeting of the college trustees earlier in the day a resolution was passed looking to the erec- ton at once of a oommodious gymnasium
 F. M. Jackson, in the course of his re- marks, insisted that the amount proposed by MT. Floyd should be raised without delay
 President J. H. Mccoy was then called on for speech. At the beginning of his address he likened Birmingham college to a recruiting station for the great army of Methodists. He said that if denomina- tional institutions are not to be robbed of students which rightfully belong to them, equipment and support approximating that of state schools must be forthcom- ing, or Christian colleges In Alabama would be sure to continue to play a minor part in the scheme of higher education. Give us equipment as good as that of the secular institutions said Dr. Mccoy, ''and we shall have no trouble in filling our halls with students" The doctor then announced that if 1t should be the will of the board of trustees he was willing to remain at the head of the institution, and to do whatever he could to help along the great work just projected. At this announcement the entire audience rose to its feet, cheering and waving handker- chiefs The significance of this ovation will be appreciated when the fact is con- sidered that pr. McCoy's resignation is in the hands of the trustees, to take effect next June.
 After the excitement had calmed down at the call of their fellow students L. q. sturdivant of Bessemer and s. L. Prickett of Gadsden made witty and interesting talks from the standpoint of the under graduate.
 w H. Stockham offered resolution that next September be the limit set to raise the proposed s250,0o0 The motion was enthusiastically carried without a dis sentlng voice. The large audience was then invited to partake of 300 pounds of barbecued meat, which was broiling in pits without on the campus. In the after noon many of the visitors viewed with the students game of baseball played between Howard and Birmingham col 1eges.