Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-02-17
UNIVERSITIES FAR
FROM GODDESS
Or. COCHRAN DECLARES ALL
DENOMINATIONS WORK WITH
EDUCATIONAL FORCES.

EDUCATIONAL FORCES,
Chicago. Feb 1l.--"One of the sis
nincaht features or the modern edu-
cational movement is the shifting oi
| the function of higher education from
| the church 10 the state" said Joseph
w. Cochran of Philadelphia, in an ad.
| dress on The State Universities and
Religious Denominations. before the
religious education association conven.
ton yesterday
1t was not so very many years
ago, said Dr. Cochran, that the ma.
iority of students in higher studies
We're enrolled In church-controlled
| schools. A score of years has sufficed
to mark the change The new factors
have entered into the situation and
bid fair to preempt the field, 1. G., the
state university and the non-denomi
national college. During the eighties
the number of college students began
suddenly to rise toward seven per
thousand of the population until the
present time, the proposition standing
today sixteen per thousand The
rapid development of state universe.
ties has been the marvel of the edu.
catlonal world. enrolling between
fifty and sixty thousands of students
annually, their incomes aggregating
over twelve million dollars year,
their increase in attendance during
the past decade amounting to 112
per cent"
DR., Cochran said that the fact that
more students belonging to any one
religious denomination are found In
attendance upon state universities
than in the schools belonging TO that
denomination has proved to be not
only startling but an unwelcome
fact to the churches, but the period
of irritation and antagonism is now
/ closing" he said The churches, re
allzing that they must depend increas
| i1gly upon the state universities for
leadership are turning their attention
seriously to the problem of keeping
vital the religious lives of their own
students during their attendance upon
the state schools.
1T is not the problems OF the state
to teach religion, but neither is 1t the
province of the state to ignore and
Danish religion from the consideration
OF state university students. The
sympathetic attitude toward genuine
religious life on the part of university
authorities is a most encouraging
| sign of a new day. The churches are
SLOW to acknowledge this attitude and
to accept the fact that the majority OF
/ professors and students not only pro
| fess christianity but practice 1t The
state universities have never deserved
| the epithet goddess They have con
doneG unwholesome influences and
allowed irreligious teachers, but II
cannot be said that the weight Of any
great state institution has ever been
! passed against religion The state
universities are not honeycombed with
heresy and recking with skepticism
as has been alleged by oyer-zealous
! church men Seventyfour per cent
OF the faculties are church members
or attendants and the university stu
dent Is on the whole a much better
church goer than the average citizen
! ffty-seven per cent of the students
/ being COMMITMENTS
The speaker called attention to the
truth that religious denominations are
more active every year in supplying
the religious needs OF state university
students through student pastors 10
chi churches, bible classes and ever
UNCONVENTIONAL hor1os and guild halls
/ All the great determinations, including
/ the Roman Catholics, are at work a
many Of the larger university centerg
/ The question Of financial support ha'
not been wrought out. and the move
ment is now in the experimental
( stage
But tho door OF opportunity II
swinging wide open he said, Heart
lest cooperation Is promised from
state university authorities not one
president standing apart from thu
movement II Is looked upon by ths
state university as a long neglected
method OF cooperation In the task o
training the youth OF the land 20 as
syr,,.- Fsos oniy the political and eco
nomlc but also the moral and spiritua
leadership OF the coming years