The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-07-10

Brown University is taking steps
to repudiate adj official connection with
the Baptist denomination, of which it
has long been the representative in
stitution of learning. President Faunce
who is a Baptist clergyman, unites
with a special committee in favor Of
sucn an amendment to the charter of
the university as shall accomplish
this separation. He and his commit
tee maintains that the amendment is
not recommended chiefly because we
desire to secure the benefits of the
Carnegie foundation for our profess
sors yet, it is added. 1--WE frankly
acknowledge that the Carnegie found
alton has brought the issue Of char
ter revision to the front and that we
do desire, not for the corporation,
but for our faculty, the benefit of that
foundation. Nevertheless the reasons
70 change existed fifty years ago, and
would remain If the Carnegie founda-
ton should vanish"
The question at once suggests it
self. Why did not Brown university
then make itself independent of any
denominational control years ago?
And the obvious answer must be CIV
en- Because before the Carnegie foun-
dation there was no pecuniary mo-
tive. DIR. Faunce has been president
for a decade or more. Why has he
not urged before this. independence of
denominational control? The answer
must be: because there has not been,
till recently any pecuniary motive for
| doing so. The committees stated that
| they. desire the benefit of the Carne-
gle foundation not for the corporation,
| but for their professors, is not in
| genious, as the success of an institu-
| ton depends largely upon its ability
to pension its professors.
Many of the leading colleges of
| America, and it's principal universities
not supported b ythe state have long
since escaped all denominational con-
/ troll with no loss OF religious spirit,
most will agree. Their acceptance OF
the Carnegie pensions was made with
much more dignity than is possible
for Brown university. To repudiate
4 denominational control for intellect
ual freedom is one thing. Then the
i question OF MIR. Carnegie's pension
i money stands on its own merits. To
repudiate UNCONVENTIONAL control for
a money consideration Is a very diff
ferent matter. Here is another in
cident in the history of the connection
between national education and OF
wealth by unrighteous means. For
the sake OF intellectual freedom and
the dignity and influence OF Amer
lean colleges and universities, every
unfolding of this history should be
subject to the sharpest public scrut-
! my, and the most unsparing public
criticism. This also must be empha-
sized, that no blight nor malignant
could rot out American higher edu.
cation, il the acceptance of the money
Mr.. Carnegie and Mr.. Rockefeller
makes our colleges and universities
less alert to the scientific and ethica
criticism of questionable Commercial
practices The attitude Of the man.
ayers OF the Carnegie pension fund
toward the George Washington uni.
{ versity, while they have removed
from the pension roll indicates tn,
possibility at least, tfaat the Carnegit
!, pension moundation may become al
dictational over American institution
OF Carnegie, as denominational con
troll has ever been.
II President Taft's first Sunday morn