Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-16
THE POWER OF OUR COLLEGES AND
A PERIL WHICH THREATENS THEM
BY BISHOP WARREN A. GAMBLER.

1t is to be feared that most of our
people do not justly estimate the inf1u'
ence and value. of our institutions of
higher learning. In this statement refer
ence is not intended to our neglect to
suitably equip and adequately endow our
colleges ana universities, although there
is much in that direction deserving of
censure.
Our people do not seem to understand
the effect of an educational institution on
the general welfare of the people among
whom it exists. It's work is done so silent
~, gradually, and invisibiy, while rail
roads, banks, factories and the like, arc
so bulky and tangible that most men
among US regard with comparative indif-
ference a school of higher learning. New
ertheless that which they esteem so
lightly may be doing a work which Will
seriously affect for good or Ill every
commercial enterprise in the land, not to
speak of the interests of higher value
than material things.
The nations of Europe understand all
this better than do our people. They have
experimental with educational instittf-
| lions for centuries, and they know what
comes of such influential plants.
When England wished TO insure her
dominion in Normandy she founded the
University of Caen in 1896, and achieved
by it vastly more than it cost her.
When Spain desired to consolidate the
Netherlands she established the Univer-
sity of Douay in 1872, and with it she
| achieved results that still abide despite
all the political changes and social muta-
tions which have come to pass in the
course of more than three centuries.
After the battle of Jena Germany set
about healing her political bruises and
military wounds inflicted upon her in this
disastrous defeat by founding the Univer-
sity of Berlin in 1910. NJ. Ernest Lavisse
has related most Interestingly the story
of its foundation. He says the King OF
Prussia, Frederick William, declared as
the reason for it's establishment, lit is
necessary that the State supply by it's
intellectual forces the physical powers
which it has lost" The great Schleier-
macher supported the project enthusiast
tically and most clearly forecast it's fu d.
ture. He said, when that scientific
organization is founded, it will have no
equal; thanks to its interior force, it
will exercise its benevolent rule to the
borders OF the Prussian monarchy Berlin
will become the center of the entire in
tellectual activity of Northern and Pro-
testant Germany, and solid founda-
ton will be prepared for the accomplish
ment of the mission assigned to the Prus-
sian government" His words were most
accurately fulfilled. The University Of
Berlin more than any other one thing
united and invigorated the new Germany
with which Napoleon III had to settle in
1870.
Think of the proposition! To elevate
the Kingdom of Prussia and unity the
German Empire by establishing a SCHOOL,
Our practical men" would laugh at such
an idea: but the more practical German
authorities knew what they were doing
The event has justified the wisdom of
their far-sighted proposal. Berlin has
become the scientific and political center
of the German people. With it's great
University it is the very heart of the ma
TONS life, and its influence is felt
throughout the world. Our own educa.
| ticnal institutions have not escaped the
influence of the University of Berlin.
Again after the overwhelming defeat Of
| Napoleon III in 1870 by the unified and
| renovated German nation, Bismarck un-
dertook the Germanizing of Alsace-Lor-
raine by completely reconstructing the
| University of StrasbourR.
We thus see that both to retrieve de-
| feat and to confirm a victory long head-
| tional plant. And in both instances she
has not been disappointed in the out
! come.
When the great Liberal party in Bel
| GUM in 1884 sought to battle successfully
with its foes, who were operating so
successfully through the Universities of
Lege and Gand it founded the Univer-
| sity of Brussels.
! oxford University has been the breed
| ing ground of Tories and Toryism for
generations, and the Wings in 1923 set up
| the University of London with the pur-
pose of offsetting if possible the political
| influence of oxford.
In our own country a history was en-
acted towards the close of the eighteenth
century which emphasizes in striking
mauner the power of the colleges. The
Institutions of learning. then existing IN
the young Republic were few and COM
paratively feeble; but becoming infected
with infdelty they threatened the re-
ligious life of the whole country. Bishop