Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-02
NOT RULED BY SECT
Statement as to George
Washington University.
RECENT ASSERTIONS MET
UNCONVENTIONAL Affiliations of Trus-
tees and Faculty.
PROVISIONS OF CHARTER
Attempt to Show That Institution
Should Not Benefit From Nor
rill Acts Combated.

| Edmund j. James, president of the Uni
versity of Illinois, has issued and put in
circulation another printed statement OPP
posing the bill now pending before Con-
gress amending the Morrill, acts and ex-
| tending the benefits of those statutes to
the George Washington University. Presi-
dent James argues that the benefits of
the Morrill, fund cannot be extended to
sectarian institutions, and he asserts that
the George Washington University is
| such, being, he holds, a Baptist institu-
| ton. He says on this point:
| The whole history of the university on
the subject of sectarianism reminds one
somewhat of a DR.. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde
performance. Now it is non-sectarian,
then non-sectarian under denominational
control, then strictly sectarian under the
law, and finally pan-sectarian. 1t is an
institution which is now here now there.
now yonder, trying to be all things to al
men, If, by reason of such policy, it
might secure funds from some
Thus tine question with reference to the
eligibility of the George Washington Uni
versty as a beneficiary under the opera
ton Of the Morrill, acts, under which nu-
merous institutions throughout the coun
| try have received federal funds. resolves
| itself into a question of whether or not
the university is a sectarian institution.
On this point DR.. Richard D. Harlan has
issued the following statement
No Sectarian Discrimination.
The charter of the George Washing
| ton University provides that persons of
every religious denomination shall be
capable X being elected trustees; nor
shall any persons, either as president,
professor tutor or pupil, be refused adj
mission into such college or be denied
any Of the privileges immunities or adj
vantages thereof for or on account of
his sentiments in matters of religion
The Raptists have four trus tees, the
Eplscopal1ans four, we Presbyterians
have FIVE, the Methodists have one trus-
tee and We are about to elect another
Methodist; the Unitarians have one, the
German Reformed one, the Swedenbor-
gans one. while one Of the most enthu-
siastic, useful and highly honored of our
| present trustees is an influential He
brew. These facts were furnished by
me to President James in April, 1909.
A Crucial Test.
"A crucial test as to the sectarian or
| non sectarian spirit of an educational
institution can be found in the person
mel of it's administrative and teaching
force. Even If a board of trustees has
as broad and comprehensive a member
ship as has the present board Of trus-
tees of the George Washington Univer-
sity, yet it is theoretically possible that
a president, or his immediate predeces-
sors, might have chosen so many teach
ers from one denomination that the in
stitution might have more less de-
nominational atmosphere.
Although during my more than two
years connection with. the university l
In.I RI IGa fCfyG r,f ,,o,
atmosphere, yet, in order to bring an
additional disproof of President James
| recklessly unjust charge. / thought I
would inquire of the president as to the
denominational relationships of the va
| rious members of our admins trative
and teaching staff. l found that he
knew very little on the subject; and the
| four or five men whom / meet daily In
| the administration building and who are
| in closest touch with all it's works
| knew as little as he did. Their ignorance
| was eloquent of the fact that the de-
nominational relationship Of the various
| teachers was a matter OF no concern
whatever in the daily work and life of
| the institution.