Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-03
How Universities Serve A State

United States, IL is nov surprising that
we should have inheufted the system
already in force and effect in the
mother country, for no immigrant
clings more tenaceously TO the ideals
OF the land OF his birth than the
Anglo-Saxon. The founding Of the
state-church college naturally followed.
though these Institutions trained the
men who later devised our system Of
free public schools In what may be
known as the second period OF the dis
senters' colleges were established, OF
which Princeton was the earliest type,
and the 'long college" Of our grand
fathers time q lineal descendant Then
followed the founding or the state uni
versity OF which the University OF
Georgia was the FIRST At a much later
date, graduate. or what some are
pleased to term. the real universities.
OF which Johns Hopkins was one OF the
irst were organized.
IL has taken many years for the uni-
versity TO become firmly established
in the United States for our earlier
institutions were all OF college grade.
and il is only recently IN many states
that an attempt has been made to prop
erly differentiate between college and
university courses OF instruction. II is
not surprising. however. that once this
line was clearly defined the university
should have developed with astonishing
rapidity. This has been due in large
measure 20 the opportunity accorded
for research, which constitutes now, and
always VIII constitute, the main incent-
i've 10 discovery ana achievement on
the part OF every true student whether
he occupy a seat IN the class room, pur-
sues science in the laboratory, or lee
lures from the rostrum.
Lately. the universities have under
gone a new impulse and great devel-
opment is in progress at present due
largely 70 the more liberal endowment
BY private individuals and the state
as well. AS a result, graduate courses
have been established in many institu-
tons. handsome and costly buildings
erected, and laboratory equipment and
facilities OF the most modern character
provided. Teaching and research have
been further differentiated than ever
before. and opportunities for advance
ment afforded teachers and students
which were non-existant less than q
quarter OF century ago.
To do justice to the origin. rise and
predominating influence OF the Amer
lean university system would call for
an elaborate consideration from a phil
cannot be undertaken at this time, but
it is evident that the existing institu-
tons are fully imbued with the spirit
OF that text which says 'replenish the
earth and subdue IL, and have dominion
over the FISH OF the sea. and over the
fowls OF the air. and over every living
thing that moveth upon the earth" To
do this successfully calls for the high
est development OF mans intellectual
faculties. for the industrious prosecu-
tion OF research along varied lines, and
for persistent and continued EFFORT 70
take fragments OF truth from the great
arena Of the unknown and translate
them into the language OF human under
standing. The university established
on comprehensive lines literally endow-
ed. and directed by men with the high
est training and ideals Is the greatest
force which civilization has
yet devised for it's uplift. What the uni
versity is TO mean TO the future develop
ment Of the American nation cannot be
foretold at this juncture. but IL is quite
evident that IL is capable OF providing
a satisfactory solution OF many OF the
vexing problems OF modern civilization
II il IS allowed to work out its destiny
without too much outside interference.
The American university is a growth
and not a creation. II was not estab-
lished by fiat; Il can not be directed
and controlled by such means IL is a
product Of evolution and an effort on
the part OF our people TO adjust them
selves to the conditions of the age in
which they live. IL should not be con-
cluded that the university has been as
readily accepted by the people as the
discussion up to this time might imply.
The state university has encountered
fierce opposition in some quarters. Even
now it's work IL often viewed with sus-
picion or indifference. Nevertheless, IL
has become so we'll established as to be
recognized as a factor in the education
al scheme Of practically all OF the states.
The opposition to universities is based