The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-17


able of their own power 70 question
and disprovc To their own satisfaction
Tho destructive teachings Of those they
are supposed TO accept as authorities.
Or they shall lose their respect for re-
iigion. This Is not an idlc dream: IL
is fact. sad fact. and these state
, ments are made upon basis OF eNpc-
riencc and observations | record with
solemn affirmation that have known
many Instances where devout Chris
! tians have lost their devotion Ia ,h.ir
church and their God through a false
step in the choice of the place Of their
higher education. They went away re-
iigious; they came back irrelipioue
scoffers. There would be no such Oh.
lection TO state institutions or higher
learning as We constantly hear.
If they had not really become divorce
courts. divorcins their students from
religion and marrying them To ire
llgicr.
III amounts TO just This. Shall our
sons and daughters go 10 institutions
where religion or irreligion Is taurht ,
There is no midway ground Religion
Is not separate department OF life
and cannot be set off from Other yi.,l
questions by strict lines Of divisio,
religion enters into every relation nr
life and must be provided for a, eyer,
step. IL Is impossible to arrange n col
lege curriculum: in such way ne 10 ~
cludc religious instruction. so as no, ia
be forced to take position on certai,
vital religious and spiritual interests
history ana the social sciences slnnlv
cannot be taught without involving in
struction favorable Or inimical 10 rc-
| ligious growth. The same is true Of
natural sciences. Literature has "A trc-
mehdous bearing on the spiritual life.
and II makes no difference whether this
literature is ancient or modern. Phil
osophy cannot he touched without in
volving spiritual interests. Even
mathematics has it's religious aspect.
Since there can be no education that
does not have its religious bearing.
how can We escape the conclusion that
our young people during the fatcrul
four years Of college life are develop
Ing an intellectual bias for or against
the religious life There is no escape:
we are providing them a wholesome
religious atmosphere or they arc
br"at hing miasmatic germs destructive
Of the spiritual life.
| Our education shall be Christian or
un- Christian. and each Individual
parent shall settle that issue--it can
not he avoided.
What will the outcome be? win
State college push Christian college to
the wall? Ostensibly they have the
advantage because they can put their
hands in my pocket and in yours and
take therefrom the money to pcrpetuate
| them selves! when they lose 81 student
In open, fair competition, they can car
ry the contest still further and award
| scholarships without limit. relying upon
| the power of taxation within their
! grasp. and they are doing ii every day.
| though even with free tuition II costs
in the Christian colleges and pay tut
ton Ostensbly these scholarships are
| given TO those who expect to teach or
| TO those who deserve them. which lat
| ter class are limited In number sup
poscdly. but actually anybody who lets
| il be known that he will come on no
other condition will find the scholar
| ship available" ana more often they
are given to the scons OF rich men
and politicians than to those who most
need them. Shall this public plumber
| continue forever? Never! But why
not? What reason have you to believe