The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-08-11
DIR. w. A. HARPER
President Of Efon College

ElrtZttin fuINPStS - "dSC Ndt oI the
ct,i. institutions Of higher learning.
III tvn.s IT institutions are here to
,,y and n. sensible thing to do is to
-,I,,. that fact and for each to get
i.,.y doins its special work. State in
.tt,fi1nS should cease to ncouraGe
mir Graduates to write theses on the
,,rrnwness and ~"unneceSSity' Of
rrrstiin colleges and they in turn
amid try 10 forget the shortcomings
- heir competitors supported by the
St,t, ". have had elimination and
r..rfninatian long enough, and would I
,o ,v.Il 80 stick to our respective ideals |
,,J Ii our distinctive work with fidel |
~ and .arneStneSs and simplicity of
heart
Vvl,i Some Counties Are Doing.
t:r' ? viii not be amiss to charac-
torn, briefly the fundamental aims
~ STATE md Christian colleges. Nor
VII n be- imiSS to recall that the Uni
,nd States is the only Christian nation
which undertakes to educate without
religious influence. The great Chris
ian nations. like Germany, France.
En.llni. make provision even in their
secondary schools for religious in
s,rgrtipn. and they do we'll in so do
ius The usual custom. modified to
.trt local conditions. is to have all
the pupils - at certain hours each
d., 80 religious instructors OF their
u,rcutS' choice. where they are nur
turcd IN the things of the Kingdom.
Il ,ermS 80 me that this is Il much
more sensible plan than the diluted
moral coaching advocated by some
educational leaders for our own pub
he schools. Religious instruction suit
al 10 The conscience of PrOteStantS
Catholics, Jews, and free-thinkerS
would seem to be "a coiorleSS pOWerleSS
thiu.. 1Avojt IF practical Influence in
touching the hearts of children. For
laugh At dogma though we may. yet
W. must all admit that Christian faith
must lSSuredly rest upon it. ii it is
vitality 10 affect the character. The
Multiplicity of Protestant sects in this
country. clamoring more for their dis
t%,uctive differences than for the fun
dlWentllS Of salvation. renders uch
u plan limos impossible with us ex-
Cept ~ the large centres Of pOpula-
ton Therefore, IT would seem that
our present public school system,
crowned by our great State Institutions
OF higher and technical learning. is a
fixture IN our educational life.
Aims ri Our State COLLEGES.
Returning now to the distinctive
anus Of the two leading types of col
leseS operating in u country, we
may iiftlulIf HIST lntD III alIu VI
the state College. The original Of all
St1te colleges is the University OF
Virginia It's founder was Thomas
Jefferson. He was far seeing enough
To realize that this educational de-
%iarturc would affect wondrouSly the
hte vt the country and considered
The Tact Of his origination of the idea
oi sufficient Importance to warrant its
Inscription on his tombstone alons
with 10. fIAs-, - ~ ,h n
the Declaration Of Independence
What was Jefferson's idea in this edu
calionti Innovation? His writing:
make II perfectly plain-that higher
education should be free from re
lGiou> control and that educated citi
zenS might be had for the new nation
i'eSe are the aims of the State col
reyes today-absolute freedom from
Religious control and the production
W QUEENS. The atmosphere of tn
r'''t school Is patriotic. patriotism i
a great force. We cannot DO withou
" The state schools have certainl
sn'ce"ded in that line Of their aim
aheS nave also succeeded in keepin!
themselves absolutely free from re
hsl"ns control. They are models o
s'''Fation. permitting students an
iftlity To believe and teach incident
tly and practice in daily life an
u ally 1oIIi VI ifliiLCi
ny conceivable. The free-thinker an
we ''V'ut Christian. whether in fac
o"F o student body. are on eque
,'F"S Thomas Jefferson could nc
"'I' wished 1t to work out better tina
"'S And for those who beliey
""' y" he the aims of higher educa
~" We have no criticiSm-they hav
vi "Inpathy n commiseration.
itin> II The Christian College.
-" 'lriStian college realizes tn
n''SH'ty for higher education Tia
p'"t type Of citizenship ma
N"'' 1t is opposed tn sectarianisn
~ IN rare instances, and these il
m''"'" are growing rarer i'm view
cav 'N'retne liberation of the Stat
ChFt'S and of the Steady growth
'Htian liberality among the SUI
ing constituencies. 1t does not b.
a.. ~ SnoIecting youth in its form,
. years TO all the conflict of fat
"' "feptictSIn that so universal
-" around the State college. fee
10 nat great harm is done the spi