Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-15

| In society as 1t should be; conse
qucntly tho college that Is true to It.
function cultivatcs tho idealism of tn,
students. and nationally and dlscreetls
appropriatinE tho real of tho presen,
INCREASINGLY molds II for tho ideal OF
the future.
SOUND ETHICAL EDUCATION
OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE
Even from n practical or utilitarian
point Of view 4 sound ethical educat ton
In college men Is OF supreme import
ance. a proper scnso OF ethical obli-
cation and relation enlarges the power
and intensilcs tho desire OF the indi-
vidual TO work and to produce, since he
feels that there Is n continuity OF So
ciety OF which he Is. as It wcre. coll
As the individual cell In the human
body cannot live and enjoy without tho
proper discharge of Its function, so tho
individual man In society Is seIf-de-
structive when he fails TO DO actuated
by an ethical organic conception OF
society. truly ethical conception OF
our relations enlarges the under
standing. clarifies the Judgment. and
gives sweep and vision and purpose to
life
.
OF mechanical and institutional agen
cies of society have been animated and
iured on by vision of the social use
fulness of the mechanical appliances
or the intellectual principles for which
they have labored. The highly trained
man without this sense OF his relation
10 society Ia social pirate" and
with no uplifted face TO catch the glow
or the radiant future for the race. he
sails the sea Of life under n banner
hearing the legend. Il owe no man
anything"
IL the college is unfaithful to it's
duty, the coherent and constructive
FORCES OF society arc destroyed and the
bonds OF social order broken In So
cietE that ignores or lightly esteems
the ethical relations and obligations,
decay has already begun.
Moralized education only gives I'M
wavering purpose and unf,agging effort
Tor the constructive tendencies and
Ideals OF society In the hours that try
mems lives. This only gives social
conference and national Immortality
The rich, the warlike and the esthetic
nations soon pass eff the stage Of the
"orlds drama unless ethical concep-
tons permeate and invigorate tho ma
tional life. The races and nations that
have perished have not fallen for lack
OF material goods or intellectual train
Inc or esthettc culture but for lnck of
deeply planted ethical standards
amongst leaders and people
How shall the college develop this
sense OF ethical obligation and relation
is difficult question. since the process
OF moral education "defes eXactitude of
definition" and the formation of an
ethical character is a complex process"
In developing such character the
emotions Of truth, beauty and duty
must be stirred. unitarian educa-
ton Is indispensable. An esthctic edu-
cation with beauty and harmony as its
Ideal does much for the student, but
no college discharges It's whole func-
ton that neglects to vital.ze industrial
and cultural education with the ethical
sense OF duty
COLLEGE MUST AIM
AT ETHICAL GROWTH
Tho college must Systematically
aim at an ethical growth Of the
student commensurate with the de-
velopment OF his other powers; yet
It Is perhaps wisest to attempt
TO attain that end indirectly Formal
thing. nevertheless few college men
will say that the textbook and formal
instruction in ethics influenced their
lives g deeply a s did the indirect infu-
ences. The college owes the student no
given quantity OF ethical information.
the quality OF the ethical training Is
the important matter. Ethical knowl-
edge acquired by formal or informal
instruction is powerless as a force in
life unless II is vivifed by emotion
knowledge Is not SO much fortress
against evil as Is the unreasoned in
stinctive VIII to do the right thing.
II Is not 30 important to teach the stu
dent what TO do and what not to do as
to inspire him with the desire to do
right. Possessed by this feeling, he
VIII often be perplexed as to what duty
requires. but. SO long as he Is con-
trolled by this principle. he may STUN
Bile: but he has not lost the direction
OF his life, and his character is safe
1t will not be out OF place to suggest
and briefly TO discuss some of the in.
direct means of ethical culture open TO
the college.
The organization OF the sports and
play can be made Of such a character
as to elevate the ethical standards, not
only OF tho players. but OF all students
In the college. In pure sport and play
the man Is trained in habits Of ethical
conduct and cooperation TO an honor
able end. and training is always more
influential on life than information.
As regards the ethical effects, the game
played is not so important as tho spirit
in which IT is played. Unfortunately,
not all college athletics are 30 organ
lied and conducted as to foster tho
ethical.
Tho orderly co-opera ton OF the col
leee faculty is an unconscious ethical
object lesson. The orderly admin!stra.
lion, the punctuality. the regularity,
the atmosphere and traditions of our
best conducted colleges are effective
ethical Influences that can scarcely DO
ovorestimated
Studies that deal with human life and
progress have most influence in the
ethical development OF the student
History literature and the social