New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-08
CHURCH AND UNIVERSITY
The Duty Toward Students in State
Institutions
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

Sir: So much has been written on the
subject Of religious education that it is
difficult to say anything new. Educa-
tors throughout the country are agreed
that in some way religious and secular
education should be combined. and at
the present time there is a rising tide
of sentiment in regard to infusing
more religion into our educational sys-
tenn. Thoughtful men agree that it is
a mistake to educate the mind TO the
neglect of the heart, the moral facul-
ties and the soul. Intellectual educa-
ton alone makes men shrewd, while
proper moral and spiritual education,
added to the intellectual, makes men
not only keen, but goody pure and true.
The whole question is brought to the
attention of serious minded men by the
wonderful development of our public
schools and our state universities. In
the very nature of the case the state
university, supported by public taxa
ton, cannot give formal religious in
struction, but in most Of our state uni
versities there is friendly feeling
toward religion and the Church, and
many of the members of the faculties
in these universities are earnest Chris
tians and deeply interested in the
moral and spiritual welfare of the stu
dent body.
SO far as the students are concerned
II is probable that there are more
church members attending state uni
versities now than ever before in our
history. The question Is pertinent
one: what provision should the Church
make for Christian students at state
universities ?"
In many cases tho churches at state
universities are not large enough to
accommodate their own congregations
and also students who desire to attend.
This makes it necessary to enlarge the
local church in order to accommodate
both regular members and students.
II is gratifying to know that already
several denominations are actively at
work assisting congregations in the vi
cinity of state universities to enlarge
their church ed.fices. Several years ago
action was taken by the Presbyterian
Church, and the last General Assembly
instructed the Board of Church Erec-
ton to make every possible effort to
secure the sum Of 100000 at once; but
this is only a small part of the money
that will be needed TO assist congre-
cations in the vicinity of Presby-
terian institutions and state universities
to make provision for Presbyterian STU
dents. When edifices have been built
and properly equipped the plan is to
appoint student pastors, whose chief
work will be to devote themselves to
the spiritual interests Of the student
body. Already assistance has been rem
iered to various institutions, such as
Maryville, TENNESSEE; jamestown,
North Dakota; Manhattan, Kansas, and
TO the State Agricultural colleges at
Ames, Iowa; Corvallis, Ore, and Davis,
Cal
The Board Of Church Erection Of the
Presbyterian Church in the United
States. in order TO carry out the will
of the General Assembly, recently APP
pointed the Rev. Louis +. Holden, ID. D..
IL. D., for sixteen years president of
the University Of Wooster, Ohio. as
special representative, and DR.. Holden
is already on the ground and at work.
It is earnestly to be hoped that every
Christian denomination win promptly
make plans to provide church accom-
mediation and spiritual instruction for
all their church members who are abb
sent from home attending state univcr-
sites.
Winning young people for God is the
strategy Of the Kingdom. II is pre-
paredness" in this life and for the life
TO come.
Every denomination needs large
endowment in the form of legacies to
establish and maintain this work.
DAVID G. WYLIE.
A. Veil Mox 1911