The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-18

interest In the church after going TO
college. They say in The SECOND place
that they will likely never return to
the local church, which will thus be
weakened. The former reason can be
disposed OF by the pastors taking care
that his young people go TO the right
sort of college and by his following
them up with letters and by visits and
vacation counsels during their under
graduate days. The second objection
will not be adhered to If the pastor
considers that the vital thing in our
Christian religion is not to build up
Church, but the Kingdom. 1t would
be poor business ability for a farmer
to undertake to make a breed OF
racers into draught horses. 1t is
equally poor spirituality that prompts
church to dwarf the usefulness OF
its brilliant young people in order to
keep them in its own community. The
principle of sacrifice applies here also.
And the nohlest contribution OF
struggling church to its day may well
be the sending Of it's best talented
young people to college and then into
the larger work of the Kingdom in
other places There s that with
holdeth more than Is meet, but II
tendeth to poverty double poverty
poverty in the work OF the Kingdom
and poverty in the colleges we have
esta bIished to foster and promote the
Kingdoms interest.
III. Conservation.
II II Ia the duty of the church to
discover the possible COLLEGE man in
it's membership and assist him TO be-
come such. it is all the more its duty
to care for him during his college
days. There are three types of col
leges TO which the young people Of
the church resort: tthe denomina-
tional coiiege. the State institution.
and the Independent or privately en-
dowed college. For our purpose the
latter two NAV be considered as be-
longing to the same class. since their
common characteristic is absence Of
eny right Of control on th-p part of
the church
With respect to the denominationLl
colleges, | think all will aKre, that
She church should take measures to
conserve the spiritual life ~ Those
who resort to them for education.
The denominations college Tat is not
distinctive,y Christian has denied its
faith and is worse than infidel. II has
no excuse for being. Its only clsim
to exist 1t is religious aim. Other
types of college can furnish the in
building and equipment as well. If not
better, than II can. II must provide
the very best facilities for Intellectual
growth and comfortable living IL pos
sibly can. 1t may on these grounds
properly be called a college. But II
cannot claim to be a denominationat
college, Christian college let me
say, since the UNCONVENTIONAL college
does not exist to teach dogma or creed
unless its first and foremost In
sistence is upon the spiritual develop
ment and nurture of it's students let
Ii never lose sight of this, It's ehiefest
obligation and its unique privilege,
But the Christian college Is the
property of the church. II Is helpless
without the church To the church 1t
must look for buildings and equip
ment. for professors and students. for
endowment and current expenses. The
church that Is wise will generously
provide all these items, realizing that
in so doing II will be safeguarding
and guaranteeing It's own perpetuity.
while at the same time building well
in the Kingdoms interest. The church
will use iudicious care in locating its
colleges 1t will he very anxious In
respect TO the intellectual and spirit
ual qualifications OF those who are to
D.