The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-08-30

come will be. And the trustees are
now constantly violating the agree
ment with the Carnegie Foundation in
the management of The financial affairs
of the college, according to Mr.. Gran
berry.
Now it is the common report that
the members Of the faculty who have
not been "purged" off have to work
on salary which will not maintain
them in comfortable homes and they
have to do extra work in order to make
enough for living for themselves and
families.
This is the condition of the Baptist
college for young men in Georgia. In
the business world they call it bank
Iruptcy, insolvency. IN the annual SEES
sions of the board of trustees of Mer-
Ger they call it "purging" the faculty
of professors mot sound in the faith
as believed by the Baptists of Geor,
gia." And the annual sessions of that
body usually amount principally to
considerable wrangling over what this
and that professor teaches.
But this trustee is not pleased with
the record Of the board and apparent
ly does not believe the board deserves
! the praise accorded that body by the
Index. Thousands OF Baptists all over
Georgia are Of the same mind II
some other strong minds would join
Rev. Mr.. Cranberry, and speak out
what they think about the situation
Mercer and higher education might
have chance to pull up a few car
lengths.
1t is to be regretted that the Bap
|
way the trustees have safeguarded the
old, the true and the tried faith. David
Copperfield had an aunt who always
imagined the donkeys were on the
| grass. The Index is always afraid
| some member of MERGERS faculty will
lteaGh something out of ,hamony-with
.he Baptist faith. And all that is lost
motion. 1t is waste of valuable time
1t is terrible blow to Mercer (only
200 young men were in the college OF
arts last year, when under normal
conditions there are nearly 400
| There never was time when loyal
| ty to the UNCONVENTIONAL college and
higher Baptist education was so bad
| ly needed. shaking up is due, and
when it comes MERGERS future desti-
lies will slip from the hands of those
| who would not, do for it that which
might have continued it a leading
school and college of power.
1t will be a remarkable thing if men
like Graham can hold on to Mer.
| Ger till it is completely crushed. 1t is
now weakened and its teachers are
not paid living salary, but it would
come out of all this in the hands OF
practical business men. Those who
got their training there in the years
If the past are not going to remain
| luiet long about the methods obtaining
| 1t Mercer. There are graduates of
prominence, of training and intellect,
of progressive ideas and of loyalty
hat will not remain silent always.
There are still men in charge of the
work at Mercer who are faithful and
loyal 1t is the president and the fac
ilty who need sympathy and support.
md they ought to get that from the
rustees as well as from the Baptists
I'll over the state.
Mercer was founded for higher ed
,cation. 1t was originally intended
hat young men should be we'll edu-
| Gated there. The idea of purging the
aculty and shaping the individual be
iefs of the men who study there to
;uit the ideas of razor backed"
bunch of trustees is preposterous. Mer-
er will not likely get into the bus
ness OF making infdels or agnostics.
| 1t ought to be let alone about beliefs.
Education is the thing. That must
never be forgotten.
| Df do