Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
Epworth League Discussion.
WHAT KIND OF A COLLEGE
SHOULD 1 ATTEND?
Matt, 22.s7; Col, 2.s.1; Cor. 1888;
6.1s-2o: Phil. 4.1s.
By Robert D. Burbank,

convinced, therefore, that l should go
to college, it becomes necessary for me
to choose a college-and what kind of a
college should ] attend?
| Broadly speaking, there are two
kinds of colleges-the secular. under
| the patronage of city. state or pubic
or private corporation, and the de-
nominational, under the supervision OF
| a church Each has its advantages and,
perhaps, It's disadvantages, and these
should be examined thoroughly before
a choice is made.
= Probably the most familiar example
of the secular college is the state uni
versity. and its advantages are readily
apparent. Generally it has big repu-
| ta6on-its name is a talisman in So
ciety, politics and business, and you
meet the alumnae everywhere. 1t has
great student body and thousands of
graduates, and its very size is great
asset You say it is lone of the big
with the distinction of being 'one of
the big nine" or zone of the big four"
The secular college, and especially
the state university. generally has the
advantage of financial strength. The
backing of the political body. whether
city or state or public corporation,
means that there are always plenty of
funds available for equipment, improve
ments and growth. The fact that IT is
a state or city institution also tends to
ness in the student body.
Students who are not easily mtSled
and are clear-visioned and strong
willed enough to stand by the truth as
they see it, will find that the mingling
and competition with students of
various kinds of training. religion or
principles develop their powers of in
dependent and original thinking, and
free them from the ruts of conven-
tionality and prejudice.
There democratic
spirit in the state university. although
there sometimes arise aristocracies of
wealth or politics or society. A young
man who entered one of the big west
ern universities impressed every one
whom he met during the first few
months with the fact that he was from
New York. and his supercilious man
ner soon won him not only universal
disapproval, but hearty dislike. and by
the end of his freshman year he had
become SO unpopular that he was
ducked in the lake, not by the soph-
ignores. but by his own classmates.
But he learned his lesson. In spite of
the disgrace. which he keenly felt, he
came back and finished his course. but
never again mentioned New York or
showed any other form of snobbish-
ness. and by pluck and perseverance
finally won the respect and approval of
students. 1t made a man of him and
cured him forever of snobbishness.
4 The advantages of the denomination
al college are not SO apparent to the
iy to have such strong appeal un-
less he gives them careful thought
Usually the UNCONVENTIONAL college has
a comparatively small student body,
many of them having fewer students
than are enrolled in some of the large
city high schools. This fact, however,
really gives the student several adj
vantageS over the larger secular uni
versities. The classes being smaller, he
gets more individual attention and in
struction: he is closer acquainted with
the rest of his class, and the Glass
spirit as we'll as the college spirit"
is stronger: and he comes into closer
personal contact with the members of
the faculty. He will find. also. as he
takes up his life work, that it is not
the size of the school that gives ath-
letic. social or business prestige, but
rather the quality of men and women
and in this respect the UNCONVENTIONAL
school has decided advantage.
Christ was the first and greatest
democrat. and as the Christian col
leges are filled with His spirit. they
are more free from snobbishness than
the secular universities. The backing
of the church gives assurance that
Christian ideals will be kept before the
student body. Very much depends on
the Instructors point of view in teach
osophy or one of the exact sciences,
and the advantages of a Christian fac
ulty is of the utmost Importance to the
student.
portant factors in college life. and the
mingling with students largely of the
same faith strengthens and intensifies
that faith. while it is weakened and
even killed many times by the ridicule
of fellow students and the liberal
teachings of the instructors in the
state universities. The atmosphere and
examples of Christian character among
students and faculty indelibly impress
their influence upon the student in the
do his best all his life.
The Christian college recognizes, too.
that education. to be complete, must
develop the soul as well as the mind
and body, and It provides definite
program of Christian work by which
the student may develop spiritually
and prepare for leadership in Christian
work through his life.
The secular school is at a great dis
advantage because it lacks this moral
atmosphere. In the state and city uni
versities we find many in the faculties
who are agnostic. and they are con-
stantly leading students astray, moral
~. Students should heed Paufs warn
ing to the Colossians: Take heed lest
there shall be any one that maketh
spoil of you through his philosophy
and vain deceit, after the tradition of
men, after the rudiments of the world
and not after Christ"
Many who think they cannot go to
college do not try hard enough. or have
not faith enough. because they do not
see how to do it. Some do not know
of the immense fund the Methodist
Church makes available for students
to get a college education, or of the
many ways of earning ones way
through college.
And those to whom college itself is
really an impossibility still have
choice of substitutes. such as libraries,
correspondence courses. extension de-
partments and night schools for mental
development; the gymnasium or out
door sports for physical development;
and the Epworth League and other
church organizations for spiritual de-
velopment.
Get an education-that you can and
must do! Go to college If you possibly
can-and go to the right kind Don't
rely entirely on some one else's rec
ommendation. but apply the tests and
weigh the advantages-and If you are
sincere and wise, you will attend a
Christian college.
READy FOR SERVICE SOON