The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-22
REPORT ON UNIVERSITY

NET OAl ON UNIV EtOl1 l The first special order on the docket | of the afternoon session of the assem-
 bly, was the consideration of the report
 of the ad interim committee on Ogle- thorpe university The representation of I each side of this question was limited | to one hour and 5 minutes and it was ordered that after the speakers to each side had concluded, the open discussion
 on the floor be limited to five minutes to each speaker.
 The chairman of the ad interim com mittee, Rev. Walter l.. Lingle, D. D., was heard first. He spoke with special
 references to certain items in the re- port presented. He called attention to the site of the university, showing it to be outside of the suburbs of Atlanta and not located where it would count for most for educational purposes. He showed next that no university work is being done at the institution and that probably this cannot be done for a number of years.
 Speaking of the church and it's at titude to it's educational institutions Dr. Lingle showed that the "Presby- terian church in the United States be. llieves that educational institutions built by the church's money and using the churchs name and influence should be owned by the church and governed by trustees appointed by the proper courts of the church." whereas, the character and bylaws of Oglethorpe university, he said, that the committee was convinced that those in charge of the Oglethorpe movement believe that their institution should be owned and controlled by a self-perpetuating board, independent of all church courts or that the very minimum of authority, if any should be given to church courts"
 Following the remarks of pr. Lingle, the Rev. R. D. Bedenger made a motion that the part of the report presented which is designated that which would be satisfa ctory to the assemblys eXecu- tive and advisory committees be adoptei by the assembly. This was followed by d motion from the Rev. NJ. M McFerrn that as an amendment the part of the report designated as that which would be satisfactory to the OgIethorpe board be adopted. As substitute for the ori3t- nal motion and the amendment, the Rev. c. M. Richards r. D., offered the fol- lowing paper:
 That it is the sense of this assembly that the Presbyterian church in the Un.- ted States, at this time. neither needs, desires, nor is in position to establish, equip and support an educational instit'l- ton of university grade; that we, speak HIS dS lll6 IlSIlcSl JuulSdlOIy Ol tiltL church. do on it's behalf disavow and ils- claim ownership and control of as well 8 S responsibility for any such institution es tablshed or about 10 be established ard that all of our congregations and all per- sons are hereby put on notice that no solicitation of fund; for such university can be made in the name of the Pfesby' teran church, in the United States. ner with the approval or consent of this ds- sembly."
 Speaking in the interest of Ogiethorpe university and favo,ng the adoption of 4 university in the educational work of the assembly were the Rev. James l. Vance D D., the Rev. I. $. Mcliroy, D. D., the Rev. Dunpar H. Ogden D. D., the Rev. J. G. Patton, D. D., and the Rev. Thornwell Jacobs, D. D., the last named being president of Oglethorpe.
 Those speaking in favor of the present
 educa tional system of the assembly and
 emphasizing the fact that the synod is
 the center of educational control and
 showing that the church does not at this
 time need a university were the Rev. J.
 F. Cannon, D. D., the Rev. w. McF. Al exander, D. D., the Rev. J. B. Hutton,
 D. D., and the Rev. Henry H. Sweets,
 D. D., the last named being the execu-
 tive secretary of the assemblys commit tee of education.
 The time for adjournment having ar
 rived, the further discussion of the ques-
 ton was deferred until a later session
 of the assembly. It will probably be re-
 sumed early in the session of today. as early as the docket will allow,
 The evening session was occupied with the celebration of the two hundredth an niversary of the organization of the First Presbyterian synod in America. l The speaker was Rev. R. c. Reed, D. D.,
 of Columbia. S. c.