Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-01-03
COMMUNITY HALL FOR BAXTER
Continued from first page)

students would have immediate ac-
cess to reference works and the pub
lie would have added advantages fur
nished by the association of the high
school. II would mean the greatest
good to the greatest number.
Such a building would necessitate
the expenditure Of about two hundred
thousand dollars, possibly more.
Community Hall meets the present
and will adequately meet the future
needs Of n bigger, better Baxter"
The Twentieth Century demands
economy first Of all and / can meet
the issue in this project. My plan
gives every day use of practically ev-
cry foot Of floor space. In dollars
and cents 1t would cost far less to
build and maintain an edifice Of this
type than the aggregate cost Of con-
struction and maintenance Of high
school and separate churches. It is
more economical. Money solicited
for the construction could be solicited
without reserve. The usual inter-
church prejudice would be eliminated.
The board of education would sub
scribe the high school appropriation.
The building would be the property
of the public as an incorporated
whole. firmly believe that any fair
minded business man or woman
would back It to the limit.
Perhaps the greatest difficulty to
be surmounted is the proverbial an
tipathy that exists between the doc
trines of different churches. Petty
jealousies, poorly grounded have long
been the menace of general public
welfare. After all most Of the diff
ferences are wholly imaginary. Great
non-sectarian evangelists of today
have given this state of things a
death blow. Baxter Springs for the
past two summers has enjoyed union
services without any noticeable fric-
ton. believe that lack of harmony
exists because no substantial attempt
has been made to reconcile existing
differences. ] do not propose to at
tempt a REIMBURSEMENT of church
creeds but l do believe that weekly
union services are possible and would
be of infinite value to the town. /
propose OF turn over to each sect a
DOM for use on Sundays and such
evenings as their organizations de-
mand. These same rooms could be
used for class rooms for the high
school, during the five school days.
Junior church societies could thrive as
easily as they do today and feel
sure this condition would bring about
renewed activity among the junior d.
visions of the churches. On Sunday
mornings and evenings l should sug-
gest union services, sermons to be
rendered alternately by presiding
ministers. In this way the music
which is the churches greatest asset
would be the best that the town could
produce. Sermons would mean some
thing for each minister would have
time to produce something really
worth while. Certainly large aud
fence would furnish the incentive as
well as wholesome competition. Pub
lie interest would run high and local
pride would find opportunity for
proper constructive manifestation.
"Old-timers" of course will throw
up their hands in fear. They will
argue against such a radical change.
They will point out the necessary
disruption of prevailing ideas and
customs. l will meet all these ar
guments with the cold statement Of
facts. Any business proposition
stands or falls on the underlying
principles. The foundation must be
sane and substantial. Prevailing con-
ditions and demands must be salts
field in the proper fashion. This pro-
ject satisfies the needs of all the in
situations involved, at a minimum
cost and with the greatest good to
each individual of the community.
The lack of precedent in any enter
prise is the greatest asset if the en-
terprise is well founded. There is no
such institution to my knowledge any
where in the world, but ! am not
afraid of it because Of that.
The theories of the modern educa-
t;,,a nrocaaa are all in keening with