The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-16
GREAT LEADERS
GET EDUCATION N
RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS

That practically every leader Of the
American Resolution. as well as a
majority OF the signers OF the Decla-
ration OF Independence, were educa-
ted In colleges or universities of re-
llsious origin. are among the inter-
estinE facts which have been brought
to light by the educational survey
OF the Tnterchurch World Movement
which ia being conducted preliminary
to action looking to closer co-opera-
ton between church and university
In the United Statea.
In the early days OF the republic
II is disclosed, religious leadership
and statesmanship were 10 large
educating the youth of the growing
colonies fell wholly upon the church.
To the extent that education pro-
NOTED the spirit of independence, the
church was responsible: and the
spread OF democracy was brought
about largely by religious guidance.
and universities are found producing
such preacher statesmen rs iona
than Edwards, Joseph Bethany, Ma
thaniel Emmons Increase Mather Cot
ton Mather and Timothy Dwight;
and such purely political leaders as
Jefferson. Hopkins, Monroe. Marshall
James Otis. Samuel Adams, John
1t Is recalled that Benjamin Frank
| lin founded the University OF Penn
sylvania: That George Washington
was Chancellor Of the college of
william and Mary: Patrick Henry
the leading trustee of the Hampto-
| Sidney college and Thomas Jefferson
a graduate OF college OF religious
/ origin and the founder OF a univer-
| sity.
| He fixed my destiny for Inc" said
Jefferson of William Small. member
| OF the faculty of William and Mary
the Alma Mater OF the Framer of
| the Declaration.
Going down to later period, It
| is recalled that prior to the war be-
| tween the states "Stonewalr' Jack
| son was the head of a school and at
| the close of the war, Robert F. Lee
| could conceive of no greater service
| to his beloved Southland than to &C
| cept the presidency Of a college. 1t
was Abraham Lincoln. too. who in
/ 1862 signed the land grant bill which
virtually created ffty-two colleges in
the West
| Incur own generation, the fact il
| pointed out that Roosevelt. TAFT,
| Wilson. Hughes. Bryan. Gorgas.
Hoover and host of less prominent
leaders In various fields in the United
| States. all received their training in
controlled by the church.
| The point which 1t is sought to
bring out Is that the inspiration be-
| hind education has always been re-
| iigion; and that for more than 200
| years Christian colleges have learned
American democracy with religious
| leadership. Now, however at the
/ opening OF what PROMISES to be the
greatest era in the worlds history.
| the disclosure is made through the
survey which is being made by the
| American Education department of
the Interchurch movement. that a
situation has grown up under which
i there Is a constantly lessening con-
j tact between the educational agencies
Of the United States and the church.
Full recognition il given. of course
to the validity of the constitutional
Separatfon Of church and state, which
4 includes an Inhibition of religious
instruction in unsupported institu-
tons There is no tendency on the
part OF the Interchurch Movement
TO contest this. There is a belief.
however. strongly supported by the
| facts In hand, that all other things
| being equal, the vast majority or
American parents would prefer to
have their children educated amid
SURROUNDINGS where due regard Is
/ given to Christian training. than
where such influence Is entirely
Hacking.
4 What the interehurch survey shows
is that in all sections Of the coun-
try there are institutions in which
thousands of young people are being
educated amid SURROUNDINGS devoid
OF any religious suggestions
What the Interchurch Movement
proposes to do In, recognizing the
inhibition against religious instruc-
tion in the publicly supported schools
to meet the situation by bringing to
bear practical religious influence
on the students from without Being
II q cooperative movement, the Inter-
church liz working to bring the CO.
operation OF all the Christian
churches to bear upon the situation.
1 Where the student population Is SO
heavy that one church Is inadequate
fully to meet the needs. it Is pro-
posed that all OF the participating
churches shall join in the movement
to establish as many additional
churches as the institution demands
The aim. as DIR. Robert Lincoln
Kelly. director of the American Ed
J ucation Department, phrases it is to
, promote the highest measure OF
} Cristian citizenship.
II The churches" says he. should
make 1t possible for all the students
In all Of these, schools to breathe
the Christian atmosphere and as
y Tales charter Quaintly says. be fit
!. ted for public employment both in
J Church ard civil state"
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