Evening star., 1920-11-28

Implying that the recent statement
OF Dr.. William Miller Collier. presi-
dent Of George Washington Univer-
sity. does 'unwittingly misrepresent
the Baptist attitude toward George
Washington University" Z. Hilton
Jackson, chairman of the committee
on education Of the Columbia Rap-
tist Association, last night made the
following statement:
Un~ittinEly Misstates Attitude.
"The statement recently given to
the press by President William Miller
Collier of George Washington Uni
versity upon TIM action of the Column
bia Baptist Association of November
49, following the report OF its com
mittee on education made to that
body, unwittingly misstates both the
Baptist attitude toward education
and also the relations of the Baptlse
denomination to Columbian Univer-
sity, the predecessor OF George " ASH
ington University.
ANY controversy, particularly OF d.
public character. is to be scrupulous-
ly avoided in a matter OF sucn mag
nitude, and the following is prompted
by the sole desire of removing any
wise result from the statement OF the
president of George Washington Uni
versity.
This statement was unfortunately
based upon a partial and inaccurate
account in the public press OF the
action taken by this association. Whiie
the report in. question protested
against the proposed merger with
the American University. and recon-
mended that proper inquiry be maze
as to whether or not George Wash1ng-
ton University might not again be
brought. under Baptist control upon
conditions acceptable to the trustees OF
George Washington University. the
action of the association in no way
precluded a full and impartial develop
ment of the entire situation through
regular channels of negotiation be-
tween the authorized representatives
of the university and the denomination.
IF any justification were required
for an official declaration by Baptist
Association on this subject, it would
be found in the reflection that this is
probably the first instance of the
alienation of denominational college
or university and its assets from the
religious body by which it was founded.
Serves No Useful Purpose.
Either perusal of the report of
the committee on education, which
was available to DR.. Collier upon re-
quest. or of the Baptist attitude to-
ward the entire subject matter, con-
tanned in the letter OF June 3. 1870.
addressed to the president of the
0f OF Seba of the
education board of the Southern Bap-
tist Convention, would have made un-
necessary, and perhaps eliminated
altogether, some of the statements
and implications in the communication
of DR.. Collier of November %.
"It is obvious. therefore. that no
useful purpose could be served by
any public discussion of the condi-
tions upon which the relationship of
the dcnomi nation might be resumed
with the university. whether the con-
Judgment of the president of George
University or otherwise.
The statement in question, however.
both in its phraseology and implications
apart from the spirit OF 'levftS. BY which
it Is obviously animated. does gross in
Justice to the attitude of the Baptist
denomination toward the subject of
in general, in that 1t assumes
tnat under Baptist control
the institution was on a sectarian basis
and that. therefore. a restoration Of
this control would be a restoration of
sectarianism in SO far as the future OF
the university might be involved. Moth
ing could be further from the truth or
constitute a greater reflection upon the
Baptist attitude toward education.
Has Avoided Sectarianism.
mot only has this denomination con-
sistently and uniformly divorced itself
from sectarianism in its great institu-
tions of learning. in which 1t has
larger investment IN America today
than any other denomination. but the
very first Charter of Columbian Col
lege, the predecessor of George WASH
ington. University. indicated the broad
aims Of the founders of the institution.
The seventh clause of this charter tex
tually recited that persons Of every re-
igious denomination shall be capable
of being elected trustees. nor shall any
person, either as president, professor.
tutor or pupil. be refused admittance
into said college, or denied any OF the
privileges, immunitiee, or advantages-
thereof for or on account Of his senti-
ments In matters of religion
"An adherence to the principle thus
enunciated has been coincident with
the eighty-fouv years Of Baptist con-
troll. during which period its presi-
dents. financial agents and majority
of its board Of trustees. were uni
formly members Of this denomination.
This historic fact would seem to be
q sufficient guaranty that the resto-
ration of this university to Baptist
control would not mean that its 'edu-
cational policy Is to be dictated by
sectarianism.
Does Violence to Relations.
'-rhe statement of DR.. Collier that
this Institution was not. at first. in
any way, subject to the control or
supervision of the Baptists. and that
the latter extended to it some fnan-
cial help in the early days, which
help was always grossly made
quate.' does violence to the relations
" hich existed between this institution
and the Baptist denomination for
more than three-quarters Of a CEN
tury.
.In 1919. Rev. Luther Rice in COM
pany with. Rev: Obadiah B. Brown and
Rev. Spencer H. Cone and Enoch Rey-
nolds. all Baptists. formed literary
association and bought forty-six and
$1,000. with the understanding that
ii should be held for the use of an
educational establishment under the
direction Of the General Baptist Con-
vention.
upon it the college buildings were
erected and maintained until 1884,
when the college moved to it's new
site at 18th and H streets, northwest
The very first circular issued by the
college on June 81. 1921. bore on it's
forefront tHe AotaoWihk statement.
This institution originated by the Bap-
tist General Convention. but of national
locality. consideration and benefit, is
founded on most liberal principles
Relations Were Close.
1.-The institution bore the closest re-
lations to the Baptist general con-
yention until it's dissolution, when it
became affiliated with the Maryland
Baptist Union Association, which
early in it's history appointed COM
mittee which exercised the functions
of a board Of visitors, visiting the
college. personally examining into its
,~,irs ANA reporting thereon II ia