Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-02-23
COuCHER WOMEN WANT
N0N-SECTA R|AN RULE
Maryland Girls From Outside of
Baltimore Represent Fifteen
Different Denominations.
TRYING TO GET new CHARTER

Baltimore. - Efforts by the gradu-
ates and officials of Goucher College
to secure, Il new charter from the
Maryland legislature, which will make
elections to the board Of trustees in
dependent of church control, were CIV
en- new impetus by the analysis, just
completed, of the religious affiliations
of the seventy eight Goucher students
now attending the college from fifty
three Maryland towns and cities out
side of Baltimore. The analysis shows
that the girls are members of fifteen
different churches or denominations.
and that only twenty-five are mem
bers Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, certain members OF which are
fighting the new charter in an attempt
to gain control Of the college.
From Nineteen Counties
Goucher draws students from nine
teen Maryland counties: Allegheny,
Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline,
Carroll, Dorchester, Frederick, Gar
rett, Hartford Howard. Kent, Mont
gomery, Prince Georges, Queen Annes,
Somerset. Talbot, Washington, Wico-
mico and Worcester. The undenom!-
national character OF the >undergradu-
ates Is shown by the fact that the
girls who attend the college from these
counties represent the following
churches Protestant Episcopal. Meth
od!st Episcopal, Presbyterian. jew
ish, Lutheran, Methodist Protestant,
Friends. Roman Catholic, Baptist.
Christian Science, United Brethren,
Church of Jesus Christ, Disciples OF
Christ, Congregationalist and Reform
e.
Rights Of Graduates
"Sectarian control has its place"
said Mrs. William V. Hayes, president
of the Goucher Alumnae Council, in
commenting on the survey, "particu-
lariy when the students OF a college
are all Of the same faith. But when
fifteen different faiths are represent
ed, as Is the case mt Goucher then the
students and alnmnae have right to
Independent control. without regard
to creed or denomination
Goucher College, founded in 1885,
Is one Of the six colleges for women
piaced In Glass by the United States
Bureau Of Education. or the hve
others, Bryn Mawr. Mount Holyoke,
Smith, Wellesley and Vassar. the
records show that not one Is. or
ever has been, under sectarian or de-
tpnl
In the Judgment OF the secretary OF
Princeton University. as expressed in
a recent statement. tends Ito throttle
administrative independence"
Statements indorsing Goucher's eff
fort to retain its non-sectarian char
acter, said President William w. Guth.
himself a Methodist minister, have
been received from dozens Of college
presidents and educators OF national
repute.
New York Leads Opposition
Objection to Goncher'S position In
the controversy was inspired not by
the Maryland Conference Of the Meth
odist Church. but by the Board of
Education, in New York, according TO
Judge Morris A. Soper, one Of the
trustees. The stand taken by this
Board Of Education, after many long
years OF Indifference toward the col
lege, Is proving very embarrassing.
said Mr. Soper, in view OF the fact
that many thousands OF dollars have
been given the college on the ground
that 1t is Independent Of any church
control.
Though Goucher was incorporated
strictly as non-sectarian institution,
the amended charter in. 1914 gave GER
tain conferences Of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church the right to nominate
trustees, in exchange for certain
pledges of financial support.
Old Arrangement Failed
That this arrangement failed in both
respects, say the college officials. Is
shown by the fact that the confer
ences have neither exercised their
rights of nomination nor fulfilled their
pledges Of support. The Baltimore
Conference paid 60 per cent Of Its
pledge, one of the Pennsylvania Con-
ferences 40 per cent two conferences
paid about IL per cent, and one con-
ference nothing at all. None Of the
conferences nominated trustees be-
tween 1914 and 1921, until the New
York body made it's effort to put the
college under church discipline. 1t Is
this narrowing outside control, says
Judge Soper, that the trustees wish
to deny, aiming to preserve, as In the
past the most cordial relations with
the proper church authorities In Mary