The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-09
SEES REAL RELIGION
IN STATE COLLEGES
Prof. Kent Thinks Yale Could
Learn Much From Their
Methods.
VISITS SOUTH AND WEST
Believes Test for University Is
Moral Character of
Graduates.

Specim Dispatch 10 THE New YORK HERALD.
NEW HAVEN. April s.-After address,
Ing more than a quarter of million
students in a tour of State universities
in the South and West. Prof. Charles +.
Kent, Woolsey professor of Biblical lit
erature in Yale University. has returned
to resume his work here. Prof. Kent
finds that religious life is vital in State
universities and believes that Yale could
learn. much from their methods. He
writes:
THE eighty-six State universities and
colleges In America, with three-quarters
OF million students and faculties ag-
eregating more than $4,000 instructors,
are among the most potent and impress
sive forces in modern education. AL
ready they have won position of pres
tige and leadership in each OF their re-
spective States. Hitherto this leadership
has been chiefly in the fields of intel
iectual and vocational training. but re-
Gently a new and significant movement
has appeared in these institutions that
we're once regarded as goddess It's I'M
deriving motive is well voiced by Presi-
dent Mckinley of the University OF IL
lnois. There Is no complete education
without religion, and by President Bur-
ton of the University of Michigan; The
ultimate test for the State university is
the moral and religious character OF It's
graduates.
From many quarters comes the tes-
timony that the religious life in some
of the State universities and colleges
is on the whole simpler, stronger and
more dynamic than even In many or
the UNCONVENTIONAL colleges that were
founded primarily to teach religion.
The reason is obvious. The religious
life in the State institutions is not
forced but entirely spontaneous. 1t
rests not on O creedai nor sectarian
but upon the broadcast foundation
Biblical. scientific and experimental.
An increasing number of their faculties
are deeply interested in practical re-
ligion There are still few who define
religion as a ghost fear or az simply the
product of the human mind. but as an
as;ute observer has recently remarked,
They are rapidly being educated by
contact with their we'll informed stu
dents Many of the faculties in these
institutions are leaders of voluntary
Bible and discussion classes In Iowa
State University. for example. there
are over 700 students enrolled in such
clas ses. Some of the most effective
teachers of religion are the professors
OF theoretical and applied science. Two
State university presidents told me that
the principles that guided them in the
choice of instructors were. first, mas
terry of and ability to teach their SUBJ
jects. and second. the power 50
TO interpret them that they would
strengthen rather than weaken the
faith of the students
In connection with ten or twelve of
our leading State universities there are
also growing up union schools of re-
ligion which correlate the work of the
Christian Association secretaries, the
student and local pastors. the univer-
sity churches and the religiously
minded members of the faculties. These
schools offer courses in Biblical ltera-
ture and religious education for which
in many State institutions full credit
is given toward graduation. At certain
universities. such as the University of
Michigan. steps are also being taken
to correlate the religious and social
courses in the curriculum and to sup
plement them so as TO provide at least
the equivalent OF the first years work
in the theological seminary or social
training school.
From the bold and successful ex-
periments in religious education that
are being tried in the great State uni
versties of the West and South, Yale
and the other universities in the East
undoubtedly may learn much. They.
like the State institutions. are con-
fronted by new problems, new types of
students and q new and vastly broader
conception Of education and religion.
Their lasting contribution to the needs
~ the new age will be largely de-
termined by the way in which they
meet these new problems. for the final
test of every educational institution is
the moral and religious character of
its students. +"
Prof. Kent says further that the diff
ferent denominations are sending to the
State universities young and able lead
ers as student pastors and that five or
six OF these men are found at the
larger universities At the gates OF the
State universities and colleges the de-
nominations are also building great
university churches to increase the fol-
lowing OF their students. These are
manned by pastors fitted to command
the respect OF the students.